This was such an intensely emotional book!! Beautiful chemistry between the main characters and an atypical storyline for an Amish book make this stand out among the genre. ( )

Elizabeth Byler Younts has written a wonderful book, “Promise to Return”. I am eagerly awaiting the next book, “Promise of Sunrise”.

Miriam Coblentz and Henry Mast have been a couple for a long time. Their story takes place in 1943 during the Second World War. When Henry is drafted, it turns their plans upside down. Because the Amish do not believe in war, Henry is sent to a Civilian Public Service camp (CPS) supposedly for the duration of the war. However, Henry is sure that God called him to enlist which he does. He wants Miriam to marry him before he is sent overseas. Because Henry is going against the Amish Ordnung, he is sure to be shunned upon returning from the war and Miriam is reluctant to cause her family more hurt. Miriam’s family has been shamed once before when her sister Kathryn left the community to marry an Englisher, who is also now a soldier. The story of Miriam and Henry shows just how the beliefs of this community can dictate the actions of its members.

I felt sorry for Henry most of the way through the book. I was sympathetic and irritated at the same time with Miriam because she seemed to let her parents and other members of the community dictate what she would do with her life…her, a grown woman. I was also quite frustrated for her that her siblings seemed to leave the care of their parents all in her hands. They seemed to think that she should give up her life to their patents’ care while they led the lives they wanted without thought to the welfare of their parents.

I always enjoy novels portraying the Amish and the kind of life that they lead, but this time I saw practices that I would have trouble living with myself. I think that this story will help me keep a better perspective when reading other Christian based novels. I’m sure that the fact that the author once lived as Amish helped make this book so believable.

I received a free copy of this book from Howard Books in return for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-8f. ( )

I love both Amish Fiction and Historical Fiction so I immediately wanted to read Promise to Return by Elizabeth Younts. I was not a bit disappointed. When my father was alive, he met a black person for the first time in the army training camps. He wrote about it in one of his letters to my mother. He talked about how poorly they were treated and being separate all the time. So I wondered about the Amish during that time period.

When the Amish men were drafted, they had the option to work in a Civilian Public Service camp because of being conscientious objectors. The Amish believe that war is a violation of the commandment “Thou Shall Not Kill”. So a soldier commits murder when he kills an enemy.

Miriam Colbentz has always loved being Amish, especially how the community comes together when someone is in need. She wants to be obedient and not violate any rules. Just before the time that she and Henry Mast were to get married, Henry was drafted so he went to the Civilian Public Service. There he made some friends who were not Amish and was exposed to the world news. After he heard what was happening to the Jewish, he felt that God was calling him to enlist and protect them. This caused him a lot of torment; he loved Miriam so very much and knew that it would make her life very difficult for her. He didn’t even want to tell her why because the Amish community was sheltered from much of the world news.

Miriam has to make a lot of difficult decisions from then on. She wants to marry her true love and also continue to be Amish. This story was written with great sensitivity and understanding of the Amish and the outsiders. I immediately felt for Miriam and her impossible situation which required a terrible decision from her.

Sometimes I thought I knew what she would decide but situations changed and so I couldn’t find out what she would do until the end. I am very interested in reading the next book in this series about what happens when another member of the community has to serve In the Civilian Public Service. I was surprised to find out that there quite a few of those camps in my home state of Indiana when I searched on the Internet.

I highly recommend this book to all Amish fiction fans and those interested in United States Historical Fiction.

I received this as a win from FirstReads but that in no way determined the thoughts and ideas in my review. ( )

This was a different kind of Amish book whereas it took place during WW II. Written by a new author who happened to have grown up Amish, this story gave more insight into areas of Amish rules and culture than I had ever read before. In fact, I wonder if my father, who served in WW II, had even heard of Amish back then. Anyway, the characters, Henry and Miriam, were about to visit the bishop to begin planning their wedding when Henry got drafted. Being Amish and a conscientious objector, he went to a work camp to serve out his time. But even though that was all that was required of him, he told Miriam that God had spoken to him and led him to enlist. Miriam now struggled, for most of the rest of the book, with a decision to follow her Amish faith and culture, or to choose to love and follow Henry. I really enjoyed this book at first. Then it started to drag with what felt like unnecessary information. But soon it picked up again and I wanted to read all night. It is such a different Amish book, but so historically and culturally interesting. I do recommend this book.

I received this book through Howard Books, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

Title: Promise to Return (Promise of Sunrise)
Author: Elizabeth Byler Younts
Pages: 320
Year: 2013
Publisher: Howard Books
Lately one of my least favorite genres has been Amish books because they seem so prevalent or marketed as something other worldly like. What do I mean? For instance, one novel I was to review lacked depth, authenticity, and most of all a plot. Sometimes too the Amish and their lifestyle are highlighted as better than what others live or more along the fantasy type genre.
However, I am so glad to have read Promise to Return for here is an author who was raised and lived the Amish lifestyle. Through the novel her aim to enlighten readers as to what possibly may have been experienced by some Amish communities during World War II. Elizabeth Byler Younts writes with more than her knowledge or experience; her heart is clearly present on every page throughout the book.
Here is a story with characters that have depth of heart, emotions and life happenings that grip the heart of the reader; drawing them into the perspective of the main female character named Miriam and the male lead Henry. As I read the story, I became aware of how lifelike Amish communities can be, which is not as they are sometimes presented. They are people who experience joy, pain, sorrow, laugh, cry and make choices as to Who is leading their life just as those who aren’t Amish do.
I was reminded of the price servicemen and women pay, and perhaps more so the families during WW II. We are used to instant everything today and waiting seems like a major inconvenience and frustration. Back in the 1940’s, the time between seeing a soldier off to war and hearing anything from them varied and when no word was received, that had to be one of the most heart wrenching experiences our past generation suffered! So, perhaps as you read this fictional story you might be reminded as I was that the cost of the freedoms we enjoy or abuse today came at costs we may never really understand.
I cannot wait for the sequel to Promise to Return, which focuses on a different character from this first novel. Just know that this is one author to read, follow and know that she is open to engaging with anyone who desires to know more about the Amish or her own life by contacting her at www.elizabethbyleryounts.com or http://notquiteamishliving.com/
My rating is 5+ stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )