November 7, 2016
Bestselling novelist Woodsmall (Hope Crossing) returns this holiday season with another Amish story about finding unexpected love in the face of tragedy. Rose Kurtz works hard but feels she can never live up to her Mamm’s expectations, so when the bishop of her community asks her to move from Pennsylvania to help a grieving father in rural West Virginia, she gladly agrees. Joel Dienner, still deep in mourning after his wife’s unexpected death, reluctantly lets Rose care for his newborn daughter and two young sons. They marry a week later to avoid wagging tongues, and three years pass as they create a strong bond over the children. Rose slowly heals from her wounding childhood and Joel begins to feel again, but they may not be able to get past the hurdles that threaten what could become a real romance. The story builds quietly as Woodsmall focuses on the tough minutiae of forging a new life when original expectations fail to materialize. Woodsmall’s many readers will love this well-written, ruminative story that will be a welcome respite from holiday busyness and stress.