Rachel's Garden

Title: RACHEL’S GARDEN
Author: Marta Perry
Publisher: Berkley Books
April 2010
ISBN: 978-0-425-23236-1
Genre: Inspirational/Amish romance

Rachel Brand is struggling to survive after the tragic death of her husband, Ezra. Now, Rachel and her three children are forced to make decisions they don’t want to make. Should they sell Ezra’s farm and move home with Rachel’s parents? Or should she try to keep Ezra’s dreams alive?

Rachel’s friends and family come forward to help. Ezra’s brothers are maintaining his milk cow herd, and Ezra’s best friend, Gideon Zook asks Rachel’s permission to build the greenhouse that Ezra promised Rachel. But Gideon was involved in the same accident that claimed Ezra’s life, and his presence is a reminder of all Rachel has lost.

But without the income from the plants Rachel sells to the community, she may be forced to sell the farm and have no means of supporting her family. Or, would it be wiser to take her greenhouse and let Ezra’s brother buy the farm? Can Rachel find the courage to make her own choices?

RACHEL'S’S GARDEN is the second book in Ms. Perry’s Pleasant Valley series, but it easily stands alone. Readers might find it helpful though to understand a bit about Rachel’s brother, Johnny, and her friend, Leah, both of whom are in the first book.

I enjoyed getting to know a bit more about the characters featured in the first book, Leah’s Choice, and especially getting to know Rachel, Gideon, and Ezra’s sweetheart younger brother, William. I hope that sometime in the future, Ms. Perry will have William as a hero in a book.

A glossary of Amish terms, a preview of Ms. Perry’s third book in the series Anna’s Return, coming in June 2010 are included at the end of the book. Don’t miss RACHEL'S GARDEN if you are looking for a good Amish book to read. $14.00. 329 pages.