Though Mountains Fall

November 15, 2012

Caleb Bender and his Amish neighbors have fled from Ohio to Mexico to avoid being legally required to send their children to "English" schools. The community is tested when it is attacked by bandits, then saved by Mexican troops who turn out to be just as vicious as the bandits. Meanwhile, a bishop arrives, allowing Caleb's daughters to marry. Things are not so simple for Miriam though, when her beloved, Domingo, decides to fight in Mexico's civil war. VERDICT The Benders and their neighbors continue to struggle with fractured peace in 1920s Mexico. Authentic characters and attention to detail recommend this third entry in a strong series (Paradise Valley; The Captive Heart), to readers of T. Davis Bunn and Gilbert Morris.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2012
In the third installment of Cramer's Caleb Bender trilogy (Paradise Valley, 2011; The Captive Heart, 2012), hardships and hard questions abound as the pioneering Amish family endures a time of testing. Joined by other families in their pioneering settlement in Paradise Valley, Mexico, Caleb is hopeful that they will all soon begin to see the fruits of their labor, even as danger looms after a bandit attack that resulted in the kidnapping of his daughter, Rachel, and the death of a son, Aaron. Seeking revenge after their failed scheme, the outlaws are again on the hunt, threatening the peaceful Amish community. Woven into the trials and tribulations are the decisions of life, love, and loss that the Bender daughters must face, looking deeply into their own hearts. In this bittersweet rendering of familial relationships and life choices, the daughters learn both to hold on and let go. Cramer has crafted a distinctive tale based on the history of the Amish in the Americas, a strong finish to a popular and worthy series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)