The Stone Wall

Written by Beverly Lewis

Narrated by Stina Nielsen

From the #1 Author of Amish Fiction, a Story of Love and the Choices That Define a Life

Anna Beachy is eager to begin a new chapter in her life as a Lancaster County tour guide in the picturesque area where her Plain grandmother once stayed. Anna wishes she could talk with her about those long-ago days, but the elderly woman suffers from Alzheimer's. Beyond a vague comment about
an old stone wall, much about her grandmother's time there is a mystery. As Anna settles into her new community, she finds herself unexpectedly befriended by a handsome Mennonite tour guide and a young Old Order widower who manages a local horse retreat serving Amish children with special needs.

As Anna grows closer to both men, she's faced with a difficult choice—one in potential conflict with the expectations of her parents. Will Anna discover true love and the truth about her grandmother's past in Lancaster County? Or will she find only heartbreak?

"Bestseller Lewis returns with a resplendent tale of love, loss, and faith within the Amish community of Lancaster, Pa. … Lewis' fans are in for a treat."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781705003497

Beverly Lewis

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 19 million books in print. Her stories have been published in twelve languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today. Beverly and her husband, David, live in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, making music, and spending time with their family. Visit her website at BeverlyLewis.com.

Reviews for The Stone Wall

[kevin shumway · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a wonderfully written story! I so enjoyed reading it!

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you like Amish romances, especially ones with a twist, then this tale is one you’ll enjoy. It is set mostly in present day, with flashbacks to an earlier time. Wanting a change in her life, Anna takes a job as a guide for tourists in a town a couple of hours away from her parent’s home. Coincidentally, her grandmother, now suffering from dementia, also spent a summer in that same town. The story is an interesting one, and the characters, both past and present, are equally entertaining. How it all comes together makes for some delightful reading.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Stone Wall by Beverly Lewis is a charming Amish story. The author blended the past and present beautifully with Anna and Eliza’s stories. I thought this was a unique Amish novel as it features Beachy Amish, Mennonites, and Old Order Amish. It allowed me to see the differences and the similarities between them. I thought The Stone Wall was well-written with developed characters. It moves along at a gentle pace which suits this story. Anna Beachy needs a change and has been praying on it. The opportunity arrives when she receives a letter from her mother’s cousins in Strasburg about an opening at the Mennonite Information Center as a tour guide. Anna is close to her grandmother, Mammi Eliza. Unfortunately, Mammi Eliza has Alzheimer’s and she has few lucid moments. When Anna tells her about going to Strasburg, Mammi Eliza has a moment of clarity. Her words about a stone wall linger with Anna and it has her searching for it in Strasburg. It is interesting to see the parallels of their time in Strasburg. There is more than one type of wall in The Stone Wall. Anna also has a wall around her heart because she is afraid of getting hurt again. There are two men who catch her attention. Since both men reside in Strasburg, Anna is torn because her parents did not want her to marry and live so far from home. Another issue is that neither of them are Beachy Amish. Anna becomes a volunteer at Peaceful Meadows Horse Retreat which practices hippotherapy. It was interesting learning about it and how it helps individuals. If you enjoy reading Amish novels, then you do not want to miss out on The Stone Wall. My favorite phrase from the book is, “The Lord had something better in mind for me than rehashing the past.” Mammi Eliza had once told Anna that it was a “waste of time to look back with regrets” because “the past simply can’t be changed.” I never thought of it that way. The Stone Wall is a thoughtful, heartwarming Amish story.

[jenniferrobb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a little different than most Amish stories. I have read other books by this author and usually enjoy them.

I knew there were different types of Amish and Mennonites and I knew that different areas can have different rules. I didn't realize that some allowed cell phones, and I didn't realize that some Amish were allowed cars. (Around here, it seems that most use the horse & buggy or hire a driver.) I also didn't realize how much each type wanted their children to stay within that type.

I could empathize with Anna wanting to start someplace new. I liked learning with her about some of the places.

I had stopped reading this partway through and when I picked it up again the next day or so and came across Eliza's chapter, I didn't remember that Eliza was Anna's grandmother. It didn't take me long to figure it out again, but there were a few pages where I was wondering why I'd forgotten the character.

I was torn between Mart and Gabe. Both seemed like nice men--and I think Anna could have been happy with either one.

[grammy57 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First, I received an ARC e-book to read and review through Netgalley and Bethany House Publishing in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.
I have read several books by Beverly Lewis and have enjoyed them all. This book is no exception but, that said, it is not my favorite. The story was pretty easy to follow. It mostly kept my interest but I did find some of it less compelling than the rest. I did have one problem, for me, about the book. It was that the main character was encouraged to lean on her feelings when making a major decision. Since this is a Christian book, I had a hard time with that when the Bible clearly states that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. We are also told in the Bible to lean not unto our own understanding but to trust in the Lord. That aside, it was a good, clean book.
The editing needs to be refined. There were a few, not many errors mostly with punctuation or the order of the words in a sentence. There were about 2 places that I had to re-read the sentence a couple of times to understand What was being said.
Overall, I give this a 3 out of 5 rating. I would recommend this to a friend.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found this book to be a very enjoyable read, and it kept my attention from beginning to end. You will learn a lot about the Anabaptist faith and the different sects here as we follow a young woman, Anna, from her home a few hours away to the Lancaster area.
There is a parallel to this story, Anna's beloved Grandmother also spent time with a Great Aunt when she was a teenage, and fell in love with an Old Order Amish man, now that doesn't sound bad does it? Her parents are like most, and the want their children raised in their faith, and their is a difference between this different Sects. Anna belongs to the Beachy Amish.
Now our girl is recovering from a failed romance and is staying in the Lancaster area with her Old Order cousins, and living without electricity, but she is still using her car, and we watch her bloom.
You will be wondering if she will end up with the fellow who has shown her the ropes at her new job, or the widow with the little girl. Both seems wonderful, and although they both worship differently from her, they would make great matches. Watch or read and see whom she ends up with.
Enjoyed how the title of this book plays such a great part!

I received this book through Net Galley and Bethany House Publishers. and was not required to give a positive review.