Leah's Choice

Title: LEAH’S CHOICE
Author: Marta Perry
Publisher: Berkley
November 2009
ISBN: 978-0-425-23050-3
Genre: Inspirational/Amish

Teacher Leah knows she’ll never marry. Years ago, she loved Johnny Kile, but he left the Amish, joining the English instead. He asked Leah to go with him, but Leah was scared. Leah is happy with her life as a teacher, and reaching out to the children in her class.

Widower Daniel Glick is new to the community, hoping to flee his memories in his old Amish community and start over with his three young children. But life is still not perfect in his new home. His oldest son is rebellious, and his young daughter is trying to do things above her age level, and do them perfectly. Teacher Leah is concerned about them, and tries to reach out, but at first, Daniel is resistant. He will handle his children on his own, without help.

When Johnny Kile returns, Leah is torn. Johnny wants her help in reaching out to the Amish community, but not in hopes that he can return, but instead so he can help the children with genetic disorders. But he is under the ban, so he needs an insider to help. Leah agrees, but is she doing it for Johnny, or the children? And what about Daniel?

LEAH’S CHOICE is the first book in Ms. Perry’s new Amish series Pleasant Valley. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Leah, and Daniel, and Johnny, as well as other members of the family, and learning a bit more about the Amish in the process.

Ms. Perry is a talented writer, and the story is told in a stellar manner, sweet and simple, a romance that will warm your heart even as you want to throttle some of the characters in the book, and reach out and hug others.

If you like reading “Bonnet fiction” then you will definitely want to read LEAH’S CHOICE. A glossary of Amish terms is included at the end of the book. $13.99. 320 pages.