Series:
Amish Bookstore (Book 3)
In the third and final novel of Beth Wiseman's Amish
Bookstore series, two young people must find the courage to defy expectations
and become who they're meant to be.
Sixteen-year-old Eden Hale doesn't want to be defined by
her current circumstances. Her mother is in prison, she doesn't know her
father, and she's had her own run-ins with the law, but Eden refuses to become
what people expect. When she is sent to live with an Amish cousin she's never
met in Montgomery, Indiana, she welcomes the chance to become the person she
wants to be without the burden of anyone's judgment. Her hopes are confirmed
when she meets Samuel, a young Amish man who seems to like her for who she
really is.
Samuel Byler has grown up with strict Amish parents, and
they aren't happy that their only son is choosing to spend his free time with
an outsider. As Eden and Samuel grow closer, assumptions close in around the
young couple. It isn't long before Eden starts to doubt herself and wonders if
she is doomed to follow in her mother's footsteps, whether she wants to or not.
Meanwhile, Samuel finds himself slipping further and further from his faith --
to Eden's dismay.
Both Eden and Samuel's futures hang in the balance as
they face decisions about who they are -- both as individuals and together.
This was an emotional and complex story about two teens
from very different backgrounds who meet and discover they have much in common.
Sixteen-year-old Eden has come to stay with her Amish cousin, Yvonne, for a
month while her guardian, Emma, is away. Eden has had a turbulent life so far.
Her mother is a drug addict and is serving a term in prison, she never knew her
father, and there isn't much of a connection between herself and Emma. In trying
to find her place in the world, Eden made a few mistakes before vowing she
would not follow in her mother's footsteps. She hopes this time in Indiana will
give her the fresh start she craves. On her first day with Yvonne, she's introduced
to Samuel, Yvonne's husband's nephew, who offers to teach her to ride.
Samuel is the sixteen-year-old son of very strict Amish
parents. Though he is of the age for his rumspringa or running around, Anna and
Leroy keep him under tight control. Samuel is curious about life outside the
Amish community and feels trapped without the ability to experience any of it. Complicating
matters, those same feelings cause him to question his faith and whether to
stay in the community.
There is an immediate connection between Eden and Samuel.
They find it easy to talk to each other as Samuel asks questions about her life
as an Englischer, and Eden rhapsodizes about how beautiful and peaceful
Montgomery is. But Samuel's parents aren't happy with the amount of time he's
spending with Eden, worried that she will influence him in the wrong way. They
come down quite hard on him, and Samuel reacts by using deception to do as he
wants. Eden is initially unaware of his actions and is angry with him when she
finds out.
Eden loves her time in Montgomery and getting to know
Samuel. It is a relief to know that he likes her for who she is and doesn't
judge her for her past mistakes. But Samuel's lies have put her and her cousin
in an awkward position. She doesn't understand Samuel's fascination with the
outside world when he has such a wonderful family and home life.
I could feel the tension build as Eden and Samuel grew
closer. I could see the trouble looming on the horizon and knew it wouldn't be
pretty when Anna and Leroy discovered the truth. I hurt for everyone when the
confrontation came. Leroy and Anna are angry and hurt at Samuel's deceptions
and double down on their need to control his actions. Yvonne and Abraham are
caught in the middle and want the best for both teens. Eden is hurt by how his
parents blame her when she's done her best to show him that the outside world
isn't as great as he thinks. And Samuel wants a chance to experience the same
things others do. I liked that Abraham was the voice of reason in the storm and
devised a solution to prevent Samuel from running away while giving him the freedom
he craved. It was an eye-opening experience for Samuel, and I loved seeing him
learn from it. I also liked that his parents also learned a few things.
Eden has some hard lessons to learn, also. Her mother is
in prison, and Eden has difficulty forgiving her for what she has been through.
When she gets word that her mother is ill, she hardens her heart against her.
Samuel sees Eden's conflict and does his best to encourage Eden to speak to her
mother before it is too late. In a heartwrenching scene, Eden finally lets go
of her hatred and finds the peace she needs.
By the time this is all over, it is time for Eden to
return to Texas and her guardian. When Eden receives unexpected news, it opens
a realm of possibilities for her future. Will this change her relationship with
Samuel? I loved watching Eden figure out what she wanted from her life and go
after it. The ending was fantastic, as Eden and Samuel found what they sought.
Running through all three books in the series was the
mystery of the trove of gold coins supposedly hidden inside the Amish bookstore
that Yvonne runs for her friends Jake and Eva. One coin has turned up, but no
one has had any luck finding others. After further research, Jake makes a
decision about the shop that has unexpected results. There is a saying about
counting one's chickens, but everything works out.
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