The Secret by Beverly Lewis

I had no idea Lewis had started a new series until I saw The Secret sitting in the New Fiction area of my library. The Secret is book 1 of her Seasons of Grace series. Lewis is, by far, the queen of Amish Fiction. There are elements that seem to be repeated throughout a number of her books and yet she is able to spin her tale in such a way that the reader doesn't feel it is a rehash of the same ole story again and again.

Grace Byler has known something wasn't right with her mother for some time. She weeps and wander off in the night when she thinks no one is watching. She often seems to be far off in her thoughts as if she is reliving another time and place. Grace so wants to know what and why, but questions are not encouraged in her Amish family. And even when their lives are turned upside down by the unthinkable, they do not discuss it.

The title refers not only to the secret in Grace's mother's life, but also to the secret each member of her family holds in their heart and the secret they seem to guard from the watchful eyes of others in the order.

As always a wunderful gut story from Lewis!