Book Review: The Secret by Beverly Lewis
Secret, The
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Those who know my reading habits know that I read very little fiction anymore. I simply don’t have the time. I make an exception, however, when Beverly Lewis releases a new book. Her books have been a source of pleasure to me for several years. I was anticipating the same pleasure when I received my advance reading copy of “The Secret.”
Lewis has a knack of giving little tid-bits of information to the reader so as to lead them along deeper and deeper into the story. Her books are not cliff hangers, but they are certainly hard to put down. Lewis has the ability to gain and keep her reader’s attention. She has been successful with me in this regard when I read “The Secret.”
The book opens with what appears to be the typical Amish home. It doesn’t take long to notice that something is amiss. Judah Byler and his wife Lettie have very little communication with each other. They have shut each other off, it seems. Both are uncomfortable with the situation, but are not sure what to do about it.
Meanwhile, their older children, Adam and Grace (Grace for whom the season is named.) are in budding romances and anticipating weddings in the very near future. In another city a young college student named Heather learns that she has cancer. Though she doesn’t know it, her father has bought property near Bird In Hand, PA. She takes some time off to get away and seek alternative treatment for her cancer. She stays with a neighbor of the Bylers. In this first volume of “The Seasons of Grace” series, Heather does not play an extremely large part. I think she will come into focus a little more in a later volume. This series will be more about Grace.
While Adam and Grace are both involved in their romances, Grace wakes early one morning to find her mother has left her a note telling her that she is leaving, but giving no explanation. Lettie tried to explain to Judah, but they simply had communication problems. She never managed to tell him what was going on. Thus the Bylers are left without the matron of the house.
Rumors abound in regard to Lettie and her disappearance. Grace is shaken by her mother’s sudden leave-taking. Will she return? What is she doing? Should Grace go ahead with her marriage? How does Judah respond? How will it all turn out? I’m not giving it away.
This book is another masterpiece from Lewis. I read it in less than one day. Seldom do I put a Beverly Lewis book down until I am totally finished reading it. So it was with this one.
If the reader is in search of good, clean, Christian-themed fiction tinged with a little romance and mystery, this book will certainly satisfy their craving. I simply cannot recommend it too highly.
Note: This book is scheduled to be released on March 31,2009.