The steady rise in the publishing industry for Amish popular fiction, whether it be a romance or a mystery or thriller, has been going on since the mid-1990's and doesn't seem to be slowing down. The three most successful authors of Amish fiction—Beverly Lewis, Cindy Woodsmall, and Wanda Brunstetter—have sold over 30 million books! What has been the impetus for such a surge in a sub-genre? Is it a desire to escape the hyper-technological nature of today's world or is it a reach for a more simple time where stories end heroically and romance is not such a complicated path to bliss? One blogger postulates that in writing about the Amish, we are delving into a subculture that still has taboos and there is a mystery surrounding customs and beliefs.
"The authors of the novels themselves claim a wide and appreciative Amish audience. 'All of my Amish friends, and their friends, and their friends read my books,' Wanda Brunstetter told me at a book-signing, and Beverly Lewis says Amish fans of her books write to her frequently. Lewis told one reporter that an Amish correspondent once wrote to her, 'I don’t want to mislead you, Mrs. Lewis. All of us are reading them under the covers.'" Bonnet Rippers: The Rise of the Amish Romance Novel by Valerie Weaver-Zercher (March 21, 2013).
According to Salon magazine, the new books of popular Amish fiction authors rarely sell less than 100,000 copies–and some of these authors can produce more than one new book every year. [Amish Fiction: Put A Bonnet On It by Deborah Kennedy (September 1, 2012)]. As the demand grows, more and more authors are mining depths of how they can introduce new characters and produce captivating stories. Whatever the reason for the surge in popularity, readers can't get enough and we here at the Hoover Library do our best to supply the best and brightest. If you don't find the book you want, just ask one of the librarians to place a hold for it. And keep those requests coming!
An Amish Schoolroom : Three Stories / Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Shelley Shepard Gray.
A Class for Laurel by Amy Clipston : Adventurous Laurel Weaver leaves Pennsylvania to answer a newspaper ad for a teaching position in Colorado. She stays with handsome Glen Troyer's family, and they become close. However, she never intended to stay in Colorado, and his family worries Glen may choose to follow her back to Pennsylvania or be left with a broken heart. Now she can't bear to think of leaving Glen and her beloved students, but she's beginning to feel like she's out of options. Will Laurel and Glen push through the obstacles and fight for love?
A Lesson on Love by Kathleen Fuller: Priscilla Helmuth left her Amish community twelve years ago to pursue her dream of being a country singer, but she's missed her faith and her family. Now, she's moving to Birch Creek to be a schoolteacher. Micah Wagler recently moved there as well to put the past behind him. As the community comes together to build a new schoolhouse, Priscilla and Micah are thrown together. They bond over their love of music, but soon it appears that Priscilla's dreams of fame just might be coming true. She has to give up something, and Micah worries that it will be their faith . . . and his heart.
Wendy's Twenty Reasons by Shelley Shepard Gray: Wendy Schwartz is used to people underestimating her, but she's sure she can be a great teacher. Unfortunately, it's a disaster not long after she starts, and soon her job is in jeopardy. To make matters more complicated, she worries that she's falling for the son of the older couple she's boarding with. Lewis Weaver knows he shouldn't have a romantic relationship with a tenant, but he can't help but be drawn to Wendy. When a dangerous ice storm traps Wendy in the schoolroom with her students, uncomfortable truths will have to be faced by the town that just might change the future for everyone.
Between You & Me : a novel / Susan Wiggs. Caught between two worlds, Caleb Stoltz is bound by a deathbed promise to raise his orphaned niece and nephew in Middle Grove, where life revolves around family, farm, faith—and long-held suspicions about outsiders. When disaster strikes, Caleb is thrust into an urban environment of high-tech medicine and the relentless rush of modern life. Dr. Reese Powell is poised to join the medical dynasty of her wealthy, successful parents. Bold, assertive, and quick-thinking, she lives for the addictive rush of saving lives. When a shocking accident brings Caleb Stoltz into her life, Reese is forced to deal with a situation that challenges everything she thinks she knows—and ultimately emboldens her to question her most powerful beliefs. Then one impulsive act brings about a clash of cultures in a tug-of-war that plays out in a courtroom, challenging the very nature of justice and reverberating through generations, straining the fragile threads of faith and family.
Goodbye to Yesterday / Wanda E. Brunstetter. In Goodbye to Yesterday, part one of New York Times Bestselling author, Wanda E. Brunsetter’s The Discovery--A Lancaster County Saga, Meredith and Luke Stoltzfus, an Amish couple, are faced with the greatest challenge of their young lives. Financial struggles. Arguments. A suspected pregnancy. A last-minute trip to Middlebury, Indiana. A deadly encounter at a Philadelphia bus station. Will their love and faith be enough to bring them back together again, against all odds? Follow their story in this exclusive 6-consecutive-month serial novel.
The Homestead / Linda Byler. Hannah is a fifteen-year-old Amish girl who lives on her family’s farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. When her family, hit hard by the Great Depression, loses their farm, Hannah’s father decides it’s time for a fresh start. Destitute but inspired by grand plans and dreams of a better future west of Lancaster, he loads his family and what little they have left into their covered wagon.
They settle in North Dakota, hundreds of miles from any Amish community. Hannah’s mother does her best to be a good wife, supporting her husband as they try to build a new life in a wholly unfamiliar place. Things aren’t going quite as Hannah’s father had imagined—his visions of success are shattered by the reality that his knowledge of farming in Lancaster isn’t of much use in Midwestern soil. With the fields barren and her family on the verge of starvation, Hannah decides to take matters into her own hands. She goes into town looking for a job and finds one at a cattle ranch, where she meets charismatic ranch hand Clay Jenkins. Clay is drawn to the independent, strong-willed newcomer. As they work together at the ranch, Hannah grapples with her own feelings for Clay, an English boy. Her life is more uncertain than ever. With Hannah’s help, will her family get back on their feet and prosper in North Dakota? And what will happen with Clay Jenkins?
The Jam and Jelly Nook / Amy Clipston. Since her husband died seven years ago, Leanna Wengerd has done her best--tending to her son, Chester, and running her Jam and Jelly Nook at the Amish market. Though she enjoys seeing her cousins and customers at the marketplace, she wishes she could find more time for her rebellious teenage boy. When Chester gets into trouble for trespassing, he winds up at the police station with his friend Maggie, who was riding with him to a youth group gathering. Leanna comes to the police station to fetch Chester and happens to meet Emory, Maggie's father. Emory is also a widower, raising Maggie alone--and both he and Leanna have similar burdens and problems. Over time Emory and Leanna become closer friends, discovering how much they have in common. As single parents, they struggle with the limits of what they can provide for their children and feel somewhat responsible for what happened to their respective spouses. The two eventually realize they have feelings for each other--but when they try to date, their children resist. Will God pave a way for them to build a family together, or will hurdles block the path to a second chance at happiness?
Outsider / Linda Castillo. While enjoying a sleigh ride with his children, Amish widower Adam Lengacher discovers a car stuck in a snowdrift and an unconscious woman inside. He calls upon Chief of Police Kate Burkholder for help, and she is surprised to recognize the driver: fellow cop and her former friend, Gina Colorosa. Years before, Kate and Gina were best friends at the police academy and patrol officers in Columbus, but time and distance have taken them down two very different paths. Now, Gina reveals a shocking story of betrayal and revenge that has forced her to run for her life. She’s desperate for protection, and the only person she can trust is Kate—but can Kate trust her? Or will Gina’s dark past put them all in danger? As a blizzard bears down on Painters Mill, Kate helps Gina go into hiding on Adam’s farm. While the tough-skinned Gina struggles to adjust to the Amish lifestyle, Kate and state agent John Tomasetti delve into the incident that caused Gina to flee. But as Kate gets closer to the truth, a killer lies in wait. When violence strikes, she must confront a devastating truth that changes everything she thought she knew not only about friendship, but the institution to which she's devoted her life.
The Shunning / Beverly Lewis. All Her Life She Has Longed For The Forbidden Things, But Will Her Dreams Come At A Price Too Dear To Pay? In the quiet Amish community of Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania, time has stood still while cherished traditions and heartfelt beliefs have flourished. But a secret lies buried that could shatter the tranquility its inhabitants have grown to love. When Katie Lapp stumbles upon a satin infant gown in the dusty leather trunk of her parents' attic, she knows it holds a story she must discover. Why else would her Amish mother, a plain and simple woman who embraces the Old Order laws, hide the beautiful baby dress in the attic? On the eve of Katie's wedding to widower Bishop John, startling news staggers out of her anguished parents, and nothing prepares Katie for the devastation their confession brings. Feeling betrayed, Katie watches as the only life she has ever known begins to unravel, leaving in its wake a furrow of pain...and a future of hope.
An Unlikely Match / Beth Wiseman. When sparks fly between a good Amish girl and a hunky member of the Hollywood elite, even matchmaking innkeepers Esther and Lizzie know better than to fan the flames. Evelyn Schrock has dismissed the attempts of every young man in her small Amish community to court her. She's willing to wait for a suitor who shares her curiosities about life and faith. The only reason Jayce Clarkson is in Amish country hefting equipment for his famous father's movie production company is for the paycheck. The homestyle cooking at the Peony Inn is a perk though, as is his friendship with Evelyn Schrock. If Jayce can endure his dad's put-downs for a month, he'll finally be in a position to make a fresh start--somewhere away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and the shadow of his checkered past. To matchmakers Esther and Lizzie, the widowed sisters who operate the inn, Jayce seems like a good man stuck in a life he doesn't want. But the boy isn't Amish, and that leaves far too much room for broken hearts. Despite that, Jayce and Evelyn start to realize that they can't deny their growing attraction. Any path forward seems impossible, and they will have to learn what the future will look like when they leave their fate in Gott's hands.
