A Faithful Gathering (The Sisters of Lancaster County Book #3)

Leslie Gould

Feb 2019 · The Sisters of Lancaster County Book 3 · Baker Books

About this ebook

Leisel Bachmann left her Amish roots and beloved sisters to pursue a career in medicine without a second thought. She has an Englisch boyfriend, Nick Jordan, and dreams of a new life--but those dreams come crashing down when her sister Marie is diagnosed with cancer.

Soon nothing is going as she planned--not her state boards, not her first nursing job, and certainly not her relationship with Nick. As she becomes increasingly discouraged, her aunt shares the story of Leisel's grandfather during World War II and the struggle he faced between returning to Lancaster or being with the woman he loved.

Peace and a vision for the future are difficult to find, and when Nick leaves Pennsylvania for a completely new life, Leisel is faced with impossible choices. Will she stay in Lancaster, close to her family and the traditions of her past? Or learn from her grandfather's story and embrace a life of love and service in an uncertain future?

Ratings and reviews

A Faithful Gathering is a compelling novel. While A Faithful Gathering can be read alone, I suggest you read the books in The Sisters of Lancaster County series in order. It will help you to understand the family dynamics. I thought A Faithful Gathering was well-written with relatable, yet complex characters and set in beautiful Lancaster County. We get Leisel’s story in A Faithful Gathering. She is on the cusp of fulfilling her dreams when her sister, Marie is diagnosed with cancer. When a series of events leave Leisel feeling discouraged and doubting her choices, her aunt shares the story of Leisel’s grandfather, Joe Bachmann. Joe’s draft number comes up in 1944 and, as a conscientious objector, enlisted in CPS (Civilian Public Service). It was interesting to learn about CPS plus AFS (American Field Service). I was not aware of these two divisions previously. The historical elements were beautifully incorporated into the story. I liked how the past and present flowed together. We see how fear comes in many different forms and it can hinder (even cripple) an individual. Prayer, faith and listening to God’s guidance are Christian elements in the story. We must pray to God for Him to lead us down the right path. If you have faith, you know God will provide. The Sisters of Lancaster County has a heartwarming ending. One of my favorite sayings in the book relates back to a woman who has one thing after another go wrong in her life and she believes God is punishing her. The phrase is “sometimes we’re tested, but that doesn’t mean we’ve done anything wrong”. We must remember that God will not give us more than we can handle. Leisel was being tested in A Faithful Gathering. It was nice to see Leisel develop as an individual and in her faith. A Faithful Gathering is clean, Christian novel with realistic characters and situations that will touch your heart.

About the author

Leslie Gould is the coauthor, with Mindy Starns Clark, of the #1 bestselling The Amish Midwife and The Amish Nanny. She is also the author of numerous novels including multiple Lancaster Amish series. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Portland State University and has taught fiction writing at Multnomah University as an adjunct professor. She resides with her family in Oregon. Learn more at www.lesliegould.com.