The Rebel: Keepers of the Promise, Book Three by Marta Perry

In the final Keepers of the Promise novel, the acclaimed author of the Pleasant Valley series tells about a young Amish woman who must make a difficult choice, just as her grandmother did years ago.

Central Pennsylvania, current day. Restless and adventurous, Amish Barbie Lapp has been stepping out among the Englisch. Minister Benuel Kauffman doesn’t approve of her choices, but he can’t deny the positive influence Barbie has on his wayward teenage sister. As Barbie is drawn to the kindness beneath Benuel’s gruff exterior, the mementos she finds in a dower chest given to her by her grandmother, Elizabeth, provide the insight she needs to decide whether to fully embrace the Amish way of life or leave it behind for forever.

Lancaster County, 1960. As working farms for the Amish become more scarce, Elizabeth Lapp’s husband, Reuben, tries to persuade her that they would be better off moving north. But the prospect of leaving her close-knit community of family and friends frightens Elizabeth. Can she muster enough love and faith to leap into a new life?

Two women from one family, separated by decades, both find that the ultimate adventure takes place in the heart.

About The Author



Marta Perry realized she wanted to be a writer at age eight, when she read her first Nancy Drew novel. Most girls reached the end of that book wanting to be Nancy. Marta wanted to be the person who created the story.

The dream lay hidden for years while she pursued other career goals, but eventually it re-surfaced, and she began to write, beginning with short children’s stories for Sunday school take-home papers. After seeing hundreds of her short stories published in a variety of magazines, Marta finally started work on the novel she’d always wanted to write. Fifty-some published novels later, she still feels the same excitement when she begins a new book.

A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led Marta to the books she writes now about the Amish. The Pleasant Valley Amish series from Berkley Books are longer, more complex emotional stories with Amish main characters, while the Amish Suspense series from HQN Books are more adventure-filled books set in Pennsylvania Amish country. She also continues to write for Love Inspired Books.

Marta lives with her husband in a century-old farmhouse in the Pennsylvania countryside, but spends winters at their vacation home in South Carolina. When she’s not writing, she’s active in the life of her church and enjoys traveling and spending time with her three children and six beautiful grandchildren.

http://www.martaperry.com/

My Review

The Rebel the final book in the Keepers of the Promise series has us following Barbie Lapp, the granddaughter of Elizabeth and the last of the three to receive her secrets and a gift.
Barbi is having problems as the book opens dealing with her love of being Amish and worrying that she might be like her brother and ready to leave the fold. Will her grandmother’s wisdom be the catalyst to having her remain in her gamy? Or will it be her big heart and her love for people is the reason she leaves.
Barbi puts her faith on the line more than once in this story, is she playing with dynamite or is she embracing what God would want her to do?
We also have Minister Ben who has been grieving over the loss of his wife, and also his mother, and has had his sister Mary helping keep the family together with his children and his father. Mary ends up being one of the reasons that Barbi may have to go English.
Another great read by Marta Perry, and loved the story of Barbi’s grandmother’s life changing decision.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Berkley, and was not required to give a positive review.