Customer Reviews

A Bond Never Broken (Daughters of Amana, Book 3)

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This was a really good book to read. I have enjoyed each of the books in the Daughters of Amana Series, and this one was probably my favorite. I live in Iowa, work near Marengo ( one of the towns in the book), am of German decent, and have visited the Amana Colonies many times. I have learned so much local history through these books. This one, "A Bond Never Broken" brought out the idea of how Germans, even American born Germans, were treated when the Great war began. It is eye opening, and very thought provoking. Reading the book, I felt as though I entered into the lifestyle shared at the Amana Colonies, and though I wanted to see how the conflicts would resolve, I didn't want the story of these people to end. This book is Historical Fiction at its best!

Normally, I enjoy Judith Miller's books, but A Bond Never Broken really disappointed me. I've started reading it several times but can't get into it. It might get better later in the book, but I'll never know because I'll can't get that far. Sorry!

Sometimes the choices we make don't feel like choices at all. Such is the case with Ilsa Redlich as she seeks to help her family by doing something that goes against her nature, and possibly against what God would want.

I enjoyed this story very much. Although it's the 3rd book in a series, it is the first one I have read. Ms. Miller does a great job in weaving the previous plots in to the extent that I was never lost or left wondering if I had missed something.

The highlight of this book for me was the struggles Ilsa faced and the ways she handled them, and grew through them. While this is set in a historical setting and in a Amana community, it's still something that I, as a reader could relate to.

Beautiful book. Main character struggles the depths of truth and the sacrifices of expressing it. Many Biblical insights along with daily life of neighbors in the Amana Community. Simple reading for all.

This Amana Colonies series by Judith Miller has been one of the most enjoyable series that I have read lately and definitely my favorite among what I would consider in the Amish line. I am fascinated by the history that she has brought alive in these three books. Each book takes place in a different Amana town and each one has totally different characters, but that is great. This book has a really interesting twist. There are two main characters - Ilsa and Jutta - one who lives happily in an Amana town and one who left the Amana colonies with her parents a few years back. But now it is WWI and Jutta's family is experiencing lots of anger towards them just because they are German. They are basically forced to send Jutta back to the Amanas to spy on the good people there and report back on all the unpatriotic things they do. Needless to say her deception weighs heavy on her and things get complicated. Judith has done it again - absolutely fantastic! The only negative thing I have to say is that as much as I like the cover - the darling three little girls on the front had nothing to do with the story... seemed a little odd to me. Overall a total winner.

A Bond Never Broken by Judith Miller is the third book in the Daughters of Amana series, but each book is a stand alone, so you don't need to have read the previous two to enjoy this one. Jutta Schmidt is put into an impossible situation when she is forced to spy on the people of the Amana colony looking for signs of treason in the heated days of World War I when German ancestry was enough to create suspicion. If she refuses, the family bakery will be destroyed, her parents thrown into jail, and a worse fate awaits Jutta. She goes to work in a hotel run by the Redlich family in South Amana. Their daughter Ilsa is angry that her brother Albert has been forced to join the military and is fearful that her boyfriend Garon may follow him. Ilsa had prayed again and again for Albert to be able to remain home, and when her prayers go unanswered, she starts to question God. Jutta feels as though her prayers have also been ignored, so the two women quickly bond, but when pressure is placed on Jutta to provide some information, she has to decide what matters to her more: her parents and their livelihood or the Redlichs who have treated her like a daughter. Miller's Amana series gives readers a wonderful look into this enigmatic religious group who was known for their quality goods and communal property. But during WWI when sauerkraut became "liberty cabbage" and German measles "liberty measles", people began wondering about this unusual group who spoke a form of German and refused to serve in the military. Miller really brings to life the horror of people using power and suspicion to attack others during wartime. It took a bit of doing for me to swallow my disbelief at the Iowa Council of National Defense's blackmail of Jutta, but once I did, I was sucked completely into the story. Readers can't help but be outraged at the unfairness and humiliation the Amanan people face. Jutta and Ilsa's friendship is natural and the foundation of the book. This story of bravery and friendship is a terrific read for fans of historical fiction or Christian fiction.

I love reading Judy's books, and this one did not disappoint. The setting is historical, but the situations are similar to those that many of us could possibly face today: 1) The main character makes decisions that are not Biblical, but seems like the best decisions at the time; 2). People turn their backs on their neighbor because it's the politically correct thing to do; 3) Neighbors take risks to help their innocent neighbors; and 4). People form stereotypical opinions based on political rheotoric. I must admit that I got angry at some of the characters because of their actions, but I had to remember that I could make the same decisions, if I had the same choices.

Aside from the storyline, the book is well written, easy to read, and full of historical information. I recommend it for anyone who wants to purchase a book that anyone (including children) can read, and who enjoys reading a Christian fictional book that has a Biblical worldview.