A Simple Winter

Lauer debuts with a quiet and gentle contemporary romance set in the Amish communities of Pennsylvania. After Remy McCallister suffers seizures that derail college, she reluctantly returns to Philadelphia to work at her father's newspaper. She meets Amish-raised Adam King on the train and learns that the murder of his parents has drawn him home to care for his 10 younger siblings. A year later, Remy decides to exploit the friendship and advance her career by writing a feature on the unsolved double homicide. Unaware of her intent, the media-shy Kings welcome her with open arms. As she falls for the deeply religious Adam, Remy's secret threatens to tear apart their happiness. Readers looking for a chaste and cozy fireside read will enjoy the leisurely pace as Lauer delves into the placid lives and unwavering faith of the Amish. (Oct.)