The Fiddler (Home to Hickory Hollow)

After some disappointment with the last series of books I think that Beverly Lewis is back to her old ways and has given us another excellent fun novel. We are back at Hickory Hollow and this time we have an outsider, Amelia DeVries, who stumbles across the Amish in a way that only God could have ordained.Michael has gone to Welsh Mountain to a friends cabin to get away from his parents and think through his next move of becoming 'fancy' instead of being baptized into the church. While there in the woods, Amy Lee (Amelia) DeVries stumbles across his path. She has taken a wrong turn in a major rain storm and is lost, her car experiences a flat tire and fate, or is it God, brings her to the door of Michael's cabin.Michael is trying to decide about becoming worldly, Amy Lee is trying to decide about becoming more plain (although she doesn't mean that in the Amish sense). So, the two are looking for changes. The two need courage. Amelia is a concert violinist who would rather play country. But her father and her agent have other ideas. She is one of the top violinists in the country. She can't go 'plain' that would mean giving up 'her gift.'But in meeting Michael and accepting his invitation to go to Hickory Hollow Amy Lee is faced with some decisions. What is going to do. This simple lifestyle is so peaceful and refreshing. It is obvious to her that her past life is to stressful and hectic and she is living it only for others.Michael on the other hand finds the lifestyle a bit to peaceful and he is tired of living his life for others, he wants to live it for himself.Can Michael and Amy Lee help each other find what God wants for them?Enter the Wise Woman, Ella Mae. She gives wonderful advice to Amy Lee that sinks deep into her soul. Ella Mae reminds her that God gave her the gift of music, so play for Him and for no one else. If she plays for Him then He will receive the glory and He will provide Amy Lee with blessings.It's not as simple as I make it sound. But the story is riveting. You will want to finish it instead of putting it down. It is another wonderful Amish Christian Novel.The characters are well developed. You will fall in love with them and be cheering for them. You want to know, will Michael and Amy Lee fall in love? Will they both get the desires of their hearts? Can they help each other to cope with the stresses of their lives? Will they both find how to please God through the use of their talents.Thank you Beverly, I feel as though you have returned to your Amish roots of good writing with this book.Enjoy my friends!

I preordered The Fiddler as soon as I read the last book in The Rose trilogy because I really wanted to see if I wanted to continue to read new Beverly Lewis books after the somewhat abrupt conclusion to that series, and I'm glad I did. I think The Fiddler is enough of a mix of all of Beverly Lewis' different books that it felt comfortable without feeling like a rehash.In this volume the main characters of Amelia and Michael encounter each other one night while each is trying to work through feelings of discontent with their life's path while not wanting to hurt their parents and families with their choices. This part of the book was actually really endearing to me because it happened almost immediately and because there was a lot of actual dialogue instead of quick conversations followed by internal discourse. It was delightful just to have two characters chatting through an evening instead of thinking.I've read most of Beverly's books, but some of the older ones I read nearly a decade ago at this point, so I don't remember everything about them...but I will venture that this volume reminds me more of those older books because they aren't following lives of dedicated Amish or Amish who are definitely going into the church. Instead, we have returned to a place with questions.I loved that in this book Beverly actually ventures into (through dialogue on religion) the fact that Amish life and the faith isn't all quiet, peaceful tranquility where life is wonderful all the time. I think a lot of authors of this type of fiction have left fans idolizing this lifestyle. While there are certain elements of it that are quaint and that us Englishers could choose to implement in our day-to-day lives, it isn't all tea and skittles and a lot of it is quite harsh and dogmatic. A dose of realism never hurts readers!Both Amelia and Michael were quite likable in this book and the potential for romance existed from the get-go but not in a typical gushy kind of way. It was more of a peaceful acknowledgment of contentment versus flutters and shortness of breath. Very sweet.When I read the last book in The Rose Trilogy  The Mercy (The Rose Trilogy, Book 3)  and left my review, I commented that I didn't like the abruptness of the ending after having been drug through a trilogy built around these people. With The Fiddler, that will not be a problem as this book is the complete story. While the characters in here may appear in other books in "The Home to Hickory Hollow" series, they are unlikely to be a focus as the main players went full circle. I have two speculations about who will be the star of the next book, "The Homecoming": Elizabeth or Joanna. However, it could be an entirely new person...always a possibility when an author is mixing up their writing formula.The only reason I am docking a star on this book is for a portion of several pages toward the end that almost began to feel like reading a brochure. I can't talk about it in depth here because it would be a plot spoiler, but an astute reader will see what I mean when you get there. However, I still highly recommend this book despite my nitpick.

Enjoyable as ever as all Beverley Lewis books are.Good musical content.Felt that there could have been more depth in the exploration of the characters in the book. All in all, I enjoyed the read and would recommend to my friends.

absolutely brilliant book got to keep going to the end,what a story this author Beverley lewis is absolutely gifted in her writings,I have 5 of her books that I have to read I bought these before buying my kindle but am so addicted to the kindle so easy to read from rather than picking up a book,but I will still read these and get them out of the way so that I can get back to my kindle reading,but for anyone looking for a good read I am trying to remember how many of her books I have read now,I think 14,you got to read Beverley lewis.

What a fabulous Novel. Enjoyed every minute of it. Found it interesting and inspirational as well as the lovely music you could hear in every Chapter. Also loved the depth of Spiritual teaching throughout the story. A five star from me. H.

I have enjoyed other novels by Beverly Lewis and this one is just as enjoyable. An unusual story about a professional violinist who has a life changing detour to Amish country. I look forward to reading more in this series.

This is a very good Amish story and I've already read it twice! The storyline is excellent and shows the differences and similarities between the world and the Amish community very well.