Review of:  Abraham

Jennifer Beckstrand.  Kensington, $7.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-4201-4772-8

The second in the Petersheim Brothers series, (Andrew), Abraham also features 9-year-old mischievous twins Alfie and Benji, who are determined to marry their older brothers off in order to reclaim their bedroom (p. 1 ff).  The story is set in Amish country and author Beckstrand does an excellent job of weaving educational references to the culture’s way of life throughout.  In Abraham, Alfie and Benji brainstorm tactics to get their shy, quiet brother Abraham and pretty, popular neighbor Emma to fall in love (p. 5 ff).  When the twins discover a stray dog (p. 9), they think they have come upon the perfect method of setting up the older pair, since Emma raises chickens and Abraham desires to become an Amish veterinarian.  Emma finds what she assumes is evidence that the boys’ dog has been raiding her chicken coop (p. 46 ff).  Abraham agrees to discipline the twins (p. 54) and he and Emma form a friendship based on their shared love of animals.  However, Emma’s attention-seeking and Abraham’s lack of confidence threaten to ruin the blossoming relationship (p. 97).   Luckily for readers, all ends well as they each realize their true feelings for each other and grow in personal character (p. 233 ff).   The twins are forgiven for their well-intentioned manipulations, and their mother allows them to keep the dog (p. 290).  This is an endearing romance which Beckstrand tenderly details though her pacing is inconsistent with the first half of the work containing little plot movement.  4 stars.