The Proving by Beverly Lewis

After five years as an Englisher, Amanda Dienner is shocked to learn her mother has passed away and left her Lancaster County’s most popular Amish bed-and-breakfast. What’s more, the inn will only truly be hers if Mandy can successfully run it for twelve months. Reluctantly, Mandy accepts the challenge, no matter that it means facing the family she left behind–or that the inn’s clientele expect an Amish hostess! Can Mandy fulfill the terms of her inheritance? Or will this prove a dreadful mistake?

(excerpt from back of book)

I'm always a  little confused after reading a  Beverly Lewis novel and this one is no  exception. Although Lewis, undeniably, has talent as a writer crafting beautiful landscapes tapping  into simpler lives and the Amish way, I find many of her story lines predictable to the point that pacing  feels unbalanced and  the characters seem underutilized.

Case in point, Trina and Arie Mae had the potential for  wonderful counterbalances to  Mandy's wrestling with both past, present, and future. Given the backstory I was eager  to see how the sister's relationship would play out  amid the  larger family and community. However, Lewis rarely brought  in the family as more than plot opportunities and sisters interactions didn't seem to  have the emotional impact their history would imply.

The Proving  had  many characters that just seemed underutilized and therefore less than satisfying, perhaps due to my unfamiliarity with aspects of Amish culture? However, even that felt like a bit of  a missed opportunity as Trina's obvious lack of familiarity with the Amish could have served as an easy inroad for reader instruction and was rarely seen either.

For  fans of Lewis The Proving  should prove to be a pleasant  enough read, for those unfamiliar with the genre, there are too many unexplained nuances and missed developments for this to be  a satisfying introduction into the genre.

3 out of 5 stars

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhart

Historical fiction, WWII era, frontier nurses. Check, check, check. I knew with all of these elements, the odds of my enjoying These  Healing Hills by Ann Gabhart was fairly high. What I didn't realize is what a gem I'd find in this new to me author and the Appalachian Mountains she wove into life.

One review on the back cover calls this a "beautifully crafted story" and that is a wonderful description of what Gabhart has achieved. Gabhart has used her research to invite readers into a small section of mountain life in 1945.

As anyone who's poked around here before knows, I need a good character to connect with a story and Gabhart provides a mountain full. The Locke family are real, I love how Gabhart has captured the dynamics of life on the mountain among such a diverse family of characters who are relearning how to be in the same space after so many  changes. Equally captivating is Francine, our intrepid nurse. Again, I really came to appreciate  Gabhart's  attention to detail in her characters. Fran's wrestling with  her insecurities were well established and her confusion about how to proceed in life feels relatable.

Oh, and can we talk about the amazing Granny Em? What a character, I love how Gabhart  showed the transition of eras with Granny Em's wisdom and knowledge of the old ways. Honestly, I would be crushed if this book found a sequel without Granny Em's ever present wisdom.

Stylistically, I found Gabhart to have a blend that was quick to draw me in  as a reader and hold my attention. Using actual  historical records to base her frontier nurses on lent interest and credibility for the geek in me, but the earnestness with  which she  conveyed the humour, hardworking nature, and love of the mountains inherent to her characters lent a richness to the novel that made me wish I was doing rounds with Fran (although I can guarantee we'd still need Ben or Woody to rescue us from our own sense of direction).

Fans  of historical fiction will probably not find any major surprises in the overall plotlines, whether it's Fran's coming into her own, Ben's readjustment to life post-war, or Woody's brink of manhood adventures and yet the charm of this book and it's characters draws me like the mountains  draw in Fran.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."