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southernhon 's review for:
The Shunning
by Beverly Lewis
I've been a fan of Beverly Lewis' Amish books for years and was happy to see this available at my local library as an ebook loan. The story began with the main character, Katie, an Amish young lady, stumbling upon a satin infant gown hidden in the attic with the name Katherine stitched on it. Who did it belong to? The story then unfolds with some major family drama, as Katherine learns the truth about the gown, the birth mother who gave her up, and the Amish family who loved her as one of their own and raised her according to their customs. Katie has some secrets of her own that she hides from nearly everyone. She has learned to play the guitar and sing hymms that are not in the Amish hymnbook, which is forbidden. The love of music was shared with her boyfriend, Dan, who tragically died at sea a few years prior. Unfortunately, the willful Katie refuses to give up the music and finds herself having to be disciplined by her stern but loving parents.
In an attempt to start a new life and rid herself of the memory of Dan and love of music, Katie accepts a marriage proposal from the town bishop, who is a young widower with five young children. Meanwhile, a rich "English" woman with auburn hair is spotted in town, in her limousine, looking for the girl she gave up so many years ago. It just so happens that Katie has auburn hair as well, which apparently makes Katie wonder why no one else in her family has the unique hair color.
Katie presses her mother for information about the mysterious baby gown and the secret is now out. Katie's mother, Rebecca, gave birth to a stillborn baby 22 years ago. That very day (what a coincidence!!), a young mother with auburn hair who had just given birth to a daughter decides to give up her baby to a young Amish couple who just suffered through the birth of their stillborn daughter. (Personal note: the whole auburn hair thing really got old after awhile. "Katie twirled her thick auburn hair." "Laura's auburn hair contrasted with her black fur coat." No need to beat us over the head with the genetic likeness references.)
As Katie's wedding to Bishop John nears, she becomes more convinced that she cannot go through with it and leaves him at the altar, shocking the entire town who has come to the wedding. Of course, this leads to her being shunned by the bishop for her disobedient behavior. This shunning, while certainly difficult for Katie and her family and friends, is almost a welcome relief for the girl who never "felt" Amish in the first place and uses it as an opportunity to find her long-lost birthmother, Laura Mayfield-Bennett, who just happens to be a wealthy heiress.
The story ends there and is continued in Book #2, The Confession.
In an attempt to start a new life and rid herself of the memory of Dan and love of music, Katie accepts a marriage proposal from the town bishop, who is a young widower with five young children. Meanwhile, a rich "English" woman with auburn hair is spotted in town, in her limousine, looking for the girl she gave up so many years ago. It just so happens that Katie has auburn hair as well, which apparently makes Katie wonder why no one else in her family has the unique hair color.
Katie presses her mother for information about the mysterious baby gown and the secret is now out. Katie's mother, Rebecca, gave birth to a stillborn baby 22 years ago. That very day (what a coincidence!!), a young mother with auburn hair who had just given birth to a daughter decides to give up her baby to a young Amish couple who just suffered through the birth of their stillborn daughter. (Personal note: the whole auburn hair thing really got old after awhile. "Katie twirled her thick auburn hair." "Laura's auburn hair contrasted with her black fur coat." No need to beat us over the head with the genetic likeness references.)
As Katie's wedding to Bishop John nears, she becomes more convinced that she cannot go through with it and leaves him at the altar, shocking the entire town who has come to the wedding. Of course, this leads to her being shunned by the bishop for her disobedient behavior. This shunning, while certainly difficult for Katie and her family and friends, is almost a welcome relief for the girl who never "felt" Amish in the first place and uses it as an opportunity to find her long-lost birthmother, Laura Mayfield-Bennett, who just happens to be a wealthy heiress.
The story ends there and is continued in Book #2, The Confession.