In this prequel to Lewis' popular Shunning series, the reader discovers the backstory of wise woman Ella Mae. As she comes to grips with loosing her husband, Ella Mae must find a new purpose or risk being lost in her grief. At the same time, her great niece, Clara Bender, is looking for her place as well. Following her father's remarriage, Clara grapples with how she fits into the family and seeks refuge in Ella Mae's home. Both women follow a similiar path of rediscovering themselves when the circumstances of life are difficult. But as time moves forward, will these two be able to move with it? Or will they find themselves being left behind?
I often enjoy Beverly Lewis' work, but this was one of the better titles that she has written in recent years. The characters were rich and complex. And Lewis did a wonderful job of paralleling their journeys while maintaining the integrity of both women. Ella Mae's life transition was particularly relatable at my stage in life as Clara's path would be equally as relatable for a younger reader. Although this title is a prequel, it can easily be read on it's own. And in fact has encouraged me to go back to the original series and reread those as well. I really felt like Beverly Lewis hit her mark with The Heirloom and would whole-heartedly recommend this title to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction.
*Disclaimer: I recieved a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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