The Bridge of Peace

WOODSMALL, CINDY
THE BRIDGE OF PEACE

Lena Kauffman is a young Old Order Amish schoolteacher who has dealt all her life with attention raised by a noticeable birthmark on her cheek. Having learned to move past the stares and whispers, Lena channels her zest for living into her love of teaching. But tensions mount as she is challenged to work with a rebellious young man and deal with several crises at the schoolhouse that threaten her other students. Her lack of submission and use of ideas that don't line up with the Old Order Ways strengthen the school board's case as they begin to believe that Lena is behind all the trouble.

One member of the school board, Grey Graber, feels trapped by his own stifling circumstances. His wife, Elsie, has shut him out of her life, and he doesn't know how long he can continue to live as if nothing is wrong. As the two finally come to a place of working toward a better marriage, tragedy befalls the family.

Lena and Grey have been life-long friends, but their relationship begins to crumble amidst unsettling deceptions, propelling each of them to finally face their own secrets. Can they both find a way past their losses and discover the strength to build a new bridge?

HAVE YOU EVER PICKED UP A BOOK THAT YOU COULDN'T PUT DOWN BUT HAD TO BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T BEAR TO READ ANY MORE BUT THEN YOU PICKED IT RIGHT BACK UP AGAIN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BEAR NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? LOL. MAYBE I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO GETS SO EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED WITH THE CHARACTERS THAT SOMETIMES IT JUST PLAIN HURTS TO READ. ANYWAY, THE BRIDGE OF PEACE WAS THAT KIND OF BOOK FOR ME.

IT'S THE SECOND IN THE ADA'S HOUSE SERIES, AND WHILE READING THE FIRST BOOK, THE HOPE OF REFUGE, ISN'T COMPLETELY NECESSARY, IT WOULD ENRICH YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS ONE. BE PREPARED FOR AN EDGY READ, THOUGH. THIS ISN'T YOUR TYPICAL AMISH ROMANCE AS WOODSMALL HAS INTRODUCED A DARKER ELEMENT TO THE THE PLOT, MAKING THE BRIDGE OF PEACE A DEFINITE PAGE-TURNER.

LENA IS SO MUCH FUN! I REALLY ENJOYED HER CHARACTER, HER MISCHIEF-MAKING AND DELIGHT IN SHARING LAUGHTER WITH THOSE AROUND HER. SHE'S DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT IMAGE OF WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK A STEREOTYPICAL AMISH WOMAN WOULD BE. AND I ADORED THE RELATIONSHIP SHE HAS WITH HER FATHER. SO LOVING AND GENTLE, WITH LOTS OF TEASING THROWN IN. HE WAS SUCH HAVEN FOR HER AS MORE AND MORE DIFFICULTIES AROSE.

I ALSO APPRECIATED THE RECURRING ROLES OF FAVOURITE CHARACTERS, CARA, EPHRAIM, ADA AND DEBORAH (NOT TO MENTION BETTER DAYS) FROM THE HOPE OF REFUGE. WOODSMALL DEFTLY WOVE THEIR STORIES IN AND AROUND LENA'S MAKING THIS BOOK A RICH AND SATISFYING READ. I AM NOW ON TENTERHOOKS WAITING FOR THE THIRD IN THE SERIES. NO IDEA OF TITLE OR PUBLISHING DATE YET, BUT I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!