I was given this book in exchange for my honest review.
Betsy Zook is a young woman with her whole life ahead of her and then the unthinkable happens, her family is murdered and she and her brother are taken way to be sold or traded in the Indian community. Betsy's fiance is devastated but Tessa, another woman in love with Hans, sees her chance to step into Betsy's shoes.
The Return (Amish Beginnings)
The book is historical fiction with the American Revolution war still yet to be fought. This book is filled with differing viewpoints, and multiple characters that need to have their stories shared. There is romance and the struggle with Native Americans.
The main characters are mostly German Americans, Amish and live peacefully among the Native Americans and other settlers. Other settlers, not so much. They want to push the Native Americans from their home and take their lands. The Native Americans are a divided people, too. Some want to live peacefully with the settlers and others are angry and want to fight back. Betsy feels the anguish and despair of seeing her family murdered and then being adopted into a family, where they treat her with loving kindness. Hans, her fiance, cannot see the Native Americans as a peaceful group and is determined to rid them from the territory.
And, there are two love triangles to figure out: one involving a Native American man and Betsy and the other Hans and Tessa. Complicated at best.
How will this get resolved? Will it be like today's struggle between races, where we are to repeat our mistakes over and over? Will Hans be able to see that goodness can reside in all people?
The book's plots are all over the place and sometimes difficult to follow, but it is still a wonderful book full of the things that I love to see in a historical fiction romance. A piece about how the Conestoga Wagon was invented was a fun thread in the book.
If you like this review, you might like another by Suzanne Woods Fisher called The Devoted.
Our August New Town Book Club pick is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. We picked it because the reviews say that it is a cleverly written self help book written with a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor but with a lot of serious concepts to consider. We discuss next week, so I'll et you know!
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Our July New Town Book Club pick, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas blew our minds! The relevancy, the main character, the way the author chose to handle such a sensitive subject created a fantastic read. I truly believe it could become the To Kill a Mockingbird of our times.
The Hate U Give
If you click on these links, it will take you to Amazon to purchase the books. I get a little kickback but it doesn't cost you any extra. Thanks!
If you like this review, you might like another by Suzanne Woods Fisher called The Devoted.
Our August New Town Book Club pick is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. We picked it because the reviews say that it is a cleverly written self help book written with a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor but with a lot of serious concepts to consider. We discuss next week, so I'll et you know!
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Our July New Town Book Club pick, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas blew our minds! The relevancy, the main character, the way the author chose to handle such a sensitive subject created a fantastic read. I truly believe it could become the To Kill a Mockingbird of our times.
The Hate U Give
If you click on these links, it will take you to Amazon to purchase the books. I get a little kickback but it doesn't cost you any extra. Thanks!
