Sunday, December 7, 2014

Promise to Cherish by Elizabeth Byler Younts

Elizabeth Byler Younts is a fairly new name in Christian fiction, and a name that will be around for a years to come judging from her newest book, Promise to Cherish.

Starting with a compelling cover picturing an Amish young man and a nurse in the uniform of the 1940's, and capturing my attention with the opening "Letter to the Reader" explaining the author's history and inspiration for the story, I seriously could not put this book down.

This war-time saga covers a capsule of time when conscientious objectors such as the Amish would be put to work stateside doing everything from digging ditches to, such as our Amish rogue, Eli, working as an orderly of sorts in the Hudson River State Hospital. The conditions there are appalling, but nurse Christine Freeman exemplifies a professionalism and kindness that challenges him to grow in his understanding of the world of the mentally ill and make a difference in the lives of the patients who live there. She is also quite lovely and he finds himself becoming more and more drawn to her.

Christine suffers a trauma in which she is forced to make the hardest choice of her life, one that will result in rejection and loss no matter what she decides to do.

I loved this book and am thrilled to say that it is part of a series called The Promise of Sunrise. I have not read the first but will try my best to find it and put it on my "top shelf". Promise to Cherish stands alone beautifully and you will want to share this only with people who you can trust to give it back...you have my personal guarantee on this one!

Please read the publisher's information for more about Elizabeth Byler Younts and Promise to Cherish!




This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Promises to Cherish

Howard Books (October 7, 2014)

by

Elizabeth Yount


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:







Elizabeth Byler Younts is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She is an Air Force officer’s wife and a homeschooling mom with two young daughters. She makes her home wherever her family is stationed. Elizabeth was Amish as a child and after her parents left the church she still grew up among her Amish family and continues to speak Pennsylvania Dutch.




ABOUT THE BOOK



As World War II draws to a close, nurse Christine falls in love with roguish Amish boy Eli and must choose between a new, uncertain life in the Amish faith or face the judgment of a conservative postwar American society for her past mistakes.


It’s 1945, and Christine Freeman is a nurse at Hudson River State Hospital, where she works alongside members of a Civilian Public Service unit. Eli is one of the conscies—conscientious objectors to the war—and he is doing his best to become a man of character instead of the immature heartbreaker he used to be back home in his Amish community.


Christine and Eli are friendly, but when an old acquaintance, Jack, returns home from the war, Christine’s world is violently turned upside down. Eli, heartbroken to see his friend so hurt, offers her an escape within his Amish community. Despite her misgivings, Christine is fully embraced by Eli’s community. She slowly begins to feel valued and loved as she learns the Amish way of life.


Christine finds herself falling for Eli. But soon, the abusive Jack discovers Christine in her Amish hideaway and starts causing trouble for the quiet community. Christine can’t see herself becoming Amish, and she knows that if Eli leaves the church to be with her, he will be shunned. Will she escape Jack and possibly have to give up the one thing she holds most dear, or will she follow her heart and promise to cherish the Amish man who loves her?



If you would like to read the first chapter of Promises to Cherish , go HERE.