The Forgiven
This sweet romance opens in modern-day Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The central character is Rebecca Fisher, a young Amish widow who is trying to adjust to raising her two children alone by keeping the farm going and carrying on with the dreams of her late husband. She is supported by her extended family with her endeavors, and at the same time she rents the newly built barn to Matthew Byler to help him establish his furniture business. Matthew has just returned to the Amish community, and not all of the neighbors are ready to bring him back into the fold. Imbedded into this story, Rebecca is reading the diary of Anna Esch from 1941. Anna describes the objections of her people to the growing war in Europe and how the young men are making decisions to work at government camps instead of fighting. As the reader follows both of the young ladies’ lives, we see Rebecca finding the answers in her own life. She resists finding new love in handsome Matthew out of obligation to her husband’s memory, but he proves himself a worthy suitor.
This is the first Amish inspirational story that I have read, and I found it rich in Amish culture and expressions. The characters are simple and keep to gentle behavior and beliefs, despite the temptations in the outside world. Lessons are learned by those who step outside of the system, and forgiveness seems to be the underlying theme of this story.
