Synopses & Reviews
Returning to Pleasant Valley is giving Hannah Conroy a much-needed chance at a new life. But now she must discover her true place in the world … Unexpected tragedy has left Hannah without her soldier husband and a home for her baby son, Jamie. Seeking refuge, she comes to live with her aunt in Pleasant Valley, a place she hasn’t seen since childhood, when her parents left the Mennonite faith. Working in her aunt’s bakery is a way for Hannah to get back on her feet, but she isn’t sure if she can live by tradition—or if she and Jamie should stay for good. She finds an unexpected, sympathetic listener in furniture maker William Brand. His stutter makes him feel like a permanent outsider in his Amish community, and he understands her loneliness. Hannah is irresistibly drawn to the shy, caring William, and her education in speech therapy makes it natural for her to want to help him speak more easily. But how can she encourage his attention when she might someday leave Pleasant Valley, and when her father-in-law, a military officer, is scheming to take Jamie away from her? As William seeks the courage to stand up for the woman who believes in him, Hannah must decide where her true home lies—in the free, ever-changing world she knows, or in the simpler, loving community she’s found…
Review
"What a joy it is to read Marta Perry's novels!"
Review
Review
Praise for the Pleasant Valley and The Lost Sisters of Pleasant Valley novels:
"What a joy to read Marta Perry's novels!"and#8212;Shelley Shepard Gray, author of the Sisters of the Heart series
"[Perry] never disappoints."and#8212;The Mary Reader
"A delightful novel!"and#8212;Romance Reviews Today
"A great story of friendship, second chances, and faith...Wonderful."and#8212;Reviews from the Heart
"Sure to appeal to fans of Beverly Lewis."and#8212;Library Journal
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Synopsis
Marta Perry returns with a brand-new inspirational Pleasant Valley novel. After spending three years in the English world, Anna Beiler returns to the Pleasant Valley Amish with a baby girl, which will surely cause a stir since Anna is unmarried. What they don't know is that the baby is adopted, and Anna desperately needs to protect it from its violent father...
Anna finds it reassuring to reconnect with family and old friends. But she hasn't fully faced the consequences of her irresponsible youth. And now she may be endangering her family. If she wants to stay, she must seek forgiveness from the community whose blessing she took for granted, and experience the true change of heart required to make a new beginning.
Synopsis
Three Amish sisters who were separated at a young age are at last reunited in the second Lost Sisters of Pleasant Valley novel. Susanna Bitler's life is in complete turmoil. Still reeling from the death of her mother, she is further disheartened when her business partner hints that she is going to quit the gift shop they run together in a town near Pleasant Valley. But the biggest revelation is yet to come.
Grateful for their own hard-won relationship, Lydia Beachy and Chloe Wentworth are eager to reveal themselves to Susanna as her long-lost sisters. But their news utterly distresses Susanna, who is heartbroken to learn that the woman she's been mourning was not actually her mother. Despite Lydia and Chloe's best efforts to make amends, Susanna resolves to keep them at arm's length. It may take a force of nature to sweep away her fears. Will that storm demolish all that the three women most value...or unite them in bonds of deep and abiding affection?
Synopsis
Can an Amish midwife earn her community's trust and bring the joy of new babies to Pleasant Valley? Amish midwife Sarah Mast moves to Pleasant Valley for a fresh start. But her aging aunt can no longer run the birthing center, leaving most of the responsibility to Sarah. Among those skeptical of Sarah's ability is neighbor Aaron Miller, who seems drawn to Sarah but pulls away when his own sister requests her services. And when a criminal complaint is filed against Sarah, she must pray for strength to defend her practice and win acceptance from the community she loves.
Synopsis
The first of three Amish-set novels in which a woman?s faith must guide her through challenging times. All of Pleasant Valley seems to think the newcomer from Lancaster County is the perfect match for Teacher Leah. After all, so few new families come to their separate Amish community, and fewer still unmarried men. Daniel Glick is a widower with three young children to look after?clearly he?s in need of a wife.
Daniel?s past haunts him. Though he cannot miss the beauty in Leah?s bright eyes and patient ways, he also sees a reminder of his pain-filled marriage. Leah, too, has a burden to bear. Years ago, she was engaged to Johnny Kile, and she was heartbroken when he decided to leave the Amish community. Since then she has immersed herself in teaching, forgetting any hopes of having her own family. When Johnny returns, seeking reconciliation, Leah must decide between two pathways, either of which will completely change her life.
Synopsis
The next in a series of Amish-set novels in which a woman's close- knit community helps her through challenging times. It has been almost a year since the Amish community of Pleasant Valley lost Ezra Brand to tragedy. Now his wife Rachel struggles to raise their three children and run their farm.
Rachel's friends and family have come forward to help. But all of their constant advice, however well intentioned, puts undue pressure on Rachel. And when Gideon Zook, Ezra's best friend, asks her permission to build the greenhouse Ezra had always promised her, she finds his presence too painful a reminder of losing her husband.
As spring turns to summer, and Rachel puts her heart into growing the plants that have always brought her joy, can she discover the courage to embrace new beginnings?
Synopsis
A quilt shop brings Amish and Englisch together, and trouble follows...
After a thwarted romance, Katie Miller starts over by moving to Pleasant Valley and opening a quilt shop. Soon Amish and Englisch turn the store into a lively spot...to the consternation of Caleb Brand, who crafts furniture next door. Then Katie's sister joins her, to escape rumors of her wild rumspringa, and Katie feels the burden of responsibility for a restless teenager. Even worse, her efforts to bring more people to Main Street arouse resistance among local businesses. When acts of vandalism threaten Katie's shop, she turns to Caleb for comfort, and their friendship deepens. But will Caleb's secret past prevent him from embracing a future with Katie? Or will their fragile romance develop the strength to last a lifetime?
Synopsis
As young girls, three Amish sisters were separated and told nothing about each other.and#160; When the long-held secret of their parentage came to light many years later, two of the grown women reconnected.and#160; Now they reach out to the thirdand#133;
Susanna Bitlerand#8217;s life is in complete turmoil. Still reeling from the death of her mother, she is further disheartened when her business partner hints that she is going to quit the gift shop they run together in a town near Pleasant Valley. But the biggest revelation is yet to come.
Grateful for their own hard-won relationship, Lydia Beachy and Chloe Wentworth are eager to reveal themselves to Susanna as her long-lost sisters.and#160; But their news utterly distresses Susanna, who is heartbroken to learn that the woman sheand#8217;s been mourning was not actually her mother.and#160; Despite Lydia and Chloeand#8217;s best efforts to make amends, Susanna resolves to keep them at armand#8217;s length. It may take a force of nature to sweep away her fears.and#160; Will that storm demolish all that the three women most valueand#133;or unite them in bonds of deep and abiding affection?
About the Author
A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led Marta Perry to write about the Plain People who add to the rich heritage of her home state. She is the author of more than fifty inspirational romance novels, including the Lost Sisters of Pleasant Valley: Lydiaand#8217;s Hope; and the Pleasant Valley series: Naomi's Christmas, Hannah's Joy, Katie's Way, Sarah's Gift, Anna's Return, Rachel's Garden, and Leah's Choice. She lives with her husband in a century-old farmhouse.