The Amish School Teacher

Eicher (Rebecca’s Choice) centers this excellent Amish romance on a rural school teacher as she settles into her new community. In Adams County, Ohio, Marcus Yoder, the eldest of seven siblings, works tirelessly on his family’s farm after his father’s death. When Mary Wagler arrives to begin her new position as the area’s only schoolteacher, Marcus’s stoicism is tested by her incessant questions and nontraditional ways whenever he sees her at the school while visiting his siblings. She becomes determined to win his approval by proving that she can take care of herself as well as the school without assistance. However, despite her efforts, Mary comes to realize that she can’t do it all; she must learn to let go of her pride in order to accept help from others. In doing so, she sees Marcus in a new light and they slowly become friends. As they open up to one another, Marcus is finally able to express the grief he has long held inside. Eicher nicely develops the contrasting personalities of his characters, and readers will cheer for this sweet couple as they find their way together. Fans of Wanda Brunstetter will want to take a look.[em] (June) [/em]