The Sound of Thunder

Jan Drexler is starting a new series--the Amish of Weaver Creek and it is going to be hard to wait for the second book of the series to come out.  Her first book in the series: The Sound of Distant Thunder is the kind of book that makes the reader think of difficult issues and how to deal with them. 

Through the characters of Katie Stucky and Jonas Weaver are faced with such a dilemma.  Jonas and Katie want to get married, but the sounds of war are fast upon them and when the draft is initiated, Jonas is wondering what to do about it.  He knows slavery is wrong, but according to the Amish rules, taking arms to fight is equally wrong.  The decision is taken out of his hands when his brother is drafted, and Jonas goes in his stead. Jonas' experiences in the war help him to find a place where he can be useful without taking up arms against another.

While Jonas is gone, Katie stays home to help take care of her parents' homestead.  Her mother goes through a depression every year that worries Katie, and she does all she can to help her mother out.  During all this, Katie's father dies and adds more turmoil to the Stucky's lives.

Jan Drexler imbues her characters with a liveliness and believability that make this book hard to put down.

This is a five-star book, with two thumbs up, and a quiet place that brings peace in spite of the war.

Revell Publishing provided this galley through NetGalley.com for me to read and give my honest opinions.