read: {an angel by her side}

I have been reviewing books for BookSneeze for about three years now, and I love being part of their program. Free books for an avid reader? Yes, please!

Somehow, An Angel by her Side is one of only two fiction books I have read through the program. Most of the time when I am ready to pick a book, the fiction ones are already claimed.

I am so glad I was able to read this one, though. It follows the story of Amish school teacher Katie Bender and visitor to the area, Seth Stutzman. I have always found the Amish culture fascinating and this novel did not disappoint. Katie is a strong-willed woman but has a genuine love for the Lord. Seth has made a serious, but honest, mistake in his past and is working on accepting forgiveness. I love that the shortcomings of the characters are shown, as well as their strong characteristics. It always bothers me in a Christian fiction when the characters are portrayed as flawless.

Another interesting facet of the book is the appearance of an angel named Elias. I truly believe God can use anyone- including angels- to minister to his people. Elias always shows up at the right time with the right words and is a truly lovable character.

The topic of dyslexia, and how it can make people feel, is also mentioned in the book. I thought this was an interesting touch.

Although this is the third book of a series entitled Heaven on Earth, the book can easily be read without reading the first two. (I haven’t read them and had no trouble with the characters or storyline.)

If you like Amish fiction or just would enjoy reading about another culture, this one is a good fit!