Book Review: “Promise To Cherish” by Elizabeth Byler Younts

October 7, 2014 at 1:02 pm | Posted in Books | Leave a comment
Tags: Amish, Book Review, Christian Fiction, Romance Fiction

Elizabeth Byler Younts in her new book, “Promise To Cherish” Book Two in The Promise of Sunrise series published by Howard Books brings us into the life of Christine Freeman.

From the back cover: 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 post-war 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 turned violently upside down. Once Christine realizes she is pregnant with Jack’s baby, her options are limited. Eli, heartbroken to see his friend so hurt, offers her an escape within his Amish community. Despite her unplanned pregnancy, Christine is fully embraced by Eli’s community. She lives with an elderly midwife, who shares her great wisdom on life, and Christine slowly begins to feel valued and loved as she learns the Amish way of life.

Christine finds herself falling for Eli. But as her due date approaches, 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 give up her baby or will she follow her heart and promise to cherish the Amish man who loves her?

Historical Fiction, abusive husbands and World War II are just some of the ingredients in this wonderful adventure.  Eli is Amish Christine is not but they meet at the Hudson River State Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY. They develop a friendship which begins to turn into something much greater. Ms. Byler Younts gives us tightly drawn characters that come alive on the pages. Jack is really evil as the abusive husband, Eli grows in his character from the opening pages through the whole book and Christine is another character that ends differently than when she started. I love history and Ms. Byler Younts knows how to blend history and fiction together to the point where you don’t know where one ends and the other begins. And on top of everything it is a romance. A highly enjoyable read.

You can find “Promise To Cherish” at a discount at  http://www.deepershopping.com/item/younts-elizabeth-b/promise-to-cherish/5982208.html

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Howard Books.   I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”