Will garner new fans: "Keys of Heaven" by Adina Senft

Keys of Heaven


about the book...


Sarah Yoder is learning to help the people in her Amish community as a Dokterfraa, creating teas and tinctures from the herbs she grows. But her latest patient seems to have a problem that can't be resolved with Sarah's remedies-a woman who, in Sarah's mind, would flourish anywhere other than where she lives. Meanwhile, as Sarah's relatives attempt a little matchmaking between her and a visiting Amish man, she struggles to let God show her His choice of partner and not allow her friendship with her neighbor, Henry Byler, to grow into anything more.

Henry has seen some success as a potter since a major store commissioned his work for their catalog. But the trouble is they want to market him as Amish. Though he was raised in the faith and lives in Amish country, Henry has never joined church and doesn't plan to. Which also means, despite the attraction between them, he must keep his distance from Sarah. But what will happen when Sarah and Henry are called upon to help a runaway whose Englisch family is blind to how lost their son has become? The plant Sarah calls Keys of Heaven can grow in impossible places, but it's hard for people to find their own place, which creates quite a temptation for Sarah to take matters into her own hands... - See more at: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/adina-senft/keys-of-heaven/9781455548668/#desc


my review...


The second novel in the Healing Grace Series is a wonderful follow-up to the first book in the series, Herb of Grace. "Keys of Heaven" sees the return of Sarah Yoder, whose big heart and helping hands are a blessing to the community around her...despite the occasional moment where Sarah's well-intentioned actions have unintended consequences! The story moves along at the perfect pace, drawing readers into the lives of the characters and sharing some genuinely precious wisdom along the way.

I greatly enjoyed rejoining the characters in these novels and watching them navigate through life. The intersecting of Sarah's life with the Amish family and friends around her is a beautiful picture of God's church in action, providing a deep level of care that the outside world so often longs for. A moment of transparency and forgiveness that happens later in the book is truly wonderful to behold! I also enjoyed the character of Henry, as he ends up stepping into the life of an Englisch family and mentoring a young lad named Eric. The difficulties that Eric and his family have in their own relationships simply showcases the negative impact the modern world has on family interactions, causing family members to grow distant and feel misunderstood. And this is where "Keys of Heaven" shines, as it shows readers the absolute gift that living in community is for the Amish people. As I read through the book, I myself longed for the chance to experience the Amish life, where the world seems to move at a slower pace, and people have time to discover the place that God has made for them in the world.

A heart-warming tale that celebrates the best things about being Amish, "Keys of Heaven" is sure to please Senft's fans, and will surely draw some new readers into her fold. 4 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Faithwords, for the purposes of this unbiased review.


about the author...


Adina Senft grew up in a plain house church and was often asked if she was Amish. (The answer was no.) She holds an MFA in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, where she is part of the adjunct faculty. Between books, Adina enjoys playing the piano and Celtic harp, making historical costumes, and spoiling her flock of rescued chickens.





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