Confession 1: I judge books by their covers. Confession 2: I judge books by their titles. Okay, so maybe not all of the time, but when it came to Olivia Newport’s Wonderful Lonesome, I couldn’t help but think how beautiful that title is, and she even wrote a blog post that proves that I’m not the only one.
My first foray into Olivia Newport’s novels were her Avenue of Dreams series. Set in Chicago’s Prairie Avenue, the books chronicle the journeys of three women who all desire something a bit different than the situations life has put them in. They were excellent books, and when I noticed Olivia Newport’s name on the cover of Wonderful Lonesome, I knew i had to read it.
* * * * * * *
**I received a free copy of this book from Barbour Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review**

As a whole, I did enjoy this novel. While I don’t read a lot of Amish fiction, I do enjoy an occasional foray into their world that is so different from ours on some levels.
There are a number of main characters in this novel, and each have a voice in the narrative. There is Ruthanna, while pregnant, some unimaginable hardships come her way. There is Rudy, who lacks interest in staying the harsh lands of Colorado, but remains because of a woman he loves. Willem is torn between remaining with the Amish faith or joining the Mennonite church. Finally, there is Abbie. Abbie is definitely the strongest voice of the novel. She is determined in wanting to see the Amish settlement succeed, but is frustrated with the lack of a minister and gatherings. She is also torn between her feelings for Willem and the attraction she notices that Rudy has for her.
While I don’t think this novel was a page-turner, I could definitely appreciate some of the themes that came through. Each character had to deal with difficulties, and had to rely on hope.
I would love to hear from you! Do you have any favorite Amish fiction novels or authors who write Amish fiction?
For more on the author or this book, please check out the following links:
- Olivia Newport’s Website
- Visit Olivia Newport on Facebook
- Follow Olivia Newport on Twitter
- Read what Olivia Newport is reading on GoodReads
- Check out Wonderful Lonesome on Amazon
* * * * * * *
Beverly Lewis’ “Abram’s Daughters” series remains my favorite Amish fiction – deep and true themes and stories in that series! I’ve not read any Olivia Newport yet, but I agree: a beautiful title! 🙂
LikeLike
I don’t read a lot of Amish fiction, but I have definitely noticed Beverly Lewis as a popular author.
LikeLike