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About this item
Highlights
- "Incredibly well-researched, thoroughly enjoyable, and singularly original.
- About the Author: Leslie Gould is a Christy Award-winning and #1 bestselling author of over 35 novels, including four Lancaster County Amish series.
- 432 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Amish & Mennonite
- Series Name: Amish Memories
Description
About the Book
When Ivy Zimmerman's Mennonite parents are killed in a tragic accident, her way of life is upended. As she grows suspicious that her parents' deaths weren't an accident, she gains courage in the story of Clare Simons, a woman who lived in pre-World War II Germany. With the inspiration of Clare, Ivy seeks justice for her parents, her sisters, and herself.Book Synopsis
"Incredibly well-researched, thoroughly enjoyable, and singularly original."--SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author"A beautiful story of love, loss, and the bonds that connect a family to its faith."--SUZANNE WOODS FISHER, bestselling author of A Season on the Wind
Ivy Zimmerman is successfully navigating her life as a young Mennonite woman, one generation removed from her parents' Old Order Amish upbringing. But when her parents are killed in a tragic accident, Ivy's way of life is upended. As she deals with her grief, her younger sisters' needs, the relationship with her boyfriend, and her Dawdi and Mammi's strict rules, Ivy finds solace in both an upcoming trip to Germany for an international Mennonite youth gathering and in her great-great-aunt's story about Clare Simons, another young woman who visited Germany in the late 1930s.
As Ivy grows suspicious that her parents' deaths weren't, in fact, an accident, she gains courage from what she learns of Clare's time in pre-World War II Germany. With the encouragement and inspiration of the women who have gone before her, Ivy seeks justice for her parents, her sisters, and herself.
From the Back Cover
"Incredibly well-researched, thoroughly enjoyable, and singularly original."--SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author"A beautiful story of love, loss, and the bonds that connect a family to its faith."--SUZANNE WOODS FISHER, bestselling author of A Season on the Wind
Ivy Zimmerman is successfully navigating her life as a young Mennonite woman, one generation removed from her parents' Old Order Amish upbringing. But when her parents are killed in a tragic accident, Ivy's way of life is upended. As she deals with her grief, her younger sisters' needs, the relationship with her boyfriend, and her Dawdi and Mammi's strict rules, Ivy finds solace in both an upcoming trip to Germany for an international Mennonite youth gathering and in her great-great-aunt's story about Clare Simons, another young woman who visited Germany in the late 1930s.
As Ivy grows suspicious that her parents' deaths weren't, in fact, an accident, she gains courage from what she learns of Clare's time in pre-World War II Germany. With the encouragement and inspiration of the women who have gone before her, Ivy seeks justice for her parents, her sisters, and herself.
About the Author
Leslie Gould is a Christy Award-winning and #1 bestselling author of over 35 novels, including four Lancaster County Amish series. She holds an MFA in creative writing and enjoys church history, research trips, and hiking in the Pacific Northwest. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon, and have four adult children and one grandchild. Learn more at lesliegould.com.Dimensions (Overall): 8.43 Inches (H) x 5.51 Inches (W) x 1.26 Inches (D)
Weight: .83 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 432
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Amish & Mennonite
Series Title: Amish Memories
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Format: Paperback
Author: Leslie Gould
Language: English
Street Date: March 28, 2023
TCIN: 87272882
UPC: 9780764240249
Item Number (DPCI): 247-04-2610
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.26 inches length x 5.51 inches width x 8.43 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.83 pounds
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4.8 out of 5 stars with 6 reviews
100% would recommend
6 recommendations
A thoughtful tale!
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
- 2 years ago
A Brighter Dawn by Leslie Gould is dual-timeline Amish novel. I thought the story was well-written. The characters are realistic and developed. The story is engaging. It captures your attention and holds it until the end. I enjoyed getting to know Clare and Ivy. Clare’s story is intriguing. I like that we get to see Germany just before war breaks out from Clare’s point-of-view. There are some interesting twists along the way and a surprise. I can tell that the author did a thorough job researching historical events. I like how she incorporated the history into the story. It is disturbing to read what happened in Germany in the time leading up to World War II. I amazed at how many people fell for Hitler’s rhetoric. There is romance, but it is not at the forefront. I enjoyed the mystery as well. Ivy does not accept that her parents were killed in an accident. The facts do not add up for her. She is determined to uncover the truth. I admired her tenacity. The author takes readers from Oregon to Pennsylvania on to Germany, back to Oregon, and a return to Pennsylvania. I like that she included descriptions of the scenery as the group drove across the country from Oregon to Pennsylvania. The story has a good flow. The switch between scenes and time periods was smooth. A Brighter Dawn shows us the importance it is to be open to the truth. It can be hard to hear, but it is better than living with lies. The author gave us rich, developed characters and a complex plot. This is a story that invokes discussion. I suggest reading the author’s notes at the end. I enjoyed the first installment in the Amish Memories series. A Brighter Dawn is a thoughtful tale with an atrocious accident, gracious grandparents, romantic predicaments, a lengthy journey, a verbal narrative, and unearthing answers.
Great time slip novel
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Gail Hollingsworth - 2 years ago
This is one of Leslie Gould’s best books to date in my opinion. It was a split time novel with current day and the time period of pre-World War II in Germany. Well researched, I learned a lot of interesting historical facts from the conflicts between Germany and Russia that I didn’t know. I couldn’t imagine the pacifist Mennonites siding with Hitler during this time. A small mention of some of the atrocities of that time was enough to give this reader pause. There were family conflicts that stretched from Oregon to Pennsylvania from times gone by to present Ivy Zimmerman, age 21, was just beginning to learn to navigate her life as well as help her sisters. A tragic accident upended all their lives and put Ivy on a search for the truth. But she also struggled with not feeling like she fit in and wondering if she would ever feel like she belonged. She also had a problem with worrying too much about what others thought of her. It was satisfying to see how she changes and matures over this time period. The new relationships built between grandparents that Ivy and her sisters barely new was heartwarming. This book emphasized the importance of learning all one can of family history from older relatives before it’s too late. I love to read for entertainment but also to learn new things. This book satisfied both. I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise
Stellar Dual Time Line
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Lucy Reynolds - 2 years ago
A stellar original Amish/Mennonite dual time line story that involved extensive research into history. Although not an easy read it was fascinating to learn facts about WWII that I had not heard. Their are several surprising events that keep you guessing but when everything comes to a conclusion you will feel gobsmacked. The pacing and flow from Ivy’s story to Clare’s story was so well done and the characters seeped into your heart and felt like old friends. I was totally impressed with this woven storyline and cannot wait for book two in this Amish Memories series. This definitely goes on my top ten list for this year. I hadn’t read Ms Gould in several years and forgot what an exceptional author she is. I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Wonderful Dual-Time Amish Fiction!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Connie Saunders - 2 years ago
I absolutely loved this dual-time plot that alternates between 1937 and 2014! The two stories revolve around members of an Amish/Mennonite family, with one primarily set in Germany and the other in Pennsylvania and Oregon. The contemporary story relates Ivy Zimmerman's efforts to accept the car accident that took her parents' lives. Her younger sister was driving the car and many believe that Brenna's lack of driving experience was the cause. Is this the case or are there more sinister circumstances involved? As Ivy works through her questions and grief, she learns of the struggles of her ancestor, Clare Simons. Clare's visit to Germany in 1937 began an inspiring journey of danger, faith, and perseverance as she worked to protect two children from the evil that was present during the days leading up to WWII. Author Leslie Gould gives readers a powerful history lesson about the persecution of the Anabaptists during the 1930s/1940s. I was both surprised and horrified by some of the true facts that are woven into Clare's story! I love history so I was totally absorbed in Clare's story but I also enjoyed the mystery surrounding Ivy's search for truth. I highly recommend A Brighter Dawn to fans of dual-time stories and Amish fiction! It's a book to read, savor, and read again! I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.
Captivating historical fiction
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
- 2 years ago
A Brighter Dawn is the first book in a new series (Amish Memories) by Leslie Gould. If the subsequent books are as good, I can not wait to read them. Readers are quickly drawn into the story with the unexpected death of Ivy's parents and the interest does not let up. Gould does a wonderful job fleshing out her characters so that the reader truly feels like they are real people with very real struggles and heartaches. This book has a story within a story as Ivy's great-great aunt reveals the account of another young girl who visited Germany in the late 1930s. Clare's story is just as compelling as Ivy's and the author does a marvelous job of stopping at just the right point in one story to pick up in the other. Gould has researched this story well and gives good historical information on World War II and the contemporary issues of the war in Ukraine. I was especially intrigued by some of the Mennonite and Christian organizations' reactions to Hitler and his plans for Europe. A Brighter Dawn is a story of grief and courage, family and friends, and a coming-of-age journey as a young woman yearns to find out where she belongs. Readers who enjoy historical fiction and 'unputdownable' (I read it in less than 2 days!) books will not want to miss reading Leslie Gould's book. I read a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.
Good Reading!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Sunnie Reviews - 2 years ago
This was a very different Amish fiction book than what I first expected but was delightfully surprised. It was a dual time period book, which I am not always fond of, because I often get a little confused which time period I am reading. But this one was very well written with a current time period and the time frame as WWII approaches. Having parents that lived in WWII Germany, this story held my interest as I recalled the stories my own mother shared with me. And that is what happens in this book as Rosene shares Clare's story of helping family in Germany. The story is about the Anabaptist struggles through this time period and how they dealt with them. The Current story also has a mystery to it in regards to the tragic death of Ivy's parents. The book was very interesting and I enjoyed reading it very much! I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.