October Song Book Review

October Song by Beverly Lewis was on the shelf at the library when I went to stock up on library books and even though I didn't know anything about it, I decided that I should get based on the fact that the front of the book showed it at the beginning of a series of books that I hadn't read yet.

In the book, there are three sections which are all following up on other series that Beverly Lewis has written. Part one was called Hickory Hollow and was following up on the characters in the Hickory Hollow series starting with the Shunning.  This was the only part of the book with a series that I had already read so I was eager to find out what happened with all of the great characters that I missed. The story followed Daniel and Katie who were shunned from the Amish community and now live in the same area but are practicing Mennonites.  They are trying to mend fences to their Amish families and hope to fill the void in their life that leaving the Amish community has caused.  Katie works as a seamstress to make clothes for others while spending most of her time volunteering for the church and women's groups but she still misses her family greatly.  She speaks to her mother and brother on occasion and there is a big break through with her father so make sure you read it in order to get all the details.

Part two was called Bird-in-Hand and was following up on the characters in the series including the Postcard (which I haven't read yet). Rachel and Philip were married when Philip, the former New York journalist, met Rachel and became Amish.  He changed his whole life and now does his writing on a typewriter.  There was a bad lightening storm and one of the neighbors barns got hit by lightening.  Realizing the phones were out and there was no help coming, Philip jumped into the nearest truck and drove to the fire station to get help.  Many looked down upon him because he wasn't born into the Amish community and making the choice to drive a car was not considered a good decision.   All of the community worked together to rebuild the barn and it is quiet a story!

The third part was called Grasshopper level and was from the series with The Redemption of Sarah Cain (which I haven't read).  Lydia was in love with and courting Levi King but she wasn't sure if they should get married because her parents had recently passed and she had four younger siblings that were getting used to life without their parents.  Aunt Sarah moved in and was trying to do her best but she wasn't Amish and she was taking all of the leads from Lydia.  Sarah is trying to maintain her job in real estate and taking care of the family but she is exhausted and doesn't have the time and energy to do both.  She takes two of the kids to get new clothes made and makes friends with the seamstress who is Katie Fisher (from the first story).  They become friends and spend some time talking.  This story was very heart felt and makes me want to put Sarah Cain on my list next!!!

I really enjoyed the book and thought it was interesting to read the little snippets into the different series of Beverly Lewis.  I think that this book stands on its own as a good book and it also helps me know what series to start to read next.  I can't wait to pick up one of the other series and find some of the characters that I just met in this book.  I hope that you check this out whether it is your first Beverly Lewis book or your millionth (okay, she doesn't have that many but she does have lots).  Check it out at your local library or bookstore soon.