Second in the Amish Bachelors series, this hard- hitting story shows the perils of rural winter living contrasted with the harm of modern temptations. We meet Luke Bowman who left the farm—and the girl who adored him—for drugs and ended in prison. Now he's home, reformed, and preparing for AN AMISH NOEL. Emma and her father Zachariah Swartzentruber have sworn never to trust him again. Oh, they'll respect him as a neighbour, give him work or help, but not Emma's heart.

Luke rescues Emma's young brothers from an icy lake and brings them home; that's when he hears she is courting. In fact, Zachariah has persuaded her to be courted by a friend, because he knows he is not long for this life, and he wants to see the girl settled. Luke is somewhat disappointed, but what did he expect? He has no claim on her now, and at twenty-five, the determined girl knows her own mind.

Patricia Davids never disappoints. She has a way of capturing our attention from the start and her characters engage our sympathies. The setting details are richly textured while her own experience as a nurse always comes to the fore. If you've read the previous book in this series, AN AMISH HARVEST, you'll know what I mean. Samuel and Rebecca from that book are part of this story. The people are very true to life, with the young men keener than girls to go out and experience the modern world. The mature women gossip and make speculative remarks, at the same time as reminding others not to speak ill of anyone. Zachariah has been collecting useful bits and bobs, old machinery and tools—and now the junk has to be sold and a hardware store completed. He wants to leave a suitable business for his sons. Among his collection, however, is a stack of solar panels. This all makes him far more than just a token father figure. I found the solar panel debates very interesting.

Christmas is of course celebrated differently in a non- materialistic culture, with carols and a school pageant the main features. Scented pine boughs are hung for decoration. To see if the season brings blessings to Emma, read AN AMISH NOEL and enjoy the ongoing tale. Patricia Davids must come high on the list of any fan of unusual but convincing romances, and if you've not tried a romance in an Amish setting, this would be a good starting point.

Book Summary

An Amish Homecoming

Luke Bowman's homecoming is turning Emma Swartzentruber's carefully ordered world upside down. Gone is her rebellious girlhood crush, and in his place is a handsome man who seems committed to serving the community. Luke's even agreed to work for Emma's ill father, whose last wish is to see his daughter wedded to a stable, loving man. But Luke—a man who flirted with the outside world with disastrous consequences—is hardly marriage material for a good Amish woman. Yet this Christmas, when her family is flung into crisis, Emma finds that he may just be the one to capture her heart for good.

Read an Excerpt