Leah's Choice

GIVEAWAY

PERRY, MARTA
LEAH'S CHOICE

In the Amish community of Pleasant Valley, a teacher must rely on her faith to guide her heart through challenging times.

All of Pleasant Valley seems to thinks the newcomer from Lancaster County is the perfect match for schoolteacher Leah Beiler. After all, so few new families come to their secluded Amish community, and even fewer unmarried men. Daniel Glick is a widower with three young children to look after -- clearly he's in need of a wife.

But Daniel's past haunts him at every turn. Though he cannot miss the beauty in Leah's bright eyes and patient ways, he also sees a reminder of the pain he came so far to escape. Leah, too, has a burden on her heart. Years ago she was engaged to Johnny Kile and was heartbroken when he decided to leave the Amish community. Since then she has immersed herself in her love of the children she teaches, forgetting any hopes of having her own family.

When Johnny returns, seeking reconciliation, Leah must decide between two pathways, either of which will change her life forever...

My Review:

first published in 2009 and reissued in mass market paperback format this year.

My thanks to my public library for keeping me in retro reads!

I've read a couple of books in the Pleasant Valley series and am happily backtracking to catch up on the ones I've missed. Leah's Choice is the first book in the series and Marta Perry has created such an enthralling Amish community! I love the way she includes so many fascinating details about the culture and the people, including Pennsylvania Dutch words and phrases. It's easy to grasp their meaning in context, but a glossary is included at the end of the book as well.

Leah has found her calling in the schoolroom. She is steadfast in her faith and her future until she's unexpectedly challenged by two very different men. Widower Daniel has moved into the community to give his traumatized children a fresh start but he has mixed feelings when Teacher Leah shows a special interest in Matthew, Elizabeth and Jonah. She sees needs in his kinner that he doesn't want to acknowledge. Lots of emotional undercurrents bring an edge to their developing romance as Daniel harbors secrets under the false assumption that he can handle it all. If that isn't enough angst, Leah is confronted with the return of her first love, Johnny Kile (who I wanted to purse whomp on more than one occasion!)

A powerful story that explores the deeply rooted need to belong -- a theme that plays out in various ways in the lives of different characters. The kind of story that captivates a reader right to the soul stirring end.

.GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Leah's Choice, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you leave your email in a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 22 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!