Joshua’s Mission is a new standalone novel in the Plain and Simple Miracles collection from popular author Vannetta Chapman. These stories of love and family and Amish community in Oklahoma tell of the miracles that can happen when lives are lived in service to God and to one another.
Joshua Kline travels from his farm in Oklahoma to offer aid to an Englisch town on the gulf coast of Texas after a category 4 hurricane has ravaged the area. He brings his brother with him, who needs a change of environment. The last thing he wants for Alton is another brush with the law. He is pleasantly surprised when he hears that Becca Troyer, the bishop’s granddaughter, plans on joining their team.
What will Joshua find when he arrives in Texas? A lack of electricity, certainly, which poses little problem for the Amish volunteers as they help restore order from destruction. But a budding romance? A call from God? And a possible healing of his relationship with Alton?
Joshua’s Mission is a story of love, forgiveness, and the grace of God that carries us through even the worst situations.
Vannetta Chapman is the author of 30 published books. She has written for Abingdon Press and Harvest House Publishers, and she currently writes for Harper Collins Christian Publishing and Harlequin/Love Inspired. Her books have hit the CBD Bestseller list, the Amazon bestseller list, and her most recent release, A Widow’s Hope ,debuted at #17 on Publishers Weekly mass market list. She’s received numerous awards including the ACFW Carol Award for best mystery (Falling to Pieces), and she was a Christy Award finalist (Anna’s Healing). She recently signed a contract for an additional six books with Harelquin/Love Inspired.
Chapman has a BA and MA in English literature from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has taught for numerous writing groups and speaks around the country on writing, how to publish, and steps to finding an agent and landing a publishing contract. Chapman’s releases include Amish romance, cozy mystery, novellas, romantic suspense, and dystopian. She has tutored writers in these genres and more. She currently teaches English at Central Texas College and writes full time. She’s also the president for the Central Texas Chapter of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).
For more information, visit her at
webpage — http://www.VannettaChapman.com
blog — http://vannettachapman.com/blog/
facebook — http://www.facebook.com/VannettaChapmanBooks
pinterest — http://pinterest.com/vannettachapman
instagram — https://instagram.com/vannettachapman
twitter — https://twitter.com/VannettaChapman
My Impressions:
Joshua’s Mission is not your typical Amish fiction. Oh, there are Plain values and examples of Plain living, but it shows a side of the Amish community many don’t think about — the outreach to those in need, even the English. 🙂 The result is a thought-provoking and heart-touching read that anyone would enjoy, regardless of genre preference. Recommended.
Two stories converge in this novel. Joshua Kline is his brother’s keeper, yet that task comes more from obligation than love and concern. Joshua’s mission is to keep Alton out of trouble, and so they both set out on a mission trip to Port Aransas, Texas. That’s where the Amish portion of the story intersects with the English and the community that has been devastated by a hurricane. Both Amish and English characters learn and grow from their interactions and their joint efforts to rebuild the Texas community. I loved all of the characters, main and secondary, Amish and English, and loved how Chapman explored the complexities of both worlds. There are plenty of differences, even among individual Plain communities, but through the story, it becomes clear that we all share a need for dignity, belonging, and connection. I especially liked that serious Joshua was able to hear God’s message through the sermon at a very un-Amish service. The coastal Texas setting came alive in the pages of Joshua’s Mission — through the harrowing storm and the rebirth out of the debris. The description of MDS (Mennonite Disaster Services) and its way of providing hope through tangible means was very informative.
I really enjoyed Joshua’s Mission, so much so that I plan to seek out more books from this author.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to the author and JustRead Blog Tours for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Thank you for your kind review. I’m so pleased that you enjoyed Joshua’s story, and yes–the work MDS does is amazing.
I shared this title with a friend who lives in the Texas hill country and has a vacation home in Port Aransas. She said it was a little difficult to read at first, but I think she’ll like the ending.