The Love Letters

Title: THE LOVE LETTERS

Author: Beverly Lewis               

Publisher: Bethany House

March 2015

ISBN 978-0764212468

Genre: Amish / Women’s fiction

 

Marlena needed time to let things sink in. It was beyond her how all this could possibly work out--adding the care of an infant to her daily routine. Fortunately, it would just be until Luella returned home from the hospital and was stronger.
No more than a couple weeks, surely.

Marlena Wenger's life takes an unexpected turn on the day she learns she must care for her estranged sister's baby. Spending the summer in Brownstown, Pennsylvania, to assist her Mennonite grandmother, and miles from Marlena's Old Order Amish beau, she feels out of her element in nearly every respect. Yet Marlena determines to do her best and stay focused on her future, even as those hopes become drastically altered.

THE LOVE LETTERS is Ms. Lewis’ newest Amish fiction release. I am a long time fan of Ms. Lewis’ books, having read everything she’s written thus far, but this book doesn’t have the same flow or feel as her previous books. Lately, she’s been more hit and miss with me instead of instant hits, though I’m not ready to give up reading her books yet.

There are several different stories included in this book, with Little Jay (a special Amish boy) and Marlena being the main characters. Both of those characters have several different things going on they are balancing, with Little Jay befriending a “homeless” man who lost his identity, and dealing with his father who doesn’t try to understand him, and Marlena balancing caring for her grossmammi, being away from her beau, caring for her sister’s baby and so much more.  

Unlike Ms. Lewis’ previous books, this one is rather disjointed. I skimmed more than read as I couldn’t get pulled into the story, didn’t identify with the characters, and really didn’t care.  

Amish women’s fiction fans or fans of Beverly Lewis might enjoy this book.

3 stars. Available in ebook, hardcover, audio, and paperback. 320 pages.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.