How incredibly easy it is to see the faults of our own family, overlooking the blessings. Equally simple is see only the good things of another family and be blinded to the problems. The source of this is discontentment. That is exactly where Leona Speicher finds herself. Her heart yearns for her family to be like her best friend's Gloria Gingrich: Fun, affectionate, and close. She idolizes them and fantasizes about becoming a permanent household member. To make the situation even more ideal, Leona and Gloria are as close as best friends can be.
Her heart is broken when the Gingrich family is shunned from the Amish church, disappearing in the night without even saying goodbye. Leona never quits missing her friend and mourns her absence for 3 long years. Out of the blue Gloria reaches out to her begging her to come for a visit. The family has abandoned their Amish faith and turned English. Leona wrestles whether or not to go. She still loves her friend deeply but isn't sure not only what to expect but also putting herself in the English world.
With the purpose of trying to bring back with her and become Amish again she decides to go.
The trip turns out to be more than the rescue mission she had anticipated. She is shocked and disheartened by what she finds not only Gingrich's lives now but what they had been all along. A beautiful story of love, true friendship, and learning to see the wonderful gifts God has given us.
I received this book Bethany House Publishing and was not required to give a positive review. The opinions I have stated are my own.
Her heart is broken when the Gingrich family is shunned from the Amish church, disappearing in the night without even saying goodbye. Leona never quits missing her friend and mourns her absence for 3 long years. Out of the blue Gloria reaches out to her begging her to come for a visit. The family has abandoned their Amish faith and turned English. Leona wrestles whether or not to go. She still loves her friend deeply but isn't sure not only what to expect but also putting herself in the English world.
With the purpose of trying to bring back with her and become Amish again she decides to go.
The trip turns out to be more than the rescue mission she had anticipated. She is shocked and disheartened by what she finds not only Gingrich's lives now but what they had been all along. A beautiful story of love, true friendship, and learning to see the wonderful gifts God has given us.
I received this book Bethany House Publishing and was not required to give a positive review. The opinions I have stated are my own.
Good story about friendship and forgiveness. Leona had always wished for a sister, and when a new family moved in, she got her wish. The friendship she developed with Gloria brought them as close as sisters. Leona spent a lot of time at Gloria's house, envious of her friend's young and fun parents. Leona's parents are older and are not very demonstrative. As the girls got older, romance was in the air. Leona's cousin, Orchard John, started courting Gloria, while Leona's friendship with Gloria's older brother, Adam, seemed to head that way also. But all that came to an end when Gloria's father was expelled from the church and the family packed up and left. Leona was heartbroken at the loss of her friend.
Leona was surprised to get a letter from Gloria several years later, asking Leona to call her. While talking to her, Leona could tell that Gloria was not happy in her new life. I loved that Leona's love for her friend compelled her to make the journey from Pennsylvania to Arkansas to try to help her. Leona was certain that if Gloria came back to the Amish church, she would find what she was looking for. I liked that Leona and her fiancé, Tom, spoke honestly about her trip. His concerns were real and she didn't take them lightly, but she needed to see her friend. Tom's support and his trust were important.
Leona's visit to Arkansas was eye-opening for her. She was stunned at the changes she saw in her friend's family. I liked how time and distance gave Leona a bit more objectivity about Gloria's parents, and that she saw things she hadn't noticed before. Leona began to appreciate her own parents more when she compared them to what she now knows. Leona also got a better idea of how conflicted Gloria was as she saw Gloria in her current life. Leona was determined to be a supportive and loving friend at the same time she tried to encourage Gloria's return to the church.
I ached for Gloria, who hadn't wanted to leave Lancaster and had begged to be allowed to stay with Leona's family. She was an obedient daughter and followed her father's wishes, but always felt that something was missing. That feeling grew as the man she was dating pushed harder for a commitment from her. I liked that she had the courage to reach out to Leona for help. As she showed Leona around her new life, it was pretty clear that she was working just as hard to convince herself that she was happy. Her decision to drive Leona home herself, and spend some time in Lancaster, was her attempt to see if it was possible to return to that life.
I liked seeing Gloria open up to Leona a little bit on the drive back to Lancaster. She still held back on some things that clearly bothered her, but Leona didn't push. Once they arrived back in Lancaster, Gloria took the time to look at her life and dreams. I liked seeing her slip back into her old life without too much effort, but she is still troubled. She had conversations with Dawdi Benuel and the bishop that gave her much to think about. She also encountered Orchard John. I enjoyed their cautious reconnection and what he shared with her. Things looked promising until her father showed up to bring her home to Arkansas. I ached for Gloria as she faced up to the issues that haunted her. I wasn't surprised by her decision. The portrayal of her struggle was realistic, heartwrenching and heartwarming at the same time.
I also liked the scenes with Leona and Tom. It was clear that their relationship was solid, as Leona was able to share her hopes of helping Gloria. I liked the bits that were told from Tom's point of view, highlighting his worry but also his love for Leona. There were some very sweet scenes between them.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Life with the Amish was shown fairly realistically, not through rose-colored glasses. There were a few times when I felt as though the story dragged a little bit, but I was invested enough to keep going. I did like the ending, as it felt logical and real.
Leona was surprised to get a letter from Gloria several years later, asking Leona to call her. While talking to her, Leona could tell that Gloria was not happy in her new life. I loved that Leona's love for her friend compelled her to make the journey from Pennsylvania to Arkansas to try to help her. Leona was certain that if Gloria came back to the Amish church, she would find what she was looking for. I liked that Leona and her fiancé, Tom, spoke honestly about her trip. His concerns were real and she didn't take them lightly, but she needed to see her friend. Tom's support and his trust were important.
Leona's visit to Arkansas was eye-opening for her. She was stunned at the changes she saw in her friend's family. I liked how time and distance gave Leona a bit more objectivity about Gloria's parents, and that she saw things she hadn't noticed before. Leona began to appreciate her own parents more when she compared them to what she now knows. Leona also got a better idea of how conflicted Gloria was as she saw Gloria in her current life. Leona was determined to be a supportive and loving friend at the same time she tried to encourage Gloria's return to the church.
I ached for Gloria, who hadn't wanted to leave Lancaster and had begged to be allowed to stay with Leona's family. She was an obedient daughter and followed her father's wishes, but always felt that something was missing. That feeling grew as the man she was dating pushed harder for a commitment from her. I liked that she had the courage to reach out to Leona for help. As she showed Leona around her new life, it was pretty clear that she was working just as hard to convince herself that she was happy. Her decision to drive Leona home herself, and spend some time in Lancaster, was her attempt to see if it was possible to return to that life.
I liked seeing Gloria open up to Leona a little bit on the drive back to Lancaster. She still held back on some things that clearly bothered her, but Leona didn't push. Once they arrived back in Lancaster, Gloria took the time to look at her life and dreams. I liked seeing her slip back into her old life without too much effort, but she is still troubled. She had conversations with Dawdi Benuel and the bishop that gave her much to think about. She also encountered Orchard John. I enjoyed their cautious reconnection and what he shared with her. Things looked promising until her father showed up to bring her home to Arkansas. I ached for Gloria as she faced up to the issues that haunted her. I wasn't surprised by her decision. The portrayal of her struggle was realistic, heartwrenching and heartwarming at the same time.
I also liked the scenes with Leona and Tom. It was clear that their relationship was solid, as Leona was able to share her hopes of helping Gloria. I liked the bits that were told from Tom's point of view, highlighting his worry but also his love for Leona. There were some very sweet scenes between them.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Life with the Amish was shown fairly realistically, not through rose-colored glasses. There were a few times when I felt as though the story dragged a little bit, but I was invested enough to keep going. I did like the ending, as it felt logical and real.
Loved this story about a special friendship between two Amish girls that endures through separation and hard times. Highly recommended!
The Wish by Beverly Lewis is set in Colerain, Pennsylvania. Leona Speicher is thrilled when the Gingeriches move in next door because they have a girl the same age. Gloria Gingeriches becomes Leona's best friend. Leona spends quite a bit of time at Gloria's house while they are growing up. She finds that she prefers Gloria's family to her own. Leona felt that she was born to the wrong family. When Gloria is seventeen, her father, Arkansas Joe has a problem with the Bishop and the community. They the whole family disappears. Gloria leaves behind her dog, Brownie with a note for Leona. Leona does not understand why they just disappeared, but she hopes to hear from her friend soon. Leona hears nothing for three years and then she receives a letter from Gloria asking her to visit. Leona feels that God is calling her to help her friend. Gloria is at a crossroads and needs advice (and assistance). Leona wants to find out what happened three years ago that caused her family to leave without any word. Plus, she misses her dearest friend. Gloria was like a sister to Leona. Will Leona be able to help her friend? Join Leona as she sets out to help Gloria and hopefully return her to the community in The Wish.
The Wish was a good book. It has excellent writing (as usual for Beverly Lewis) and the book moves along at a good pace. The book is about choices. It can be hard to make the right decision/choice. I thought the book had good moral lessons especially that with God all things are possible. You think someone has a better life (greener pastures), but you do not know what goes on behind closed doors. I give The Wish 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). There is a little bit of romance in the story, but it plays out in the background (not the main focus of the book). I thought The Wish was a good, heartwarming novel. I look forward to reading Beverly Lewis' next novel.
I received a complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The Wish was a good book. It has excellent writing (as usual for Beverly Lewis) and the book moves along at a good pace. The book is about choices. It can be hard to make the right decision/choice. I thought the book had good moral lessons especially that with God all things are possible. You think someone has a better life (greener pastures), but you do not know what goes on behind closed doors. I give The Wish 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). There is a little bit of romance in the story, but it plays out in the background (not the main focus of the book). I thought The Wish was a good, heartwarming novel. I look forward to reading Beverly Lewis' next novel.
I received a complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
My thoughts: First, the disclaimer. "I was provided a free paperback copy of this book. All opinions are my own." That done, as with most readers of Amish fiction I was introduced to Beverly Lewis by her first books and I fell in love. I couldn't wait for the newest Beverly Lewis books to hit the shelves.
THE WISH is a stand-alone women's fiction Amish story. There is no plot, the story is told and not shown and I felt distant from the characters, and worse, I didn't care what happened to them!
The intro - above - says that Beverly Lewis is the top Amish author, I suggest that Ms. Lewis has lost her title. There are so many better Amish authors out there. I won't name names because if I do, they will be MY favorites, and there are Amish authors out there that are fan-favorites and I won't read their books. But if you tried THE WISH and didn't like it, don't give up on the genre. Try another author. However, if you love Beverly Lewis and women's fiction set in Amish country, then give THE WISH a try. Don't take my word for it because you opinion is the one that matters.
THE WISH is a stand-alone women's fiction Amish story. There is no plot, the story is told and not shown and I felt distant from the characters, and worse, I didn't care what happened to them!
The intro - above - says that Beverly Lewis is the top Amish author, I suggest that Ms. Lewis has lost her title. There are so many better Amish authors out there. I won't name names because if I do, they will be MY favorites, and there are Amish authors out there that are fan-favorites and I won't read their books. But if you tried THE WISH and didn't like it, don't give up on the genre. Try another author. However, if you love Beverly Lewis and women's fiction set in Amish country, then give THE WISH a try. Don't take my word for it because you opinion is the one that matters.
