"A heartwarming and tender story of faith, forgiveness and family love!"
Reviewed by Audrey Lawrence
Posted April 21, 2015
Amish
How does a man go back? How can a man go back and face
his
sick mother after leaving her so many years ago? How can
a
man go back and see old friends in his community,
especially
an Amish man? How can a man go back after the evil and
stupid deed he had done?
After his good friend Saul contacted Aaron Ebersol to let
him know that his mother had a stroke and is asking for
him, Aaron quickly wrapped up his business affairs and
returns to his home community in Paradise, Pennsylvania.
Now
that he is back in Paradise, he is nervous about
approaching
his family. After all, he had been away from his family
for seventeen years and no one had ever replied to the
many
letters he sent back home. Dare he go and see his mother?
Would she really welcome him? What about his older
brother,
his father, and the Amish community - how would they
respond?
Noticing a strange man coming down for breakfast at the
Bed
and Breakfast where Linda Zook works part-time, Linda is
surprised to see Aaron in Englisher clothes. She could
tell
he doesn't remember her and she is annoyed that he is so
uncaring as to have waited a week before coming to see his
ailing mother. Linda and Aaron's mother both worked at the
Lancaster Grand Hotel and are very good friends. But,
later
in the day when Linda realizes how shook up Aaron is after
seeing his mother, she is a little more understanding and
supportive.
As Aaron gets a mixed reception on the family front, he
decides to stay on at the Bed and Breakfast. Yet, that is
not the only reason. He enjoys the pleasant company of
Linda Zook and looks forward to seeing her when their
paths
cross. For her part, Linda sparkles under the attention
from this handsome man and enjoys his smiles. But their
worlds are different with many barriers. Some of their
family members don't want them to spend time together. It
is hopeless for her even to ponder what a future might
look
like. She is baptized and would never consider leaving
her
community and Aaron lives as an Englisher in a distant
city
and has his own business there. What can God's plan for
her
possibly be?
Amy Clipston is a highly regarded and respected writer of
Amish and other inspirational works. A SIMPLE PRAYER is
the
fourth book in her The Hearts of the Lancaster Grand
Hotel series based on the lives of women who work at
this hotel.
All the books in this series are completely readable on
their own, yet are even more of delightful treat.
Clipston's many fans are sure to relish this latest
addition
to the collection.
Having read many Amish stories by various writers, I am
very
impressed with the skill and talent in which Clipston
weaves
her stories. She brings incredible knowledge and research
about the Amish and life in Lancaster County into A SIMPLE
PRAYER; yet, it flows as naturally as a river in the
thoughts and words of her characters. I especially
appreciate Clipston's ability to really pull the reader
into
deep and heartfelt values and issues as the characters
grapple with their feelings and thoughts. Right from the
first page, I felt Aaron's pain and anxiety and just had
to
read on as the plot develops and different perspectives
are
reflected from the thoughts and comments of others. The
dialogue sounds so authentic, it makes you feel as if you
are right in the room watching and listening to what is
happening.
To convey a sense of Amish speech, Clipston nicely
sprinkles
many common expressions into the dialogues between
characters. To help readers fully understand these
comments, A SIMPLE PRAYER is prefaced by a short glossary
of
Amish expressions which is very helpful as well as is the
chart of the many characters in the series. Discussion
questions are also included at the end which is very
useful
for individuals wanting to reflect on what they have just
read or to use in a book club discussion.
A SIMPLE PRAYER is not a simple book, nor is it hard to
read. Clipston has her characters dealing with strong
issues, deep concerns and has them thinking about how they
live their lives and practice their beliefs. For myself,
even as I am reading the story and eager to find out what
happens, it also makes me think about my own faith and my
own challenges. I think many readers are sure to find
inspiration and hope from A SIMPLE PRAYER as well and can
enjoy this story on many levels. So, get your copy and
enjoy A SIMPLE PRAYER! You will be glad you did!
SUMMARY
Life has taken much from Linda Zook. Now she dares to hope
for a chance at love and a new beginning. Linda Zook, 32, works part-time at the Lancaster Grand
Hotel. As the sole survivor of a buggy accident
that left her orphaned at age four, she was raised by her
unwilling Uncle Reuben. Linda longs to be
worthy of someone, but the life-long effects of her
injuries and her upbringing under the care of her
embittered uncle have destroyed her self-worth. Aaron Ebersol, 32, left the Amish community 17 years ago
when he could no longer bear the restrictions
or the constant tension with his father. He’d written too
many unanswered letters to his mother and
found himself incapable of putting down any roots in his
new home in Missouri. Success in work could not
replace the family that denied Aaron, even after all of
these years. Aaron hastily returns to the Amish community of Paradise,
PA, after receiving word of his mother’s
stroke. Hesitant to get too close to the family he was
once a part of, he decides to stay at the Heart
of Paradise Bed & Breakfast. He soon encounters Linda,
working there part-time, and they begin to
develop a friendship. Aaron’s return allows him to reconnect with his family as
he jumps into home improvement projects,
hoping to make his parents’ house more accessible to his
handicapped mother. But before long, he is
enraged to learn that his brother, Solomon, had hidden all
of Aaron’s letters to their mother. Linda and Aaron must each learn to forgive the family
members who have deceived and forsaken them. And
Aaron must also show Linda that she is worthy of his love.
What do you think about this review?
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