cover image A Second Chance

A Second Chance

Linda Byler. Good Books, $14.99 trade paper (346p) ISBN 978-1-6809-9447-6

Byler (Home Is Where the Heart Is) serves up an enjoyable contemporary Amish romance featuring a strong-willed heroine waiting for the right proposal. In rural Indiana, 29-year-old Edna Miller has been working as a live-in maid for new mothers for the past 15 years. No-nonsense and good at her job, Edna doesn’t mind her small town, because it’s close to Emery Hoschtetler, the man she’s been in love with since they were teenagers, who has always been indifferent to her. Between assignments, she stays at her childhood home and deals with her elderly parents, a task made more difficult when they get a new dog. Edna has few marital prospects, and a neighboring farmer’s request for a date goes nowhere because Edna still only thinks of Emery. When Emery, after years of shyness, finally asks out Edna, it seems like a dream come true. But things become complicated when Edna takes a job caring for Orva Schlabach, a widower and father of three, and develops feelings for him. Orva convinces her to trust in God’s plan and to wait to see where God leads them all. Byler creates multifaceted characters who deal with real-life issues, showcasing how plain life is not always simple. Fans of Amish romance will enjoy this tale of an independent woman waiting for her chance at love. [em](May) [/em]