The Atonement

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The Atonement  Paperback, ebook, audible   March 29, 2016 by Beverly Lewis Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Bethany House Publishers  ISBN-13: 978-0764212482 From the Back Cover Jah, Lucy thought. Tobe would have known what to say. "But what would he say to me if he knew the truth?" she murmured into her hands, leaning on the desk. Alas, that was something she could not afford to find out. The Atonement  The mistakes of the past haunt Lucy Flaud, now twenty-five and beyond Amish courting age. Instead, Lucy focuses on volunteering in both the Plain and fancy communities of Lancaster County. Yet no matter how hard she strives, she never feels she's doing enough. Then her father strikes up an unexpected friendship with an Englischer in search of a simpler way of life. Lucy forms a connection of her own with the thoughtful young man even as she rejects courtship with her longtime Amish friend. Is it too late to embrace redemption . . . and the power of love? My thoughts: THE ATONEMENT is Ms. Lewis' latest. Not really a romance (despite the back cover copy), this is more women's fiction. The romance is very back burner.  Written in many different points of view, it includes Lucy's, her married sister's, Marty's, her father, Christian's, and others.  Some parts of the story were very confusing and I went back and read them twice, three times, sometimes not understanding anyway. I couldn't relate to these characters.  Very slow, this is not the Beverly Lewis book of years gone by. Seems she's lost her edge.  It also seems Ms. Lewis was trying to mimic other Amish authors with some of the themes included.   3 stars.