Authors: Lori Copeland & Virginia Smith

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

ISBN: 978-0-7369-4755-8

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” is from Proverbs 3:6. In Lori Copeland and Virginia Smith’s second book of The Amish of Apple Grove series, A Plain & Simple Heart, the Biblical concept of God directing our paths without us realizing it is the main focus in this romantic tale.

With over three hundred pages, this paperback book depicts a somewhat corny photograph of an Amish young woman and a sheriff on the front jacket. The book also includes a discussion section, author’s notes regarding factual, historical characters in the book and thirteen pages of the next story in the series. Since there is no profanity, questionable sex scenes or innuendos, it is an ideal read for any young preteen age or older female who love wholesome romantic stories. The topics of alcohol, prohibition and women’s rights in the late nineteenth century are discussed.

This tome is set in Kansas in 1885 when it was one of the few states that outlawed any type of liquor, yet backs were turned when the law of the land was applied. Amish Rebecca, only seventeen years old, has been fantasizing and dreaming about Jesse, a boy she met four years ago. Now that she is a full-grown woman, she wants to fulfill her love toward him - if only she can locate him. Having heard Jesse is now a cowboy in the nearby town of Lawrence, she leaves her father’s Amish farm and sheltered upbringing by sneaking away to complete her rumspringa, her rite to experience the Englisch way of living, before she joins the church.

Upon arriving in Lawrence, she gets unknowingly caught up in the women’s rights movement and assists in challenging local sheriff Colin to uphold the laws regarding prohibition. Colin, who is planning on leaving in two weeks, and the mayor arrest and jail her for ninety days. In mere weeks, will the two thrown-together young people realize their love for each other or will Rebecca wait for Jesse to come rescue her and Colin to move on in his life?

Not typical of normal Amish stories, this one is unique in that it shows that the Amish and their non-simple believers have the same God in spite of their different cultures and beliefs and can accept one another as is. Copeland and Smith do a good job showing that God directs our paths and puts us in perfect circumstances, even though we may not always believe in them.


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