The Captive Heart
Nov 1, 2011
Author: Dale Cramer
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: December, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0839-3
Dale and I went back in forth a bit with this book as I described it as a Western to him. I still say that it has a strong western feel to it. It’s a really good read – complete with bandits, landowners, kidnapping, heroes, shoot-outs, vultures……and love.
It is the second book in the Daughters of Caleb Bender series, which is an Amish themed story. The Dew reviewed the first book in Spring and it dealt with the Amish families being persecuted in their home state and deciding to become pioneers and move to Paradise Valley, Mexico.
Book one concentrated on Rachel, who moved to Mexico while her fiancé, Jake, stayed behind. The daughter in this one is Miriam, the eldest who the family held out little hope of marriage for as they were so separated by the rest of their people. Little do they know that she’s quite smitten with the half white/half Mexican Domingo – who keeps the family safe in the rough land. It’s not his race that’s the issue…..it’s that he’s not Amish. Can their love survive……… or even take hold?
This is very much a continuing series and while the book can be read as a stand-alone, I don’t recommend that for flow and knowledge of the family history in general. This book leaves you hanging, eagerly waiting for the next chapter in the family saga.
