Paradise Valley by Dale Cramer manages to tell a love story without sentimentality, and demonstrates faith without preachiness. Either one of these would have been an accomplishment, but doing both at once is almost impossible. From the beginning of the story to the end, we are drawn into the lives of the Bender family. The bonds of family, the dictates of faith, the magnetism of romantic love, and the constraints of civil law pull in various directions.
The Amish culture is described with a sensitive eye, and without the precious self-consciousness that often mars this type of fiction. One of the most telling moments was when Mose has been forced to have his hair cut, and to wear ‘Englisher’ clothes. The nurse senses his humiliation, but obliviously makes it worse when she tries to comfort him: “You know, you really shouldn’t be upset, dear…I think you look quite handsome in your new clothes.”
We are caught up in Caleb Bender’s quandary when the laws of the state contradict his own understanding of how he is supposed to raise his children. Sometimes even when you want to do the right thing, it is not so simple to figure out what the right thing is. We are saddened by Rachel’s disappointment when she is separated from the one she loves. And we are pleased to find that the innate goodness in the Benders causes them to reach out a helping hand to those less fortunate.
Although ambiguity and loose ends are popular in fiction today, there is an immense satisfaction when you feel that a book turns out the right way. It will be a pleasure anticipating Cramer’s next book.
[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. ]
