Dale Cramer's The Captive Heart ~ Reviewed

Captive Heart, The (The Daughters of Caleb Bender)

Dale Cramer

Paperback: 352 pages

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 1, 2012)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 076420839X

Description:

Bandit troubles intensify as Caleb Bender's family tries to settle into their new life in 1920s Paradise Valley. When El Pantera kidnaps Rachel and leaves her brother, Aaron, for dead, Jake Weaver and the Mexican native Domingo pursue the bandit leader to his mountain stronghold in a hopeless rescue attempt. Jake and Domingo manage to escape with Rachel, with the bandits hot on their trail. In a desperate attempt to avoid recapture, Domingo puts himself squarely in harm's way, giving Jake and Rachel time to get away. This is not the quiet life Caleb Bender envisioned when he led his family out of Ohio. What is a father to make of his daughter's obvious affection for a man outside the fold? And how will a pacifist Amishman like Caleb respond to the events that threaten his family and their way of life?

Review:

I’ve been so excited for The Captive Heart, book two in The Daughter’s of Caleb Bender. I loved the first book and couldn’t wait to find out what happened in the second one! It picks up right where book one left off, with more Amish families joining the Bender family in Paradise Valley, Mexico. The threats of bandits increase in this book, and the Amish families are face with difficulties they never dreamed of before. In the meantime, Miriam, who developed feelings for Domingo, they’re Mexican ally, is trying to decide whether to follow her heart express her feelings for Domingo, or to keep quiet so as not to be a disappointment to her family by leaving her Amish faith.

This is such a wonderful book! You are kept in suspense the whole time with various situations. It’s very interesting to me, too, that it’s based on actual events. It was wonderful following Miriam’s character, and the conclusion she comes to at the end of the book. I’m hoping Mr. Cramer is planning on following up with another book, because I’m very anxious to see what will happen next!

Reviewed by: Sarah Porter