The Atonement Book Review

I love Beverly Lewis and even though I didn't have a clue what series this book went with, I jumped at the chance to review it.  I laughed when I found it was also on my reserve list at the library.  I kept my spot in the library just in case I got to the top of the list before the review copy was mailed but the review copy won the race.  I was eager to read this new book as soon as it arrived.  The Atonement
by Beverly Lewis was the next book that I read even though there were a few other books ahead of it in my pile because I had to know what was going to happen in this wonderful book.

Jah, Lucy thought. Tobe would have known what to say. "But what would he say to me if he knew the truth?" she murmured into her hands, leaning on the desk.

Alas, that was something she could not afford to find out.

The mistakes of the past haunt Lucy Flaud, now twenty-five and beyond Amish courting age. Instead, Lucy focuses on volunteering in both the Plain and fancy communities of Lancaster County. Yet no matter how hard she strives, she never feels she's doing enough. Then her father strikes up an unexpected friendship with an Englischer in search of a simpler way of life. Lucy forms a connection of her own with the thoughtful young man even as she rejects courtship with her longtime Amish friend. Is it too late to embrace redemption . . . and the power of love?

I loved the book and spent a lot of the beginning of the book trying to figure out the secret of the past that was being hidden.  It seems that most of the people who gave it bad reviews thought that it moved slowly because of this mystery but I thought that there was a lot of character development which lead to the wonderful ending of the book.  You can't appreciate the end of the book if you don't have the beginning to get to know the characters.  This book was written a little differently then the other books written by Beverly Lewis and I found that refreshing.  With so many authors writing everything with the same format, books by wonderful authors sometimes become so predictable and cookie cutter but this book was unique.  Lucy is having trouble coming to grips with the mistakes of her past which are revealed through the book.  The hard part for Lucy is that she spends the book punishing herself and thinking that she doesn't deserve happiness because of her problems in the past.  I think that everyone can relate to this even if they haven't made the same mistake as Lucy because no one is perfect and finding someone to love doesn't mean that you have to be perfect.  I hope that you check out this book and enjoy it as much as I have!!  It is a heartwarming story of forgiveness to others and oneself which I couldn't put down and I really enjoyed.  I hope that you read it and see for yourself the great characters and wonderful writing of Beverly Lewis.

** I received a copy of this book for my review and honest opinion.  All opinions here are my own.