Peace in the Valley

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

IRVIN, KELLY

PEACE IN THE VALLEY

After a devastating wildfire sweeps through her town, one young Amish woman is shown a different way to practice her faith...but pursuing it could cost her everything she holds dear, including the man she loves.

Nora Beachy loves her life. She works in the community store in West Kootemai, takes care of her family and courts with Levi Raber. She and Levi plan to marry, but Levi wants to wait until he has the money to buy them a house before he pops the question. Nora doesn't want to wait. Is something keeping Levi from marrying her?

Nora's peaceful existence is swept away when wildfires threaten her family's home. She's forced to evacuate to Libby where she stays with family in an Amish community that embraces a charismatic style of worship rejected by her own parents and the Kootenai district elders. Nora's drawn to the emotional, powerful style of worship, the musical instruments, and the more relaxed lifestyle. She knows she's hearted for a shunning if she doesn't stop breaking the rules, but she can't understand why both forms of worship aren't lovely in God's eyes.

Nora's stuck in the middle. She loves her family and doesn't want to lose them. She loves Levi. But she must make a decision: return to her traditional Amish life or embrace this new way of worshipping and living. Will she sacrifice her relationship with Levi and her family for a different kind of faith?

My Review:

published in 2020

I love finding Amish stories written with a unique twist and this is definitely one of them. From the unusual setting (Montana) to the settlement that has been ravaged by wildfires to the intriguing insights into the contrasts in different Amish communities -- well, it was all so captivating!

Nora's faith journey is at the heart of this story. She thinks she is solid in her faith, ready to settle down with Levi, content with every aspect of her life...until the fire ravages everything...including her hopes and dreams. 

Displaced for a time, she winds up living with relations in another town who practice a charismatic style of worship within their 'looser' Amish church. She's both drawn to and mystified by the emotional services and soon becomes torn between two worlds -- both Amish but completely opposite in so many ways. And then there's Levi, the man she's always known she would marry...

Completely riveting and there are so many wonderful insights into Nora's personal struggles. I felt as conflicted and confused as she did! Had no idea how the author could bring about a satisfactory conclusion, but, thankfully she did -- in stunning, goose-bumping fashion! 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice. 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Peace in the Valley, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a 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 June 18 2022. Offer open to International Readers.