This is the second book in the Keepers of the Promise series, and yes I loved the first book, but you can read this one by itself. We span decades while read this story, Amish in present day Lancaster Pennsylvania and the same place in 1953.
Life as usual does not run smoothly, but change is in the air in both time frames, and problems abound. The 1950’s were a time before Amish had their own schools, and are being threated when they have their children leave school after the eighth grade. We have people being put in jail for their beliefs; you get the feeling that it becomes a war of wills. Both stories deal with family life, and after tragedy moving on with their lives.
We see people holding on to forgiving themselves; we find melding of the past lives with the present in the form of letters found in a much loved and used table.
We find our present day family trying to find peace between two brothers and the rest of the family, mostly the wife/mother of the older one. Struggles to bend the will of the other and find peace in decisions made on the spur of the moment.
I loved the comparisons of the lives, so different and yet so similar, I got lost in this book, and when it ended I wanted to keep on reading.
I received this book from the Author and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

The Rescued by Marta Perry is the second book in the Keepers of Promise series. Judith Wagler is married to Isaac. They have three children of their own and also raise Isaac’s little brother, Joseph. Isaac and Joseph’s parents died in a house fire before Joseph was a year old. Judith and Isaac married when Joseph was five years old. Joseph has finished school so Isaac is working to teach him the running of the dairy farm. Their farm had plans for Joseph to take over the farm when he grew up and Isaac plans to honor those plans. Joseph, though, likes working with machines. Judith tries to act as a buffer between the two, but the stress is getting to her.

Judith received a study desk from her grandmother, Elizabeth Lapp. Her grandmother has stories and history attached to each item. When Judith unlocks a drawer on the desk, she uncovers round robin letters written back in 1953. The letters outline what happens to Mattie Lapp, a widow with children. In the 1950’s school laws changed in many states requiring children to get a higher education (high school) and stay in school until at least age 15. The Amish only schooled their children through eighth grade (age fourteen). If Mattie does not send her daughter to school, she will be breaking the law. Mattie’s gets help from her family and Adam Lapp, a widower. Adam is a cousin of Mattie’s deceased husband, Benjamin. He has been so helpful to her since Benjamin’s death.

Reading the letters help Judith with the situation between her husband and Joseph. I give The Rescued 4 out of 5 stars. It was a good book, but not as good as the first book in the series. It was interesting to find why the Amish would not send their children to high school and how it was handled by school districts. It is heartwarming how the Amish help each other out and are there for each other (at least in this series of books). I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of The Rescued from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own. ( )