Customer Reviews

Beginnings: Sommerfeld Trilogy #2 (Truly Yours Romance Club #15)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Book two of Sommerfield Trilogy is the story of Beth. She has opened up a stained glass business in the little Mennonite town, although she, herself has not changed her lifestyle. She has found true peace with God, and attends church, but does not intend to join the church or the culture into which her mother, Marie has returned. Beth tolerates in, but does not embrace it.

Marie is now middle aged, and pregnant with twins, Henry's first children, which will be 20 years younger than Beth, but she is very, very happy with her Mennonite husband and life. Henry dotes over here, and they are both supportive of Beth.

Beth has one employee, Andrew, who really has his hat set for her, but he is Mennonite, and she is not. End of that possibility. He plans to be an artist much to his father's displeasure. Farming has been their way for decades, and Andrew has no interest in farming, but he does respect his father.

As Beth's talents are becoming known, a large construction company contacts her to do a large, expensive sample church window for them, on a very, very strict schedule...if they are satisfied, they will sign a large contract for 17 more windows. If she does not finish in time or they are not satisfied, the deal is off. The young business representative, Sean, also has his eye on Beth, and he is not Mennonite. Beth seems to be pretty blind to the feelings of either man, although occasionally she does get a "twinge" of something for both men...nothing serious.

Her mother Marie, has a difficult pregnancy and delivery, and the story of Beth takes a huge turn. Not to spoil the story, I will leave it at that. The important part is that Beth finally finds her own way, and who she really is, and who and what are really important.

Even though this book dragged a bit in places, I already have book three, and expect great things from the final book in the series. Thank you Kim, for another wholesome and believable Christian Fiction novel.

Reviewed by Jamie Driggers

Beth lives among the Old Order Mennonites, and though she shares their Christian faith, she doesn't share their lifestyle. While, yes, she feels that God brought her to Sommerfeld, Kansas, and gave her a gift as a stained-glass artist, how can she rectify the two in a place where women are homemakers and art is frivolous?

And what of men? In her employee, Andrew, Beth finds a compassionate and hardworking friend, but to embrace him would be to embrace his Old Order lifestyle, something Beth isn't inclined to do. When Sean shows up at her studio door proposing a business relationship, Beth begins to see the realization of her dreams. But can she trust either of these men with her future?

Oh, how I love Kim Vogel Sawyer's books. Frankly, I'm not sure whether it is her setting (my old stomping grounds) or her ability to weave great stories, but I think it is a combination of the two. Kim is a master storyteller who has cornered the market on a lesser known sect of Mennonite, the Old Order. In my not-Old-Order opinion, she nails the people and their gentle ways from an "outsider's" view point.

But don't go away with the impression that this is "just another Mennonite book," because it isn't. Though you will see into the lives of a few characters, this book is more about feeling like an outsider in any part of life. About not being good enough, not fitting in, desiring more and, eventually, letting go of the idea that life is under our control.

Armchair Interviews says: If this author is new to you, check her out.

This was a good book.I always enjoy these types of books.For Some reason I can realy feel what they feel.Nadia Rehmani

This is a good read you won't want to put down. And it's not a neatly-wrapped ending, but one that makes you feel good even if you're not Mennonite or Amish. Two thumbs up for creating a book that could be for multiple faiths.

Beginnings
By Kim Vogel Sawyer
Review by Roseanna White




Beth Quinn is confident that Sommerfield is the perfect place for her stained-glass art studio--she's just not so sure that the tight-knit Mennonite community will ever fully accept her, even if her mother has rejoined the church. Can she ever belong in this conservative place? Can she open up enough to trust others with her vision and dreams after the betrayal of her ex-boyfriend?

Andrew Braun is smitten with Beth, and there's no denying it. She's a breath of fresh air, and her studio has allowed him to dream again. Maybe, if they can make the studio work, his father will finally admit a man can make a living from art just as well as from farming. And when McCauley Church Construction approaches Beth about making windows for their churches, all those dreams seem to be within reach.

Sean McCauley knew the moment he saw a Quinn suncatcher that this new artist would revolutionize stained glass. And when he meets the enchanting Beth, he's more determined than ever to work with the young artist. But is her small studio and one employee really enough to meet the demands of McCauley's needs?

Beginnings is the second installment in the Sommerfield Trilogy, continuing the story of the Quinn women who return to the mother's conservative Mennonite roots. Kim Vogel Sawyer delves deep into the mind of a once-burned, twice-shy young woman who is unsure of her place in the world, spicing things up with two different romantic interests. I confess I wasn't sure for most of the book where in the world that romantic element was going to go. The focus was more on Beth's work and feelings of loneliness than her attraction to either Andrew or Sean.

Beginnings lives up to its title, crafting a story of a young woman starting out in the world. It's a lovely and touching tale that Sawyer fans won't want to miss. Though it stands on its own well enough, you may want to pick up the first book in the series to get the full background on why Beth's so unwilling to trust a man. I definitely recommend this novel for anyone in the mood for a solid women's fiction with a young, vibrant heroine.

Another great book! This author really knows how to keep you intrigued. I always look forward to her next book!

THE AMISH ARE GREAT READING.SHE IS A GREAT WRITER.I GET ALL THE AMISH BOOK I CAN.

Great purchase, came extremely fast. Would buy from seller again. Wonderful condition and transaction.

In Beginnings: Beth gives up her dream of running an antique store about the same time she realizes her gift of working with stained glass. Her grandfather and grandmother Koeppler as well as her mother encourage her in this endeavor. But Beth's new venture struggles with time constraints, supply problems and two other men trying to run her life.

Kim Vogel Sawyer's stories have a healing touch. The family relations thread that touched me was the concern Beth had that she was losing her mother, since Marie had returned to the faith of her childhood.

The take home value of Beginnings, for me?

Priorities. By getting her priorities straight Beth pricks the heart of another man old enough to be her father. He thought he was doing right, until Beth taught him that in order to truly honor God, our priorities must be right.

Wonderful book...the whole series is good. Purchased for a gift and my giftee absolutely loves them. Can't wait for the next one.