Nothing is Easy in A Plain Leaving

When Jessica Bachmann left her home in Lancaster County three years ago.  She left behind her family, the man she loved and her Amish way of life.  Starting over in the Englisch world, she worked her way up in her job at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.  Things in her life were settled until she received word that her beloved father had passed away from lung cancer.

I wasn't surprised to get hooked right away into Leslie Gould's latest offering, A Plain Leaving.  This happens every time I pick up one of her books to read and like the others, I had a hard time putting it down.  I am excited to share that this is book one in her new The Sisters of Lancaster County series. 

Traveling home was almost harder than the day she left.  Her relationship with her mother had been distant. Her brother Arden and sister Marie were only to happy to show her a less than welcome homecoming. Baptized into the faith before she had left, she was shunned and felt the sting from her family especially at mealtimes.  All were content to leave it that way except Silas, her former boyfriend and her dear Aenti Suz.

Her Aenti Suz was a welcome relief in her grief and as Jessica sought her comfort, a parallel story unfolded about Ruby.  The Bachmann family had farmed their land for over 240 years and Ruby was the only daughter of the first Bachmanns to settle in America.  Aenti Suz shared enough of Ruby to keep Jessica eagerly coming back for the whole story.  I must admit that I, too eagerly waited for more of that story.

Jessica loved her family's land and worked  hard to assist with all the chores to help make their load lighter under difficult circumstances. They didn't appreciate her help although they accepted it.  She quickly got back into the routine.  However, she soon learned that her brother had plans for the land that her father would never have agreed to had he lived.  Her job at the Department of Agriculture uncovered information about oil fracking on several farms in the area. It seemed like a good alternative to farming if one didn't like that line of work.  It seemed her brother would willingly give up their livelihood to turn a profit. Jessica had to stop Arden from destroying the land and the family's legacy.  Could she truly leave her home once more after all that she has learned?

I liked this story for many reasons.  The author has a gift for creating characters the reader can identify with.  Forgiveness, unconditional love, loyalty, deceit, perfection and jealousy are just a few things that are woven into the story.  So too is hope and courage.  I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good story that will leave you looking for more.  Many thanks to Bethany House for the opportunity to read this wonderful book and to the author for beginning a new series that promises to be a good one.