The Stone Wall

 

GIVEAWAY

LEWIS, BEVERLY

THE STONE WALL

Anna Beachy is eager to begin a new chapter in her llfe as a Lancaster County tour guide in the picturesque area where her Plain grandmother once stayed. Anna wishes she could talk with her about those long-ago days, but the elderly woman suffers from Alzheimer's. Beyond a vague comment about an old stone wall, much about her grandmother's time there is a mystery. As Anna settles into her new community, she finds herself unexpectedly befriended by a handsome Mennonite tour guide and a young Old Order widower who manages a local horse retreat serving Amish children with special needs.

As Anna grows closer to both men, she's faced with a difficult choice -- one in potential conflict with the expectations of her parents. Will Anna discover true love and the truth about her grandmother's past in Lancaster County? Or Will she find only heartbreak?

My Review:

Classic Beverly Lewis. She has a way of making a story seem like a sharing of confidences between friends. I'm always spellbound by her understated word choice and the way the story gently unfolds. 

The Stone Wall is especially intriguing because of the diverse Anabaptist representation. Anna is Beachy Amish, her cousin is Old Order as is one of the young men she's interested in while the other is Mennonite. (And yes, that means there's a love triangle element to this story but we'll get to that in a second!)  

A fascinating part of this novel is the way it highlights the differences between each sect. Especially how they view one another -- there's acceptance but definitely a desire to keep apart. After all they divided for a reason, ain't so? :-)  I'm so used to reading Amish/Englisch 'forbidden love' romances that it was refreshing to see the culture clash coming from within rather than without.

So, yeah, back to that love triangle. Not my favourite trope, but Lewis handles it with with only a modicum of angst so I finished this read with my nails intact and a stable heart rate. I really like both suitors though,  so now I want to a book for the one that got left behind! I think that's only fair.

A surprise dual timeline is an added bonus featuring Anna's mammi in her rumspringa days. There are some uncanny parallels between the then and now though each young woman has to find her own way in the end.

A heartwarming inspirational romance.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy

If you would like a chance to win a copy The Stone Wall, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 7 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!