The Missing

Seasons of Grace #2

by Beverly Lewis

Having broken off her betrothal to her quiet, staid beau, Grace is resigned to remain single. But when the young Amish man she thought was courting her best friend takes a sudden interest in her, Grace is befuddled and wonders if he can be trusted.

Genres: Amish, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Amish Fiction, Christian, Romance, Adult

332 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Beverly Lewis, raised in Pennsylvania Amish country and both a schoolteacher and an accomplished musician, has been an award-winning author for over a dozen years. Her acclaimed novel, The Preacher's Daughter, was a 2006 Quill Book Award finalist in the romance category. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and The New York Times. She and her husband, David, live in Colorado."

Reviews

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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This final book in the Seasons of Grace series delivers an in-depth view of the journey these two girls traveled, to overcome the sadness plaguing their lives. Will they find what they're looking for...or something much more?” Will these hidden issues finally be brought to light and aptly addressed?

I've never seen the issues addressed in this series discussed in an Amish tale. I'm always relieved and grateful for my own life, after experiencing some of the trials and tribulations offered in fiction.

My preference for clean and wholesome are met wholeheartedly with this tale. However, as you might find in many Amish series books, there is a bit of a cliffhanger. You really need to read the books in order to understand the breadth of the dynamics involved in this series.

Beverly Lewis is an excellent author in the genre of the Amish people. She describes their lifestyle so clearly that you feel you are within a heartbeat of the action. The characters are developed so fully, that they are entirely believable. You meet them and almost become instant friends.

Things happen the way they are supposed to and this book walks you through twists and turns that elicited deep emotions, as most of Beverly's Amish tales do. The character development and the plot are mesmerizing.

My preference for clean and wholesome are met wholeheartedly with this tale. However, as you might find in many Amish series books, there is a bit of a cliffhanger. Readers really need to read the books in order to understand the breadth of the dynamics involved in this series.

I whole-heartedly recommend this series to readers who enjoy this genre.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Call me old fashion, but every time I read one of Lewis' books I just want time to stop. I love her simplistic writing, it totally matches the simple way of living that the Amish are so known for. There are a few new revelations in this one, but nothing earth shattering. I don't mind that at all, because I read these books for comfort. Visiting the Amish community in her books makes me wish I really knew how to cook from scratch, that I could quilt by hand, didn't care what time it was, and stopped to enjoy the little things in life. If you don't mind knowing how these books will end then I think you will find yourself smiling and wanting a snickerdoodle when you're done.

[Maureen DeLuca · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me... a 2.5 -3.0 .... this is the second in the series, and since I had both of them here at the same time, I read them. I wouldn't really put too much into my rating on this book- look at what others said and take it from there. I was curious, for I do like Linda Castillo - her Kate Burkholder series - which is fantastic - a must read!!

[Andrea Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Missing picks up where The Secret left off, such is the nature of all Beverly Lewis novels. They are like a three part made for tv movie that airs on Lifetime or Oxygen or some other girlie channel.

Certain aspects of this story were wonderful, while others were just too laid out. There are things I know are going to be found out in book three without even having to turn a page, and that makes me wonder why I'm going to read The Telling. I guess it is because, once you start something, it is hard to stop it.

In this book Grace is still trying to find clues as to where her mother had gone. There's also a new guy who wants to court her, Yonnie, who just happens to be the guy her best friend, Becky likes.

Ah the drama of being Amish.

We also see Lettie, Grace's mother and her journey to find the child she gave up for adoption some 20 + years before.

Lastly there is the english girl, Heather, suffering from Stage III non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Guess who she is? She wants to try a natural way to beat cancer. (And even though that won't be dealt with in this book, you know she will)

This story dragged, yet it was an easy read. I liked Lewis' characters, well, not so much Heather, because I really found her abandonment of traditional medicine a bit stupid, especially at Stage III of any cancer.

I'll be picking up The Telling, so I can see the rest of the story through. I have to say, I don't know why Lewis can't just write one longer book, rather than dragging her stories out through 3.

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good sequel to the first book, The Secret. It just might have even held my attention better than the first book did!

What I Liked: I genuinely like the main character, Grace, a whole lot. As the oldest daughter in her family I really could relate with her over-protectiveness side as an older sister myself. Grace's struggles through wanting to find her mother, but having to manage the home, were very realistic. How Grace clung to God and tried to help other was very endearing and encouraging. Overall each character is very unique and has their own voice.

What I Didn't Like: There really wasn't anything that I can remember that I really disliked about this book.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for an enjoyable sequel.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the themes in this series feel familiar from other of Lewis' novels, but I think she is getting better as a writer. I am anxious to see how this will turn out. However, even though the subject matter is TOTALLY different, it reminds me of a Twilight novel in that the characters think about the same problems over and over without taking much action for several pages. I wish they'd hurry up and DO SOMETHING already!

This is a goofy criticism, but some of the characters' names in this book bug me. For instance, I have a hard time picturing a vibrant, attractive doctor being named LaVyrle. And Yonnie sounds/looks like a girl's name to me. But that's probably just an issue for crazy people like me. ;)

[Carmen Volk · Rating 3 out of 5]

A high 3.5 stars, maybe even 4. Cant wait to read the final book in the trilogy.

[Blaise Dierks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I guess Amish fiction is all the rage in the christian fiction right now. There were two story lines, in the first the mother of an amish family disappers without telling her family where she lives, the second follows a non-amish "english" girl who is staying at an amish tourist inn. the non-amish girl has cancer but doesn't want to do chemotherapy and instead wants to do an all-natural cure and that hooked me for a while because I wanted to see where the author was going to go with that but there was absolutely no resolution to that, the story doesn't really wrap anything up at the end, I guess because it's part of a series.

[MAP · Rating 2 out of 5]

The fact that I disagreed with pretty much every "moral" this book had didn't really help endear me to it. I was totally on the side of the dad and found Heather one of the most frustrating and anxiety-provoking characters in literary history. Also, the book just didn't go anywhere. I'm now about 1/2 way through the third, and whoever else said that this really didn't need to be split into two books is absolutely right. The Missing and The Telling could have easily been edited and put into 1 book that actually moves.

Beverly Lewis can say all she wants that she does not endorse naturopathic medicine for cancer, but it sure seems like she does.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much less repetitive and spread out than the first book, the story continues seamlessly and predictably to head towards a final resolution. I still enjoyed it, as the draw of the story is not the reveals - nothing new comes up which I didn't see coming back in book one! - but in Lewis's gentle, homey style. If you're already a fan, her stories are like returning home. If you're new to this author, I would recommend some of her other works before this one.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this in book form some years ago but have just re-read it on the Kindle

This is the 2nd book & you really start to get to know the characters I especially like how Heather is in it who is a Englisher (Non Amish)i can strongly recommend this series but you do need to read the books in order to follow the storyline

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to this book! It was very very slow moving, half wat thru I gave up and read the last chapter, but I already knew what was going to happen.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book. What a great second book in The Seasons of Grace series. I love Beverly Lewis and her books, the realistic characters and the inside look at the Amish lifestyle.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending left the reader wondering if the missing ever came home. I prefer happy ever after.

[Gaylina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fave this a four star instead of a five only because, like the first book in this series of Seasons of Grace it is not a standalone book. In fact, without reading the first book in the series it would be very confusing. At least in this book, it gives you more hints of what’s to come and I can start to put the story of this family and friends lives together. This second book is more interesting than the first because the first book laid the foundation. Being a cancer survivor and watching so many of my friends and family go through traditional treatment, myself included, I was very interested in the alternative treatment Heather is pursuing. If I were to get cancer again, I would pursue this treatment. Finally, I will give the same advice for a person wanting to read this book. You need to read the first book 1st, then this book and then read the last book. Otherwise this series will not make any sense. And once again, I will state, if you do not have access to all three books then don’t read the series since each book builds upon the last and there is no closure at the end of these books so it leaves the reader frustrated.

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Tyler and her family are worried about her mother's disappearance.
Grace wants to go and find her, but her father will not let her.

Grace's grandparents have a secret they have kept for years and are
worried that Lettie's disappearance has something to do with the secret.

Heather is dealing with a diagnosis of her health, and is staying with a
family next to the Bylaw sheep farm. Heather wants to try a different
method to heal herself rather than chemo/radiation.

Heather's father bought a piece of land in this community and is building
a home on it.

Heather has convinced Grace they could go to where they think Grace's
mother is. Grace's father has given his blessing for this trip.
What will they fine?

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of a trilogy. I wondered how it might begin to share the information from the first book, but there was no recap, no flashback. I wouldn't advise anyone to start reading this book without reading the first one. However, having read the first book, I must say that this book was a wonderful continuation. The characters became more than just subjects of a story. They seemed to gain more substance as their motivations and personalities were revealed. The story has unexpected twists and turns, and I can't wait to start the third installment.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars!! (Wish i could rate it 10 Stars!!)
Review:
This was my first time reading Book 2 in this series and i loved how each book so far connects to the previous book.

The Characters were interesting to read about, especially Grace's determination to find her mother who went to Ohio to visit cousins but hadnt contacted her kids for a few months via Mail.

The Setting was beautifully described which made it easy to picture Lancaster PA and Bird-in-Hand PA.

Can't wait to re-read Book 3 in this series this month!!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love having a couple of days to pick up and finish books I started but put down. I typically enjoy Beverly Lewis books but I'm aggravated with this series. It's only because the endings in the individual books don't conclude anything. The storyline is good, but, in my humble opinion, this series would have been better if it was honed down and written as one book instead of three books. I would have felt more satisfied with a solid wrap up of events. Other than that, I still enjoyed the story. I'm still looking forward to seeing if my concluding guess is correct.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Part of the Trilogy

With her Mother missing, Grave tries to find a way to go look for her in Ohio. Meanwhile. in Ohio a young Englisher woman wishes to begin a Holistic approach to treating her cancer. This is a very interesting as the two parts are woven together very expertly. There is also information on the Holistic approach to healing. Beverly Lewis has written a wonderful complicated book that shows she put much research into it. She is a fantastic.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this second installment to the series, and it didn't disappoint me. It filled out a little of the mystery surrounding this family, and the only regret I have is that I "have" to read the third book to get the remaining answers! Thankfully, I have it right here to start as soon as this review is finished. I love the tender care with which Beverly Lewis treats her characters and the story line, and can't wait to see if all my questions get answered.

[gs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well written story , the only reason I didn't give it five stars is because I am an kindle unlimited subscriber and book one of this series was included in that. Unfortunately book two and three of the series I had to pay $9 each to find out what happened in the story. I didn't feel this was quite fair.

[Danielle Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great continuation of the complex life Grace and her family lead. The plot thickens with the continued absence of their distressed mother, and the introduction of several new characters. Suddenly numerous lives begin to intertwine. I am looking forward to seeing how this series comes to a close with the final book (which I am starting as soon as possible)!

[BF · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this series. This was the second in the series about an Amish female/mother looking for the baby she had out of wedlock many years ago.
I can’t be sure, but I’m almost certain the English woman that has made friends with the family might be her daughter.
Such a twist to the story.
I truly enjoy this author!

[Eileen Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book

This book is just as much the page Turner as the first book in this series. The family closeness both with the Amish and fancy Englishers makes you like one of the family.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not know that this book was #2 of a 3 part series. Interesting look inside the workings of an Amish family and their community. Many details left hanging as though the reader could create her own fairy tale ending.

[Barbara Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Missing

This book could have been boring but instead she kept us guessing the whole time what Lettie would do next. At the end we got a hint that the answer was in her own back yard all along!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to think

Beverly Lewis never fails at writing a wonderful story. Once again I found myself intrigued with this storyline and not able to put the book down. I cannot wait to get my hands of Seasons of Grace Book #3.

[S. Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished book #2. I enjoy Lewis's writing, but this series is very predictable. I enjoy watching how she parallels the characters experiences. Looks like Heather is Lettie's missing daughter...We'll see if book #3 proves me right or wrong!

[Susan McMillin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a page turner. Or in my case Kindle turner. Beverly Lewis introduced me to a new Amish plot which was intricate and intriguing. I couldn't put it down and am now started the 3rd book of this collection. Wonderful read! Thank you!