Secrets in Hickory Hollow -- The Secret Keeper

Over the past few years, there has been a flood of books in the Amish fiction genre -- many of them well-written by some very good authors.  It is always enjoyable to me, though, to go back to the beginning, to the author some have called the queen of Amish fiction -- Beverly Lewis.

The Secret Keeper is the fourth book in the Home to Hickory Hollow series.  The characters and background story go all the way back to one of Beverly's very first books -- The Shunning -- and the story of Katie Lapp and her family.

As always, this Beverly Lewis book is a great read.  The characters are interesting people, many of them carrying secrets that can change the lives of entire families.  Although some of the elements of the story are predictable, there is enough uncertainty to keep you guessing as to what choices will ultimately be made.

Fans of great Amish fiction should thoroughly enjoy The Secret Keeper.  Although the books in the series have some common characters and locale, the stories are not dependent on each other.  So you can read the Home to Hickory Hollow books in any order.   

Thanks to Bethany House for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book

Come home to Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania--the beloved setting where Beverly Lewis's celebrated Amish novels began--with new characters and new stories of drama, romance, and the ties that draw people together.

Jennifer Burns shocks her family and friends when she bids farewell to her modern life in favor of the Old Order Amish world, settling in with Samuel and Rebecca Lapp.

The people of Hickory Hollow are curious about the beautiful young seeker among them--one handsome Amishman in particular--and Jenny faces many challenges in the Proving time the brethren set for her...challenges of the heart, as well as the spirit.

About the Author
 
Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is the New York Times bestselling author of more than ninety books. Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide. A keen interest in her mother's Plain heritage has inspired Beverly to write many Amish-related novels, beginning with The Shunning, which has sold more than one million copies and was recently made into an Original Hallmark Channel movie. In 2007 The Brethren was honored with a Christy Award. She has been interviewed by both national and international media, including Time magazine, the Associated Press, and the BBC. Beverly lives with her husband, David, in Colorado. Visit her Web site at www.beverlylewis.com for more information.

Enjoy a question and answer session with Beverly here.