The covenant

the long version

Secrets threaten the serenity of their cloistered world. Following such bestsellers as The Shunning and The Postcard, Beverly Lewis's explosive new novel, The Covenant, unveils the layers of deeply rooted Amish tradition as seen through the eyes of Leah and Sadie Ebersol, two courting-age sisters. At the close of World War II, the heart and soul of Gobbler's Knob offers everything young Leah Ebersol cherishes, including her sweetheart Jonas Mast. But for Leah's defiant older sister, Sadie, their Plain heritage holds little appeal compared to the lure of the outside world. For both sisters, it is the time of rumschpringe, when Amish teens are free to run wild before embracing baptismal vows. Those who choose the path of disobedience only find innocence lost and dreams shattered. Drawn into a secret pact with her sister, Leah faces the unthinkable. Will the decision of one wayward soul tarnish her life forever? - Jacket flap.