The Secret [Hardcover]

Beverly Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2009

Large Print Edition

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Bethany House (2009)
• ISBN-10: 160751690X
• ISBN-13: 978-1607516903
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (85 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,711,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've had my nose in a book, for as long as I remember. When I was about 9 years old, I started writing my own stories. By sixth grade, I'd hand-written a 66-page semi-autobiographical book titled, "She Shall Have Music."

After I was married and our three children were in middle school, I began submitting articles and short fiction to various magazines.

My first book (Holly's First Love) was published in May 1993, the start of a 14-book series for pre-teen girls. Soon after, my first chapter book was published for 7-10-year-old readers ("Big Bad Beans") which later became part of my 24-book series, The Cul-de-Sac Kids. I wrote another long-running series for girls, titled "SummerHill Secrets," which was set very close to Neffsville, PA, where I grew up--near the heart of Amish country.

But it was the story of my grandmother Ada Buchwalter's shunning by her ultra-strict father and subsequently her old order Mennonite community that nudged me toward writing adult fiction. THE SHUNNING was published in 1997 by Bethany House Publishers, and along with its sequels, has touched a nerve in millions of readers intrigued by the Plain culture of Lancaster County, PA. The Hallmark Channel will air the movie, "Beverly Lewis's The Shunning" on April 16, 2011 at 9 EDT/8 Central.

My passion for Amish-related stories continues to keep me up at night, and I'm presently writing the third book in my new series: The Rose Trilogy, due out September '11.

When I'm between writing deadlines, I enjoy hiking in the Rocky Mountains with my husband. Cooking from scratch, playing Mozart at the piano, and making family memory albums, as well as traveling to meet my devoted readers during book tours, are some of my very favorite things. I also adore reading biographies and memoirs, as well as classic literature.

Book Two of my present series: THE JUDGMENT, will be released on April 5, 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a delightful peek at modern Amish life, April 4, 2009

By 

Richard Cumming "dick" (the heartland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret (Seasons of Grace, Book 1) (Paperback)

Beverly Lewis has forged a splendid career with her realistic depictions of modern day Amish life in America. This latest is the first in her Seasons of Grace series. Grace is a young, unmarried Amish woman living with her parents in Pennsylvania Dutch country. She has a part time job in a health food store which exposes her to non-Amish life.

This book is about a family secret that is troubling her mother and that her father is pretending does not exist. As readers learn about Grace's aspirations in life we are immersed in the deeply religious and very human world of the Amish. There's a romantic echo in these gentle pages. It is no surprise that Lewis has a huge following these days. It's delightful stuff!

60 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Just depressing and I could not finish it, April 16, 2009

By 

Margaret Chind "Creative Madness Mama - Quilt... (Atoka, Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret (Seasons of Grace, Book 1) (Paperback)

I am taking out the book mark at page 265. I just cannot continue. Nothing pleasant has happened so far in the entire more than two hundred and fifty pages minus one paragraph. Many things are going on, yet every single one is depressing with no reprieve. I have read a handful of reviews so far that love the story and the presentation of the Amish lives through the novel. This book for me just is not happening.

In the past, I have read several titles by Beverly Lewis and loved them. This one is just dull and bland and I cannot continue it. There are too many dozens of books to be read. I spent three days and more pages and effort than I should have. Some already have, and some will love this book, but I do not and I do not recommend it. It could turn around, but you need some relief in the hours of depression and pain and this so far has not had it.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Secret, May 23, 2009

By 

B. MacFetters (Covington, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret (Seasons of Grace, Book 1) (Paperback)

Beverly Lewis is, by far, my favorite author of "Amish books", or "Bonnet Books" as Time magazine labeled them in a recent article. I have read every one she's written. Once I pick up one of her books, I have trouble putting it down. I love her characters, her depiction of Amish life, and her style of writing. Not so with this book. I had trouble reading this one. I actually find it hard to believe Mrs. Lewis wrote this book. It is nothing like any of her previous works. I was never comfortable with these characters, nor with the way they treat each other. They are very different from her usual characters; they even speak differently. Normally I finish Mrs. Lewis' books in two or three sittings. I devour her books and find it hard to wait for the next one. It took me two WEEKS and much determination to finish this one - and I did only because it's Beverly Lewis. Now I will pass it on to my mom as I've done with all the others. She loves them as much as I do and often finishes these books in one sitting! I'm anxious to know what she will think of this latest one. I hope Mrs. Lewis' upcoming books will be better than The Secret.