Sent from Michigan to Pennsylvania following the tragic death of her Amish parents, Lena Rose Schwartz grieves her loss and the separation from her nine siblings. Beside the fact that Lena has never been so far from home, she hasn’t met the family she will now be living with. But worse than that is having to live apart from her close-knit brothers and sisters. How will they manage without her to … to care for them–especially six-year-old Chris? And will her new beau, Hans Bontrager, continue to court her despite the many miles between them?
Yet even as Lena Rose holds on to hope for a reunion with those she loves most, she discovers that Lancaster holds charms of its own. Is she willing to open her heart to new possibilities?
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The premise of this story is so very sad, and yet accepted as it is what faith is based on, but leaving ten children as orphans and then seeing what happens to them is hard.
The author has focused on the oldest, a girl Lena Rose, and you will quickly grow to love and respect her, but what a hard road she is put on. She is required to leave her home and family in Michigan and go and live in Pennsylvania and we follow her in her journey.
I found myself quickly torn as to where I wanted her to end up, back in Michigan, or with the new life she has found, and the new people who have come to care so much about her.,
A really sweet read that will make you think and sure not want to walk in this girl’s shoes, or maybe you will, she is an inspiration.
Once you turn the final page you are going to be longing for more, and if only!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
courage to open her heart to other possibilities?”
…my thoughts…
The Road Home by celebrated author Beverly Lewis was even better than I expected. The story was easy to get into and hard to put down. Lena Rose Schwartz is an amazing young woman who has a special gift of giving to others without hopes of anything in return. She spreads joy in surprising places even through the pain of losing her parents and a long distance separation from her younger brothers and sisters.
She was welcomed so warmly into the home of her father’s second cousin Harley and his wife Mimi. She soon felt like a member of their own family. Her talents as a seamstress helped Mimi with her home sewing business. People in her new community soon became attached to her as she touched their lives with unselfish kindness. It wasn’t long before she caught the eye of handsome cabinet maker Arden Mast. A relationship with him was not in her plans. She was determined to return to her family in Michigan as soon as a door opened to make that possible Arden knew his home and family were in Pennsylvania and didn’t plan to leave them. She knew a friendship with him was safe.
Yet even with the happy circumstance of being reunited with her family and her responsibilities towards them she felt as though she left part of her heart in Pennsylvania. Oh I can’t say how it ends but this is a good story you may just want to read twice! I heartily recommend this book.
I received my copy of The Road Home from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review but my thoughts are mine.
A sweet Amish story, not only romance but life lessons throughout the book.
I loved this book from start to finish! I could not put
It down!
A beautiful story of faith and finding love after tragedy. Once you open the book you won’t stop reading until you reach the last page! Fans of Amish fiction will love the authentic details of the community.
another wonderful book I enjoyed so much
Family of 10 children were split up with multiple families following the deaths of their parents. Main character sent 500 miles away to stay with cousins. She remains positive & helpful despite multiple disappointments.
A Family Torn Apart By Circumstances
How I love Beverly Lewis’ ability to weave together a warm hearted story that draws the reader in from the first Chapter. The Road Home did just that for me and certainly didn’t disappoint this reader. I have always enjoyed her books and how real her stories seem to be. I loved the cover as I was able to imagine what Lena Rose and little Chris looked like as I read the story. I could see the love on Lena’s face as she made sure that little Chris was ready for his first day of school.
As the story begins shocking news comes to Lena Rose and her sister Emma. Both of their parents had been killed instantly in an accident. This left 10 children orphans . Lena Rose being the oldest at 18. Her Aunt and Uncle thought Lena was too young to keep the family together. It was impossible to find a home for all ten kids where they could live together. The family had to be split up in different homes with Lena Rose moving to Lancaster County Pennsylvania to live with her aunt and uncle whom she’d never met.
Lena worries about her siblings and especially little Chris who has taken his parents death and the separation from her and his brothers and sisters the hardest of them all. She believes something will open up for her back home in Centreville Michigan in a few months so she can return there to be close to her family. But time passes and she begins to wonder if she will ever get back home again. It’s not that her Aunt and Uncle haven’t made her feel welcome . Everyone in Lancaster County has been so very kind , but oh how Lena Rose misses her sisters and brothers.
The shock of her parents death and then the separation from her family and having to move away to a new and unfamiliar community has been the hardest thing Lena Rose has every had to face in her 18 years. Will she ever get to go back home ? Why does it seem that God doesn’t hear her prayers ? She left behind a beau in Michigan . Will her beau wait for her to return?
Fans of Beverly Lewis will not want to miss reading this book. All readers of Amish Fiction will enjoy the story. I personally feel that it is one of her better books. I highly recommend it.
I was fortunate enough to win a signed copy of The Road Home from the author who did an interview on Amish Wisdom . I was not asked to do a review but because I enjoyed this book I was more than happy to do so. I have been honest here with my opinion of the story.
A tragic tale of loss and how ten Amish children, ages 8-18, are divided among district families, except the oldest, Lena Rose, who is sent far away to live with an aunt and uncle she has never met. Beverly Lewis has knowledge of the Amish community that is deep and detailed. The Road Home will settle in your soul, causing an awareness of all that is good and right about folks who love each other and are willing to open their hearts and homes to those in need.
The characters settled down deep in my heart and I came to appreciate each one. While I did not find The Road Home to be a classic page-turner, it was satisfying and brought a few tears at one point. Lewis certainly knows how to entwine characters around my heart with gentleness and love. I hope there will be more stories about this family of orphans who forge ahead, making a life for themselves after a tragedy that most of us could never imagine.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher. I was not required to write a review. No compensation has been received.
I am always interested in how the Amish community lives. i enjoyed this book very much, but the writing style was not sophisticated as I would have liked.
It was a tragedy but I kept reading . Grateful it turned around. Everything worked out to the good!
I like it because it was very interested plus it got my interest from the very beginning. it increase my faith.
If you like Beverly Lewis you will love this book
I liked it. a bit of a mystery wondering what will happen to Lena.
Loved this book. Leaving things in Gods hand will set your life on the correct path.
Great characters and well developed.
A great story of grief and love…as well as trust
A book about an Amish girl and her brothers and sisters who lost their parents. It was very heart warming and thoughtfully written. Five Stars
Enjoyed reading it
Beverly Lewis has written A LOT of books. I think over one hundred.
I enjoyed “The Shunning” (made into a movie) and “The Brethren”.
This one however fell flat for me. It was predictable, but VERY slow. I found myself just wanting her to get on with it, since you know what’s going to happen anyway.
It is a clean Amish Romance.