Four and a half stars.
Lydia Beachy’s parents were both killed in an accident when she was five years old. At that point her newly married aunt and uncle stepped in to care for her and be her parents. Lydia has always been close to both of them. Now as a married woman with two young sons, Daniel and David, she realises there is more to being a parent than she ever thought. She is contented in her life, although she would also love more children, especially a daughter. So far it hasn’t happened for her and Adam. Then one day a random comment from her great aunt overturns Lydia’s secure life. She learns she had two sisters, Susanna and Chloe, she never knew about. Her two sisters were both adopted by other people and live in different places. Susanna, like Lydia, has been brought up in the Amish faith. Chloe, raised by her grandmother, has been brought up among the English. Lydia, despite protests from her husband, is determined to locate her sisters and bring them all together. But what will that mean for each of them and the families that have raised them? Could it be better not to reveal the truth at this time? But this secret has kept them apart long enough, hasn’t it? Meanwhile Adam has a secret of his own, he has been trying to keep from Lydia. What will these two decisions mean for their marriage and family?
This is a gentle, highly engaging story that provided insights into the Amish way of life and the tensions that can divide a marriage or strengthen a family. It is peopled with mostly likeable characters, even though they are not without their faults. It is also a picture of a community in Pleasant Valley that seeks to support each other. An entertaining read with a well-drawn setting and atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Pleasant Valley and will be keen to follow this story and see how the rest plays out in other books in this series.