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Hope and Wildflowers was provided a complimentary copy of The Road Home by Beverly Lewis from Bethany Publishing House.

Description
When her parents are killed in an accident, Lena Rose Schwartz and her nine siblings must find new places to live. The younger ones are sent to the homes of relatives in the area, but Lena is told there isn’t room left for her. Thus begins a new adventure for Lena, miles from the only home and family she’s ever known – and the beau she thought would soon propose – in far-off Lancaster County. Will she be leaving for good, or eventually find the road home?

My Review
I’ve always been very impressed with Beverly Lewis’s books. The way Lewis depicts each of her stories using very descriptive detailed wording, makes you feel as if you are right there beside each of her characters.  This book was the perfect read as we experienced several days of non-stop rain where I live. During these days it was so peaceful to sit on my back porch snuggled in a blanket with a hot cup of coffee (sidenote: coffee is mentioned a lot through the book) in the evenings and get lost in the world walking along the amazing and ever so caring Lena Rose Schwartz.

Lena Rose, what an amazing young lady, who has to experience so much in her life with the sudden tragic loss of both of her parents. Lena was the oldest child in a family of nine other brothers and sisters from ages 6-18. After her parent’s funeral, Lena’s Uncle Noah decided to put all of Lena’s brother and sisters including herself into separate homes in their district.  All the children remained in the district except for Lena had to be sent far away from Centerville, Michigan to Lancaster, PA to live with her Aunt Mimi and Uncle Harley a family she had never met before.  Leaving behind so many memories including her beau Hans Bontrager and her youngest brother six-year-old brother Chris whom she hates to leave behind, Lena finds herself trusting in Gott (God) to help her through this devastating life change.

As the storyline continues, Lena becomes a huge help to the wonderful people in Lancaster, PA. Instead of dwelling so much on her worries and loss, Lena puts her focus on others while praying and putting her trust in God. Recalling from her Mamma always instructed which was that “others come first” (page 93), “I must try to bring joy to others and not dwell so much on myself…” (Page 167). I truly admired, all the wonderful talks Lena had with her Aunt Mimi as they set across each other sewing at the sewing table. Aunt Mimi gave Lena many words of wisdom like she did on page 248 “For a long time, it was quiet in the buggy as Lena considered all that Mimi had just shared from her heart.”  Aunt Mimi herself was coming to grips with the change of her daughter Tessa moving away with her husband. Will Tessa and her husband ever return home?

Lena continues to exchange letters with her brother and sisters and also her beau. Later, we read how a sudden snowstorm back in her home Centerville, made it impossible to come to visit for Christmas leaving Lena heartbroken. However, she still pushed those feelings aside to focus on others who needed much more encouragement than Lena had to offer.  Reading about how Lena helped others was very uplifting. In a world today where so many people get so selfish and hung up on their wants and pleasures I was so encouraged to read about someone who poured her heart out to others who desperately needed it.

Furthermore, Lena soon receives a letter from Hans how courting her through letters is not going to work out. Hans moves on to court another girl from his district. Lena felt the same way that it was all the more challenging especially since she could not return home for Christmas.  Will Lena ever find true love again? Will she ever get to return home to see her brothers and sisters in Centerville, Michigan?

Throughout this entire book, It seemed that Lewis was highlighting the importance of prayer, patience, and reason for helping others. I would highly recommend this book to any young teenage girl and/or older. This book is very well written and provides some encouraging scripture to bring you hope and joy.

“Always remember who holds your future.” (Page 313)

Order Your Copy Here! 

The Road Home By Beverly Lewis / Bethany House

About The Author
Beverly Marie Jones (Lewis) was born in the heart of Amish country—Lancaster, Pennsylvania. At the tender age of nine, she began writing short stories and poetry. Prior to that, she made up lyrics to the “little fingers” piano pieces she learned, at the age of five.

“My mother saved everything I wrote, even the stories I dreamed up during my grade school years,” Beverly says. One such tale is semi-autobiographical, about a young girl whose parents can no longer afford to give her piano lessons. The manuscript was 77 pages long and titled “She Shall Have Music,” penned under the shade of a lone willow tree. “Reading, writing, and playing piano have been top three on my list of favorite things,” she says.

Not until her own children were well into middle school did Beverly seek to publish her work, first in magazines such as Highlights for Children, Dolphin Log, and Guideposts for Kids. Her first book followed in 1993—Mountain Bikes and Garbanzo Beans—presently retitled Big Bad Beans (book #22 in the popular Cul-de-Sac Kids series of chapter books—see list of Bev’s children’s books).  Read more here

Find Beverly Lewis on her Website and Facebook