Striving to create a home strong in the foundations of love, respect, and God's truths ...

Saturday, March 2, 2013

"Unbreakable" by Nancy Mehl


Gentle and unassuming, Hope Kauffman has never been one to question the traditions of her Mennonite upbringing. She quietly helps her father run Kingdom Quilts and has agreed to the betrothal he arranged for her with the devout but shy Ebbie Miller.

Despite the attempts of Hope and other Kingdom residents to maintain the status quo, changes have already begun to stir in the small Mennonite town. The handsome and charismatic Jonathon Wiese is the leader of the move to reform, while Ebbie insists Kingdom must remain true to its foundation. When Hope's safety is threatened by a mysterious outsider, she can't help but question what she's always been taught about the Mennonite tradition of nonviolence.

As it swiftly becomes apparent the threat Hope faced is only the beginning, the town that's always stood so strong finds itself divided. With tensions high and their lives endangered by an unknown enemy, will Hope and the people of Kingdom allow fear and division to break them or will they draw on the strength of the God they serve? 

To what lengths would you go to protect the one you love?  Nancy Mehl explores this topic in her newest book Unbreakable.  The twist?  All of the characters are Mennonites, all people who firmly believe in nonviolence - but what does that mean?

The bizarre set of circumstances in this book don't only provoke the townies to reaffirm their beliefs, but it will cause you to question your own, as well.  What would you do when faced with unspeakable danger - not only for you, but to a loved one?  I loved the way that Mehl presents this scenario.  She writes in such a way that you can understand each character's point of view even though they all vary by huge amounts - and yet she never states her own position.  This open-endedness was the perfect resolution for this story - but you'll have to read it yourself to find out how she gets there.

The issue of nonviolence is not the only dilemma that our heroine faces:  she's also torn between the man whom her father chose and the man who has sworn to protect her.  Whom has God chosen for her?  How can she choose without hurting someone she cares about?  We often romanticize love and think that we must have palpitations for it to exist, but Mehl examines this issue, too.  She'll keep you guessing as to her final answer on this topic all through the book, but her choice shouts wisdom and is the perfect ending.  I liked the suspense throughout the story but found the resolution quite fitting.

If you like books that make you think, then Unbreakable is a must-read for you.  

You can read other reviews on this blog hop here.  Click here to begin your Unbreakable journey now.


Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband Norman and her very active puggle, Watson. She's authored fourteen books and is currently at work on a new series for Bethany House Publishing. All of Nancy's novels have an added touch - something for your spirit as well as your soul. "I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing," Nancy says. "God is number one in my life. I wouldn't be writing at all if I didn't believe that this is what He's called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan for your life, and there is nothing you can't overcome with His help." Readers can learn more about Nancy through her Web site: www.nancymehl.com. She is also active on Facebook. 

I received a free copy of Unbreakable from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

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