Anathema

Title: ANATHEMA
Author: Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
2008
ISBN: 978-1-59554-247-2
Genre: Inspirational/women’s fiction

Hannah Schwartz has joined the Amish church, and is promised to marry Noah. But Noah is boring—compared to Reece, her secret Englischer beau. Hannah had snuck off to meet Reece, and when two men try to rape her, Reece is quick to come to her rescue. But Hannah is horrified when she returns home to find that someone has killed her mom and dad and stolen all her mother’s quilts. Hannah doesn’t know what to do. So she tells Reece she’ll marry him. Right away.

But marriage to Reece isn’t what Hannah dreamed. Reece makes her wear sexy clothes and shows her off at bars. He doesn’t allow her to go anywhere without him, and expects complete obedience. And when Hannah even shows a glimmer of spunk, Reece is quick to strike her down.

When Hannah discovers she’s pregnant she’s overjoyed until Reece informs her he doesn’t want kids, and she’ll have to have it aborted. Hannah pleads for her baby’s life, but Reece is adamant. The baby goes. Either by abortion or adoption. When Hannah goes into labor, in anger Reece pushes her downstairs. When Hannah comes too, her baby is gone. And she flees the wrath of her abusive husband. Where will Hannah go? and to what lengths will Hannah have to go to find peace?

ANATHEMA is different than any of Ms. Coble’s other books, but it is still just as good. I read the first part of this book in one sitting, putting off getting up and going to work. ANATHEMA truly is able to pull you in right from the start. The pace is fast, so readers won’t even realize how thick the book is once they start.

Hannah is a loveable heroine, but impulsive, and not given to thinking about things before she acts and the impulsiveness often gets her into trouble. I wanted to talk some sense into her at times. Set in Parke County, Indiana, the area is one that I was very familiar with as a child as my parents went on “covered bridge tours” every year and I look upon those days with fondness, although I knew knew there was an Amish community in the area.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading ANATHEMA, and highly recommend this story. It is not to be missed. A discussion guide is included at the end of the book. $22.99 hardcover. 317 pages.