Customer Reviews

The Longing (The Courtship of Nellie Fisher, Book 3)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Beverly Lewis specializes in writing stories set in Pennsylvania's Amish country, and the final entry in her Courtship of Nellie Fisher trilogy brings us closure on another set of well-written Christian fiction. Lewis has found her niche in the book industry, and she fills it very well with entirely readable novels that take you to another place and mind-set.

Nellie Mae Fisher has been separated from her beau Caleb when her new religious convictions come between the two lovers and their families. Nellie is trying to go on with her life alone, but she is filled with anxiety not only for Caleb but for her older sister Rhoda who has left the Plain life, and her friend Rosanna who has lost her adopted twins. In addition, Nellie is still mourning the loss of her younger sister Suzy, but she is trying to feel God's presence in her life as things change in her Amish community in the 1960s. Nellie's dearest wish is for Caleb to decide to come to the New Order Amish, but after his father is gravely injured, she fears he will be forever gone from her life. Lots of circumstances must change before any happiness can be found for the members of Honey Brook community.

As usual, I like Lewis's easy writing style and her characters; Lewis has a gift for creating believable people for whom you care a great deal. This book is very preachy, however; for regular readers of Christian fiction that probably won't matter, but at times it does get a bit tedious. In addition, Lewis has a tendency to tie things up way too neatly, and changes of heart seem to be too quick to be realistic. In fact, if I could I would've rated this one 3.5 for the overly hurried happy endings, but since I do enjoy Lewis's stories and the wonderful world she creates, I feel that overall 4 stars is apt. I do hope Lewis will stray from the formula she's been using in her past two series and find some new twists she can spin in our beloved Lancaster County.

The third installment and final book of the Nelie Mae Fisher story. The ending was somewhat predictable, but none-the-less entralling. As with each novel before, I was unable to put this book down.

This trilogy was a great story about an Amish family and the struggles and highlights of faith.

Was a great read!

Highly recommend this book! ALL OF BEVERLY LEWIS' books are excellently written, and all of them, I have read so far,(7) have been just as I had hoped --- they are "page turners" and for the past 2 months, have read one right after the other! They have all been different but similar, in the plots.

She gives enough details about the countryside and lifestyles of the "plain" people, that you would think you are actually "THERE" with them. She also includes "Englishers" as well, so the reader can see the contrasts and similarities of both groups of people.

My aim is to acquire all of Beverly Lewis' books, and enjoy them! Very good read!

I generally love Beverly Lewis' books. But I have to say that I was disappointed by this series. It was interesting to read about the early days of the New Order Amish sect and how it all began. I also liked learning about some of the other Amish sects and how the groups differ. The action is slow, but the heroine of the series, Nellie Mae Fisher, is a richly drawn character who loves baking, her family, her faith and a special young man, Caleb. For much of the series, Nellie is caught in the middle between the old Amish beliefs and the newer ways of thinking. There are also about a dozen minor characters and subplots, such as the adoption story, which I found fascinating.

Nonetheless, I was really turned off by the preachy tone of this series. Beverly Lewis has a tendency to ram her religious beliefs down her readers' throats, and I thought she really overdid herself this time. She has the right to her own beliefs, of course. But I highly doubt that so many Amish people share them with her, and I think she went overboard with all the instantaneous religious conversions that so many of the characters experienced. Also, this series lacks the twists and turns of some of Ms. Lewis' earlier works. The ending was very predictable. I wasn't the least bit surprised by how things worked out for anybody. In fact, I could have predicted everyone's happily-ever-after ending from the first few chapters of the first book.

I do think that Ms. Lewis is a very talented writer and storyteller, and there's a lot to like about this saga. Still, I have the feeling that she may be cranking out too many books and I just hope she's not running out of fresh ideas.

It was a wonderful ending to the series.All loose ends were tied up and left me feeling happy for the families involved.I highly recommend the whole series to anyone.

I've read many of the Beverly Lewis books and this series is by far my favorite. Of course her writing is never in question. She's an excellent writer, but like many Amish books, they tend all to start looking alike.

When I started reading this series, I knew it was going to be different. The Courtship of Nellie Mae series deals with changes that took place in the Amish church in 1966 that basically created the New Order Amish. While the book is fiction, it takes the reader through a delightful journey of history as well as the fictional lives of Nellie Mae Fisher and her family and friends.

For those who enjoy reading Amish books, but who also would like answers to some of their questions regarding the Amish faith and people, this book does address many questions I myself had. I'm sure it would answer many of yours as well.

I would highly recommend this book for those who enjoy the Lewis books and/or who like to read books about the Amish communities and their people.

Sonya Haskins

I really enjoyed this series. I like the author's writing style. Her characters are typically well-developed. Despite her ever present theme that the Amish are mistaken in their beliefs and should become Mennonites, this was a nice trilogy. It is probably one of the best of hers that I've read.

I had a difficult time believing that someone could be made a paraplegic from only a mule kick to the head, but almost anything is possible. Also, I'd have liked a better explanation of Reuben's and David's long-time friendship.

This series had historical information as well. I'd always wondered what was the difference between the various sects of the Amish. This explained some of it.

I just love everything Beverly Lewis writes. She can take you into the world of the Amish and make you believe you are living right there with them and suffer their decisions with them as well. I just recently found her as an author and I am trying to find all of the books she has written to "play catch up". I highly recommend her as a Christian romance writer.

The first book was slow to get me interested but then it hooked me and I really loved this series. I highly recommend it!

What a wonderful series and what a great way to end these very real life stories. I loved this book plus the previous two in the series. I felt so immersed with the characters that I couldn't put it down and I really didn't want it too end!