Title: The Thorn
Author: Beverly Lewis
Series: Rose Trilogy Book 1
Genre: Christian Fiction
About the Book:
“Lancaster County, with its rolling meadows and secret byways, may seem idyllic, but it is not without its thorns. THE ROSE TRILOGY is the stirring saga of two Amish sisters on the fringes of the church, and the unforeseen discoveries that change their lives.
Rose Kauffman, a spirited young woman, has a close friendship with the bishop’s foster son. Nick dresses Plain and works hard but stirs up plenty of trouble too. Rose’s sister cautions her against becoming too involved, but Rose is being courted by a good, Amish fellow, so dismisses the warnings. Meanwhile, Rose keeps house for an English widower but is startled when he forbids her to ever go upstairs. What is the man hiding?
Rose’s older sister, Hen, knows more than she should about falling for the wrong man. Unable to abandon her Amish ways, Hen is soon separated from her very modern husband. Mattie, their young daughter, must visit her father regularly, but Hen demands she wear Amish attire–and speak Pennsylvania Dutch, despite her husband’s wishes. Will Hen be able to reestablish her place among the People she abandoned? And will she be able to convince Rose to steer clear of rogue neighbor Nick?”
Review:
Overall it was a very good read, and one that I sat down to “read a few chapters” before I ended up reading the whole book. Beverly Lewis is known for writing good, clean Amish romances that leave you waiting for the next book in the series… which is sitting beside me to be read next of course. This series carries an important message when it comes to choosing a spouse. “Love” may seem like enough in the beginning, but if both partners don’t share the same faith, worldviews, child-rearing views, etc. it can put a very difficult strain on your relationship and make life seem near impossible. Unfortunately book 1 has ended with a cliffhanger so I will need to keep reading to find out what happens in their relationships in book 2.
Rating: 
Age Appropriateness: The beauty of Beverly Lewis books is that they are very clean when it comes to content and romance. It’s a bonus for younger readers because they can read more “grown up” books without having to worry as much about the content they contain. I would honestly see no problem with a 10-12 year old avid reader wanting to pick up this book. This book can actually encourage teens and tweens when they think about dating to make sure that they are careful over the types of boys they show an interest in.
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