This book touched my my heart in a unique way. I was a young teenager during the time this book was set and I had two brothers who served in this war, as did neighbors and friends. I remember when the lottery was implemented. I felt for Ellie's brother Evan who had probably the worst shock of his life when he landed in the barber's chair at boot camp! I have read other works of Amish fiction where Amish men who served, but as orderlies assisting medics in field hospitals, not in combat. It was a terrible time for all of us but for an Amish family who wouldn't have a phone or a daily paper, they were very out of touch with what was going on.

I enjoyed reading Ellie's story and her love for the family orchard. Her love for the orchard was personal. She would have loved taking over the orchard when her father retired, yet as a woman, that would have been unrealistic in her culture. Throughout the story she grows into a wonderful young woman who changed from a young woman with dreams. She dreams of the orchard and dreams of her beau, Menno. Her feelings are as natural today as they would have been for any young woman in the 1960s. As a reader, it is satisfying when the story wraps up neatly just as we think it should go. Beverly Lewis, has, time and again written beloved characters whose situation we can identify with, even though we are not Amish. I recommend this book to all who enjoy immersing themselves into a good story.

Another touching read by Beverly Lewis. She has a way with words. Her books about the Amish shows her love for the people she writes about.
Ellie and her brother learn valuable lessons in this story. Unfortunately, we have to realize that everyone has free will. We sometimes can see the error of their ways. But lecturing to them won't change their mind. We have to sit back and let them make the mistakes. My mother warned me not to marry my 1st husband. I knew what was best. NOT!!

In this case, Ellie's brother, Evan, won't file as a conscientious objecter. He could as he was Amish. But he was determined to serve his country. He paid a major sacrifice but gained much from this situation.

Have you ever had to go through something that was difficult or emotional? Did you learn anything about yourself?

I suggest you pick this up. A great story. An example of a family's love for each other.

I am the daughter of a Vietnam vet, so this book was very interesting to me from that aspect. I have read several Beverly Lewis books and she is always my go to when I need a good up beat, Amish read. I can always count on her for a light-hearted, pick up.

This is the story of Ellie and her twin brother, Evan. Evan is at the age where he had to register for the draft, but unlike other Amish men, he did not register as a conscious objector. Which that brought a whole different aspect to the book. It follows the day to day life of running an orchard in their community, and who will be the next sibling to take that over. But with Evan turning his back on the "Community", it is clear who will be doing that. Ellie has many ideas of how to expand and make the orchard better. It also follows Ellie during her courting season and how the times and what Evan did brought out people's true feelings.

I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to others. Thank you Netgalley and Bethany House for this advanced copy of this book.

This was an interesting book and the first I’d read that featured an Amish man drafted into war. I loved that it was set during the Vietnam War. I would like more fiction in this era, if accurately portrayed.

The peach and apple orchard was such a great backdrop for this story featuring multiple generations of a single family. From little kids to grandparents, this book highlighted the ins and outs of family life, including daily troubles and how each member dealt with such matters.

The courtship was sweet. It was fun to see how the challenges to the relationship involved health, friends, and family. The balance was good, and I enjoyed seeing how the relationship progressed.

Disappointments were that baptism was by sprinkling and that an apply type’s history was “adjusted.”

Content: tobacco, alcohol

I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of events from my childhood. Beverly Lewis gave good insight into those troubled times in the Viet Nam war era. She approaches the subject of CO from both the Amish and English sides.

The book had great characters that were very well developed. The story flowed well. It is Christian without being pushy. It reveals

I used to love reading books by Beverly Lewis back when the Amish fiction rage first began, but I had not read one of hers in several years. If there is such a category, I would label this as Historic Amish fiction because it is set in 1970 and revolves around the Vietnam War. Evan and Ellie are twins who could not have more different views about their Amish faith. Ellie can hardly wait to be baptized and looks forward to marrying an Amish man. Evan, on the other hand, began his Rumschpringe earlier than usual and because close friends with a neighboring "English" boy and his sister. The young man is killed in Vietnam, and Evan has fallen in love with his sister. Rather than register as a conscientious objector, Evan subjects himself to the draft. He has a low draft number and soon finds himself in Vietnam. His family remains home to face the skeptical looks of their family and friends concerning how they must have raised their son. At the same time, Ellie has a courtship with a young Amish fellow named Menno, and lots of details about running a family orchard business come to light. All of this takes well over half the book to happen.
The pacing of this novel is very slow and yet it, it manages to be choppy at the same time, especially in the first half. Each chapter is broken into countless little vignettes. About the time one story gets going, it stops abruptly and switches to another very short story. I wanted to know much more before each one ended.
The second half of the book reads much better than the first, and lots of action happens. I thought that it seemed a bit rushed, especially in the details of Ellie's courtship with her future husband. Also, Lewis could have developed the story of Evan and the war a bit more fully. Nonetheless, the book is well-researched and accurately portrays Amish life at the time, based on what I know of it. The characters have well-developed personalities and present shining testimonies of their faith in God. It was informative to read just how strongly the Amish hold their belief in pacifism. I recommend this book as a good historical Christian novel as long as the reader does not mind meandering down the path of its plot.
I received a review copy of this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.

The Hostetler family has tended their orchard for generations and look forward enjoying its beauty for many years to come. Twins Ellie and Evan are the last children at home and the family fully expects Evan to take over the business. But when his draft number is drawn, Evan makes the difficult decision to enlist. Amid the tensions of the Vietnam war, Ellie's world starts to shift as well. Between her love for the Orchard and thinking of her future, she must find her way, all while awaiting for her brother's safe return.

Beverly Lewis' newest title, The Orchard, introduces the idea of what happens when a young man from a pacifist community goes off to war. What drives his decision? How does his community react? And how does a family survive when a son goes off to war?

I loved how honest this book was about a parents' emotions. Being a mom of an older teen, I often wonder if I could have done more in the time I've had. The chapters written from a parents perspective were relatable and rang true to what a lot of us feel. Ellie was also a relatable character as she often struggle with her brother's decisions and still missed him tremendously. Lewis did a good job of combining the emotions of pain, fear, and longing in the Hostetler family.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot twist in this one. The beginning was a little slow and I had to commit myself to seeing it through. But this book definitely took a different look at Amish life that hasn't been explored in Lewis' earlier works. A good book for anyone who enjoys Amish fiction.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This was a beautiful story about an Amish girl Ellie and her twin brother Evan. Readers will enjoy the inside perspective on the day-to-day running of their family orchard. The story is set during the Vietnam War, and when Ellie's brother Evan doesn't register as a conscious objector, he soon is drafted into the Army. While he is away, Ellie processes the separation from her brother and her community's disapproval of his actions. She deals with her best friend moving away and an unexpected romance with an old friend.

Many of the details about Amish culture and life seemed accurate from what I know about the Amish. However, as much as I liked this book, it is probably my least favorite by Beverly Lewis. The story developed so slowly. The first half of the book felt like the introduction. To use the terms of literature analysis. I kept wondering when the "conflict" and "rising action" would begin. I was disappointed that Ellie's actual courtship felt rushed and lasted only a few pages.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions in this review are my own.

Take each day as it comes.

Ellie Hostetler's world is going thru many changes. The English world has affected her family with the Vietnam War. Her twin brother Evan has a friendship with an Englisher and his sister. That relationship had affected a decision of going to war and not being a conscientious objector as his family encouraged him. Ellie is torn about her brother's choices and seeks to understand why he made that choice and how he will be when he comes back if he comes back. It seems like all her relationships are taking a shift that she has to reexamine. Her brother, her best friend, and her new beau.

What I liked about this story is Ellie found comfort and an anchor in the Lord but also in the Orchard her family owned. She was reminded of spiritual truths about love, sacrifice, and how God provides. God's provision many times is in our relationships that we do not always see but in waiting, his love for us is revealed. Having the patience to see that is what brings hope. I also was encouraged by her brother's story. His good intentions to his English friend but his realization of what really matters in the end. I loved how the story ended. If you like Amish romance with a little historical value, you will appreciate this one.

A special thank you to Bethany House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

The Orchard by Beverly Lewis is a touching Amish tale. It is well-written with relatable characters. We get to know Ellie Hostetler and her family. Ellie along with her twin brother, Evan and their parents are the central characters. We follow them as they go about their day to day lives during the Vietnam War. Evan gets a low number is the draft lottery. He failed to register as a conscientious objector, so Evan is soon drafted and sent off to war. The Hostetler’s live in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania which has a close-knit Amish community. Everyone is praying for Evan to return home safely and return to the fold. Ellie loves her family orchard. If she had been born a boy, Ellie would inherit the orchard she loves. Instead, Evan is the one who stands to inherit the farm, but he is not sure that is the path he wishes to go. There are several subplots. I like how everything worked together. The point-of-view switched between Ellie and her father, Lyle. The Orchard is a good book, but I did not find it as engaging as this author’s previous novels. The biggest problem was the pacing which was leisurely (you know the 90-year-old woman with the walker who slowly goes across the road while you are waiting to turn right—that is the pace of this book). It took quite a while for the author to set the stage (introduce the characters, the orchard, etc.). I admit that I did some skimming to get through it (laundry days, all the meals, letter writing). I wish there had been some editing (take out about a hundred pages). I like the characters strong faith. They know that God is watching out for them, and they are firm believers in the power of prayer. I did feel that the author captured how people felt about the Vietnam War and conscientious objectors. The Orchard has a good ending, but I do feel that Evan’s story is incomplete. The Orchard is a tender Amish tale with apple picking, pretty peach blossoms, Vietnam war woes, a tender romance, and powerful prayers.

Well written historical Amish romance. Amish books are not my favorite genre but I throughly enjoyed this well written book.

The story revolves around the “conscientious objector” status during the Vietnam War era. Not all draft-age Amish men seek it.

The Hostetler family orchard has existed for generations & Ellie loves everything about it. She & the rest of the family are shocked to find her twin brother did *not* request the conscientious objector status and his draft number is low.

Evan goes to war.

My review ...
Other subplots are a romance for Ellie, the orchard’s future especially if Evan does not return, the Amish communities reaction to Evan going into the military, their treatment of the family, and the frightening threats of some Englischers for all Amish calling them draft dodgers.

The Orchard has a wealth of subplots but the story delves into an Amish family living through the experience of a son/brother fighting in a war, something the Amish do not believe in. One blessing the Hostetlers had, which was not mentioned, was “no news” since they do not have television or radios.

Books can bring back memories. You see, the Vietnam War wasn’t just an “era” to this reviewer. My husband flew literally thousands of hours in this war. He was stationed at Clark AFB, PI. Twenty-one days in Vietnam, three or four days ‘home’ — over and over. I was a new bride fresh out of graduate school. I volunteered as a Red Cross worker at the base hospital. I might cry once home but never in front of the guys. Men weren’t always sent home; some were so seriously injured they couldn’t be flown back to the States. Those were “my guys”.

Evan had not been baptized so his family did support him with letters. Remember this was long before cell phones. Every phone call cost the military personnel money — there was no setup for calling home.

The Orchard has a lot going on it it. Life doesn’t stop even when a loved one is serving in an active war. The orchard was the family’s principal livelihood, but who would take over if Evan went Englishe? An unmarried or married woman (if Ellie married) was not expected to “run a business”. Yet Ellie knew more about the orchard except for her Dat or Dawdi.

So why doesn’t The Orchard get 5 stars?
Two words … THE BEGINNING … that went on and on and on. Until I was 25% into the book, I flat wasn’t interested. The author took forever to set the scene and introduce the characters. Fortunately, at that point, the book “took off”. Sometimes editor(s) and writing “assistants” get so familiar with the trees in the forest, that they forget that the reader doesn’t want to deal with a long, tangled forest to get to the story. I’ve never been an editor but I have been a Beta reader. My approach in that role is to read like a “typical” reader. If I have to stop and look at past pages, that is reported. If I am bored and can’t “buy into” a setting or scene, that is reported. And someone should have taken a RED pencil to the first 25% of The Orchard.

If the rest of the story had not been so good, the reduction would have been more than just one star. I still recommend the book but just remember, you’ll do some wading before you get to the “rest of the story”.

I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of “The Orchard” via NetGalley from the publisher, Bethany House, Bethany House Publishers. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 4 stars
#TheOrchard #NetGalley #BeverlyLewis

When I finished reading 'The Orchard' I called my mom and told her she HAD to read it!! Sometimes, it can feel as though there is only one way to take an Amish story, but Beverly Lewis always finds ways to add intrigue. We know the Amish are peaceful people who avoid the outside world, including war. I enjoyed this story and the small insight into how the Amish dealt with the chaos of the Vietnam War. I wish this were a series. I liked the characters and would love to follow the family into the future.
I already recommended that my library order this book.

This is a Historical Amish Fiction. I just found this story to not pull me into it, and it was a very slow moving story. I did not think this was the author for me. I do not think this is a bad book, but it is just not the book from me. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

The Orchard by Beverly Lewis is another wonderful story from a favorite author. Taking place in the seventies, during the Vietnam War, the book reminds us how very important family and home really are. Ellie and her twin brother Evan have grown up on their family orchard. Ellie longs for a loving relationship and to stay close to home. Evan is struggling with the Amish choice of pacifism during the war. When one of his English friends dies, he decides to enlist. A close friend to both of them, Sol chooses to register as a conscientious objector and stay home. But tragedy can happen at home or far away. Join the three of them as they discover the true meaning of family and how God holds all things together. Thanks to NetGalley for this beautifully written story. It is a reminder we all need sometimes.

Beverly Lewis writes authentic, unique Amish stories that draw you in and touch the heart. This book is one of her best.
Ellie and Evan are twins finding their way in life during the Vietnam era. Evan is being tugged back and forth between the Plain life and life outside. He loves life in the orchard and his family but after losing his English friend in the war and a budding relationship with an English girl he is drawn further away from his values.
Ellie is faithful to beliefs, church, and community but nothing will change her love for her brother. Even when he’s chosen to be listed for the draft. When his name is called, and her best friend leaves she begins to talk with his friend Sol who is stepping out with her cousin.
Each of them with God’s guidance through difficult circumstances must make choices that place them in His perfect will.
This book is written in a way that draws you into the Plain life, feeling it’s struggles, contentment, and closeness of family and community. I recommend this book for lovers of Amish fiction.
I received a copy courtesy of Bethany House and Interviews and Reviews through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.

As she did in The Orchard, Beverly Lewis can be counted on to gives readers a peaceful and thought provoking book.

The Orchard by Beverly Lewis

This was such a sweet and heartwarming story of faith and family standing together during challenging times. This novel takes place during the Vietnam War and follows the stories of twins Ellie and Evan who take very different paths as they seek to find their place in the world and within their community. The novel balanced the tension and conflict surrounding Evan being drafted with lovely descriptions of everyday life within the Amish community.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing!

I've read almost every book Lewis has written. While I enjoyed this one, it wasn't my favorite. There was more telling than I'd expect in her novels. I did enjoy the historical connection, as I haven't read many around the time of the Vietnam War. The overall pace was a bit too slow to continuously hold my attention, and there wasn't much action in the first half. Things did pick up a bit in the second half, and I enjoyed how the characters' faith played into things.

My thoughts: The Orchard is Ms Lewis's newest release, available for preorder. It is a bit of a historical, set around the Vietnam War, I didn't enjoy it as much as I usually do her books. It was telling, mostly, and I couldn't get into the story. Fans of Ms. Lewis will probably love it... This story was a miss for me but check it out for yourself. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.