Review of The Road Home

Review of The Road Home

by Patrick E. Craig

Author Patrick Craig continues the story of Jenny Springer, the child rescued in A Quilt for Jenna with a story of reconciliation and healing.

Jenny Springer is the local historian for the Amish community in Apple Creek, Ohio. As a child, Jenny was rescued from a terrible snowstorm, and when no trace of her parents could be found, the Springer family adopted her. Since then she has had a burning desire in her heart to find out who she really is.

When a drifter, John Hershberger, comes to town looking for his own roots, Jenny gets serious in her search for her long-lost parents. As she opens doors to her past, she finds the truly surprising answer to her deepest questions. And as John discovers the story of his own heritage, his growing love for Jenny causes him to reexamine his lifelong atheism. In doing so he discovers his need for a real home, a family, and a relationship with God.

Book 2 in the Apple Creek Dreams series

My Review:

Patrick Craig has done an incredible job of blending romance with adventure, suspense, and spirituality.  Jenny is searching for her birth parents and Johnny is searching for meaning.  They both find many things along the way that they never expected or believed could happen.  Their lives are thrown together in what seem like haphazard ways and yet, God has a plan for their lives just as He does for each of us.   Jerusha and her lovely gift of quilting make the story complete with the Rose of Sharon quilt.   There are many wounds that need healing for Amish Jenny and Englisher, John.  

I felt drawn to the characters as I read.  It caused me to reflect on my own life and the ways that God has given meaning to my life.  God has given forgiveness to me and there were several precious examples of forgiveness in this book.  Patrick Craig utilizes the scripture through out the book to help characters, to lead them, to comfort them and to guide them.  I believe that he has used more scripture appropriately in his novel than I have ever seen in Amish fiction.  Patrick Craig was a pastor and I feel that he draws on those experiences and his educational training for the ministry and this enhances his writing.  I am looking forward to book 3: Jenny's Choice.

I was given a free pdf version of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Patrick Craig is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful career in the music industry after two albums on Warner Brothers Records and years of live performances in one of San Francisco's most popular music groups to follow Christ in 1984. He spent the next twenty-six years as a worship leader, seminar speaker and pastor in churches, retreats, seminars and conferences in the Western United States. After ministering in music and worship the last few years with his wife Judy to a circuit of small churches in Northern California, Patrick is now concentrating on writing and publishing both fiction and non-fiction titles.