Herb of Grace

 

Herb of Grace by Adina Senft (A Healing Grace Novel) is a sweet and lovely novel.  Sarah Yoder is a widow with two sons, Simon and Caleb.  Her husband, Michael, has been gone for five years.  Sarah sells herbs at the local Amish market in town as well as to Ruth Lehman, an herbal healer.  Ruth suggests that Sarah learn how to be a Dokterfraa (herbal healer) as a way to earn money.  Sarah is good with herbs and Ruth thinks that she will be a natural.  Sarah is not sure if she will have the time and decides to pray about the situation.

Henry Byler left the Amish community over twenty years ago.  He has just inherited his Aunt Sadie’s farm.  He has returned but is not sure about staying.  Caleb introduces himself to Henry as soon as he arrives in the hopes of finding work.  Caleb is very outgoing and straightforward.  Caleb finds out that Henry is a potter and shows Henry around the Amish market. 

Henry then meets Sarah who asks him about some little pots for her herbs.  Slowly they start getting to know each other, but despite the attraction they can only be friends.  Sarah is a member of the Old Order Amish community and Henry is not (nor does he have any intention of joining).  Sarah suppresses her feelings for Henry and tries to keep things friendly between them.

Sarah is having trouble with her son, Simon.  Simon wants to go to Colorado, but Sarah thinks he is too young to go off.  Simon is only seventeen and Sarah relies on him.  Priscilla Mast likes Simon and keeps trying to get him to notice her.  Will Simon obey his mother or will his desire to travel get the best of him?

Will Sarah become a Dokterfraa?  What will Henry decide to do?  Will Henry’s pottery be well received?  Read Herb of Grace (I also discovered that herb of grace is a folk name for rue) to find out the answers.  I really enjoyed this story and did not want it to end.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Keys of Heaven.  I give Herb of Grace 5 out of 5 stars.  Herb of Grace is such a beautiful book to read.  

Thank you for checking out my review.  I am currently reading Keys of Heaven by Adina Senft (the next book in the series).  I hope you have had a wonderful weekend!  Happy Reading!

Kris