Daybreak: The Days of Redemption Series, Book One
In this close-knit Amish family, nothing is as perfect as it seems . . . When Viola Keim starts working at a nearby Mennonite retirement home, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with resident Atle, whose only living relative, son Edward, is living as a missionary in Nicaragua. Viola understands the importance of mission work, but she can’t imagine leaving her father in the hands of strangers. Even though her family is New Order Amish, it’s not the Amish way, and though she doesn’t know Ed, sh
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Life lessons tucked in between a great story we can all learn from!,
She finds herself particularly drawn to an elderly man named Atle Swartz who is wheelchair bound but is ornery as they come and lately only Viola can dish it back to him in a manner that creates a wonderful relationship despite the age difference. However when Atle shares the letters from his son volunteering in mission work in Nicaragua, she isn’t pleased when Edward returns home to see his father. She has a hard time coming to terms between the differences in caring for aging parents and feels obligated to share her concerns with him. However it seems there might be more sparks there than just anger but can they work through their differences before Edward has to return to Nicaragua?
When Viola learns that even her own family has been hiding secrets of their own, it opens her up to the possibilities that not everything as it appears on the surface. She learns that her own mother was born English and have hidden the facts of their lives before marriage from their children. Now Viola’s parents have to come to terms that what people think about them as the perfect family isn’t really true and that those same standards they have placed on their children growing up has made life more difficult than they could have imagined. What implications will that have not only on their immediate family but in the Amish community as well? Will this new knowledge help Viola move towards having a softer heart towards Edward and his own father?
I received Daybreak by Shelley Shepard Gray compliments of Avon Inspired, a division of Harper Collins Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. Once again Shelley does an exceptional job at writing a series that defines some valuable lessons in between, about judging a book by its cover! In this instance Viola is judgemental when it comes to how Edward deals with his father based on her own values in growing up Amish, but she doesn’t understand what has motivated them to make the decision that worked for them. Much like how she has judged her own parents based on what she saw on the outside without really knowing the truth about their own pasts. I LOVED novels that offer a duality about them, incorporating an wonderful story with some valuable life lessons we can all relate to. I rate this one a wunderbaar (wonderful in Amish) 5 out of 5 stars and can’t wait for the next book Ray of Light in this heartwarming The Days of Redemption series. You get a teaser chapter at the end of this one!
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|An Amish Original,
Viola comes from what is called a New Order Amish family and when she begins working at Daybreak Retirement home she becomes fast friends with Atle. What she quickly makes us aware of is that she doesn’t approve of Atle’s son Ed who is in Nicaragua on missionary work.
When Ed comes for a visit, Viola is anything but happy to see this man she believes abandoned his father. But, as her story unwinds, her family has secrets that could destroy her way of life and what she has always known. What are the secrets that her mother and father are keeping from her family?
Ed is happy to be home, but when his work may take him to Belize he is torn. He must make a quick decision on what he will do, but what is holding him in Ohio?
When secrets become unraveled, she realizes that she has feelings for Ed and that she was wrong to misjudge him. As her life is revealed, will she stay with the only thing she has ever known or will she follow her heart?
This is a beautiful story that shows us what family is supposed to mean, and the truth should always be revealed. It is not okay to hold secrets from the ones that we love. Family is so important and you should always follow your heart and fight for what you believe in. Daybreak definitely showed me some things that I need to look at in my life and fight for them.
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|Was worth waiting for!!!,
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