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.

Happy Veteran's Day

The Eleventh Hour on the Eleventh Day in the Eleventh Month we celebrate the Armistice signed by the allies Germany signifying the end of battle on the western front of World War One.  Here in the United States we celebrate it as Veterans Day while in England and Canada they call it Remembrance Day.  It is our day to honor those who served our country. 

In my family, four of my brothers served in the United States Army and three of them were paratroopers! Our oldest brother Donald was not a paratrooper but chose the Army as his career.  After thirty years he stayed connected to his many friends as a very active member of the V.F.W. He had three tours of duty in Vietnam. Our second paratrooper, James served in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries.  I am happy to say that all returned home safely to live full lives.

My sister decided to join as well since she wanted to see the world and the Army allowed her to do just that with time in Germany, where she met her future husband.  She made the most of her free time by traveling as much as she could in Europe and to this day still has the travel bug. 

My late Father-in-law served in the United States Marine Corp for six years in the Pacific during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was part of the Elite Radar Battalion.  My husband followed his father many years later into the corp.  He credits the discipline for making him the man he is today.

I am so proud of my family members who served our country and want to take a moment to just say Thank you.

Reviewing The Legacy

Two men collaborating on a work of fiction resulting in The Legacy by Dan Walsh and Gary Smalley was a different experience for me.  Book number 4 in the Restoration series this collaboration is a wonderful glimpse into a normal American family with two parents and three children. Normal from the outside at least, this family has its own share of challenges. Jim and Marilyn Anderson, parents of three grown children are facing challenges with their youngest son Doug, who is away at college and pulling further away from the family values.  Doug is enjoying the fruits of independence and ready to cut the family purse strings when his father issues a choice to abandon his relationship with a coed or support himself. Will his choices be worth his decision?

Doug is a gifted artist and is planning to enter a contest worth a $75,000 prize. This will be his ticket to paying his own way for the remainder of his college expenses and set him up as  a graphic novelist when he graduates. He is so confident he will win but is he over confident?

Read this compelling novel about a son and his loving parents who must meet in the middle to gain back their trust in each other.

April at the Lake

We spent this past weekend at the family's cabin on Priest Lake. My husband's parents bought this wonderful property in 1961 when their 7 children were young.  This is a great place to bring kids where they can run exploring to their hearts content, swim, look for minnows and float on large old inner tubes. Memories at the lake are stuff of legend. We took our girls up for weekends and vacations and now our grandchildren are enjoying this legacy.  They are the fifth generation to enjoy this incredible haven in a busy world. 

 We are prepared for any weather as seasoned veterans of many storms, such as the one brewing in this picture. Rain or shine, this view across the lake is breathtaking to me.

 First order of business is to raise the flag! 
Our grandson, barely visible in his red hooded sweatshirt, 
helps Grandpa with this important task that one day he will do by himself.  
A teachable moment, he learns the importance of flag etiquette.

Up up she goes! 

Notice the dock at the top of this picture.
When the water rises, perhaps in about six weeks, 
the dock will be floated out to the water 
welcoming us for fishing, swimming, skiing or tubing. 

Up at last is the Marine Corps. flag, honoring my father-in-law, a WWII veteran, and my husband, also a veteran of the Marines. In addition to the Marines, our family enjoys a rich tradition of service; two of our  brothers-in-law retired from the Army and Navy respectively. When their families are staying at the lake the Army or Navy flag is raised, showing who is in residence. Otherwise the Marine Corps. flag is the default flag. It is a tradition that started many years ago. No matter which flag is raised, it fills me with pride to honor years of dedicated service.