The Confession Musical

 

Wonderfully done! Excellent acting. Musical numbers are very good, some are especially touching and so beautiful. I think the story almost has more meaning and depth with the musical numbers.

Even though I'd read the book some time ago and I knew how it was going to go, I laughed and cried and sighed. This stage play really brought out the story and has been updated to this generation.

It's a Christian story about love and adoption, devotion to one another through everything. Did I mention Katie's fiancé who was believed to have drowned?  The Mothers song with Katie joining in made me sob. So much beauty. There are wonderful messages about salvation and forgiveness embedded. And the comedy is great. Chonda somewhat stole the show at times, excellently.

Even though it puts you through the wringer emotionally, it makes you feel better for having watched it.

 

Many thanks to Blue Gate Musicals for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

#TheConfessionMIN and #ConfessionMusicalMovie #ChristianFiction #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #FiveStarMovie #ChondaPierce #JohnSchneider

"The Confession Musical” is in theaters for one night only on February 20th!

The Confession Musical” is based on the New York Times best-selling book series “The Heritage of Lancaster County,” written by Beverly Lewis and written for the stage by Emmy-Nominated screenwriter Martha Bolton. 

Katie Lapp, a young Amish girl, discovers her parents have been keeping a secret from her… she is adopted. Katie decides to seek her birth mother, defying the rules of her Amish village and risking a shunning. Meanwhile, her wealthy birth mother, Laura Mayfield, battling an illness that might take her life, begins searching for her long-lost daughter to bequeath her inheritance before it is too late. Secretly plotting against her is the gold-digging husband Dylan (played by John Schneider), who is scheming to make sure he inherits her fortune. With the help and prayers of her Christian maidservant (played by Chonda Pierce), they try to foil Dylan’s plan and reunite Katie and Laura. And then there's Katie's lost fiancé and the mystery around him.

• Blog Post from Beverly Lewis: LINK

• Buy tickets today to see THE CONFESSION musical movie exclusively in theaters February 20th!

Movie Website: https://confessionmusicalmovie.com/

Buy Tickets Link: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/The-Confession-Musical

Giveaway: $10 Amazon gift card

(Note: This is limited to US winners only. Winner chosen randomly from comments to this post by 2/22/23. I will need the winner’s full name and email address.) (There will be no spam!)

The Confession Musical Movie

 

Based on the book by Beverly Lewis - ONLY IN MOVIE THEATERS FEBRUARY 20, 2023

I read the book - it was very good. With this team of actors it looks like it was really well done.

THE CONFESSION MUSICAL was adapted for the stage by Emmy-Nominated screenwriter Martha Bolton. The musical follows the story of Katie Lapp, a young Amish girl who discovers that her parents have been keeping a deep secret...that she is adopted. Katie decides to find her birth mother, defying the rules of her Amish village and risking a shunning. Meanwhile, Laura Mayfield, her wealthy birth mother who is battling an illness that might take her life, began searching for her long-lost daughter. Secretly plotting against Laura is her gold-digging husband Dylan (John Schneider). Dylan knows that if Katie is found, he will no longer inherit Laura’s fortune. With the help and prayers of her Christian housekeeper (Chonda Pierce), Laura hopes to foil Dylan’s plan and be reunited with her daughter.

While the story is dramatic, writer Martha Bolton sprinkles in humor, mostly from award-winning comedian Chonda Pierce as the maid and internationally renowned British comedian Colin Hearn as the English Butler. The music is powerful under the direction of multiple Grammy nominated Dan Posthuma and songwriter Wally Nason. The screen is filled with spectacular visuals using twenty actors and dancers and one of the largest LED screens in the country.

#TheConfessionMIN #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianFiction #AmishFiction

More information

https://confessionmusicalmovie.com/?mc_cid=189fe6a97e&mc_eid=8178308bbe

The Return by Suzanne Woods Fisher

If you like Historical Fiction, you will enjoy this. Set in Pennsylvania near Philadelphia and Lancaster in 1763, it’s the third in a series about Amish settlers who emigrated from Germany. There is turmoil in the area after a group of Indians massacres northernmost settler and children are kidnapped. A daughter, Betsy, who is betrothed to Hans from Stoney Ridge Amish church, taken as a “tribute” replacement for one in their village who had been killed. She is treated well after she arrives at the village and is befriended by Caleb, who is the son of a Mennonite girl who had been kidnapped years back and was taken as a Shawnee bride. He can speak her language and takes time to help her acclimate. Even though Betsy doesn’t forget her home and people, she learns to endure the hardships and becomes close to the female leaders of the tribe, and Caleb. Tessa, the Preacher’s daughter, has always loved Hans and was very jealous of Betsy. The tragedy becomes a good thing for her since Hans draws close and proposes marriage. That is until Caleb brings Betsy back.

This story is woven with jealousy, prejudice, racism and selfishness, also kindness, forgiveness, tolerance and strength of faith and spirit. Colonial settlers mostly left their country because of great difficulties, only to arrive in America and face some of the same as well as new challenges. Different ways of life, and the settlers’ greed for the land that was set aside for the Indians by treaty strongly influenced this time. This is about one part of that history and peaceful immigrants who are making a great contribution (like the Conestoga wagon) yet are torn apart by violence from within and without.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

From the Publisher:
Beautiful and winsome, Betsy Zook never questioned her family's rigid expectations, nor those of devoted Hans, but then she never had to. Not until the night when she's taken captive in a surprise Indian raid. During her captivity, Betsy faces brutality and hardship, but also unexpected kindness. She draws strength from native Caleb, who encourages her to find God in all circumstances. She finds herself torn between her pious upbringing and the intense new feelings this compelling man awakens within her.

Handsome and complex, Hans is greatly anguished by Betsy's captivity and turns to Tessa Bauer for comfort. Eagerly, Tessa responds, overlooking troubling signs of Hans's hunger for revenge. When Betsy is finally restored to the Amish, have things gone too far between Hans and Tessa?

Inspired by true events, this deeply layered novel gives a glimpse into the tumultuous days of prerevolutionary Pennsylvania through the eyes of two young, determined, and faith-filled women.


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Anna’s Crossing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Loved this book and the cover! Based on several true facts, a Christian Historical Romance set in 1737 on the ship Charming Nancy. Some of my ancestors sailed over from Germany in 1905, so I had a strong interest in this book, but my family came over on a passenger ship - a much different experience than in this story.

Anna's minister insists that she go with the Amish group from her village that is traveling from Ixheim, Germany to America, because she knows English and can translate for everyone. She doesn't want to leave her Grandparents, but will do as she's asked, digging up her rose to take with her.  In addition it is beneficial to escape the reach of the nearby Baron who wants to destroy a family in their community, which affects them all. Anna is a very caring person with a strong faith.

Bairn is a young man who has been on a ship with the beloved Captain and his brother, also a Captain, since he was a young boy. Very ambitious, he's on the right track for promotion and earning great wealth - important goals for him.  Then they transport this group of German Amish and Mennonite passengers to America and he's forced to face some difficult things, including his tragic past and lack of faith.

What detail! I'm not sure how Suzanne knew what it was like to be on a ship back then, but it is a very real and intricate account of life during this voyage.  Richly told, the story is intricately woven; an amazing story of courage, salvation and love for others that's hard to put down.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell and the Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.

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The Beekeeper's Son by Kelly Irvin

I was once a professional beekeeper. We had 100 hives between what we owned and managed, some in Vermont, some in New York. It's a fascinating hobby and profession. With the title and great cover, I was expecting to see some good beekeeping facts and lifestyle in this book, and I did, but they were not all accurate I am sorry to say.  That being said, this was a very good story that's easy to recommend. I love that Amish stories discuss God in their everyday lives and make Him part of every situation. It's also a great romance for two families, both mother and daughter, father and son.


Deborah's father died and her mother Abigail decided to move their family to Texas where her brother was, and an old beau as well. The old beau would like to marry Abigail, but she finds new competition for her attention in another member of the community.

Deborah is determined to go back to Tennessee once her mother gets settled. They left friends, family and a special someone behind. Phineas was in a horrible accident years back, but is still not mentally healed. Physically he was terribly scarred on his face and head, and doesn't think anyone could ever love him. He and his father find solace and financial security in beekeeping.

This book is about the journey they take and how God has a plan for us all, even if it's not what we expected. Or where. And that at some point we have to take a chance, trust, and sometimes start over again.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Zondervan Fiction - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.

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