In book three of the Mifflin County Mystery series, Rosa Petersheim’s return creates more hurt and confusion in the Big Valley.
Two years since Rosa Petersheim mysteriously disappeared from her Amish home, there has been no word from her. Her family and friends have suffered in the silence, though they have tried to move on with life.
Then one day Rosa just as suddenly reappears at her parent’s home. . .with a husband in tow.
Rosa is ashamed of the choices she made that caused her to leave home. And now that she is back, her father is not welcoming and her siblings and friends want explanations that she can’t give.
Will Rosa’s family accept her and Anthony? Can the Big Valley ever be home again?
MY REVIEW
This is probably one of the best books the author has written. Deceit has a way of being revealed and in this case it causes an avalanche of hurt. I really liked how the author illustrates how a lie can have lasting effects on people. We think that if we hide something it will not be found out. Rosa has been estranged from her family for awhile. Being in New York working as a waitress is so different from how she was raised. No one knows that she is Amish but soon that secret will be found out. What will her family’s reaction be when she reappears on her family’s doorstep after two years?
Anthony is a gifted chef who works at his father’s restaurant. He is happy and content until Rosa springs something on him. He is willing to help Rosa when she asks first help. His life is turned upside down when he travels with her back to her family’s home. What a shock it is to find out Rosa is Amish. Thinking that he is helping Rosa he agrees to pretend they are married. Oh my will this backfire on them.
There is another character in the story that really stood out to me. Rosa’s sister Susan is jealous of her and is not happy when she comes back home. Susan is bitter and has a way of spreading lies. I did feel bad for Susan because she is very insecure. We can find ourselves being bitter when we are unhappy with our own lives. Can Susan find a way to repent and find unconditional love?
What is evident in the story is the importance of listening to God. We all sin, but need to ask for forgiveness. I love how Anthony starts to want a relationship with God. Nothing happens by accident and when he finds something special in his baggage, his heart is softened. Beautiful message of letting go of the past shows how God can restore joy. I loved how the author uses scriptures in the story and weaves a touching story of redemption, restoring and rejoicing.
“God’s truth will always win out.”
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and the author. The review is my own opinion.
