cover image Weddings at Promise Lodge

Weddings at Promise Lodge

Charlotte Hubbard. Zebra, $7.99 mass market (368pp) ISBN 978-1-4201-3945-7

It’s the new year, and one of the Promise Lodge sisters is getting married. The newly arrived Bishop Monroe conducts the wedding for Mattie and Amos, and middle sister Christine has high hopes that she and youngest sister Rosetta will soon take their turns at the front of the church. Series fans eager for Truman and Rosetta’s wedding will be disappointed, as Hubbard focuses on Christine and Monroe instead. Christine doesn’t have to fight for her love the way Mattie did or contend with jealousy the way Rosetta must; she learns patience while Monroe resolves some matters with another woman, but she doesn’t have to do anything other than wait. This low-key story leaves little room for character growth alongside the messages of second chances and not making assumptions. These flaws aside, it’s still a treat to visit with the friends at Promise Lodge. The cast of strong, independent Amish women have turned it into a vibrant Amish colony, with skilled artisans and open-minded men who recognize that it is possible to uphold the community’s traditions while blazing a new future. Hubbard is a talented storyteller, weaving a feminist perspective into depictions of Amish faith and traditions without resorting to stereotypes or caricatures. Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Agency. (July)