Rating: 
Summary: Decent Beginning to a Series
Review: The Covenant is my first Beverly Lewis novel, and I have to say that I enjoyed it immensely. Set in the Lancaster County, PA "Dutch Country" area, the novel is the first in a series about four Amish sisters - Abram's Daughter's. The plot focuses mostly on the two eldest daughters, Sadie and Leah. Sadie is a typical innocent young girl, intrigued with the wordly ways that she has been sheltered from, and running wild during her rumsprunger (the time when Amish teens get to do what they want before they commit themselves to an Amish/Anabaptist way of life). Leah, younger than Sadie, has not yet come to the age of rumsprunger, but is much more staid of temperment, and worried terribly over Sadie's running around. While dealing with these worries, Leah is also dealing with the pressure that her father is putting on her to marry Gideon and join the two families farms, when she comes of age. Leah, of course, is in love with someone else. Beverly Lewis is an immensely sweet and realistic writer. She manages to portray Lancaster County in an attractive, but thankfully not syrupy, manner. Her characters are real people who have passions and worries, but still have floors to sweep and cows to milk. Like us, they must struggle to function *with* their passions and problems, rather than calling a time-out on their lives for a plotline. And like real people, these characters do not go into euphoric swoons, nor have nervous breakdowns. Instead, they laugh, cry, get mad, forgive, love, and pick up the pieces. The Covenant is steadily paced, but not at all fast. It feels like a leisurely walk down the beach with a good friend. The story provides for satisfying moments, but as the beginning of the series, does not wrap things up in a neat package. Instead, this is a true series, rather than a trilogy, and the next book will pick up where this one leaves off. I very much enjoyed The Covenant and look forward to reading the next book in the series, as well as all reading other of Lewis' books. This book will be highly enjoyed by most women who have had children, as doubtless was it's targeted audience. I would also recommend that mothers consider giving a copy to their teenage daughters. It would provide an nice connection for the daughters to see what it is that mothers truly worry about, and possibly provide some meat for interesting discussions.
Rating: 
Summary: Beverly Lewis at her best!
Review: The Covenant is the first in a series that Beverly Lewis calls her "Abram's Daughters" series. We are introduced to the family in this book, and the the web begins spinning almost instantly! It's a wonderful book and the beginning of a enjoyable series. The history and culture of the Amish are accurately detailed. Great read!
Rating:
Summary: Beverly Lewis at her best!
Review: The Covenant is the first in a series that Beverly Lewis calls her "Abram's Daughters" series. We are introduced to the family in this book, and the the web begins spinning almost instantly! It's a wonderful book and the beginning of a enjoyable series. The history and culture of the Amish are accurately detailed. Great read!
Rating:
Summary: Beverly Lewis at her best!
Review: The Covenant is the first in a series that Beverly Lewis calls her "Abram's Daughters" series. We are introduced to the family in this book, and the the web begins spinning almost instantly! It's a wonderful book and the beginning of a enjoyable series. The history and culture of the Amish are accurately detailed. Great read!
Rating:
Summary: Fans of Beverly Lewis - The Covenant is a must read!
Review: The Covenant is the tale of Abram and Ida Ebersol two oldest daughters, Sadie and Leah, during their rumschpringe. This is a time when Amish teens are allowed to run wild and free before taking their baptismal vows. Sadie, the eldest of the Ebersol's four daughters, is making her vows in the fall, and she is not at all sure this is the path she wants. Truth be told she has been sneaking into town asking for trouble. She knows her parents would be shamed if they knew where she had been, but this doesn't seem to bother Sadie in the least. Especially after the night she meets the fancy English boy, Derry. She could not stay away from this boy who whispered sweet nothings in her ear. Sadie at first does not understand the danger that everyone tries to warn her against, but it is not long before Sadie learns first hand what can happen when you are lead astray from God by temptation. Unlike Sadie, Leah, the second oldest, was not raised to woman's work in the house but to man's work out side with her father. She has always been her father's son since her parents did not have any boys. As Leah watches her sister Sadie going through her rumschpringe, she begins to worry about her sister, but all she seems to get from Sadie these days is indifference. Not knowing what else to do, she starts to look forward to her own upcoming rumschpringe. Her father has it in his sites that she will marry the Smithy's son, but unfortunately Leah has another boy in mind. How can she break the news to her father without breaking his heart? As Sadie and Leah are both going through their rumschpringe, they both learn that some times you can not stop the fall, but you can be there to help pick up the pieces. Beverly Lewis has brought her readers a wonderful heartwarming story of two teenage girls, who learn first hand the heartbreaking consequences of going astray from God and family. Sadie and Leah are two characters that readers will not soon forget. Throughout this story the reader is allowed to see how the Amish lifestyle is built on their love for God. This reviewer must admit she was a little shocked by the turn of events in the end of the book. However this reviewer was not disappointed. For fans of Beverly Lewis The Covenant is a must read! --- reviewed by JoAnn Miller for Christian Bookshelf
Rating:
Summary: --The beautiful "plain" sisters--
Review: This book takes place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the year 1946. It's the the story of Leah and Sadie Ebersol who are Amish sisters and ready for rumschpringe. That's the time when Amish teenagers are granted some freedom from their parents. They go to singing parties and other social events and get to know the different young men on the buggy rides to and from the gatherings. It's the hope of their families that the young people will be meeting the partners that they will eventually marry in a few years. This is also the time right before they formally decide to join the Amish community and agree to abide by the strict rules of that church. The sisters are quite different. Sadie at nineteen wants excitement and isn't sure she wants to be Amish. Leah who is sixteen is quite sure that the Amish way is best, and she already knows who she wants to marry. When beautiful Sadie decides to date a boy who is not Amish and pursues a forbidden romance, Leah agrees to keep her secret hoping that Sadie will come to her senses. They both know that the consequences of Sadie's relationship could ruin her life. Hannah and Mary Ruth are the two younger sisters in the Ebersol family and the reader is also drawn into their lives. This was a very interesting and enjoyable story and I immediately decided that it needed a sequel. It was then that I realized that this is the beginning of a series called Abram's Daughters. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
Rating:
Summary: Sequel
Review: This book was probably one of the best of her books that I have read. After reading it I gave it to my wife to read, she couldn't put it down. Then we pass it on to our daughter who thought it was great. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN THE SEQUEL WILL BE OUT AND THE NAME OF IT SO I CAN PUT IT ON RESERVED AT MY FAVORITE CHRISTIAN BOOK STORE Donald Cundiff
Rating:
Summary: The Covenant Review
Review: This is a must read if you are interested in the Amish.
This book is wonderful and so hard to put down once you start reading it. I ordered the second book in this series before I finished this one and I can't wait to start the next one. The suspense is killing me! This book is also a great source for learning about the Amish. There is so much to learn about the Amish in this book and you will also learn some Penn. Dutch that they speak. I went to Lancaster County right when I heard about the book and bought the book while on vacation there. The book makes everything I saw there come to life again. Go to Lancaster County if you can and the book will come to life right before your eyes!
Rating:
Summary: Another of Lewis' wonderful Amish series begins.....
Review: This is book one of a new series and features the all girl family of Ida and Abram. The oldest, Sadie, is currently having her wild days, just before taking her vows and being baptized into the church. Although she is going through with it, she secretly is holding to "outside, sinful desires" and has found a forbidden love. You will learn of Amish ways and meet young Leah, who surely will be featured in a later book. Parts of this book are a little predictable and lack depth when compared to the Shunning- Beverly Lewis has just started this series and already she has us caught up, holding our breath, wondering WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE REST OF THE STORY? Book 2 surely is coming out soon.
Rating:
Summary: Amish teaser
Review: This is not the kind of book I usually read. (A story about the Amish? Yawn!) It was a gift . I probably wouldn't have bought it myself. But I'm glad I read it. The book was a bit slow paced at first-like what we imagine Amish life to be - but before long I was hooked! If Ms. Lewis doesn't hurry up and write the sequel ( Abram's Daughters 2), I'll break out in a rash. I guess I'll just have to read her other books in the meantime! Did I mention there is no graphic sex, violence, or swearing? And you DON'T CARE!! There is love, mystery, happiness, tragedy, loyalty, all the ingredients of a good read. Just what I like in a book. I'm itchin' to read the next installment in the lives of Abram's daughters!
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