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Laura Bradford
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Portrait of a Sister (Thorndike Press Large Print Christian Fiction) Library Binding – Large Print, August 2, 2018

by Laura Bradford (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 175 ratings
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Katie Beiler was always the follower to her twin sister Hannah's lead. That is until Hannah left their Amish upbringing for an English life--leaving Katie to find her own footing in a world that no longer looks as it once did . . .

Katie has always imagined her life being just like Mamm's. It's why she chose baptism and why she'll soon marry Abram Zook. But ever since Hannah left, the only thing that truly makes Katie smile is the sketchpad in which she indulges her talent for drawing faces--a sin that, if discovered, could get her shunned by her family, her friends, and even Abram. Yet Katie sees her secret pastime as the only way to quiet a growing restlessness she'd just as soon ignore. That is until their Mamm's untimely death brings Hannah back home to Pennsylvania, with a new outlook on life, a man she adores, and, soon, an invitation for Katie to visit her in New York City.

Suddenly, Katie is experiencing a freedom she's never had, in a world she never imagined. She's also spending time in the company of a fellow dreamer, someone who sees her as strong and brave and makes her laugh. But it's when Hannah shows Katie's drawings to a gallery owner that she truly finds herself at a crossroads between the only life she's ever known and the powerful lure of an unfamiliar future.

"A charming, well-told story of love and devotion between sisters."
--New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck

"Kudos to Bradford for a complex and compelling story about faith, family, and love."
--Sally Kilpatrick, author of Bless Her Heart

Previous page
  1. Print length
    415 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Thorndike Press Large Print
  4. Publication date
    August 2, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    5.7 x 0.9 x 8.7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1432853023
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1432853020
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Laura Bradford's Portrait of a Sister is women's fiction at its finest. Set among the Amish, the story puts on full display the power of love for family, the unique love shared by sisters, and the relationships that define our world. I read Portrait of a Sister in one sitting and I loved every single page."
--New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo


"A charming, well-told story of love and devotion between sisters--one seeking a new way, one devoted to the the old. Bradford's story portrays the the power of love we all long to possess."
--New York Times Bestselling author Rachel Hauck

"Portrait of a Sister made me laugh and cry and question. I wrestled alongside main character Katie as she wavered between the life she'd always known and a different life that could be. Kudos to Bradford for a complex and compelling story about faith, family, and love."
--Sally Kilpatrick, author of Bless Her Heart

About the Author

Laura Bradford is also the author of several bestselling mystery series, including the Amish Mysteries. She lives in Mohegan Lake, New York, with her husband and their blended brood. Visit her website at laurabradford.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thorndike Press Large Print; Large type / Large print edition (August 2, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Library Binding ‏ : ‎ 415 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1432853023
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1432853020
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.23 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.7 x 0.9 x 8.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 175 ratings

About the author

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Laura Bradford

Laura Bradford

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While spending a rainy afternoon at a friend's house more than forty years ago, Laura Bradford (a.k.a. Elizabeth Lynn Casey) fell in love with writing over a stack of blank paper, a box of crayons, and a freshly sharpened number two pencil. From that moment forward, she never wanted to do anything else.

Today, Laura is the USA Today Bestselling Author of more than 35 books and stories. Her latest work includes A Plus One for Murder, the debut book in her new A Friend for Hire Mysteries, and the women's fiction novel, Her New Story.

Laura also pens several other mystery series including; An Amish Mystery series, the Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries, the Tobi Tobias Mysteries, and the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries (written as Elizabeth Lynn Casey). She is a former Agatha Award nominee, and the recipient of an RT Reviewer’s Choice Award in romance. Laura enjoys baking, spending time with her family, and being an advocate for those living with multiple sclerosis. Learn more at: https://www.laurabradford.com/

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
175 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Lynn Butkus
5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2018
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This is a lovely book! Portrait of a Sister follows Katie, a young Amish woman, who grapples with making a life choice that will either allow her to follow her dream, at the cost of losing everything else in her world, or keep everything she knows, by giving up on her dream. Katie is a twin, whose sister Hannah, has left the family to move to NYC. Hannah left before she was baptized, meaning she is allowed to come home to visit, and send letters. Since Katie has been baptized, if she follows her dream, she will be shunned, and not allowed to see any of her family or friends. The story of Katie's journey to discover her worth, and to decide if she CAN be Katie, without following her dream, or if she can follow her dream and sacrifice everything she ever knew, is at once heartbreaking and inspiring, I couldn't wait to finish the book, to find out what Katie would choose.
I have to say that I enjoy Ms. Bradford's cozy mystery series, but I simply LOVED this book!! Well done, Ms. Bradford. well done!!
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Debb23
5.0 out of 5 stars You Will Be Drawn In
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2018
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I cannot begin to say how good this book is. It draws you in immediately and takes you into a depth of feelings that I wasn't expecting Katie's Mamm passes and is left to step in and take her place with taking care of the house and children. We find that Katie has a twin who left the Amish ways before baptism and moved to New York. The emotions that are in Katie pull at you, anger that her mother has passed, a slight jealousy of her sister for doing what she wants, also anger at her sister for leaving her to face her hurt family, fear because she's an excellent artist who draws faces which is not permitted with the Amish.
Katie gets the chance to visit her sister in New York, when you meet Hannah you realize quickly that she made the right decision, with Katie we are left wondering until the end. This book takes you on the trail of the emotions and is a wonderful read.
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book and would like to read more by this author.
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2020
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This book illustrated that even identical twins can be very different. I thought that when Hannah forged Katie's signature, that was more serious than the book made it seem. Katie was much more forgiving than I would have been!
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Shanla
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this and think you will too!
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2018
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I think you will find Laura Bradford's newest novel, Portrait of a Sister, a very enjoyable read. I have read Ms. Bradford's cozy mysteries but this endeavor into women's fiction is very good reading. I found it kept my attention and I had a hard time putting it down. Although this is about 2 Amish twin sisters, Katie, Amish and Hannah, who left the Amish and now lives as English, I felt like it could relate to any sisters. The struggles of being sisters and one always feeling inferior to the other. As they worked out their problems with each other Katie also had to work out her problem of having a talent to draw, and the fear of being shunned because she put faces on her people that she draws. This book is a must read for anyone who has a sister.
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Tracy Snyder
5.0 out of 5 stars Dreams
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2021
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Discerning and understanding our dreams and goals matters. These twin sisters come to learn this. Great story about dreams and the individuality of twins. Loved every minute of reading it! Thank you!
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Kris Anderson, The Avid Reader
3.0 out of 5 stars The latest novel of faith by Laura Bradford.
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2018
Portrait of a Sister by Laura Bradford is set in Blue Ball, Pennsylvania in the heart of Lancaster County. Katie Beiler feels a deep loss when her mother passes away. Katie is now responsible for caring for her father, siblings and the related chores until (in the future) her sister, Margaret takes over when Katie marries her beau, Abram Zook. At night, though, when everyone else is asleep, Katie brings out her sketchpad. Katie enjoys drawing people, but she must keep her art a secret since it goes against their beliefs (Exodus 20:4). If it was discovered, it could get her shunned. Her twin sister, Hannah returns for their mamm’s funeral. While Katie was baptized into the Amish faith, Hannah left their community and lives in New York. After Hannah returns to New York, she sends a letter to Katie asking her to visit. When she left, Hannah “borrowed” two of Katie’s sketches and showed them to an art gallery owner. He would like to see more of Katie’s work. Katie finds herself in New York and spends her days exploring the city with Hannah’s friend, Eric. Katie’s artwork is a hit with the gallery owner and she is given the opportunity of a lifetime. Katie finds herself at a juncture where she needs to choose between the life she expected to lead or one filled with artistic freedom.

Portrait of a Sister is a book about choices and the internal struggle we go through in trying to decide. It is particularly difficult when it involves a twin. Katie misses her twin, but she made a commitment to the Amish faith when she joined the church. It is hard to decide especially when one option involves artistic freedom along with a new, unexplored world with her twin sister. Katie needs to figure out which path God wishes her to take. Portrait of a Sister is nicely written and it is wholesome. There is no foul language or intimate situations. However, I found the pace to be slower than I would prefer and there was repetition of information. It was hard to like Katie. She seemed to be on a pity party. Katie compared herself to Hannah and found herself lacking (has issues with self-confidence). Hannah, on the other hand, is determined to enjoy life to the fullest. She wants the items and lifestyle she saw in magazines. There are good life lessons contained in Portrait of a Sister. We need to have faith, pray and God will provide answers in his own timing. I could understand and feel Katie’s struggle with regard to her art. My rating for Portrait of a Sister is 3 out of 5 stars. Portrait of a Sister is a sweet story of faith, family and finding your place in the world.

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this novel. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book to read
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2018
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Great book loved the story and the conflicts each sister faced. I learned things I did not know about Amish life. I would recommend reading this book for any age. I think the book was well written and interesting. I loved how Katie struggled and then decided what she really wanted and believed in.
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Pat from Norton
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2021
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Really enjoyed this book. It kept getting more interesting the more I read, and couldn't wait to find out how it ended.
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Top reviews from other countries

Helen V Churms, book lover
5.0 out of 5 stars Portrait of a Sister: a truly beautiful book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 29, 2018
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I loved this book. It made me cry and it made me laugh, and I really did not want to reach the last page. I thought I knew how I wanted it to end but, in fact, Laura Bradford's end was better. I have so enjoyed her Amish detective stories, and other non-Amish mysteries, with delightful heroines, all of which I would suggest to anyone to read. But I really felt Portrait of a Sister will stand out for me as totally different (though still based on the Amish way of life) and is definitely my favourite! I highly recommend you buy and read it! It is a beautiful book. Thank you so much, Laura, for giving me enormous pleasure in your beautiful story.
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