Kristina A. reviewed on + 1528 more book reviews
I thought the premise to Married to a Stranger was intriguing. Can you imagine marrying a man you have never met? Married to a Stranger is the story of a marriage of convenience and how the couple move forward after their wedding. I thought the story was well-written with realistic characters. Married to a Stranger is an emotional story. The characters emotions leap from the page. Bethel Eicher does not understand why her father refused to believe her, but she is grateful to have avoided Rodney who was pursuing her. Besides Rodney's bad breath, the last few girls he courted have disappeared including Bethel's sister, Ruth. But it is awkward being married to a man you have never met and living in a house with his family. Bethel now has a large home to clean plus the laundry and cooking. She also must care for Elam, Gideon's son as well as Gideon's mother, Reba who has multiple sclerosis. Gideon has been lost since he his wife died in childbirth and now, he is married to Bethel. The pair must find a way to make their marriage a success. But God throws a few curveballs their way. Bishop Miah is an insightful man. It is sweet how he watches over the community and provides guidance (though, it can be a challenge to interpret sometimes). We follow Bethel and Gideon as the get to know each other, but there is quite a bit happening in Married to a Stranger. Naomi's old beau returns to town and her unhappiness is apparent to all. I can understand since he broke up with her by sending a postcard. Naomi's is a woman who speaks her mind which at times had me laughing and other times had me groaning. Reba, Gideon's mother, breaks her hip which means big changes for the whole family. Then there are those missing girls and Rodney. I loved all the action towards the end of the book, but there was one big question left unanswered. The revelations were jaw dropping. I wish, though, that the mystery had been present throughout the whole story. I do recommend reading Fire Storm and The Amish Candy Maker prior to reading Married to a Stranger. It will fill provide the background on the community plus details a reader needs to know regarding Agatha, Isaac, Kish, and Naomi. Faith is an integral part of Bethel and Gideon's lives as we see in the story. It is beautifully woven into the story without coming across as preachy. I hope there will be another book soon, so we find out what happens with Naomi and Kish. Married to a Stranger is heartfelt story with touching characters, challenging situations, yummy baked goods, and one adorable baby.
