The Stone Wall

Beverly Lewis

Sep 2020 · Baker Books

About this ebook

Anna is eager to begin a new chapter in her life as a Lancaster County tour guide in the picturesque area where her Plain grandmother once stayed. Anna wishes she could talk with her grandmother about those long-ago days, but the elderly woman suffers from Alzheimer's, and beyond a vague hint about an old stone wall, much about that time is a mystery. Thankfully, Martin Nolt, a handsome Mennonite, takes the young Beachy Amish woman under his wing for her training, familiarizing her with the many local highlights, including Peaceful Meadows Horse Retreat, which serves children with special needs. The retreat's mission so inspires Anna that she returns to volunteer, and she quickly strikes up a friendship with Gabe Allgyer, the young Amish widower who manages it.

As Anna grows closer to both Martin and Gabe, she finds herself faced with a difficult choice--one in potential conflict with the expectations of her parents. Will Anna find true love and the truth about her grandmother's past in Lancaster County? Or will she find only heartbreak?

Ratings and reviews

The Stone Wall by Beverly Lewis is a charming Amish story. The author blended the past and present beautifully with Anna and Eliza’s stories. I thought this was a unique Amish novel as it features Beachy Amish, Mennonites, and Old Order Amish. It allowed me to see the differences and the similarities between them. I thought The Stone Wall was well-written with developed characters. It moves along at a gentle pace which suits this story. Anna Beachy needs a change and has been praying on it. The opportunity arrives when she receives a letter from her mother’s cousins in Strasburg about an opening at the Mennonite Information Center as a tour guide. Anna is close to her grandmother, Mammi Eliza. Unfortunately, Mammi Eliza has Alzheimer’s and she has few lucid moments. When Anna tells her about going to Strasburg, Mammi Eliza has a moment of clarity. Her words about a stone wall linger with Anna and it has her searching for it in Strasburg. It is interesting to see the parallels of their time in Strasburg. There is more than one type of wall in The Stone Wall. Anna also has a wall around her heart because she is afraid of getting hurt again. There are two men who catch her attention. Since both men reside in Strasburg, Anna is torn because her parents did not want her to marry and live so far from home. Another issue is that neither of them are Beachy Amish. Anna becomes a volunteer at Peaceful Meadows Horse Retreat which practices hippotherapy. It was interesting learning about it and how it helps individuals. If you enjoy reading Amish novels, then you do not want to miss out on The Stone Wall. My favorite phrase from the book is, “The Lord had something better in mind for me than rehashing the past.” Mammi Eliza had once told Anna that it was a “waste of time to look back with regrets” because “the past simply can’t be changed.” I never thought of it that way. The Stone Wall is a thoughtful, heartwarming Amish story.

I just loved it ..

About the author

Beverly Lewis penned her first story at age nine while living near Lancaster County Amish farmland, where she grew up. She welcomes her many reader-friends each day on Facebook and personally replies to fan mail. Lewis lives with her husband in Colorado near their family. Visit her website at www.beverlylewis.com.