The Proving Book Review

I was excited to read another book by Beverly Lewis because I love all of her books.  I wasn't sure whether this was part of a series or stand alone book but I was ready to enjoy it either way!  The Proving by Beverly Lewis appeared at my door soon after placing my order and it was all I could do to read a few other books that I needed to first.  It did get pushed up a little in the order that I was supposed to read it but I was looking forward to finding out what was going to happen.

Amanda Dienner hasn't seen her Old Order family in five years when she receives word that her mother has passed away and left her Lancaster County's most popular Amish bed-and-breakfast. Now an Englisher, Mandy is shocked: Her twin sister should have been the obvious choice! What's more, the inheritance comes with a catch: The farmhouse inn will only truly be hers if she is able to successfully run it for twelve consecutive months.  Mandy accepts the challenge even though it means returning to Gordonville and the painful memories she left behind at eighteen. Still, she's determined to prove she is more than capable of running the bed-and-breakfast, no matter that its loyal clientele are expecting an Amish hostess!  The inn isn't Mandy's sole test, however. Rubbing shoulders with her married twin sister reopens wounds that Mandy isn't ready to forgive. And an Englisher guest with a difficult past of her own just complicates matters.  Can Mandy fulfill the terms of her inheritance? Or will this year in Amish country prove a dreadful mistake?

 It really reminded me of another series with an Amish Inn so I immediately felt at home in this Amish Bed and Breakfast.  Mandy is trying to make her own way while not relying on her family or church.  She realizes that something is missing from her life and when she returns, she starts to remember all the good times that she and her family had growing up.  She finally makes some decisions and changes her ways to connect herself back to her family.  She is coming up to the 12 month time frame and can sell the bed and breakfast and start the life that she really wanted away from all the memories of the past but can she make the break with the life that fit so well.  You know that I won't tell you and you have to pick up the book and see for yourself!  This wonderful writing and characters pulls you in immediately and has you feeling sorry for all the things that Mandy isn't doing right.  She can't mend things with the community so the people working at the bed and breakfast all quit.  She can't mend things with her family so she sees them very infrequently and under great strain. I hope that you check out this character building adventure because I know that you will enjoy it as much as I did!

**I received a copy of the book for my review but all opinions here are my own.  A positive review was not required and opinions stated here are my honest opinion.