Journey Down a Quiet Lane in Lancaster County Where Love and Heartache and Friendship and Healing Meet...
When Joel and Shani
Beck arrive at their new home on Juneberry Lane in Lancaster, PA,
they’re looking for peace. Joel’s recently returned from Iraq and is
recuperating, and Shani is just happy to have her family back together.
They can’t imagine any trouble with their Amish neighbors, the Lehmans,
but things get off to a rocky start when their son accidently hurts
Simon, one of the Lehman boys.
Timothy Lehman, a widower, is the
family patriarch and demands the Beck boy work in Simon’s place.
Tensions escalate, but Shani can’t help but be drawn to Eve Lehman,
Timothy’s sister, who runs the household. The two begin to form a strong
friendship forged on faith and family, and things seem like they’ve
quieted down until Joel’s single and handsome army friend Charlie
catches Eve’s eye. Suddenly, life for both families becomes more
complicated than any of them could have ever imagined.
Can These Two Friends from Opposite Worlds Find Love?
They've
been best friends for years, but as high school ends, Zane Beck can't
help but look at his Amish neighbor, Lila Lehman, with different eyes.
Her controlling father sees only one future for Lila, though, and
arranges for her to be courted by an upstanding young Amish man. When
Zane sees the two together, his plans for the future crumble, and he
impulsively enlists in the Army, following in his father's footsteps.
However,
the passing of years and the distance between them isn't enough to halt
their now hidden feelings for each other. If being together used to be
difficult, it's now impossible, especially with the Amish opposed to
war. Zane's service takes a dramatic turn when he's sent to Afghanistan.
Being on the front line and the reality of taking a life has him
questioning whether he can continue to serve or not. But all choices
have consequences--both his and hers. With Lila preparing to marry
another, will these one-time sweethearts ever find the life together
that they both still long for?
MY REVIEW: Author
Leslie Gould has created a lovely contemporary Amish Romance series
with “Neighbors of Lancaster County”, and I recommend reading Book 1,
“Amish Promises” for the most reader’s enjoyment before reading Book 2,
“Amish Sweethearts”. Both books feature a complex romantic relationship
between an Amish woman and an Englisch man, and the conflicts are
heightened by each man’s service in the military. In “Amish
Sweethearts”, childhood friends Lila Lehman and Zane Beck share their
cultures and learn from each other, but as they reach their teens, their
feelings of friendship deepen with the promise of something more. When
Lila’s stern father initiates the courtship of his daughter by the
bishop’s son, a distraught Zane joins the Army and leaves his heart
behind with Lila. Years and distance widen the separation between Lila
and Zane, and when he is deployed to Afghanistan, the dangerous reality
of his military service causes him much contemplation and
self-questioning. Lila’s future seems set by her father’s wishes, but
can her heart follow what her society dictates? Can the love that began
so long ago overcome great obstacles and lead to a happy future for two
true sweet hearts?
Book Copy Gratis Bethany House Books
Gould's Series Concludes in Love and Marriage...
Gregarious Rose Lehman,
who's always the life of the Amish youth singings, is determined to
marry the bishop's son, Reuben Byler--until the handsome Army buddy of
her future brother-in-law shows up in Lancaster County. In comparison to
Trevor, Reuben seems downright boring. Trevor shares Rose's sense of
fun and adventure, and her easygoing disposition.
When her sister
Lila's buggy is rear-ended and Lila is horribly injured, Rose finds
herself with more freedom than she's ever experienced. Everyone is so
concerned about Lila that no one realizes Rose is sneaking out with
Trevor. Except for Reuben. But in his usual passive way, he doesn't
confront her, nor does he address the situation with her Dat or anyone
else in the district. Rose appreciates Reuben's discretion, but she also
resents it. Part of her relishes the freedom she's found with Trevor,
but the other part of her wishes Reuben would "fight" for her, as much
as any Amish man would. Too late, she realizes the foolish choice she's
made. Has she ruined her best chance at love, or is there another path
to happiness she just hasn't seen yet?
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