Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Review & Giveaway: Abby Finds Her Calling by Naomi King




Paperback, 272 pages
Expected publication: March 6th 2012 by Penguin Group (USA)
ISBN: 0451235738 (ISBN13: 9780451235732)

It's a busy day in the Amish community of Cedar Creek, Missouri  as close to four hundred family members and friends gather at the Lambright's for the wedding of Zanna Lambright and James Graber. James, a thirty year old buggy maker, is excited to marry his seventeen year old neighbor, Zanna. Unfortunately, Zanna proves not to have the same feelings.

No one can find her but they do find her wedding dress slashed to ribbons on her bedroom floor. Her older sister, Abby, and her Mamm are beside themselves with worry but her older brother Sam, now head of the household, is extremely angry that Zanna has put them through such expense and work bringing humiliation and shame on the family. When Abby does find Zanna, it doesn't take too much to find out why Zanna acted as she did but now she has to figure out how to break the news to James and her family and where to go from there.

In an Amish community, this is not just the immediate family's problem but it is the entire church's concern. Abby takes it upon herself to look out for Zanna, make James, Sam and the rest of her family understand and do what is right, not what is expected. It takes some doing but eventually the church and the Bishop agree to the best course for Zanna even though it is not easy.

It takes a near tragedy in the community to put Zanna's concerns to the side and focus on what is really important for the whole community; their deep abiding faith in God, their love of family and the invincible power of forgiveness.

This is Naomi King's first Amish novel; I think she's written a real winner with these characters. Most of the females are strong women, Abby in particular. Being a single maidel, she runs her own sewing business along with helping her brother in the local mercantile. Abby  is also tender-hearted and totally selfless. She seems to be the community peacemaker when emotions  run high at times, faith can be sorely tested and tempers get out of hand. Ms. King has developed her characters so well, it's as if the reader can see into their hearts and minds. I just fell in love with the whole community and can't wait for the sequel, Rosemary Opens Her Heart, coming in October of this year. 4****

 If you'd like more info about Naomi and her background, please visit her website.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Penguin Group USA  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to the generosity of Penguin Group, I am allowed to host a giveaway for 2 copies of this delightful new book to US residents only. Deadline to enter is 03/14/12 at 5 PM (est)

To enter please leave your e mail address in a comment. If no e mail address, I will assume you do not want to be part of the giveaway.

Bonus entries are as follows:

+4 for following on Networked blogs. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.

+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Abby Finds her Calling in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

15 comments:

  1. This sounds like a wonderful new series!
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. +4 Networked blogs as Karen Purbaugh Barnett.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. OHHHH, this sounds sooooo good, I am adding this to my wish list. What an intriguing storyline.

    +4 for being a networked follower

    +3 for blogging here:
    http://wrensthoughts.blogspot.com/p/contests-and-giveaways-good-luck.html
    and tweeting here:https://twitter.com/#!/WendyNewcomb/status/177057542248210432

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
    wrensthoughts.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I still have not read any Amish books, but would like to read this one. It sounds as if the story is both tender and intriguing, and I would love the chance to be entered in your giveaway. Thanks for hosting it!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm really enjoying the current crop of Amish fiction. This one looks like a worthy addition.

    +4 Networked blogs as Riva

    dulcibelle [at] earthlink [dot] net

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This one sounds great. You know how much I love Amish books and she's a new author to me!!!

    Add me to the drawing please!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love Amish fiction but I have just started reading it last years so I am not familiar with author. This story sounds rivering, that must have been a very horrifying discovery.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. +4 I follow you on Networked Blogs as Carol Naomi Wong.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I tweeted as Carolee888


    http://t.co/lmmesOh3 Enter to win "Abby Finds Her Calling" by Naomi King.


    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the giveaway.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love to read this book.

    +4 i follow with networked blogs

    ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. great giveaway
    follow via gfc
    drakebdog@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. This looks great! Please enter me!

    bethsbookreviewblog2 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm a Networked Blogs follower (Beth Book Review).

    bethsbookreviewblog2 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi! Naomi King here, just thanking everyone for their interest in my new book, ABBY FINDS HER CALLING, and a big thank you to Kaye for such a complete, complimentary review!

    ReplyDelete

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