Two reviews: The Judgment and Mine Is the Night

The Judgment by Beverly Lewis is the second in The Rose Trilogy about two Amish sisters, Rose and Hen, whose lives took very different turns due to their choices. Hen married an Englisher, an outsider, but now that her little daughter, Maddie, is getting older, Hen becomes concerned about the worldly influences her husband Brandon allows and she misses the wholesome influence of her heritage. In the last book she took Maddie and went to her parents’ home, going back to Amish dress and customs. Brandon is infuriated and unwilling to compromise on any point. Hen struggles with her vows before God to her husband when honoring those vows would be detrimental to Maddie.

Rose has become secretly engaged to Silas, but her heart still hurts over the departure of her best friend, Nick, adopted son of the bishop. Nick never came completely to terms with Amish ways in his heart, and an accident resulting in the death of his brother has the whole town sure Nick was at fault. So Nick leaves, and his adopted father is under the threat of being removed from his office as bishop due to Nick’s behavior. Meanwhile, a former member of the community, Rebecca, has come back to help a young mom with twins, and Rose can’t help but notice her own fiance’s enthusiasm as he renews his acquaintance with Rebecca and can’t help but wonder what it means.

I enjoyed this book very much and appreciated that it brought up some different twists to the genre. Hen’s struggle, in particular, is very relevant to the problems that arise when a person of faith marries an unbeliever, problems with no easy answers. I’m looking forward to the third book in the series due out this September.

Mine Is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs is the sequel to Here Burns My Candle, both books based somewhat on the life of Ruth in the Bible but set in 18th century Scotland. This books begins with Elizabeth and her mother-in-law, Marjory, arriving back in Marjory’s home town nearly destitute, hoping to prevail on the good graces of her cousin for a place to stay, yet they are both tainted by their previous affinity for the Jacobite cause. Ruth finds employment in the household of a handsome admiral, and her industriousness and kindness (as well as her beauty) draw his notice. Of course, as this is based on the Biblical Ruth, the reader knows where this will lead, but it is still an enjoyable story in finding out how they get to their destiny. As I said with the first book, it’s probably best enjoyed as a story on its own merit without comparing it too much to the Biblical version except for the “bones” of the story. For instance, we have no record that the Biblical Naomi found another love interest after the death of her husband or that she was proud, haughty, and unkind before being humbled by circumstances as this story’s Marjory was. I don’t begrudge Marjory finding happiness in love, but that whole subplot as well as three different women proposing to their intended husbands in that era seemed a little implausible. It’s a lengthy book at 480 pages, but it didn’t take long at all to read. Liz is an excellent storyteller, and it was easy to get caught up in and enjoy this tale.

Here are trailers for both books:

(This review will also be linked to Semicolon‘s Saturday Review of Books.)