This is not my favorite Beverly Lewis book. That being said I have enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It took me a little while to connect with the characters. I would recommend this title to any Beverly Lewis fans.

Beverly Lewis has become a household name for Amish Fiction. She was one of the first Amish Fiction authors I read and probably the one who is responsible for getting me into the genre. Her latest title, The Proving, is based on a compelling storyline.

Amanda Dienner left the Amish life and became English. She learns that her mother has passed away and is surprised to learn that she is set to inherit Lancaster County's most popular Amish B&B.

What initially drew me to the story was the spin Lewis put on this story which is that Amanda will inherit the B&B IF she runs it herself for an entire year, acting as hostess. I found this to be an interesting twist and made for a unique story.

While Amanda is working as a hostess, she encounters a guest who signed up for a mystery vacation and ends up at the B&B, something the guest is NOT happy about. On top of that, Amanda doesn't have any available guest rooms and the guest is unable to get help from the vacation company.

I enjoyed the B&B concept of this story and the setting. I also enjoyed reading about the mystery vacation guest's adventure. I think many readers will be able to relate to a vacation gone wrong and it was interesting to see how the story unfolded.

Romance is secondary in this story of two young ladies, Amishwoman Mandy Dienner & Englisher Trina Sutton. Both have reservations but are learning to let go of the past. Beverly Lewis has created a story with a serving of second chances. I really like the setting of this book taking place at a Bed & Breakfast. It is interesting seeing the "inns" & outs of running one. Trina is a little confusing to me because her personality seems to switch upon arriving at the B&B. I had trouble getting into this story at first but as it progressed I became more engaged in it. The very best thing in The Proving for me is what Mandy found out that her mother prayed about relating to the B&B. I think it is something we all should be asking God for, whatever our job description. I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book. 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.

The Proving by Beverly Lewis is a delightful contemporary Amish novel that I loved. Wonderfully descriptive, the reader 'experiences' a charming Amish B and B and the surrounding countryside.
The novel shows the hand of God on our lives. This is not always visible at first, but with hindsight we can see God working all things together for good.
Life is not all plain sailing. Rifts can split people apart. Hurt parties wallow, refusing to give up their anger and their hurt. So focused on their past, they risk ruining their future. Our hurts need to be given to God. "The wound isn't beyond the scope of God's grace." We need to receive His healing.
Linked to this theme is that of forgiveness. We need to give out forgiveness before bitterness destroys us.
There is loss to be faced - literal loss and the loss of relationships. Both can be healed by God if given to Him in prayer.
Memories are important. Good memories can leave us smiling.
Bonding happens over food. The reader is treated to some wonderful mouth watering descriptions.
The characters were likable and well drawn. I found it easy to empathise with both sides of the story. The characters were warm and welcoming.
Time is a great healer. Time helps us to organise our priorities and to decide what is really important.
An absolutely wonderful tale. I enjoyed my year 'spent' at the Butterfly B and B. Now that the book is ended, I feel like I have left friends behind rather than characters in a book.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Beverly Lewis amazes me with each book that she writes. In the Proving she teaches the main character that even though she has trouble forgiving and have no faith in herself. She learns something about herself throughout the book.

Forgiveness is not about forgetting the past, it is about moving forward.

Amanda Dienner five years ago abruptly left her Amish home in Lancaster County. Leaving her twin sister and her widowed mother to run a Bed and Breakfast that the family acquired after the death of her father. Amanda is living in Kansas, working with a young couple as a florist. When hard times forces the couple to let Amanda go, she must find work or move to where she can make a living. Within weeks of still searching for a job, she receives a letter from her brother informing her the death of mother and the inheritance of the B&B. There are stipulations with the inheritance and that being she must run it for a year- A proving of herself and after a year, she can sell it. Amanda is with anxiety in seeing her sister and being received by the Amish community. The hurt and betrayal she had endured by her own twin sister and the misunderstanding she had with her mother. She must decide if she can go back without her heart in it.

She does go back and the development of the plot and her character is helped with those that come into Amanda's life. The clientele of the inn that loved Amanda's mother and the Amish way, the young woman who is candid with Amanda regarding her standing with the Amish and her own sister whom she fired day one arriving to take over the B & B. In the proving, she comes to find what is important and what is worth fighting for. That forgiveness is a process that must be dealt with for healing. The process gives the reader tears and hope! Loved this one

A Special Thank You to Bethany House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

I am not usually interested in reading books about the Amish, often because all the storylines seem to be the same. After a while, you can almost begin to predict what is going to happen just by reading the back cover. But, The Proving by Beverly Lewis intrigued me enough that I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did.

Early on the author establishes the fact that the main character Mandy Dienner is estranged from her Amish family, but we don't find out the real reason for quite some time into the story. I loved the concept of taking an Amish character who has been out in the world and has experienced what it's like to have all the conveniences and placing her back into her Amish roots once again. The fact that her mother left her B & B to Amanda and not her twin sister (who had stayed with her mother running the B & B) was a mystery that was not revealed until later either. Amanda has one year to run the B & B and then she will own the home. But, will she go back to the outside world again or remain Amish? She doesn't make it easy for herself when she immediately fires her sister Arie Mae, who is not only the cook, but the reason why she left home in the first place. The tension is thick.

The character of Trina was intriguing and a bit complicated. She lands on Amanda's doorstep via a "mystery vacation plan" to spend time at a real Amish B & B, but she is so rude, and her behaviour is so appalling that I had a hard time believing she was a Christian. However, as she mellowed out, she became a somewhat likeable character.

The theme of forgiveness is very strong with this book, and the overall ending was satisfying. If you are looking for an excellent book to read on a cold winter's night, this would be a good choice!

Butterfly Meadows sounds like a lovely idyllic retreat, but unfortunately not for Mandy Sue who has inherited the inn from her mother. Mandy plans to only meet the minimum requirements of the will before selling the inn and leaving town. During the course of the year, she not only survives running the inn, but thrives. Along the way, she learns a thing or two about forgiveness and moving forward. Beverly Lewis does not disappoint in her story telling and descriptions, however, I did not really care one way or the other about Mandy. I found her whiny and not very likable. Why her family wanted her back is beyond me, but then there would be no story.

Falls Short

I was so stoked to have an opportunity to read a new novel by Beverly Lewis! She IS the grandmother of the Amish genre. I have been downright wowed by several of her series – Abram’s Daughters and Annie’s People being just a couple of my favorites. But would her latest novel, The Proving, pass the test? It’s a mixed bag.

The Proving follows Amanda (Mandy) Dienner. Mandy left her Old Order Amish home five years ago due to a falling out with her twin sister, Arie, and her mother. When tragedy brings Mandy home, she ends up running her mother’s Bed & Breakfast – and she’s none too pleased to find Arie there.

Englischer Trina Sutton is heartbroken and at a crossroads in her life. When a “mystery trip” lands her in Amish country, she’s not a happy camper. And Mandy is at her wits’ end dealing with this outspoken woman. But, maybe God had a plan all along to bring these two women together.

I was given The Proving in exchange for my honest review. It really is a mixed bag. On one hand, Lewis gives her readers that taste of Amish they’re looking for – she always does a wonderful job of setting a scene and transporting the reader to her world. I certainly found myself wanting to visit an Amish B&B!

That being said, a lot of things didn’t add up – the relationship between Mandy and Trina seemed contrived and unnatural. Other characters’ storylines seemed to be thrown into the novel without much development. They were distracting. And perhaps the most bothersome to me was the title. In the Amish world, many go through a “proving” time prior to their baptism – to prove they want to stay Amish. That is not what this novel was really about. Instead, Mandy was proving if she could run the B&B.

I do not write these criticisms lightly. I adore Beverly Lewis – and many of her writings are among my favorites of all time. I would love to see her write another trilogy. She truly excels in writing several books in a sequence. Unfortunately, The Proving falls short.

Another fantastic read by Beverly Lewis! I have been a long time fan of her books and this one did not disappoint! Would definitely recommend to others

I really adore Amish fiction. Beverly Lewis is a pro at delivering believable plot lines, excellent writing, and characters so real that I start mimicking their facial expressions when reading dialogue.

Mandy is a capable girl who left her Amish community because she was emotionally hurt. I was so glad Mandy ended up with a reason to return to her home - even if it wasn’t her first choice to do so. Though she had some family struggles and some uncertainty with the community and faith she grew up with, Mandy’s sister helped her see the truth about herself and her true home.

I love all things B&B-related, so I was in my element with Amish baking on the inn’s farm table, sheets drying on the line, and guests who came for respite and left refreshed. Getting to know the guests is always fun, and the carriage rides aren’t bad either.

I read The Proving after a slew of September mediocrity, and I was very relieved to be able to effortlessly enjoy the inn, the sisterhood, and the faith of Mandy and her family.

THE PROVING is Ms. Lewis's newest book and it is better than most of her recent ones. A unique twist on the Amish Bed and Breakfast theme, with Mandy fighting to keep her mama's inn afloat after firing her sister and losing all her help--except one. The Amish isn't accepting her back at all and refuse to let her find replacement help -- what will a girl do?

There are two stories running through the book, the other is about a woman named Trina who is cantankerous and running off at the mouth all the time -- lippy the book says. But she plays a key part in the story.

The women were both difficult and had something to prove. I did grow to like them but it was an uphill battle.

This is women's fiction and not romance, though there is a hint on one toward the end of the book. It is more the story of two women on the path to finding out who they really are and making amends with those they hurt. The romance with Trina is more defined and spelled out more than even the possibility of one for Mandy.

I received a copy of this book free. All opinions are my own.

The Proving is such an amazing,, phenomenal, a freshness to the story that hasn't been seen to me lately - they have been wonderful but this is so fresh and what a wonderful tale. You have a wonderful girl who has been in the English world ( I spelled it out way because she was of our world now not of theirs yet - again) - then she gets a note from her bro that her Mom died and that she left her the B&B on one condition - that she - nope I cant tell you because you have to read it for yourself - and it is a doosy - I don't know if I would do it - believe you me, but then GOD says well I can't tell you what HE says because that would tell you some of what the problem is - whooo weee She goes and takes care of it but again woooooooooo weeeeeee the things that happened - the twists and turns and romance - everything you could want in a story. I just adored this book - full of life and love and dare I say maybe a little bit of laughter. Enjoy all - you deserve it.

The Proving by Beverly Lewis takes Amanda Dienner back home to Gordonville, Pennsylvania. Amanda “Mandy” Dienner left home five years ago after discovering her twin sisters, Arie Mae, betrayal. Mandy has been living and working in Scott City, Kansas. One day she receives a certified letter from her older brother, Jerome telling her that her mother, Saloma passed away unexpectedly. Mandy learns that she has been left Butterfly Meadows, the families Amish bed-and-breakfast, to her. Mandy would have expected the B and B to be left to Arie Mae. The inheritance comes with the condition that Mandy run Butterfly Meadows at a profit for twelve consecutive months. Mandy returns home to take over the inn, but she is not prepared for the community’s and guests feelings about her non-Amish status. Will Mandy be able to handle the close proximity to her sister and her husband? Can Mandy find it in her heart to forgive and move on with her life?

The Proving is well-written, engaging, and has a nice easy flow. I liked the main characters and their stories. It was nice to follow their journey and see how they changed/developed. I only summarized Mandy’s portion of the story and her challenges (lack of cooking skills, not being Amish—when guests expect an Amish hostess, resentment). There is Catrina Sutton who signs up for a mystery vacation (hoping for beach destination) and ends up at Butterfly Meadows. Some of themes in The Proving are forgiveness, power of prayer, love, and letting God take the driver’s seat on your life’s journey (He is in control, not you). It is amazing what happens when you pray and believe. My rating for The Proving is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). The story is somewhat predictable (romantic outcomes especially), but I enjoyed reading this pleasant Amish book. The Proving is a lovely, heartwarming novel that provides a delightful respite from reality (which we all desperately need at times).

I always know I can count on Beverly Lewis to write a book that I am going to love. Now typically it is not an Amish girl who left the community over something secret (you learn later in the story), but I actually liked this approach to a storyline. While it may not be original in concept, I can’t remember reading one recently so it was a nice change of pace.

Let me start by saying that the setting for this story – The B&B – was lovely. I could easily picture myself transported to this quaint little inn, especially when they talked about all the butterflies coming in the spring. It was so realistic to me that I wanted to call and make a reservation, but instead I will just have to reread the story. When Mandy found herself in trouble at the inn, I desperately wanted to jump in and help. It just sounded like such a fantastic place to visit and live!

What I liked most about this story was the way Mandy’s character took her time to become acclimated to her surroundings. Some authors would have made her automatically return to her Amish roots, and I think that really takes away from the storyline. I want to see the character grow, and want to return to her roots. Or give it a try for a while and find out that it really isn’t for her. Beverly knows exactly how to write a story in a way that keeps me reading, keeps me interested, and makes me happy!

Amish fictions fans will love the latest from Beverly Lewis. And I think you’ll find it is one you will want to read over and over again! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lovely story of redemption and the bond of sisterhood. I hadn't read anything by Beverly Lewis in a while so I was eager to read this new one! I was a little surprised and felt like she has changed her writing style a little. The story focused less on Amish culture and more on relationships it seemed. I loved the Amish turned english and then returned to Amish-life storyline. Loved the mix of Amish people and English at the inn. It was a sweet story. I felt emotionally connected to the characters and was rooting for them to reunite. I loved all the cliffhangers. There was a lot of information given in small bits. It kept me wanting to read faster and faster so I could find out what would happen with the little bits I already knew. What a great writing tactic. Definitely kept me interested. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen there was a turn and I was guessing again! Great story.
I received a digital copy from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Beverly Lewis has given us another page turning read, and heart-warming visit in Lancaster with an Amish family, and their forgiving love for one another.
Yes the main theme of this book is forgiveness, an easy thing to say, but hard to do, and yet a corner stone of faith. We also have a twin that ends up back in her home, and has to face her past, and those she feels wounded her. I found myself quickly lost in this story, and hoping what my mind was wishing would happen, and in most cases it did.
We know when we begin that it is a death that brings Mandy home, but will life and family get her to stay; she sure has to work cut out for her.
I would love to go and stay at this B & B, and see the butterflies!
I received this book through Bethany House Publisher’s Reviewer Program, and was not required to give a positive review.

I'm sad to say that I have a few books from Netgalley that I DNF on... either it didn't hook me into the story and I lost least or I found out that there is more to the series and can't get the first and so on book from that series... Yup here it goes, Don't believe me wash the dishes! Look at the website: http://fkrants.blogspot.com/2017/09/ng-dnf-sept-edition.html

Amanda hasn't seen her family in years. One day she hears that her mother has died and left her the family's bed and breakfast business. When she returns to her Amish family, she finds out that there's a catch to the inheritance - she must stay and run the business for a year.

I enjoy books by Beverly Lewis. I like reading about the Amish and her books are always well written.

I treasure Beverly Lewis' books. I have read several of them and will look for the ones that I have missed.

I start reading and immediately I am in Amish Country.

2 sisters share words and 1 sister leaves...5 years pass with no words between them
Then when life brings them back together - negative words come rushing back without thinking.

Sometimes God answers our prayers in surprising ways.

I have been to Conewango Valley, New York - love the reference, making me remember there.

I wish I could stay a week at this Inn!