The Captive Heart

November 15, 2011

This sequel to Paradise Valley revisits the Bender family, now building an Amish settlement in Mexico after emigrating from Ohio. Things are not as easy for Caleb and his family as he had hoped. The country is still caught in the turmoil of the Mexican Revolution. When Caleb's daughter Rachel is kidnapped by a bandit, the community must remain true to their pacifist nature despite their anger and the danger they face in trying to rescue her. VERDICT Drawing on the true-life experiences of his grandfather, Cramer (Levi's Will) does not flinch from depicting the harsh reality of settlement life. Grittier than most Amish novels, this will attract readers who like Lauraine Snelling's Western series.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2011
Faced with religious persecution in his Amish home in Ohio in the early 1920s, father and leader Caleb Bender felt that he had no choice but to move his family to Mexico. As well-known Amish inspirational writer Cramer (Paradise Valley, 2011) continues the story of the Bender family in the newest novel in the Paradise Valley series, the newly established colony is experiencing further growth. Yet, despite hopeful expectations, these brave pilgrims find themselves beset by escalating violence and heartbreak and wonder if this will ever be the blissful home they seek. In a way that only Cramer can, the lives of these plucky, authentic characters are skillfully woven into the fabric of a richly researched historical tapestry, making for a strong series, sure to please readers of this inspirational fiction niche as well as readers who appreciate fictionalized accounts of family chronicles. The tender ending of the second novel will leave readers anxiously awaiting the third.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)