Hope in the Land

Olivia Newport

Apr 2016 · Amish Turns of Time Book 4 · Barbour Publishing

About this ebook

When Henry Edison turns up in Lancaster County to survey farm women about their domestic contributions during the 1930s, the last thing Amish housewife Gloria Grabill has time for is the government agent’s unending questions. Gloria’s hands are already full with a farm to run alongside her husband, a houseful of children, and an English neighbor, Minerva Swain, who has been trying Gloria’s patience for forty years. Gloria’s oldest daughter, Polly, wants nothing more than the traditional path of an Amish farmer’s wife, but everything she does seems to push Thomas Coblentz further away. While the Great Depression shadows the country in gloom, can Amish and English neighbors in Lancaster County grasp the goodness that will sustain hope?

Ratings and reviews

Hope in the Land by Olivia Newport is the fourth book in an Amish Turns of Time series. It is 1936 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (in the midst of the Great Depression). Gloria Grabill runs a busy farm (and has a husband as well as many, many children). Gloria and her husband, Marlin have many children to support as well as their cousin, Lillian (who is indeed a trial) who is currently staying with them. Then Henry Edison arrives. Henry is a new government employee with the WPA (Works Progress Administration), and they are conducting a survey (an in-depth survey). The survey is to find out the domestic contributions of farm women (vegetable gardens, canning, eggs, chickens, etc.). Gloria knows nothing about the survey. Turns out that Polly (nineteen-year-old daughter) filled it out and turned it in. Since Gloria has no time to assist, she refers Henry to Polly (who is very good at mathematics). Polly wants nothing more than to settle down and marry Thomas Coblentz. But is that really the right thing for Polly? Minerva Swain is the Grabill’s Englisch neighbor. Gloria finds Minerva a pain in her you-know-what (they went to school together and ended up living next door to each other). Minerva thinks she is better than the Grabill’s and likes the finer things in life (despite the depression). Minerva is particularly fascinated with catalogs, mail order, and COD (cash on delivery). Minerva is going down a dangerous path. What happens when her husband finds out the extent of her spending? And then there is the shed (a big shed). Minerva needs help and it looks like Gloria Grabill is the solution. Is this a chance for the two women to come together and be friends? Come join Minerva, Polly, Gloria, Henry, and more in Lancaster County to find out what happens to them. Hope in the Land was a good book. I was engaged right from the beginning. The novel contains humor, romance, friendship, life lessons, and a little mystery. I give Hope in the Land 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I liked seeing what farm life was like during the 1930s as well as the difference between an Amish family and an Englisch family. It is a Christian novel which added just the right touch to the story. I will definitely be reading more books by Oliva Newport. I received a complimentary copy of Hope in the Land from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

About the author

Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. Her husband and twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of Pikes Peak.