Sunday, February 10, 2013

Book Review: Though Mountains Fall

I have been itching for the next book in Dale Cramer's The Daughter's of Caleb Bender series- and its finally here!  Though Mountains Fall continues the struggling Amish church settlement in Paradise Valley, Mexico centralized on Caleb Bender and his family.  We left the family torn to pieces over the death of their older brother and healing over the kidnapping of Rachel and coming to grips with the inevitable love of Domingo (the Mexican hired hand) and Miriam.  This next installment brings intense drama as the Amish struggle to maintain the peace in the valley as bandits and soldiers disturb their lives.  This book is about choices- decisions have to be made not only about the future of each character and family, but of the entire Amish settlement.  Will Miriam choose her love for Domingo over the faith of her family?  Will her family choose love for their daughter over the rules of their church if she is banned?  God forgives us, can we forgive others?

Dale Cramer has become my favorite new novelist and I hope that this is not the last installment of the Caleb Bender series and that there are future ones like it.  The story lines are the perfect blend of fresh ideas merged with the classic topics (Amish lifestyle, faith, love) that keep us reading Christian fiction.  Cramer's writing has beautiful voice which I connected to greatly- which is not always easy from a male author writing from a primarily woman's point of view.  If you are looking for a new author or a new series- I cannot recommend this series enough- just be sure to start with Books 1 and 2 before you jump into this wonderful novel.  You will miss a great deal and will not be disappointed.

*I was given a copy of the book from Bethany House publishers in exchange for my honest review

No comments: