Friday, March 28, 2008

Dear to Me

Dear to Me
Wanda E. Brunstetter
Barbour Books
PO Box 719 Ulrichsville, OH 44683
www.barbourbooks.com
ISBN:978-1-59789-611-5, 2008, $14.95
Reviewed for Reader Views.

When faced with a major decision and desiring for God's will in your life, don't you wish that the correct decision would come to you like a bolt of lightning? Melinda Andrews has everything that a young Amish girl would want. She has been baptized in the Amish faith, and is being courted by her longtime good friend, Gabe Swartz. She has learned all she has to learn in order to be an Amish wife and mother. That is all that young Amish girls are supposed to be able to do with their life anyway.

Melinda has a job working with the local veterinarian. She is able to put her love of caring for animals and make additional income for her family until she and Gabe are ready to be married. Everyone in Webster County realizes that Melinda has a heart for wounded animals. She often has injured animals delivered to her farm for medical attention. She is also known to bring animals (tame and wild ones) home from the veterinary clinic for personalized attention. Her parents and brother do not understand her caring spirit and why she is so fascinated with caring for animals rather than attending to her family's needs as expected.

Gabe sees her caring spirit as a valuable trait as it means she will be an excellent mother to their children. The vet, Dr Franklin, sees additional traits in Melinda which would make her an excellent vet assistant or even a veterinarian. But she will need additional education which is contrary to Amish beliefs.

Melinda is so focused on her dream of becoming a vet a reality. She insists that if Gabe really does love her he will follow her into the English world. Being outside the Old Order Amish world is not foreign to young Melinda as she lived her first 6 years in Branson, Missouri while her mother was chasing stardom. Why is Gabe being so stubborn, doesn't he love her at all? Does loving someone require you to give up all your hopes, dreams and all that you have ever known? What will it take for Melinda to realize what God's plan is for her life?

Wanda Brunstetter is a wonderful story teller. She uses her experience in visiting Amish settlements throughout the United States to add realism to her stories."Dear to Me" is the third book in her "The Brides of Webster County" series. "Dear to Me" will have you seeing what is really dear to Melinda's heart and how God can work in your hearts and show how you can utilize your talents to His glory!

1 comment:

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

I'll have to check this one out. I enjoyed Beverly Lewis' Abram's Daughters series.