Bygones - A Book Review

Kim Vogel Sawyer has written another thought-provoking novel, Bygones. Marie Koeppler was shunned by her father when she left the Mennonite order in Sommerfield, Kansas to wed Jep Quinn. Her husband is killed early in their marriage, leaving her with a small child, daughter Beth.

Marie’s father’s heart is so hardened toward his daughter he refuses to even speak of her. As a result, Marie raises her daughter alone, abandoning her Mennonite beliefs. Her aunt, Lisbeth, never forgot her niece. She and Henry Braun, a friend of Marie’s, had prayed through the years for Marie to return to her home and her roots.

Unexpectedly, Henry shows up at the diner where Marie works in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He brings with him the news that Marie’s Aunt Lisbeth has died and left her property, a house and a café, to Marie’s daughter Beth.

The glitch – Beth must reside in Sommerfield for a minimum of three months in order to inherit the property. Marie’s dilemma – Will she allow Beth to go alone, or will she return and suffer through the three months in the midst of people who see her as a traitor to their way of life?

Marie chooses to go with Beth to help guide her and protect her. Marie realizes the time will pass quickly, but it won’t be without turmoil. Her motherly instinct spurs her to accompanying her daughter.

Henry is torn between his love of Marie, which never ended, and his duty to Lisbeth. His friendship with Lisbeth carries its own turmoil. Lisbeth held the belief that one day, with enough prayer and time, Marie would return to her heritage. Henry, knowing Lisbeth as he did, hopes her opinion will be proven true, but he is afraid to let his heart believe.

Can Marie resolve her emotional conflicts, as well as the mystery surrounding her return to Sommerfield? Or will she and Beth leave town once more amidst a cloud of accusation and controversy? Will Henry’s heart be broken once again, or will he find the love he has longed for during the past twenty years?

Kim Vogel Sawyer’s writing style will draw you into the lives of her characters with ease, and you’ll have to let the housework go because you can’t put Bygones down. So pick a time when you can send the kids off to friends’ homes and your husband is on an out-of-town trip, or else call the pizza delivery number and let them all fend for themselves while you lose yourself in Bygones.

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