My first thought with Charlotte Hubbard's Promise Lodge, was that this seems different than the other Amish fiction I've read in the past. Not overtly or does it romanticize, but it gives older female characters a certain strength to carry on their family without the "control" of the male characters in the family.  I enjoyed this very much as it gives a glimpse, well, more than a glimpse of how a community is started.

As Promise Lodge is not just a simple name, it represents what these women and men have hope for in their ideal Plain community. When their beliefs and ideals of God's gift and ordained bishops have been abused, they find strength and faith to move away and start their own community, not without thorough examinations and prayers.  The relationships throughout between siblings, parents and child, and friends really struck a cord in what it means in the Plain community, which is a big interest factor for me as a reader.  Trust and faith have brought them to a new beginning. Will they follow through and find that's also what they need for each other?

A promising start to a series that I look forward to reading.


NOTE:  I received a complimentary ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.