The Saddle Maker's Son

GIVEAWAY

IRVIN, KELLY
THE SADDLE MAKER'S SON

Rebekah Lantz feels imprisoned by circumstances she didn’t create. Tobias Byler is haunted by regret. Can two young runaways from half a world away teach them the healing power of true family?

Rebekah isn't like her sister who left the Amish faith, but the watchful gaze of her family and small, close-knit Amish community makes her feel as if she's been judged and found lacking. The men avoid her and the women whisper behind her back. She simply longs for the same chance to be a wife and mother that her friends have.

Tobias Byler only wants to escape feelings for a woman he knows he should never have allowed to get close to him. Moving with his family to isolated Bee County, Texas, seemed the best way to leave his mistakes behind. But even a move across the country can't erase the past that accompanies his every thought.

A surprise encounter with two half-starved runaway children forces Rebekah and Tobias to turn to each other to help a sister and brother who have traveled thousands of miles in search of lives of unfettered peace and joy.

In doing so, Rebekah and Tobias discover the key to forgetting the past is the one that will open the door to love and the future they both seek.

My Review:

I have to say that one of the things I love about this Amish Bee County series is the setting. This drought-stricken Texas community gives a totally different spin to the typical Amish novel. There's something so elemental about the barren countryside and how it dictates the kind of life the Amish live. This little community is struggling to survive and that means they must turn to different occupations in order to provide for their families.  Unfortunately that requires more interaction with Englischers which brings its own kind of threat.

Life is a balancing act for Rebekah who finds herself living in the shadow of her sister's transgression. She's smart and tenacious and a bit of a free thinker which can get her in trouble since she's not shy about speaking her mind. Tobias arrives in Texas looking forward to a new start. The last thing he needs in his life is an opinionated woman who doesn't know when to keep her mouth closed. :-) Angst and mayhem ensue -- much to this reader's delight.

Irvin reaches deep to deliver a thought-provoking and inspiring story. I don't want to give specifics because there are elements that a reader should discover as the story unfolds. But I will say that this book challenges the characters and the reader to ask themselves this one question: "What would Jesus have me do?" And then it's just a matter of doing the next right thing and trusting the Lord to see you through. My faith soared with a renewed conviction after reading The Saddle Maker's Son.

And the topical subject matter makes this a great book club selection. There's tons to discuss and celebrate about this novel.

A captivating page-turner that will keep you thinking long after you've closed the book. That's the best kind of read, isn't it? The kind that inspires you to reach higher and draw closer to the Lord.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  The Saddle Maker's Son please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September  25 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!