The Saddle Maker's Son

Kelly Irvin

Jun 2016 · The Amish of Bee County Book 3 · Sold by Zondervan

About this ebook

Rebekah Lantz feels imprisoned by circumstances she didn’t create. Tobias Byler is haunted by regret. Can two young runaways from half a world away teach them the healing power of true family?

Rebekah isn’t like her sister, but the watchful gaze of her family and small, close knit Amish community makes her feel as if she’s been judged and found lacking. The men avoid her and the women whisper behind her back. She simply longs for the same chance to be a wife and mother that her friends have.

Tobias Byler only wants to escape feelings for a woman he knows he should never have allowed to get close to him. Moving with his family to isolated Bee County, Texas, seemed the best way to leave his mistakes behind. But even a move across the country can’t erase the past that accompanies his every thought.

A surprise encounter with two half-starved runaway children forces both Rebekah and Tobias to turn to each other to help a sister and brother who have traveled thousands of miles in search of lives of unfettered peace and joy.

In doing so, Rebekah and Tobias discover the key to forgetting the past is the one that will open the door to love and the future they both seek.

Ratings and reviews

The Saddle Maker’s Son by Kelly Irvin is the third book in The Amish of Bee County series. Susan King is the local schoolteacher and Rebekah Lantz is her assistant (and niece by marriage). Her mother and stepfather will not let her have a job in town since her sister, Leila left the Amish to marry Jesse Glick. Rebekah is outside the schoolhouse reading a letter Leila left for her (in a secret place they used when they were younger) when she discovers two children hiding out in the shed. The children are Lupe (short for Guadalupe) and Diego. They have traveled from El Salvador to Texas on their own (sent by their grandmother). Lupe and Diego are heading for San Antonio to find their father (can you imagine two young children coming all that way). They are hiding from the bad men who helped them get across the border. They want to catch Lupe and have her work for them (you know it is nefarious and immoral). Rebekah is trying to get them inside the schoolhouse when a wagon pulls up scaring them. Levi Byler has just moved to Bee County, Texas from Ohio and is enrolling his youngest children in school. Levi is a widower with nine children (can you imagine). His son, Tobias is with him and he helps Rebekah to locate Lupe and Diego. When Levi and Susan are introduced there are some definite sparks flying between the two of them. It is up to the leaders (the men) in the community on what happens with Lupe and Diego. Lupe and Diego need help (especially since they are in the country illegally) and they are just what is needed to help Rebekah and Tobias move forward with their lives (to let go of the past). They will need to work with Jesse Glick to help the children find their father and to keep them in the States. Read The Saddle Maker's Son to see how Rebekah, Tobias, and others work to help these two children. The Saddle Maker’s Son is a charming story. It is easy to read and enjoy. It is not a complex book and the ending is predictable, but I enjoyed this nice change of pace. The Saddle Maker's Son is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone book. I do, however, recommend that you read the other books first. I think it would be beneficial in order to understand the Amish community (the people) and the issues they are dealing with in Bee County. I give The Saddle Maker's Son 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). It was interesting to read about how the system is handling illegal immigrants especially children. The great thing with books in a series is it gives the reader an opportunity to catch up with people you have come to know and love as well as be introduced to new characters. I will definitely be reading books by Kelly Irvin in the future. I received a complimentary copy of The Saddle Maker’s Son from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.

About the author

Kelly Irvin is a bestselling, award-winning author of over thirty novels and stories. A retired public relations professional, Kelly lives with her husband, Tim, in San Antonio. They have two children, four grandchildren, and two ornery cats. Visit her online at KellyIrvin.com; Instagram: @kelly_irvin; Facebook: @Kelly.Irvin.Author; X: @Kelly_S_Irvin.