The Proving

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?

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! 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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