The Fiddler (Home to Hickory Hollow Series #1)

The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis is the first book in the Home to Hi

The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis is the first book in the Home to Hickory Hollow series. Amelia DeVries is an acclaimed violinist who has been secretly finding joy in playing under the pseudonym Amy Lee on the country music circuit as a fiddler. When her manager and boyfriend found out about her secret life, they are both horrified that she would sacrifice her career in classical music and her father's dreams. Driving home on a rainy night, she takes a wrong turn in the woods of Pennsylvania, and when her car gets a flat tire, she takes refuge in a small cabin. Michael Hostetler is also struggling with disappointing his family. As a twenty-five-year old man, he should have been baptized into the Amish faith years ago, and his father has given him an ultimatum: join the faith or get out. But Michael has been attending college and learning how to draw blueprints. He is drawn to the "fancy" life, and only his love for his family holds him back. When Michael and Amelia meet there is a immediate recognition that they are in similar places in their lives, and as they spend a quiet evening in the cabin waiting out the storm, they forge a bond that just might change their lives forever. I love how Lewis gently exposes the quiet chemistry between the pair without making it about physical attraction. These two souls feel right together from their first moment shared on the page. Lewis, as usual, portrays both the good and bad sides of being Amish and how the attraction of the Englisch world pulls on young people who desire something more out of life and refuse to believe that leaving the faith means leaving God. Michael and Amelia's relationship blossoms slowly and truly, making readers fall in love with them as they fall in love with each other. I look forward to the next book in the series.

4 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Another Great Read from Beverly Lewis!

I have read every book that Beverly Lewis has written, and always anxiously await her new releases. This one, again, stole my heart. Wonderful story, read in just a few days. Would have liked to have seen a little bit more in the way of character development, but still loved the book. Will be excited to read book 2 in September!!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Even though I had a busy week, I made time to read this enjoyabl

Even though I had a busy week, I made time to read this enjoyable book whenever possible. This was well written, and I look forward to reading the second book in this series come September.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

loved the story line, so naturally had to get the this book. It

loved the story line, so naturally had to get the this book. It did not disappoint!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

It was good, just not as good as most of her other books. Did I

It was good, just not as good as most of her other books.

Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy this book. It was a quick read that made me happy and left me with the warm, fuzzy feeling that I usually get after reading Ms. Lewis's books. I read this book every free chance I had.

I liked the characters. Amelia was sweet and I wanted her to be happy and pursue her passion. Michael was a guy I rooted for. I wanted it to work out for him...for him to make the tough decision that that would be best for his life. I also enjoyed the references to other characters from Ms. Lewis's past books. It was like hearing about old friends that you haven't talked about in awhile.

However, this was not one of my favorite Beverly Lewis books. It was good, just not as good as most of her other books. The Fiddler was a different story line from most of her other books. It was a nice change. It was not the Amish falling in love and questioning their future life as an Amish person. This was an English woman and an Amish man contemplating changing his life choice for her. The Fiddler was not as focused on religion as Ms. Lewis's other books either.

Would I recommend it: If you are a fan of Beverly Lewis, then I would absolutely recommend this book. However, I would not recommend this to be your first Beverly Lewis book because the others are much better.

Will I read it again: I will not but I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the Home to Hickory Hollow series.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Fiddler

I have finished The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis. This is the first book in the "Home to Hickory Hollow" series.

Englisher Amelia Devries finds herself lost in a rain storm when she is heading home after being one of the opening acts at a concert. She is a violinist but secretly plays the fiddle on the side. She ends up at a cabin in the woods where Michael Hostetler is staying. Michael offers shelter to Amelia. The two become friends as they talk over a game of chess, and Michael invites her to visit Amish country with him once the storm clears. Amelia enjoys her weekend staying in Amish country, makes new friends, and leaves with a changed perspective.

Even though they live very different lives, they both are trying to live to meet the expectations of others. Michael feels the pressure to join the Amish church while Amelia lives with what her parents expect her to do with her life and her music. They both feel trapped and unhappy.

I always enjoy the books written by Beverly Lewis. I enjoyed the encouragement shared by one of the characters Ella Mae and how Amelia used this in her life when she went back home. This book makes me look forward to book #2 in this series.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for providing this book for my review.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I really enjoyed reading the new Beverly Lewis book The Fiddle

I really enjoyed reading the new Beverly Lewis book The Fiddler. She did a wonderful job of blending two people from different backgrounds that were each at a crossroads in their life. Both are very hard working, goal oriented people that do not want to let their families down but at the same time feel smothered by what they are expected to do. I appreciate that Ms Lewis does not have them take the easy way out which would be to throw in the towel and do what they want when they want it. Instead she has them think it through, get counsel from various different people and then follow through with some previous obligations.<br />
It is always refreshing to see an author show their characters with some depth, morals and values. I like when I read a book and the character remembers something that they had been taught but may not have been living to the fullest. This book shows with Amelia that she had not been living a life where she was being true to herself and honest with her family. She had forgotten the simple pleasures of some of the things that she had learned with her Grandmother, including talking to God and having a relationship with him. It all shows that Michael is very family oriented, has a strong faith but still has to make some hard decisions. It shows that tough decisions can be made with putting others first and waiting on the right timing. I think we forget that as we live in a very instant, give it to me now world that is pretty &quot;self-centered&quot;.<br />
It was refreshing to be reminded that although we all walk our own road in life we all go through similar trials, its how we deal with those trials that makes the journey good or bad. <br />
I would highly recommend reading this book. I want to thank Bethany House for sending out a copy to me free of charge. All that they ask of me is to post a review, good or bad. I would also like to thank Ms. Lewis for writing another good book that I have had the privilege to read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Following Your Heart

Just finished this wonderful Beverly Lewis book, and was not disappointed!
Wanted to move to Hickory Hollow, and find the peace that Amelia Devries found there.
You have the feeling of God leading Amelia to the peace she is so looking for. She is a Classically trained violinist, and to find some enjoyment, a self trained talented fiddler.
Michael Hostetler is a 25 year old Amishman, who loves his family, but wants more in life. He wants to be draftsman, and is having a hard time, when province lands Amelia at his doorstep.
Both love their families and live their lives for their families, with hopes for something different. So enjoyed the people of Hickory Hollow...especially the Wise Woman Ella Mae, and Joanna Kurtz. How I would love friends like them.
I highly recommend this very fast enjoyable read. I want to go back!!

I received this book from the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Collision of Worlds

My Thoughts: Beverly Lewis has brought an engaging, very well written novel based on the collision of the world of the Amish and that of their non-Amish friends. Their life styles. Their beliefs. Their feelings. She has also, surprisingly, brought to us a collision within the story of the world of the classical musician - that of fierce determination to succeed in a highly competitive yet rewarding field and that of the individual need for fulfillment outside of the classical music world.

This is also a story of father and child love and relationships. Of a sense of responsibility to oneself and responsibility to one's father. A calling to honor and obey or fulfill the desires of the father (earthly and heavenly) and a desire to wend one's own way through the maze that is life.

Musician Amilea Devrie is a touring concert violinist. She also has a secret life as a "fiddler" in the world of country music. This is a major conflict. On a stormy evening, she becomes stranded on a mountainside and takes refuge within the confines of an Amish young man's cabin. The story takes wings from that point on as the lines of conflict become intertwined.

Beverly Lewis writes this novel featuring the world of music from a musician's viewpoint (and that of researchers she has available to her) and throughout I wanted to Google these pieces of music and hear the lovely strains for myself.

I highly recommend The Fiddler for an entrancing, captivating read that reveals inner conflicts between the worlds within us.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not the best

I am a huge Beverly Lewis fan, however, this book didn't keep me interested. I found myself skipping through boring paragraphs of pointless detail. I wasn't excited about this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Read in 2 days!

Had been waiting for this book for a while, and I was not disappointed! Read it in less than 2 days (riding on the train from Orlando to Philadelphia). Keep them coming!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

I loved this book

This book was very good. I enjoy reading books by Beverly Lewis. I look forward to reading more books by Beverly Lewis.

Loved it

Loved it

Not a winner this time... seemed "cheesey"

I've really enjoyed every other B Lewis Amish fiction I've read but this one was very disappointing. The story line was harder to get into and seemed less realistic. I've read a LOT of Amish fiction and I hate to admit this was my least favorite. It won't prevent me from reading the rest of this series or her other books. I suppose even the great writers can publish a dud sometimes! This review is jusr my humble opinion...

Anonymous

I loved this book. Didn't want to put it down.

Highly recommend

Enjoyed the book. I wold share with my friends. What a great way to see
how these wonderful people live.

Excellent book!!

This book is a delight if you like Beverly Lewis and her books about the Amish and their relationships with the "English."

The Fiddler is exactly like Beverly Lewis' other works: perfect.

The Fiddler is exactly like Beverly Lewis' other works: perfect. I had found this one to be very different, in that she takes a woman that doubles as a fiddler, showing her challenges and how a chance encounter on a rainy night makes her question herself. We've all heard of &quot;chance meetings&quot; and how they can make or break us. What happens here? Please buy the book to find out.

The Fiddler - Wonderful Read!

Englisher Amelia Devries a renowned violinist finds herself lost in a heavy down pour while returning to Columbus, Ohio, on her way home after playing, as a guest fiddler, for a small country band, one of the warm-up gigs to Tim McGraw. What fun she had! Amelia was doing this for fun and relaxation unbeknownst to her family, manager and boyfriend. They would not be happy if they found out what she was doing. Michael Hostetler a young Amishman had just stormed out of his parent’s home after another fight with his father over settling down and joining the church. His father argued with him; you have one foot in the world and the other foot in the church. Don’t come back home until you decide. Michael ended up in a small cabin that was hidden away in the woods miles from his home. He wanted to make sure his father wouldn’t find him. Amelia, after driving what seemed miles and miles ended up with a flat tire in the drive way of the cabin Michael was staying in. It was so dark and raining so hard that she couldn’t see the cabin. She planned on spending the night in her car so she decided to take her fiddle out and play a few tunes to make herself feel a little better since it looked as though this is where she’d be spending the night. After some time had past she thought she saw a light shining in the woods. Was that a place where she could seek shelter? Should she stay put until morning? This book was about making your own decisions in life. We shouldn’t live our life on how others feel we should live it. We have to follow God’s calling and leading. Do we sacrifice our paths to make others happy or do we follow God’s path? These were some tough choices that Amelia and Michael had to make. Would they make the right ones? Once again Beverly Lewis penned another great Christian fiction book. God is always first and foremost in her writings and I praise Him for that. I can’t wait to read The Bridesmaid, Book 2 in the Home to Hickory Hollow series.

Amelia Devries is an extremely talented violinist, whose father'

Amelia Devries is an extremely talented violinist, whose father's dream
for her has been to travel the world's stages. Music is what gives her
life; however, she doesn't only like to play the classics. She also
loves to fiddle. Her alter ego is Amy Lee, star fiddler, who just opened
up for Tim McGraw. No one else in her life knows about her other side,
which at times is more appealing than being a concert violinist. On her
way home from the Tim McGraw show, she takes a wrong turn in a horrible
rainstorm. She seeks shelter at a nearby cabin, in which an Amishman,
Michael Hostetler, lives. Michael was born in the Amish faith, but has
recently found himself drawn to the English ways of life as he seeks his
higher education. The two of them are instantly drawn to each other.
Michael is amazed at Amelia's talents and beauty. Amelia is drawn to a
simpler way of life. Both of them seem to straddle both worlds, though
one foot definitely lies more heavily in one than in the other. As you
are reading this book, you realize that one or both of them is going to
have to give up their current way of life, in order to make anything
work out. Dreams may be fulfilled, but some may have to be given up in
order to create new ones. You're torn between how you want them to work
this out. If Amelia goes Amish, she will have to give up her music. If
Michael becomes English, he faces the disappointment of his community.
Both of them fear upsetting their fathers, who have alternative ideas
about what their children should do with their lives. You want them to
find a way to work it out, to achieve their life's dreams, and to not
lose their families in the process. While I was reading this, I kept
envisioning Amelia as a sort of Alison Krauss. I had no celebrity in
mind for Michael, but I could still picture him just as clearly in my
mind. You could really feel the emotions of the characters as they grew
and developed. You rode their roller coaster of hopes and dreams,
disappointments and desires. It was a very touching reminder to stay
true to yourself. I loved it. I received a complimentary copy of this
book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
[This review also appears on Andi's Book Reviews and Uplifting Reads.]