Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Beverly Lewis, raised in Pennsylvania Amish country and both a schoolteacher and an accomplished musician, has been an award-winning author for over a dozen years. Her acclaimed novel, The Preacher's Daughter, was a 2006 Quill Book Award finalist in the romance category. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and The New York Times. She and her husband, David, live in Colorado."
I didn't like this one. The beginning of the story was enjoyable, especially the start of the skating party. I didn't like what happened after that. I suppose something like that could/has happen/happened, though. I was hoping something different would have happened, but I guess the story needed more drama.
Merry's beau Levi comes home for Christmas, and she is invited to go skating on the Zook's frozen pond. Through circumstances beyond her control, Jon (Alliteration Wizard) joins her, Rachel, Matthew and Levi on what was supposed to be a couples outing. But the Amish embrace Jon and they enjoy a good time together, until the unthinkable happens: Merry falls through the ice! When she awakens in the hospital, she is mostly find...except she can't remember her friends and she is even more confused by her feelings for both Levi and Jon. Will she get her memory back and when/if she does, how will she have changed?
Echoes in the Wind was very good! I enjoyed it more than the last book, probably because in this one Merry got selective memory loss and I always seem to have a weakness for stories where the MC is fighting to regain their memories.
I have read Beverly Lewis's novels before but never one intended for a young adult audience. She is known for her Amish stories. This one focuses on a Christian teenage girl who is not Amish and her friendships.
This is a very sweet story. I can imagine how teenage readers would want to live in this community because it is so idyllic. Even in the face of a terrible accident friends and family rally around with love and compassion.
The story seem to end abruptly. The plot is probably picked up in the next novel in the series. I personally read this one because of the skating party plot line. Even though I enjoyed the novel it is aimed at a teenage audience so I did not find it especially fulfilling as an adult reader
╰┈➤ This was my second read through this book, and quite unfortunately I liked it a lot better the first time. But perhaps it’s the fact that I’ve grown up, and the fact that I can no longer relate to Mary the same way.
But overall, I still enjoy this series. It’s definitely a nostalgic read for me. And it always makes me think of all the good times I’ve had myself in Lancaster PA.
If you’re in middle school or early high school I’d say this is a great fit! Especially for fans of Christy Miller (but this one is a lot more innocent in a less cringy way, and doesn’t deal with same hard topics).
A tender read, centered on love, identity, and the quiet power of healing.
After an accident left Merry struggling with memory loss and conflicted emotions, the novel gently explored how faith, love, friendship, and God’s timing shape who we become!
These are quick listens (a little over or under three hours each) and I enjoy the narrator, the setting, the main character. The plots, however, are just getting wonkier as the series goes on. I'll be curious to see just how out there before the series wraps.
Interesting to read about Levi transitioning from Amish to Mennonite. Lewis reminds me of another Lewis…C.S. Multiple ways to the same goal of heaven seem totally acceptable in these books. A mixture of sadness at the shallowness of the truths of Scripture and enjoyment over Christian literature.
Series: Summerhill Secrets #7 (Should be read in order)
Age recommendation: 13/14+
Summary: While skating on the pond near her house with friends, Merry accidentally falls through thin ice. Her friends are able to rescue her, but when Merry wakes up in the hospital she has lost her memory and doesn’t recognize anyone! Will Merry ever get her memory back so things can return to normal?
My thoughts: I love this book because when Merry loses her memory, she also loses her crush on Jon. The story line is interesting and well-written, but the series as a whole is getting heavier on the romance which I don’t love (pun intended).
My favorite book of the series so far, though I do not like the new method the author has (in the last couple books) of winding up all the loose ends with a few paragraphs of summary narration at the end of the book.