Book Review: The Fiddler

Author: Beverly Lewis
Title: The Fiddler
Publisher: Bethany House
Publish Date: April 12, 2012
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: 

Amelia "Amy" DeVries, a 24-year-old violinist, is disillusioned with life and love after the collapse of her long-running romance. Weary of endless rehearsals and performances, Amy sets out on a road trip through the Pennsylvania mountains. She leaves her cell phone behind so life's demands can't intrude on her solitude. She doesn't know, nor care, where she will end up.

When her car breaks down deep in the mountains, Amy realizes the flaw in her "no cell phone" plan. She abandons her car and walks the winding roads, searching for help. Following the smell of woodsmoke and the sound of music, she finds a rustic log cabin. There she meets a young Amishman--and through him a community--that will change her life forever.

Review: If you haven't read a Beverly Lewis book in awhile, this might be a good one to pick up.

Why?

Its one of the few stories written by Beverly Lewis that isn't part of a continuing series, where you are left with a cliff hanger ending until the next book is published.

Rather it is a stand alone book that is part of the Home to Hickory Hollow series.

The book blurb, however is deceiving. Amelia is performing under a stage name so she can separate her two careers, one as a concert violinist and the other as a country music fiddler, both of which she does remarkably well

However the pressure to please her ailing father is what causes her to try other things. Her life isn't her own and in trying to return to her OH home after a country performance she gets lost and ends up killing her phone in a puddle and meeting Amish Michael, who is having his own set of troubles.

I love how each is drawn to each other by the things that are pulling them away from their own lives. Amelia is attracted to the peaceful life of the Amish, and Michael is struggling with his Amish faith.

I loved meeting Amelia and Michael as well as the characters that will appear in the next books, like Joanna.

In this book, Beverly Lewis finally creates a romance that is meant to be, even if it has many hurdles to overcome, but those hurdles are overcome in one book.

One of the things I especially liked about this book was Michael and his struggle with his faith. He's not unlike many of us, but even though you know he isn't going to choose to stay Amish, you know that his faith and his values will stay with him always.

Another thing that I liked with this story, is how the religious aspect of the book is more toned down. The book focuses more on family then faith, so it didn't sound as preachy as some of Lewis' other books.

This was one of the best Beverly Lewis books I've read in a long time.

Highly recommended!

Rating: 5 flowers