This is my all time favorite book by Beverly Lewis! From start to finish, this book had my undivided attention. I didn’t answer the phone or allow any outside interference to interrupt my time with Lena Rose Schwartz.

The story is as beautifully written as I’ve come to expect from the author, but more importantly, the characters had heart, making them seem so real to me. My heart broke for Lena Rose as she had to say goodbye to her younger siblings after their parents died in an accident. They were a large family and there was not any one family that could accommodate all of the children, so they all must go to families that can care for them.

Lena Rose is sent far away from her brothers and sisters, grandparents and community to Lancaster County, Pa. She also leaves behind the young man who she’s planning to marry. What I loved about Lena Rose was her ability to fit in with her new community and helping her aunt and uncle that so kindly provided her with a home. It was always her plan to return to Michigan, which helped ease her homesickness.

As she became more engaged with the youth and started attending singings’, various gatherings and church, she becomes more attached to the community and her new friends. I was so excited when she finally had the opportunity to go home, even though I was just as conflicted as she was when it was time to leave. I loved that this isn’t necessarily all about romantic entanglements, although there are a couple of those, but it’s more about family and home. I respected that Lena Rose kept her promise to stay in touch with her siblings, while honoring her commitments to her new-found family, friends and having faith that it would all work out in the end.
I teared up a few times while reading this, but I was smiling at the glorious ending.

I received a copy through Netgalley and have given my honest opinion.

A sweet but sad story. I loved getting to know Lena and watching her grow spiritually as she dealt with her parent's deaths and relocation of all her siblings. Lena had such a sweet, giving spirit that can encourage all. I'm hoping there will be more books forthcoming so we can read more about the other siblings. Highly recommended!

I didn't write a review on this book because I just couldn't finish it. It was SO SLOW! I can write one if I need to -- just let me know.....

Any book Beverly Lewis writes is good and this one is no different. It's sad that the family has to be split up but there are happy endings ahead where you least expect

From the publisher’s blurb, “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.”

And thus begins Lena Rose’s new life taking her away from her home in Michigan and to her father’s cousin’s home in Lancaster County, PA. While she does not want to go, she understands that this what she must do for her family. I found Lena Rose to be a sympathetic character with a good head on her shoulders. She loves her siblings but knows she is still too young to take over their care and raising.

What I found most appealing in this book was the structure. So many books, especially those that could be considered “romance” have this formula that the authors think they have to write to, namely boy and girl like each other, boy or girl does something that pushes the other away, they get back together, they repeat that behavior and no one ever acts very mature, but in the end one or the other comes to their senses and everyone lives happily ever after.

The Road Home does not follow this formula. Yes, there is a romance, two in fact, but each is written to show the growth of the characters and not the shallowness. There is a natural progression to the end of the book leaving this reader satisfied with the ending.

According to Goodreads, Beverly Lewis has 149 distinct works recorded on their site. Her average rating is 4.15/5.0. This was the first Lewis book I have read. It won’t be the last.

I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.

Bethany House Publishers
Pub Date: 04.03.18

In Beverly Lewis’ The Road Home, we find Lena Rose Schwartz, the eldest child in the family helping her parents raise her siblings. Lena’s life is going as planned, she has a great family, a wonderful beau, and hope for the future. An unexpected accident, leaves her and her siblings orphans with no one to take in all ten siblings, they find themselves placed among the people in the community. All but Lena Rose, she must leave Centerville, Michigan and travel to the home of her father’s cousin in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She is unsure of the separation, especially from young Chris whom she practically raised. She begins her new life in Lancaster County with the hope that “It won’t be forever.”
The book was a little hard in the beginning to hold my attention. I cannot pin-point what it was that caused this except that Lena Rose lacked some depth in the beginning. I did grow to like her quite well as she grew up herself. Lewis did a great job describing a not so typical scenario found in Inspiration fiction. You seldom see families having to split up over tragedy and it was refreshing to read about how not only Lena Rose, but her siblings coped with the death of their parents and the separation of their family.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing and was under no obligation for a review. This is my honest review in my own words.

Another beautiful story by this well-known author. Loveable characters and a story well-told.

I loved this story. I would like a follow up story as I would like to know what happens next.