BOOK REVIEW: Bygones

 

Bygones cover/purchase link

Click cover to purchase book

 

About The Author link

by: Laura V. Hilton

Dancing Word Reviewer

 

Title: Bygones

Author: Kim Vogel Sawyer

Publisher: Barbour

ISBN: 978-1-59789-404-3

Genre: Inspirational/Romance

 

Years earlier, Marie Koeppler’s parents shunned her when she left her close-knit Mennonite community to marry a trucker. Now a widow, and the single parent of a grown daughter, Marie is stunned to see her former Mennonite boyfriend walk through the doors of the truck stop where she waitresses.

 

Henry has to bare the bad news that Marie’s aunt has died—and the hopefully good news that everything has been left to Marie’s daughter, Beth. Beth is excited about this, but wants Henry to put the inheritance on the market. Henry explains the one catch—Beth must live in the Mennonite town for three months. He hopes that this will help Marie return to her roots—and his arms.

 

Beth refuses outright, but after talking with her boyfriend, changes her mind, and talks her mother into going with her. Marie agrees, but she isn’t sure whether she wants to burn bridges or build bridges. Will she be able to tolerate the Mennonite community after being free for years? And if she does, will she want to remain?

 

Bygones is a totally sweet romance, filled with gentle hope, as Ms. Sawyer’s trademark promises. Marie is a realistic heroine, one who gave everything up so her daughter could have everything she needed and wanted, and Henry is a true hero, gentle, and kind, going above and beyond the call of duty to minister to his old girl-friend, Marie, and her daughter, Beth. I found myself hoping that Beth would like the community and want to stay instead of selling out, and that Marie would find new love with Henry.

 

I was a little confused about some of the Mennonite things brought out in the book. I didn’t realize that they were as strict in some things as the Amish, but according to this book they are. The faith message is expertly woven in, and the setting is part of the story. I truly enjoyed this gentle story, Bygones, and look forward to reading the next two books in this trilogy. $9.99. 286 pages.