The Last Bride

April 15, 2014
Tessie Ann Miller is trapped in a classic lovers' dilemma. Her father disapproves of the man she loves, and she must choose between her own happiness and honoring her parents' wishes. Mandy, Tessie's older sister, refuses to stray from their Amish ways and advises Tessie to do the same, in spite of Mandy's own struggles in a loveless marriage arranged by their father. But when tragedy strikes Hickory Hollow, the secret behind their father's disapproval is revealed, and the two women must face the cost of their respective choices. They each learn that patience is a prelude to true love, which arrives in its own time, in its own way. Lewis' latest is a thoughtful tale filled with pastoral imagery, dramatic irony, and gentle foreshadowing that teases the story forward. The reflective pace is ideal for a tale that addresses such complex issues as genetic birth defects, familial loyalties, and grace among the Amish. This is the fifth installment in Lewis' Home to Hickory Hollow series (The Secret Keeper, 2013), and it also reads well as a stand-alone novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)