The Captive Heart

The Captive Heart

by Dale Cramer

Publisher's description of the book:

Ravaged by disease, preyed upon by ruthless bandits, the Bender family's second year in Mexico has taken a grievous turn. Faced with impossible choices, the expatriate Amish discover, more than ever before, what it means to live by faith and not by sight. But it's Miriam who must make the hardest choice as her heart takes on a new and dangerous course. With constant danger looming over her beloved, displaced Amish community, is she willing to sacrifice everything for a man she's forbidden to love?

Almost a year ago I reviewed Paradise Valley, the book that preceded this one. I loved that book and the interesting way that Dale Cramer presented Amish life. When I saw that the sequel was available, I immediately requested it. I had been waiting almost a year to find out what happens to the Benders in Paradise Valley! This book didn't disappoint. Though it did move a little slow in the beginning chapters, I was fully engrossed in the story less than a quarter of the way through. I loved reading both Rachel's and Miriam's stories. Now I am finding myself disappointed that I have to wait another year to find out what happens to Miriam!

I would rate this book a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy Amish fiction, you will definitely enjoy this one!

About the author:

Dale Cramer spent his formative years traveling the world as an Army brat, then settled in Georgia at the age of fifteen when his father retired. After high school he became an electrician, a job that took him to places as diverse as power plants, stadia, airports, high-rise office buildings, and a hard-rock mining operation. Twenty-five years of experiences in the trades provided him with the wealth of characters, stories and insights that populate his novels. When he married his childhood friend, Pam, in 1975 he had no way of knowing they would not have children until fifteen years later. In his early forties, when Dale left his job to become a stay-at-home dad, he suddenly found himself with time on his hands, so he pursued a lifelong dream and taught himself to write. Using an online writer's forum as a training ground, he wrote his first short stories in 1996. As his writing skills improved he turned to novels, publishing his first work, Sutter's Cross, in 2003. Since then, Dale has published four more novels and garnered a measure of critical acclaim with two Christy Awards, a listing among Publisher's Weekly's Best Books of 2004, and numerous other Best lists. Dale and his wife Pam live in Georgia with their two sons. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."