Promise to Cherish: A Novel

(Paperback)

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Description

As World War II draws to a close, nurse Christine falls in love with roguish Amish boy Eli and must choose between a new, uncertain life in the Amish faith or face the judgment of a conservative postwar American society for her past mistakes.

Its 1945, and Christine Freeman is a nurse at Hudson River State Hospital, where she works alongside members of a Civilian Public Service unit. Eli is one of the consciesconscientious objectors to the warand he is doing his best to become a man of character instead of the immature heartbreaker he used to be back home in his Amish community.

Christine and Eli are friendly, but when an old acquaintance, Jack, returns home from the war, Christines world is violently turned upside down. Eli, heartbroken to see his friend so hurt, offers her an escape within his Amish community. Despite her misgivings, Christine is fully embraced by Elis community. She slowly begins to feel valued and loved as she learns the Amish way of life.

Christine finds herself falling for Eli. But soon, the abusive Jack discovers Christine in her Amish hideaway and starts causing trouble for the quiet community. Christine cant see herself becoming Amish, and she knows that if Eli leaves the church to be with her, he will be shunned. Will she escape Jack and possibly have to give up the one thing she holds most dear, or will she follow her heart and promise to cherish the Amish man who loves her

Reviews

"Yountss Amish background lends authenticity to the tale, informing the real and relatable characters in this fascinating glimpse into an often elided part of Americas history." * Publisher's Weekly *
"Younts' characters radiate lifelike warmth, and religious faith is woven seamlessly into their honest struggles. This deeply moving read reveals the truth about that eras state hospitals, treatment of unwed mothers, and prejudice toward Amish conscientious objectors." * Booklist *
Promise to Cherish by Elizabeth Byler Younts is a gritty,historical novel that stays true to post World War II views, while weaving a beautiful love story between a nurse and an Amish conscientious objector.Elizabeth raises the stakes over and over, creating a suspenseful story that I couldn't put down until Id read the very last word. -- Leslie Gould, bestselling author of Becoming Bea
Elizabeth Byler Younts Amish heritage and historical research shine again in this dynamic sophomore novel, Promise to Cherish, which examines the plight of unwed mothers and conscientious objectors in the unstable wake of post-war American society. Readers will be enthralled with the story of Christine and Eli all while asking themselves if they would choose a life of loveeven if that meant leaving everything you love behind. -- Jolina Petersheim, bestselling and award-winning author of The Midwife and The Outcast

Author Bio

Elizabeth Byler Younts is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She was Amish as a child and after her parents left the church she still grew up among her Amish family and continues to speak Pennsylvania Dutch. She lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters.