Plain Peace

Title: PLAIN PEACE

Author: Beth Wiseman

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

November 2013

ISBN:  978-1401685942

Genre: Amish

Anna loves the grandfather who raised her, but his strict adherence to the Ordnung is scaring away any boy who might be interested in her—except newcomer Jacob.

In normal circumstances Anna Byler would have her choice of any of the young men in her Amish community. But because of the strict rules enforced by her grandfather, the bishop, the available suitors are afraid to court her. Then handsome Jacob Hostetler moves to Paradise and decides Anna is worth the challenge.

Anna sees that the bishop’s legalism is dividing the community and risking the lives of its members—but her grandfather doesn’t. When she is forced to deception in order to pursue her dream of marriage and family with Jacob, Anna feels her own faith slipping. If only she could get her grandmother to help her stand up to the bishop. But Mammi is keeping secrets of her own.

Anna wants to honor her grandparents, the two most important people in her life, but her heart is divided by the rules that guide their little Amish community and the growing love she has for Jacob. How can she be true to both?

PLAIN PEACE is book six in the Daughters of the Promise series by Ms. Wiseman. While this book stands alone, readers and fans will probably want to read the rest of the series, Plain Perfect, Plain Pursuit, Plain Promise, Plain Paradise, and Plain Proposal. I have read maybe three or four of these books and they all stand alone—yet, the characters are all the same, so you will want to know the history of some of the families.

Ms. Wiseman is a talented author, able to bring the characters to life. It was interesting learning about all the secrets that were kept in this community—with Mammi’s internet shopping addiction, Anna sneaking around and lying to see a boy, etc, but at the same time, the slow healing in Jacob’s family. I wanted to see these hurting families restored. Fans of Amish fiction will want to read PLAIN PEACE or any of the other books in this series. $15.99. 320 pages. 4 stars.