Enter
INTERVIEWS & REVIEWS
  • Home
    • About >
      • Mission Statement
      • FAQ'S
      • Review Us!
    • Contact
  • For Writers
    • Resources
  • Interviews
    • Interview Submissions
  • Reviews
    • Book Submissions
    • Become a Reviewer >
      • Book Reviewer Guidelines
  • Team Members Only
    • Contemporary Fiction
    • Dual-Time Fiction
    • Fantasy/Sci-Fi
    • Historical Fiction
    • Mystery/Suspense
  • Book of the Month
    • January Nominations
    • February Nominations
    • March Nominations
  • 2022 Book of the Year
    • 2022 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2021 Book of the Year
    • 2021 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2020 Book of the Year
    • 2020 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2019 Book of the Year
  • 2018 Book of the Year
    • 2018 Finalists
  • Our Reviewers
    • Marta Aldrighetti
    • Karen Baney >
      • Anna Bottoms
      • Ezara Boyce-Swann
      • Kassidi Brewer
      • Sandra Broome
      • Thomas Brown
      • Carolyn Bryant
    • Laura J. Davis >
      • Jeanette Durkin
    • Marie Edwards
    • Susan Feaster
    • Kristina Hall >
      • Joy Hannabass
      • Abigail Harder
      • Adriann Harris
      • Charity Henico
      • Mindy Houng
      • Monica Huyser
    • Christy Janes >
      • Heather L. Jones
    • Raechel Kelly >
      • Linda Klager
    • Beverly Laude >
      • Cassandra Lee
      • Tammy Lunsford
    • Kevin Maltsberger >
      • Rebecca Maney
      • Lisa McGuire
      • Jane Mouttet
    • Lauren Nel >
      • Rick Norris
    • Lori Parrish >
      • Deanne Patterson
      • Susan Poll
      • Mary Polyakov
    • Kathryn Sadakierski >
      • Kimberlee Sams
      • Connie Porter Saunders
      • Rob Seabrook
      • Erin Stevenson
      • Emily Stephens
      • Katelyn Sponaugle
      • Sarah Speck
      • Amy Smelser
      • Paula Shreckhise
      • Nora St. Laurent
    • Laura Thomas >
      • Winnie Thomas
    • Billi Varela >
      • Diana Varela
      • Elisha Varela
      • Juanita Varela
    • Nikita Wells >
      • Tina Williams
      • Ewurabena Wilson
      • Conny Withay
      • Cheryl Wood
  • Home
    • About >
      • Mission Statement
      • FAQ'S
      • Review Us!
    • Contact
  • For Writers
    • Resources
  • Interviews
    • Interview Submissions
  • Reviews
    • Book Submissions
    • Become a Reviewer >
      • Book Reviewer Guidelines
  • Team Members Only
    • Contemporary Fiction
    • Dual-Time Fiction
    • Fantasy/Sci-Fi
    • Historical Fiction
    • Mystery/Suspense
  • Book of the Month
    • January Nominations
    • February Nominations
    • March Nominations
  • 2022 Book of the Year
    • 2022 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2021 Book of the Year
    • 2021 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2020 Book of the Year
    • 2020 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2019 Book of the Year
  • 2018 Book of the Year
    • 2018 Finalists
  • Our Reviewers
    • Marta Aldrighetti
    • Karen Baney >
      • Anna Bottoms
      • Ezara Boyce-Swann
      • Kassidi Brewer
      • Sandra Broome
      • Thomas Brown
      • Carolyn Bryant
    • Laura J. Davis >
      • Jeanette Durkin
    • Marie Edwards
    • Susan Feaster
    • Kristina Hall >
      • Joy Hannabass
      • Abigail Harder
      • Adriann Harris
      • Charity Henico
      • Mindy Houng
      • Monica Huyser
    • Christy Janes >
      • Heather L. Jones
    • Raechel Kelly >
      • Linda Klager
    • Beverly Laude >
      • Cassandra Lee
      • Tammy Lunsford
    • Kevin Maltsberger >
      • Rebecca Maney
      • Lisa McGuire
      • Jane Mouttet
    • Lauren Nel >
      • Rick Norris
    • Lori Parrish >
      • Deanne Patterson
      • Susan Poll
      • Mary Polyakov
    • Kathryn Sadakierski >
      • Kimberlee Sams
      • Connie Porter Saunders
      • Rob Seabrook
      • Erin Stevenson
      • Emily Stephens
      • Katelyn Sponaugle
      • Sarah Speck
      • Amy Smelser
      • Paula Shreckhise
      • Nora St. Laurent
    • Laura Thomas >
      • Winnie Thomas
    • Billi Varela >
      • Diana Varela
      • Elisha Varela
      • Juanita Varela
    • Nikita Wells >
      • Tina Williams
      • Ewurabena Wilson
      • Conny Withay
      • Cheryl Wood

Book Reviews​

11/12/2017

0 Comments

The Proving

 
Picture
Author: Beverly Lewis
Genre: Amish Fiction


After five years as an Englisher, Amanda Dienner is shocked to learn her mother has passed away and left her Lancaster County’s most popular Amish bed-and-breakfast. What’s more, the inn will only truly be hers if Mandy can successfully run it for twelve months. Reluctantly, Mandy accepts the challenge, no matter that it means facing the family she left behind–or that the inn’s clientele expect an Amish hostess! Can Mandy
fulfill the terms of her inheritance? Or will this prove a dreadful mistake?
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Reviewer: Kandace Perry

The Proving, by Beverly Lewis, is heartwarming and relatable.  Beverly captures our hearts as we journey with a young woman as she rediscovers the meaning of family, acceptance and forgiveness through the death of her mother.  The Proving reminds us of the importance of family and relationships, and emotional connections with others. Beverly reminds us that God is always present, even in the mundane tasks of daily life but when we do those mundane tasks with a servant's heart, we are glorifying the Kingdom. The cover was an excellent depiction of the lives of the woman in the story.

The Proving is a must read! 


Picture
Reviewer: Kelly Potts

“The Proving” is about an ex-Amish girl named Mandy who returns home to run the family’s Bed and Breakfast after hearing her mother left her the inn upon her death. There are stipulations. Mandy must run the inn for 12 months and maintain a profit. Amish women who worked at the inn while her mother was alive leave Mandy high and dry because they do not want to associate with someone who is not “plain”. Mandy struggles with the reasons why she left the Amish five years ago and tries to ignore any thought of seeking or giving forgiveness. She simply wants to get through the 12 months, sell the inn and get on with her old life away from her Amish family. It ends up being an exciting year for Mandy as she works through her past and helps with the healing of Trina, an “englisher”. Trina’s story, though interesting, I feel could have been a book in itself. I would have liked a heartier ending for Mandy and her future.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Picture
Reviewer: Sabrina Wade

The people in my opinion were a bit harsh with their chastisement. However, tough love,  standing between a rock and a hard place, as well as the curt words of an Englisher were needed to help Mandy forgive, be reconciled, and reaffirmed.

If anything was proving more clearly by Lewis it was certainly that an unforgiving heart closes a person off, thereby driving a wedge between the offender and offended. Such a place is dark and void of peace and wholeness. Everyday we have a choice to either hold on to grudges and be caged in or forgive and be set free.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.


Picture
Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

I am not usually interested in reading books about the Amish, often because all the storylines seem to be the same. After a while,  you can almost begin to predict what is going to happen just by reading the back cover. But, The Proving by Beverly Lewis intrigued me enough that I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did.

Early on the author establishes the fact that the main character Mandy Dienner is estranged from her Amish family, but we don't find out the real reason for quite some time into the story. I loved the concept of taking an Amish character who has been out in the world and has experienced what it's like to have all the conveniences and placing her back into her Amish roots once again. The fact that her mother left her B & B to Amanda and not her twin sister (who had stayed with her mother running the B & B) was a mystery that was not revealed until later either.  Amanda has one year to run the B & B and then she will own the home. But, will she go back to the outside world again or remain Amish? She doesn't make it easy for herself when she immediately fires her sister Arie Mae, who is not only the cook, but the reason why she left home in the first place. The tension is thick.

The character of Trina was intriguing and a bit complicated. She lands on Amanda's doorstep via a "mystery vacation plan" to spend time at a real Amish B & B, but she is so rude, and her behaviour is so appalling that I had a hard time believing she was a Christian. However, as she mellowed out, she became a somewhat likeable character.

The theme of forgiveness is very strong with this book, and the overall ending was satisfying. If you are looking for an excellent book to read on a cold winter's night, this would be a good choice!

​Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed


    Categories

    All
    Action/Adventure
    Amish Fiction
    Anthology
    Bible Study
    Biblical Fiction
    Children
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church History
    Contemporary Fiction
    Contemporary Romance
    Cookbook
    Devotionals
    Dual Time
    Dual-Time
    Fantasy
    Fiction
    Historical Fiction
    Historical Romance
    Inspirational Fiction
    Marketing
    Marriage
    Memoir
    Missions
    Mystery/Suspense
    Poetry
    Prophecy
    Regency Romance
    Romantic Suspense
    Science Fiction
    Self Help
    Self-Help
    Social Issues
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Warfare
    Theology
    Thriller/Suspense
    Time Travel Romance
    Women's Issues
    Young Adult

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016

    We are listed in The Book Reviewers Directory!

Services

Interviews
​Interview Submissions
Reviews
Our Reviewers
Advertise
For Writers
Book Submissions

Support

Contact


© COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Disclaimer
FTC DISCLAIMER: All the books reviewed on this site are given to us for the express purpose of review. They are provided by publishers, publicists, authors and agents. None of our reviewers were required to write positive reviews and none of them were paid monetarily. All opinions are those of each individual reviewer. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”