The Longing

Title: THE LONGING
Author: Beverly Lewis
Publisher: Bethany House
2008
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0584-2
Genre: Inspirational/women’s fiction

Nellie Mae Fisher is going on with life after her breakup with beau, Caleb Yoder. She doesn’t feel that she is able to date yet, since she still loves Caleb, but when Mennonite Chris Yoder starts showing interest in her, she is intrigued. The whole family is still reeling from Suzy’s untimely death, and Rhoda subsequently leaving the family home to date an Englischer.

Caleb Yoder is trying to be an obedient son to his father but it is hard when he is stripped of his inheritance and kicked out. Still, when his father has a bad accident, Caleb is quick to answer his summons and work the farm that he no longer has any claim to, while try to reconcile his differences with his father. But when Caleb’s father starts changing—Caleb is worried. Is it the medicine, or has he discovered some truth?

Rosanna and Elias King are still hurting from being forced to give up their adopted twins. Rosanna is shocked when three Amish families step up and offer to give her their unborn babies. Forced to make a decision, Rosanna must decide if she’s even willing to trust virtual strangers for a baby, or to continue waiting on God.

THE LONGING is the highly anticipated conclusion to The Courtship of Nellie Fisher series. Readers will want to read the first two books in the series first, since all three of them are tightly woven together and you must read them in order to make any sense of it. I enjoyed reconnecting with Nellie Mae and her family and watching them heal from all the trials and tribulations they went through in The Parting and The Forbidden.

THE LONGING is a satisfactory conclusion, neatly tying up all the loose ends from the previous books. I’ve anxiously awaited this book and couldn’t wait for it to land at the top of my to-be-read pile. This is a beautifully written book, full of well-developed characters, and so vividly described that you can picture the Amish country-side. $19.99 hardcover. 347 pages.