To Love and to Cherish

Title: TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH
Author: Kelly Irvin
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
February 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7369-4371-9
Genre: Amish

Emma Shirack has not yet healed from her boyfriend, Carl, leaving the Amish. But now her life is thrown into turmoil. In less than a month’s time, her parents are killed in a tragic accident, her brother and his wife sell their home and move in, a tornado takes down the barn and Carl returns from the world.

But things have changed. Emma has become bitter and unforgiving. Her brother’s wife is difficult and hateful, and she’s discovered that an older Amish man has been interested in her, but turned down due to the huge age difference between them.

Will Emma learn to forgive? And which man holds the keys to her heart?

TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH is the first book in Ms. Irvin’s The Bliss Creek Amish series. It is action packed, full of drama, and emotions. Readers will hurt with Emma over the injustices in her life, and mourn with her and some of their siblings as they adjust to the loss of their parents, loss of their freedom, loss of their rights… and for the good of… who?

I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. Ms. Irvin is a very talented author. The reader will care. But…the bitterness, unforgiveness, and anger seem to be overdone, and the death of the parents seemed to drag on a little long. Fans of Amish fiction will probably devour this book. Discussion questions are included. $13.99. 326 pages.