What do you think?
Rate this book
Plain and Simple #1
Plain Jayne
Talented new author Hillary Manton Lodge brings a new twist to the popular Amish novel.
Jayne Tate loves her life as it is—living in a big city, working as a reporter for a fast-paced newspaper, and dating a guy who knows nothing about her past. When her father passes away though, she’s forced to take another look at what she wants out of life. After losing out on the big career opportunity she was hoping for, she decides to escape to Oregon Amish country, seeking solace and maybe a big story.
Even in this land of buggies and bonnets, Jayne finds life more complicated than she expected. Can she persuade herself that her growing friendship with the mysterious and handsome Levi Burkholder is just about research? And what’s a latte-drinking, laptop-using, motorcycle-riding reporter to do when this new life starts to change her?
Plain Jayne will delight readers.
Jayne Tate loves her life as it is—living in a big city, working as a reporter for a fast-paced newspaper, and dating a guy who knows nothing about her past. When her father passes away though, she’s forced to take another look at what she wants out of life. After losing out on the big career opportunity she was hoping for, she decides to escape to Oregon Amish country, seeking solace and maybe a big story.
Even in this land of buggies and bonnets, Jayne finds life more complicated than she expected. Can she persuade herself that her growing friendship with the mysterious and handsome Levi Burkholder is just about research? And what’s a latte-drinking, laptop-using, motorcycle-riding reporter to do when this new life starts to change her?
Plain Jayne will delight readers.
289 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2010
4 people are currently reading
916 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
February 1, 2022
Dieses Buch zu lesen war reinste Folter, man kann es nicht netter umschreiben. Wer auch immer der Lektor war oder das hat durchgehen lassen, muss an dem Tag wirklich nicht bei der Sache gewesen sein.
Das ist ein unfertiges Buch. Ich hatte das Gefühl ich würde eine Wattpad-Story lesen. Und zwar eine sehr, sehr schlechte geschrieben von einer 13-jährigen. Ich bin wirklich schockiert.
Die Grundidee ist nicht schlecht, aber der Schreibstil war furchtbar. (Ausführliche) Beschreibungen, Charakterstudien und gute Dialoge fehlen völlig.
Sehr, sehr schade, weil dieses Buch großes Potenzial hätte…
Das ist ein unfertiges Buch. Ich hatte das Gefühl ich würde eine Wattpad-Story lesen. Und zwar eine sehr, sehr schlechte geschrieben von einer 13-jährigen. Ich bin wirklich schockiert.
Die Grundidee ist nicht schlecht, aber der Schreibstil war furchtbar. (Ausführliche) Beschreibungen, Charakterstudien und gute Dialoge fehlen völlig.
Sehr, sehr schade, weil dieses Buch großes Potenzial hätte…
July 23, 2021
I have never really read much "Amish fiction," though I remember when it was the hottest thing in Christian fiction. But Hillary Manton Lodge has become an auto-buy author for me, and that means not only that I will buy her next book whenever it drops, but that I want to read her earlier works too, like Plain Jayne and its follow-up, Simply Sara. I was able to find copies of both of them recently, which made me so happy.
I think my favorite part of this book is that Jayne realizes that a simple, Amish life is not for everyone. She learns how to focus and how to prioritize, but she also understands that you can serve the Lord from a modern life that uses electricity just as well from an old-fashioned one. Although I've really never read any other Amish Christian fiction, I have gathered from reviews and such that generally such books have an opposite conclusion, which I don't find to be healthy. After all, Godliness with contentment is great gain -- which means being contented with the life you've been given, not trying to conform to someone else's life.
I think my favorite part of this book is that Jayne realizes that a simple, Amish life is not for everyone. She learns how to focus and how to prioritize, but she also understands that you can serve the Lord from a modern life that uses electricity just as well from an old-fashioned one. Although I've really never read any other Amish Christian fiction, I have gathered from reviews and such that generally such books have an opposite conclusion, which I don't find to be healthy. After all, Godliness with contentment is great gain -- which means being contented with the life you've been given, not trying to conform to someone else's life.
April 10, 2010
Jayne Tate loves her job as a reporter for a large newspaper based in Portland, Oregon. However, her boss Sol feels Jayne’s work has been slipping lately and subtly requests she use a week and a half of her saved up vacation days to take some time off to regroup. Jayne isn’t happy with this request because she was hoping to be sent to Miami to work on a story she’d been wanting but her boss has assigned that job to someone else in Jayne’s office. In her disappointment she resigns herself to the fact that she can’t fight her boss and begrudgingly leaves the office, missing out on the biggest story of her career, to begin her so-called vacation.
When Jayne’s father passes away she only attends his funeral long enough to hear the eulogy and sing one hymn all the way through and then heads for home. Jayne has been estranged from her family for a number of years. But now with time on her hands, thinking about her father’s passing and how she missed out on a lot with her family over the years, she begins to wonder what else she has missed out on in her life.
Jayne is also dating a guy named Shane who knows nothing about her background and their relationship really isn’t going anywhere so she decides to escape to Oregon’s Amish country, hoping she’ll find some solace and comfort, and perhaps even make a story out of it.
Packing up her saddle bags on her motorcycle Jayne heads out and ends up at the Burkholder farm in Amish country and is invited to stay with their family while she does her research. Meeting Levi Burkholder, the eldest son of the Burkholder family turns out to be more than a chance meeting. Levi owns a woodworking shop where he and a couple of employees make Amish furniture to sell. The day Jayne lands in Amish Country she stops at Levi’s store and learns that he left his family a few years before to go out on his own and has now been shunned by his family. His Mother, Grandmother, brother and sisters miss Levi terribly but his father Gideon is very old school and is determined to never speak to Levi or have him enter his home again. Levi drives Jayne to his family’s farm and introduces her to his mother Martha who welcomes Jayne into their home for as long as she needs to stay.
Jayne is finding life in an Amish family a tad more complicated that she had first thought it would be. She wonders where God fits into all this, what does her growing friendship with Levi really mean and why is she herself beginning to change and what does that mean and what is she to do?
This novel had me pulled in right from the beginning. The writing is flawless and paced just right enabling you to feel as though you are there with Jayne. I can still almost smell those fresh baked pies that Martha makes! Big kudos goes out to Ms. Lodge on this one!!!
When Jayne’s father passes away she only attends his funeral long enough to hear the eulogy and sing one hymn all the way through and then heads for home. Jayne has been estranged from her family for a number of years. But now with time on her hands, thinking about her father’s passing and how she missed out on a lot with her family over the years, she begins to wonder what else she has missed out on in her life.
Jayne is also dating a guy named Shane who knows nothing about her background and their relationship really isn’t going anywhere so she decides to escape to Oregon’s Amish country, hoping she’ll find some solace and comfort, and perhaps even make a story out of it.
Packing up her saddle bags on her motorcycle Jayne heads out and ends up at the Burkholder farm in Amish country and is invited to stay with their family while she does her research. Meeting Levi Burkholder, the eldest son of the Burkholder family turns out to be more than a chance meeting. Levi owns a woodworking shop where he and a couple of employees make Amish furniture to sell. The day Jayne lands in Amish Country she stops at Levi’s store and learns that he left his family a few years before to go out on his own and has now been shunned by his family. His Mother, Grandmother, brother and sisters miss Levi terribly but his father Gideon is very old school and is determined to never speak to Levi or have him enter his home again. Levi drives Jayne to his family’s farm and introduces her to his mother Martha who welcomes Jayne into their home for as long as she needs to stay.
Jayne is finding life in an Amish family a tad more complicated that she had first thought it would be. She wonders where God fits into all this, what does her growing friendship with Levi really mean and why is she herself beginning to change and what does that mean and what is she to do?
This novel had me pulled in right from the beginning. The writing is flawless and paced just right enabling you to feel as though you are there with Jayne. I can still almost smell those fresh baked pies that Martha makes! Big kudos goes out to Ms. Lodge on this one!!!
April 25, 2014
Plain Jayne took me on a journey to "Amishland" that I imagine most fans of Amish fiction wish they could take in real life. I know that I am most definitely one of those fans. I have always wondered what it would be like to actually spend some time living within the Amish community, and whether or not I could hack it with all the manual labor day after day. The cooking and sewing I know I would love...milking the cows and scrubbing the kitchen floor is another thing altogether.
I loved that this novel showed things from an Englisher's point of view. I had no trouble at all relating to Jayne because we both have very similar, somewhat frazzled, personalities. She got the opportunity to see things from the outside looking in, and got to learn a lot about herself in the process.
The supporting characters in the book were great, too. Each one had their own unique qualities that made for such a great story. I loved how Martha opened her home after Jayne was practically dropped on her doorstep with little to no warning. I loved how Sara had such talent with a needle and thread that she willingly wanted to make a dress for Jayne so she would not feel out of place in an Amish household. I also loved Miss Lynnie and her directness even at 90-something years old (I'm also hoping she'll pop up somewhere in the author's next book).
Even with all the good stuff, there was one small thing that kept annoying me throughout the book. Some portions of conversation were just too clipped, for lack of a better word. I felt like I was reading an interview transcript--just lines on the page with no clue as to what the character is experiencing emotionally, what the look on their face means, if they're speaking sarcastically, etc. Some portions were so long that I had to go back to the beginning of the conversation to figure out who was talking when. This occurred maybe a handful of times throughout the whole story, but it bothered me nonetheless.
Ms. Lodge has definitely tapped into a new area in Amish fiction that younger fans are sure to enjoy. Not only has she created a new twist on an Amish tale, she's also set her stories in a different area of the country--the Pacific Northwest--instead of the traditional settings of Pennsylvania and Ohio. I have no idea what she's got planned for future novels, but I would love to read more about Gemma, for sure. I am certainly looking forward to reading more about Sara in Ms. Lodge's next book, Simply Sara, that's due to release in 2011.
I loved that this novel showed things from an Englisher's point of view. I had no trouble at all relating to Jayne because we both have very similar, somewhat frazzled, personalities. She got the opportunity to see things from the outside looking in, and got to learn a lot about herself in the process.
The supporting characters in the book were great, too. Each one had their own unique qualities that made for such a great story. I loved how Martha opened her home after Jayne was practically dropped on her doorstep with little to no warning. I loved how Sara had such talent with a needle and thread that she willingly wanted to make a dress for Jayne so she would not feel out of place in an Amish household. I also loved Miss Lynnie and her directness even at 90-something years old (I'm also hoping she'll pop up somewhere in the author's next book).
Even with all the good stuff, there was one small thing that kept annoying me throughout the book. Some portions of conversation were just too clipped, for lack of a better word. I felt like I was reading an interview transcript--just lines on the page with no clue as to what the character is experiencing emotionally, what the look on their face means, if they're speaking sarcastically, etc. Some portions were so long that I had to go back to the beginning of the conversation to figure out who was talking when. This occurred maybe a handful of times throughout the whole story, but it bothered me nonetheless.
Ms. Lodge has definitely tapped into a new area in Amish fiction that younger fans are sure to enjoy. Not only has she created a new twist on an Amish tale, she's also set her stories in a different area of the country--the Pacific Northwest--instead of the traditional settings of Pennsylvania and Ohio. I have no idea what she's got planned for future novels, but I would love to read more about Gemma, for sure. I am certainly looking forward to reading more about Sara in Ms. Lodge's next book, Simply Sara, that's due to release in 2011.
February 26, 2010
Plain Jayne by Hilary Manton Lodge is the first book in the Plain and Simple series. There are lots of titles to choose from in the growing genre of bonnet fiction, or as I like to call it Amish lit, but Lodge takes an unusual approach in introducing an Englischer who becomes fascinated with the Amish lifestyle. Jayne Tate's writing at the newspaper has lost its edge since the death of her father, so her boss puts her on sabbatical to regain her balance. Instead of taking a vacation, Jayne gives herself a new writing assignment of discovering the truths about the Amish community just outside of town. Her contact to the Amish is Levi Burkholder, a cabinet maker who she quickly discovers has left the Plain life that she finds herself so drawn to. Jayne falls in love with the handiwork and quiet life of the Amish but must examine whether the attraction is in part to avoid troubles in her own life. Lodge's representation of the Amish is spot-on with the merits and flaws of the community. Jayne is thoroughly likable and readers will find it easy to relate to her self-discovery and her love for the Burkholder family. I don't want to give away the ending by giving the protagonist of the next book, but I really can't wait to read it!
March 18, 2011
I didn't love this book. It was a bit cheesy and predictable for me.
April 21, 2014
I remember this book being advertised when it was first released, with a slogan along the lines of "Not your grandmother's Amish fiction". Now that I've read this book, I can concur that this isn't your typical Amish novel. In fact, it felt more like a chick-lit novel about a woman who happened to visit an Amish community as part of her work as a reporter. If this were your typical Amish romance, she'd probably fall in love with some handsome farmer--who has a handful of children that he's raising alone after his wife died--and she'd quickly shake off the trappings of her English life, don a bonnet and convert to the Amish faith.
It's clear relatively early on that Jayne is not the kind of woman who will give up her modern comforts--her motorbike, her take-out menus and her laptop--or her reporting job at the drop of a hat. But her stay with an Amish family does raise some interesting questions that perhaps aren't always addressed in traditional Amish fiction. Which parts of the plain lifestyle are helpful in cultivating a closer relationship with God, and which are merely trimmings? Jayne might never be a confident cook and she might want her kids to have more than eight years of schooling, but she learns a lot of patience through attending some quiltings, and in turn this helps her to bond with her mother as they discover they both enjoy the hobby.
I appreciated that this book showed some of the flaws in the Amish lifestyle that we "Englishers" may like to ignore. For example, Gideon easily forgives the English teenagers who steal his horse and buggy, but he refuses to acknowledge his adult son, who left the church long before he got baptised. Jayne quickly learns how hard it is for Gideon's wife and children to stay in contact with Levi, without upsetting Gideon. It's even mentioned that one of the sisters might be willing to talk to Levi, but her husband forbids it. A lot of books brush over this aspect of the patriarchal family structure the Amish have, and it was nice to see Hillary Manton Lodge acknowledging this.
Jayne's story is told in first-person, and Jayne has a fantastic voice and personality that come across throughout the book. If you like chick-lit/contemporary romance authors like Camy Tang, Jenny B. Jones, Rene Gutteridge or Cheryl McKay, you'll probably enjoy this style of storytelling. I really enjoyed Jayne's sarcasm and dry sense of humour, particularly in her conversations with Levi and her girlfriends back home. My only complaint about the storytelling would be the way in which some of the dialogue was written. Conversations between two characters were often shown as a long list of dialogue, with no descriptions of who was saying what, or what they were doing while they spoke. I'm pretty sure this used to be quite common in chick-lit novels, and I remember writing my own dialogue like this when I first started writing. Unfortunately, some of the conversations went on for so long that I got confused and had to go back a page or so to figure out who was saying what. The snappy, witty dialogue is fantastic, and gave the characters a lot of spark that you wouldn't normally find in an Amish book, but it was occasionally confusing to read.
I wasn't initially sure about the spiritual portion of this book. It isn't in your face, but it is continually present since Jayne spends a fair bit of time in an Amish community, and her father was an elder in a church when she was growing up. Thinking back on this book, I think Jayne's struggle is actually pretty common. Her faith has been soured by the pressures her religious father put on her when she was growing up, and she struggles to see God as a Father figure because she never felt any love from her own father--just crippling expectations, and a feeling of never living up to them. Coming into her own faith and understanding of God--rather than the one presented to her as a child--is tough, but a struggle that I'm sure a lot of people have to battle with. This is probably one of the most ordinary yet realistic faith storylines I've come across.
One of the biggest conflicts in this novel is Jayne reconciling with her mother and sister after the death of her father. She's hidden away in Portland, barely visiting her family since she left home, because she never felt like she fitted in or measured up. She has a lot of issues to address, and she slowly comes to realise that the image of her mother that she'd built up in her head is entirely different from the reality. It was sweet to see them bonding again. Her relationship with her sister takes longer to rebuild, and I don't think they'll ever be close, but that's okay.
There's also an additional conflict between Jayne and Levi, the ex-Amish man she meets when working on her article, who arranges for her to stay with his family in order to conduct research. There's a slow-burning romance between them (slow mainly because Jayne is technically dating someone when she first meets Levi) and while I think they both brought some interesting issues to the table and had some great, witty conversations together, their conflict felt a little bit drawn out. I know that they needed more time to deal with their separate issues (Levi needed to figure out how to deal with his family and decide if he wanted to keep living close to them; Jayne needed to decide if she was ready to commit and if she just liked Levi because of what he represented) the conflict kind of felt like it came out of nowhere, and I felt like they were a little quick to say the L-word, or at less contemplate saying it. I'm not sure what didn't work about the conflict, but something just didn't sit right.
Ultimately, this is Jayne's story of self-discovery. She spends time with an Amish family, under the premise of writing an article, and ends up learning a lot of about herself, her faith, and her family--and also that she doesn't need to become Plain in order to fix the problems in her life. The romance is definitely present, but I'd say that it's secondary to Jayne's personal growth. This was a refreshing change from a lot of the Amish novels I've read. Don't get me wrong--I love Amish romances! But this book was so different. It was fun to see an author with such a distinctly different voice and writing style fitting Amish elements into their novel. I wonder if the typically Amish cover is actually putting off the kind of readers who would better appreciate this book. I definitely think it would appeal to chick-lit readers, or fans of contemporary romance. If you like Amish fiction, but don't love it, this would suit you. Traditional Amish fans (as in, those who only read Amish fiction), might be disappointed.
I'm going to have to track down the sequel, which is about Levi's younger sister Sara. Sara could be the perfect Amish woman, but she secretly has a passion for dress-making that goes far beyond the possibilities available to her on an Amish farm. Sara was a fun addition to Jayne's story and I look forward to finding out what happens to her next.
It's clear relatively early on that Jayne is not the kind of woman who will give up her modern comforts--her motorbike, her take-out menus and her laptop--or her reporting job at the drop of a hat. But her stay with an Amish family does raise some interesting questions that perhaps aren't always addressed in traditional Amish fiction. Which parts of the plain lifestyle are helpful in cultivating a closer relationship with God, and which are merely trimmings? Jayne might never be a confident cook and she might want her kids to have more than eight years of schooling, but she learns a lot of patience through attending some quiltings, and in turn this helps her to bond with her mother as they discover they both enjoy the hobby.
I appreciated that this book showed some of the flaws in the Amish lifestyle that we "Englishers" may like to ignore. For example, Gideon easily forgives the English teenagers who steal his horse and buggy, but he refuses to acknowledge his adult son, who left the church long before he got baptised. Jayne quickly learns how hard it is for Gideon's wife and children to stay in contact with Levi, without upsetting Gideon. It's even mentioned that one of the sisters might be willing to talk to Levi, but her husband forbids it. A lot of books brush over this aspect of the patriarchal family structure the Amish have, and it was nice to see Hillary Manton Lodge acknowledging this.
Jayne's story is told in first-person, and Jayne has a fantastic voice and personality that come across throughout the book. If you like chick-lit/contemporary romance authors like Camy Tang, Jenny B. Jones, Rene Gutteridge or Cheryl McKay, you'll probably enjoy this style of storytelling. I really enjoyed Jayne's sarcasm and dry sense of humour, particularly in her conversations with Levi and her girlfriends back home. My only complaint about the storytelling would be the way in which some of the dialogue was written. Conversations between two characters were often shown as a long list of dialogue, with no descriptions of who was saying what, or what they were doing while they spoke. I'm pretty sure this used to be quite common in chick-lit novels, and I remember writing my own dialogue like this when I first started writing. Unfortunately, some of the conversations went on for so long that I got confused and had to go back a page or so to figure out who was saying what. The snappy, witty dialogue is fantastic, and gave the characters a lot of spark that you wouldn't normally find in an Amish book, but it was occasionally confusing to read.
I wasn't initially sure about the spiritual portion of this book. It isn't in your face, but it is continually present since Jayne spends a fair bit of time in an Amish community, and her father was an elder in a church when she was growing up. Thinking back on this book, I think Jayne's struggle is actually pretty common. Her faith has been soured by the pressures her religious father put on her when she was growing up, and she struggles to see God as a Father figure because she never felt any love from her own father--just crippling expectations, and a feeling of never living up to them. Coming into her own faith and understanding of God--rather than the one presented to her as a child--is tough, but a struggle that I'm sure a lot of people have to battle with. This is probably one of the most ordinary yet realistic faith storylines I've come across.
One of the biggest conflicts in this novel is Jayne reconciling with her mother and sister after the death of her father. She's hidden away in Portland, barely visiting her family since she left home, because she never felt like she fitted in or measured up. She has a lot of issues to address, and she slowly comes to realise that the image of her mother that she'd built up in her head is entirely different from the reality. It was sweet to see them bonding again. Her relationship with her sister takes longer to rebuild, and I don't think they'll ever be close, but that's okay.
There's also an additional conflict between Jayne and Levi, the ex-Amish man she meets when working on her article, who arranges for her to stay with his family in order to conduct research. There's a slow-burning romance between them (slow mainly because Jayne is technically dating someone when she first meets Levi) and while I think they both brought some interesting issues to the table and had some great, witty conversations together, their conflict felt a little bit drawn out. I know that they needed more time to deal with their separate issues (Levi needed to figure out how to deal with his family and decide if he wanted to keep living close to them; Jayne needed to decide if she was ready to commit and if she just liked Levi because of what he represented) the conflict kind of felt like it came out of nowhere, and I felt like they were a little quick to say the L-word, or at less contemplate saying it. I'm not sure what didn't work about the conflict, but something just didn't sit right.
Ultimately, this is Jayne's story of self-discovery. She spends time with an Amish family, under the premise of writing an article, and ends up learning a lot of about herself, her faith, and her family--and also that she doesn't need to become Plain in order to fix the problems in her life. The romance is definitely present, but I'd say that it's secondary to Jayne's personal growth. This was a refreshing change from a lot of the Amish novels I've read. Don't get me wrong--I love Amish romances! But this book was so different. It was fun to see an author with such a distinctly different voice and writing style fitting Amish elements into their novel. I wonder if the typically Amish cover is actually putting off the kind of readers who would better appreciate this book. I definitely think it would appeal to chick-lit readers, or fans of contemporary romance. If you like Amish fiction, but don't love it, this would suit you. Traditional Amish fans (as in, those who only read Amish fiction), might be disappointed.
I'm going to have to track down the sequel, which is about Levi's younger sister Sara. Sara could be the perfect Amish woman, but she secretly has a passion for dress-making that goes far beyond the possibilities available to her on an Amish farm. Sara was a fun addition to Jayne's story and I look forward to finding out what happens to her next.
May 12, 2021
The story was okay, but it was poorly written. Several instances seemed to have been changed in an edit, but didn't match up with the rest of it. For instance, Jayne and her boyfriend Shane talked about flying to the coast and had an argument about her suitcase possibly being over the 50lb. carry-on limit. Then they proceeded to drive to the coast in Shane's car. They had an argument and she said Shane could leave and she could rent a car. Then later it mentioned they rode to church in Jayne's mom's car instead of Jayne's car. So many inconsistencies and very juvenile narration and problems.
Honestly, Jayne's first boyfriend didn't act all that different from Jayne's Amish boyfriend when he threw his hissy fit. I know they needed to have conflict in the 11th hour, but it was not the fight they should have had. Rather than whine about him saying "I love you," and her possibly not being ready to, they should have made the argument more about him wanting to move back to the fast-pace corporate lifestyle away from his family while she was finding that she might want to break away from that for the simple lifestyle. Would she care for him if he were not the "Amish boy" is the bigger question. They never really resolved that issue. They just magically got back together because they ran out of pages.
Honestly, Jayne's first boyfriend didn't act all that different from Jayne's Amish boyfriend when he threw his hissy fit. I know they needed to have conflict in the 11th hour, but it was not the fight they should have had. Rather than whine about him saying "I love you," and her possibly not being ready to, they should have made the argument more about him wanting to move back to the fast-pace corporate lifestyle away from his family while she was finding that she might want to break away from that for the simple lifestyle. Would she care for him if he were not the "Amish boy" is the bigger question. They never really resolved that issue. They just magically got back together because they ran out of pages.
January 25, 2018
This isn't what I would term an Amish fiction book if that is what you are expecting.
This is a story about Jayne Tate. She is 26 years old, single, a journalist, rides a motorcycle, and enjoys her life. She needed some relaxation after losing a big job assignment and decided Albany, Oregon would be a good place to relax and focus on where to go next. She also hopes she may be able to find a story about the Amish in Albany, Oregon. She arranges an interview with Levi Burkholder, a furniture maker in Albany. Little did she know how her life would change from that one decision. This story is about family, faith and forgiveness.
Overall, I really liked this story. It was not as I expected it to be. I found all the characters well developed, the story line interesting and I couldn't put it down. Simply Sara is next in the series.
This is a story about Jayne Tate. She is 26 years old, single, a journalist, rides a motorcycle, and enjoys her life. She needed some relaxation after losing a big job assignment and decided Albany, Oregon would be a good place to relax and focus on where to go next. She also hopes she may be able to find a story about the Amish in Albany, Oregon. She arranges an interview with Levi Burkholder, a furniture maker in Albany. Little did she know how her life would change from that one decision. This story is about family, faith and forgiveness.
Overall, I really liked this story. It was not as I expected it to be. I found all the characters well developed, the story line interesting and I couldn't put it down. Simply Sara is next in the series.
July 17, 2017
I have fallen in love with Hillary Manton Lodges work since reading Jane of Austin, Playne Jayne is like my 4th one by her in the last month. And lets just say I am reading it again before turning it back into the library. I love how quick and witty her characters are. It makes me wonder how much of the christian books I read make me laugh? Not many but she does! Joy is from the Lord and this one has that and the usual struggles that the characters go through in these books! So good!
November 25, 2019
3.5 stars.
A squeaky clean, uplifting little book. I needed something slightly saccharine and inoffensive and this was perfect. There were some weirdnesses - especially how Levi reacted to Jayne when she didn’t return his “I love you” after only being “together” for a week.
This is Christian fiction, but it doesn’t quote scripture every other page, which was nice. It does emphasize God and our relationship with Him, but is not too preachy. I may pick up another book by this author.
A squeaky clean, uplifting little book. I needed something slightly saccharine and inoffensive and this was perfect. There were some weirdnesses - especially how Levi reacted to Jayne when she didn’t return his “I love you” after only being “together” for a week.
This is Christian fiction, but it doesn’t quote scripture every other page, which was nice. It does emphasize God and our relationship with Him, but is not too preachy. I may pick up another book by this author.
August 11, 2023
Funny heroine & snappy dialog made me LOL more than once. Loved when Jayne stood up to her sister (“put that away!” she said to her sister’s pointing finger) but did not like the way she treated the man she loved like an adversary (“Hammer! Hammer!”). No wonder he walked away.
I was disappointed at the lack of references to Portland’s beautiful setting. It’s a gorgeous city and as a reader, I would’ve loved to “see” it.
I was disappointed at the lack of references to Portland’s beautiful setting. It’s a gorgeous city and as a reader, I would’ve loved to “see” it.
April 11, 2020
Super cheesy and old but I still love it. 😄
March 16, 2021
Another great book.
April 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! Jayne was a pretty awesome character! I like how she is independent but has a sensitive heart! Levi was a pretty cool character too. I liked Levi's and Sara's brother-sister relationship.
The only reason I took off a star was because Jayne's and Levi's relationship seemed to happen way too fast. Plus, with him wanting Jayne to tell him he loved him after like a few days of dating didn't seem realistic.
Overall, great story! I really enjoyed it! I plan to read the next in the series!
The only reason I took off a star was because Jayne's and Levi's relationship seemed to happen way too fast. Plus, with him wanting Jayne to tell him he loved him after like a few days of dating didn't seem realistic.
Overall, great story! I really enjoyed it! I plan to read the next in the series!
December 8, 2010
Jayne is your average city dweller, living in Portland, Oregon and trying to make a name for herself as an investigative reporter. She works hard at what she does, and maybe too much—when her boss asks her to take a vacation instead of covering a coveted story in Cuba, she decides she's going to use the time to chase her own story. She is going to find an Amish family to live with and profile for the paper. But living with an Amish family is not as simple as she expected, and it makes her reexamine the way she is living her own life. Especially when she thinks about her growing friendship with carpenter Levi Burkholder, and she sees the way he interacts with his own family. Will experiencing Plain life change the way Jayne lives hers?
What I loved most about this book is the writing style. Lodge is great with dialogue and internal monologue—Jayne narrates, and she has a crisp wit with just enough sarcasm. I laughed out loud a few times, which always wins points for me. I often found myself thinking that she kind of talks like I do and she is incredibly relatable, for the most part.
I also loved watching Jayne go through her life and sort everything out in her head. She really struggled with repairing relationships within her family, and knowing she could never make things completely right with her recently deceased father. Though this didn't really tear at my heart the way other books that deal with dead loved ones did, Lodge still managed to make me understand where Jayne was coming from and root for her to fix things as best she could.
Jayne isn't the only one dealing with family dynamics. The Amish family she stays with isn't perfect either, even if they appear to be at first glance. With one son all but shunned and a daughter contemplating leaving, they have a lot to deal with and think about. Ultimately, this book is about family, loyalty and discovering yourself and your beliefs. (This is what I could call a Christian fiction book, by the way.)
**Mild spoilers ahead!**
My problems with the book started toward the last quarter of the book. Things seemed to be resolved, and then Levi and Jayne ran into an issue. This happens in life, yes, but the way it was handled kind of made me a little angry. It's clear Levi and Jayne both made mistakes, but they were the result of the way they were treated by their own families. Levi is sensitive to loved ones whose feelings change about him when he changes his life course, and Jayne is very guarded. Yet it looked to me like Levi felt he was completely in the right, and Jayne was forced to admit she was wrong. It didn't seem fair or okay to me.
**Spoilers done!**
Plain Jayne is a light, wholesome romance that was just what I needed. It was a little fluffy, with some more serious themes like faith, family and unconditional love. It tended to drag toward the middle—I felt like it could have probably ended sooner than it did—and I didn't like the story quite so much once she left the Amish community, but despite this I enjoyed it enough to want to read its sequel, Simply Sara.
What I loved most about this book is the writing style. Lodge is great with dialogue and internal monologue—Jayne narrates, and she has a crisp wit with just enough sarcasm. I laughed out loud a few times, which always wins points for me. I often found myself thinking that she kind of talks like I do and she is incredibly relatable, for the most part.
I also loved watching Jayne go through her life and sort everything out in her head. She really struggled with repairing relationships within her family, and knowing she could never make things completely right with her recently deceased father. Though this didn't really tear at my heart the way other books that deal with dead loved ones did, Lodge still managed to make me understand where Jayne was coming from and root for her to fix things as best she could.
Jayne isn't the only one dealing with family dynamics. The Amish family she stays with isn't perfect either, even if they appear to be at first glance. With one son all but shunned and a daughter contemplating leaving, they have a lot to deal with and think about. Ultimately, this book is about family, loyalty and discovering yourself and your beliefs. (This is what I could call a Christian fiction book, by the way.)
**Mild spoilers ahead!**
My problems with the book started toward the last quarter of the book. Things seemed to be resolved, and then Levi and Jayne ran into an issue. This happens in life, yes, but the way it was handled kind of made me a little angry. It's clear Levi and Jayne both made mistakes, but they were the result of the way they were treated by their own families. Levi is sensitive to loved ones whose feelings change about him when he changes his life course, and Jayne is very guarded. Yet it looked to me like Levi felt he was completely in the right, and Jayne was forced to admit she was wrong. It didn't seem fair or okay to me.
**Spoilers done!**
Plain Jayne is a light, wholesome romance that was just what I needed. It was a little fluffy, with some more serious themes like faith, family and unconditional love. It tended to drag toward the middle—I felt like it could have probably ended sooner than it did—and I didn't like the story quite so much once she left the Amish community, but despite this I enjoyed it enough to want to read its sequel, Simply Sara.
August 18, 2013
I found this book in the new reads section at my local library last weekend. I was instantly intrigued by the summary on the back cover, as it is not the normal type of Amish fiction that I am used to reading. In most Amish fiction, the books revolve around the Amish characters, and do not include much interaction from the outside. But this one is pretty much the opposite.
Jayne is a motorcycle-riding reporter from Portland Oregon. Her boss calls her into his office one day with the news that he feels that her work is not up to par lately, which he feels is due to the recent death of her father. Jayne tries to explain to him that she has been estranged from her family for years and was not that close to her father, but he insists that she take some time off anyway. Jayne, who is also an avid reader, goes into a bookstore and is browsing through some magazines when she finds an article about the Amish. She is immediately intrigued. After learning of an Amish community not far from her, she decides that this would be a perfect opportunity to prove her worth as a reporter to her boss.
Jayne heads out to Albany, where she comes upon Levi Burkholder, who owns an Amish carpentry shop. When she explains that she is a reporter trying to learn about the Amish, he tells her that he might be able to help her by finding an Amish family that she could stay with.
Jayne is thrilled with the idea and finds herself falling in love with the Burkholder family. (Yes...it is actually Levi's family - which he does not tell her at first). Levi never got baptized into the Amish church, instead choosing to get an education and live outside the Amish community. Because of this, his father doesn't speak to him, and the rest of his family has to see him in secret. And although Jayne is in a relationship at this time, she finds herself becoming attracted to Levi.
The rest you will have to read for yourself. This should give you enough background to want to find out the rest for yourself. You will not regret it - I found myself smiling while I was reading. I enjoyed this book so much that I got the second book , Simply Sara, which is the second book in the Plain and Simple series. I truly enjoyed all the characters, and of course reading about the Amish way of life. If you are a fan of Amish fiction as well, I think you will enjoy this one as much I have.
Jayne is a motorcycle-riding reporter from Portland Oregon. Her boss calls her into his office one day with the news that he feels that her work is not up to par lately, which he feels is due to the recent death of her father. Jayne tries to explain to him that she has been estranged from her family for years and was not that close to her father, but he insists that she take some time off anyway. Jayne, who is also an avid reader, goes into a bookstore and is browsing through some magazines when she finds an article about the Amish. She is immediately intrigued. After learning of an Amish community not far from her, she decides that this would be a perfect opportunity to prove her worth as a reporter to her boss.
Jayne heads out to Albany, where she comes upon Levi Burkholder, who owns an Amish carpentry shop. When she explains that she is a reporter trying to learn about the Amish, he tells her that he might be able to help her by finding an Amish family that she could stay with.
Jayne is thrilled with the idea and finds herself falling in love with the Burkholder family. (Yes...it is actually Levi's family - which he does not tell her at first). Levi never got baptized into the Amish church, instead choosing to get an education and live outside the Amish community. Because of this, his father doesn't speak to him, and the rest of his family has to see him in secret. And although Jayne is in a relationship at this time, she finds herself becoming attracted to Levi.
The rest you will have to read for yourself. This should give you enough background to want to find out the rest for yourself. You will not regret it - I found myself smiling while I was reading. I enjoyed this book so much that I got the second book , Simply Sara, which is the second book in the Plain and Simple series. I truly enjoyed all the characters, and of course reading about the Amish way of life. If you are a fan of Amish fiction as well, I think you will enjoy this one as much I have.
April 10, 2010
Jayne Tate lives in the big city of Portland, Oregon. She loves her job as a reporter for a busy newspaper, and enjoys an undemanding relationship with her boyfriend. Shane knows her only as the motorcycle-riding, modern news gal from Portland. Her childhood hasn’t been discussed, he hasn’t met her family, and Jayne’s perfectly fine with that.
Then her father dies, and her boss insists she take a three-week break from her job, based on a pronounced downswing in writing quality. This forced hiatus effectively cuts Jayne out of a prime career opportunity. She responds by heading off to a nearby Amish community, seeking a story that will put her back in her boss’s good graces. Being forced away from her desk for three weeks doesn’t mean she can’t work on her own.
Her first contact in Albany is Levi Burkholder, who arranges for Jayne to stay with his Amish family—a family and a way of life he is no longer a part of. While wrestling with an undeniable attraction to the kind, handsome carpenter who is shunned by his Amish father, Jayne finds herself drawn to the Burkholder family and their simple way of life. Three weeks under their roof changes her, and when she returns to Portland—her job, her lonely apartment, and the handsome suitor who really doesn’t know her—they no longer satisfy.
To say nothing of the fact that her mind refuses to let go of one unforgettable kiss she shared with a not-quite-Plain man.
Plain Jayne is not your everyday Amish love story, and Jayne Tate is not your everyday heroine. Hillary Manton Lodge brings a different kind of romance. Dropping a very modern woman into a devoutly Plain community has all the makings of disaster, but the author makes it work, believably and without obvious contrivance. She throws in a dash of humor, a whole lot of heart, and an Amish kitchen full of home cooking to come up with the perfect recipe for a romance to remember.
I look forward to the next stories in the Plain and Simple series.
Then her father dies, and her boss insists she take a three-week break from her job, based on a pronounced downswing in writing quality. This forced hiatus effectively cuts Jayne out of a prime career opportunity. She responds by heading off to a nearby Amish community, seeking a story that will put her back in her boss’s good graces. Being forced away from her desk for three weeks doesn’t mean she can’t work on her own.
Her first contact in Albany is Levi Burkholder, who arranges for Jayne to stay with his Amish family—a family and a way of life he is no longer a part of. While wrestling with an undeniable attraction to the kind, handsome carpenter who is shunned by his Amish father, Jayne finds herself drawn to the Burkholder family and their simple way of life. Three weeks under their roof changes her, and when she returns to Portland—her job, her lonely apartment, and the handsome suitor who really doesn’t know her—they no longer satisfy.
To say nothing of the fact that her mind refuses to let go of one unforgettable kiss she shared with a not-quite-Plain man.
Plain Jayne is not your everyday Amish love story, and Jayne Tate is not your everyday heroine. Hillary Manton Lodge brings a different kind of romance. Dropping a very modern woman into a devoutly Plain community has all the makings of disaster, but the author makes it work, believably and without obvious contrivance. She throws in a dash of humor, a whole lot of heart, and an Amish kitchen full of home cooking to come up with the perfect recipe for a romance to remember.
I look forward to the next stories in the Plain and Simple series.
May 23, 2012
Yes this is a book that takes place in an Amish community but it is not the typical Amish book. It was refreshing and different and I definitely would read more in this series and by this author.
Jayne Tate is a reporter - she is forced to take a three week sabbatical when her editor feels her work is suffering since her father's death. Jayne and her father were not close and she rarely talks to her mother or sister.
Irked that she must take this time off - she is inspired by a article she sees about the Amish. She packs and head to the Amish community outside Portland. She plans on writing a freelance article in her forced time off.
She finds Levi, someone she picked out of the business listings because she liked the sound of his name. His business makes Amish furniture. Soon Jayne realizes he himself has left the Amish faith, but lives near his family to be available if necessary.
Jayne rediscovers herself while in Amish country and decides to try to fix the relationship with her family. She is moving toward simplifying her life - becoming more plain - at the same time Levi is deciding to sell his business and return to the corporate world. It seems they are destined to lives apart. Then something in Jayne's trunk causes them to work together.
Well written - I borrowed this book from the library but I am considering purchasing it for my own bookshelf!
Jayne Tate is a reporter - she is forced to take a three week sabbatical when her editor feels her work is suffering since her father's death. Jayne and her father were not close and she rarely talks to her mother or sister.
Irked that she must take this time off - she is inspired by a article she sees about the Amish. She packs and head to the Amish community outside Portland. She plans on writing a freelance article in her forced time off.
She finds Levi, someone she picked out of the business listings because she liked the sound of his name. His business makes Amish furniture. Soon Jayne realizes he himself has left the Amish faith, but lives near his family to be available if necessary.
Jayne rediscovers herself while in Amish country and decides to try to fix the relationship with her family. She is moving toward simplifying her life - becoming more plain - at the same time Levi is deciding to sell his business and return to the corporate world. It seems they are destined to lives apart. Then something in Jayne's trunk causes them to work together.
Well written - I borrowed this book from the library but I am considering purchasing it for my own bookshelf!
February 12, 2010
Excerpt from my full review to be published in the April 2010 issue of Exemplify On-line Magazine (http://exemplifyonline.com/magazine/)
Plain Jayne is a sweet tale of a modern girl mixed into the plain life of the Amish. It’s sometimes a humorous look at the dependencies modern technology has caused us to have….like – where to recharge your cell phone or laptop…what to do when someone steals the family buggy? But it goes deeper when it delves into the relationship between father and son, mother and daughter, man and woman, God and His children. Jayne’s attempt to uncover this mysterious lifestyle leads her to uncover some truths about herself. She likes to bake pies. She likes children. She likes to cut quilt squares and would love to figure out what to do with them next. She wants to know her family better.
Jayne finds that slipping on an apron and holding pieces of cut squares of material have a way of putting everything in “a state of rightness”.
Hillary Manton Lodge has done a wonderful job with her debut novel. I look forward to many more of her stories and the development of some of her characters from this novel into stories of their own. It’s a great ride…whether on motorized or horse-powered two wheels!
Plain Jayne is a sweet tale of a modern girl mixed into the plain life of the Amish. It’s sometimes a humorous look at the dependencies modern technology has caused us to have….like – where to recharge your cell phone or laptop…what to do when someone steals the family buggy? But it goes deeper when it delves into the relationship between father and son, mother and daughter, man and woman, God and His children. Jayne’s attempt to uncover this mysterious lifestyle leads her to uncover some truths about herself. She likes to bake pies. She likes children. She likes to cut quilt squares and would love to figure out what to do with them next. She wants to know her family better.
Jayne finds that slipping on an apron and holding pieces of cut squares of material have a way of putting everything in “a state of rightness”.
Hillary Manton Lodge has done a wonderful job with her debut novel. I look forward to many more of her stories and the development of some of her characters from this novel into stories of their own. It’s a great ride…whether on motorized or horse-powered two wheels!
November 21, 2010
Review by Jill Williamson
Jayne Tate’s father just passed away. But she’s fine. They weren’t all that close. Her boss disagrees and forces her to take a leave of absence from the newspaper. Jayne decides to make good use of her leave and come up with a brilliant article. She rides her motorcycle down to Amish country, hoping to get an inside look on how the Amish live.
Jayne meets carpenter Levi Burkholder, who helps her find an Amish family to board with. Sure, Levi is cute, but Jayne has a boyfriend back in Portland. But the more Jayne gets to know her new Amish friends, the more she longs to simplify her own life. But how? Making peace with her mother and sister is one thing. But what should she do about her boyfriend and Levi. Something has got to give. But what?
I had the privilege of hearing Hillary Manton Lodge read an excerpt of this at the Oregon Christian Writer’s conference. It was a scene in which Jayne attempts to remove a pie from an over. What’s the big deal about that, you might ask? Jayne is petrified of ovens. It’s that kind of humor that adds a wonderful quirk to a charming story. I loved this book. Read it in two days. If you like romance and humor and the Amish, pick up a copy of Plain Jayne. You won’t regret it.
Jayne Tate’s father just passed away. But she’s fine. They weren’t all that close. Her boss disagrees and forces her to take a leave of absence from the newspaper. Jayne decides to make good use of her leave and come up with a brilliant article. She rides her motorcycle down to Amish country, hoping to get an inside look on how the Amish live.
Jayne meets carpenter Levi Burkholder, who helps her find an Amish family to board with. Sure, Levi is cute, but Jayne has a boyfriend back in Portland. But the more Jayne gets to know her new Amish friends, the more she longs to simplify her own life. But how? Making peace with her mother and sister is one thing. But what should she do about her boyfriend and Levi. Something has got to give. But what?
I had the privilege of hearing Hillary Manton Lodge read an excerpt of this at the Oregon Christian Writer’s conference. It was a scene in which Jayne attempts to remove a pie from an over. What’s the big deal about that, you might ask? Jayne is petrified of ovens. It’s that kind of humor that adds a wonderful quirk to a charming story. I loved this book. Read it in two days. If you like romance and humor and the Amish, pick up a copy of Plain Jayne. You won’t regret it.
June 7, 2012
I absolutely LOVED this book! A reviewer on B&N said it was Amish fiction with a chick-lit twist, and they were right. It made a great combination, especially for someone like me who loves both Amish fiction and Christian chick-lit. One of these days I'll learn to stop reading novels at bedtime ... books like this make me end up staying awake far later than I mean to because I can't stop reading! I adored Jayne. She had that somewhat droll modern-girl personality that I love in chick-lit heroines, but she wasn't over-the-top snarky. Levi was a great romance-interest. He wasn't superhuman amazing like in so many romance novels (which is why I can't stand the romance genre). Just a nice, ex-Amish guy with a sweet personality, but not perfect, not "chiseled-jaw" gorgeous. He was believable, and I appreciated that. Anyway, this book goes on my "favorites" shelf, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Simply Sara.
April 26, 2014
This is actually my second time reading the book. Both times I've read it, I've found it to be a good, but not great read. It centers around Jayne, who is a reporter that has lost her edge and drifted away from both God and her family. While on a forced vacation from her job, she cooks up an idea to do a story on the Amish living in her area. While staying with an Amish family, she starts yearning for the simplicity that they have. I think what I hated the most was how much I disliked a lot of how Jayne acted. For someone that is 26 years old, she was very much mired in the past and acting like a teenager. The book ends slightly unresolved, in order to tease readers into buying the next book. While both books have been sitting on my Kindle for a couple of years now, I'm not sure I actually want to keep them, despite the fact that these are shorter reads that keep me moderately entertained.
August 24, 2014
My first foray into Amish lit, and a good place to start. What makes this book work so well is the main character, Jayne, who discovers the Amish lifestyle slowly along with the reader. The descriptions and details really bring the Amish Burkholder family and their farm alive in an accessible and respectful way, while Jayne voices common questions--and concerns--that arise naturally as an outsider. When is it appropriate to call in emergency responders, like police or an ambulance? What are some of the nuances between Amish communities, and their relationships with ex-Amish family members? How do they make such delicious pies? Can you live a Christian life after rejecting your family's approach? It was equally engaging to watch Jayne's integration of her important lessons back into her life in Portland and with her own estranged family. Some of the plot and dialogue seems contrived, but it's good light fiction and an enjoyable read.
September 29, 2011
I liked this book. The style of writing is one that I enjoy reading. This story brought up issues that I have struggled with about the Amish so I appreciated that. One big issue I have struggled with is their belief in forgiving the "English" freely, but shunning their own if they do not follow the same path as they do. There is a perfect example in this story of this and it very contradictory to the idea that the Amish are a forgiving people. I think it is easier to forgive people you don't know compared to people with whom you have known all your life, and forgiveness is always a challenge when someone you love hurts you. It would be easier for me to believe the Amish are truly a forgiving people if they were willing to not shun their own family members and to allow them their agency in deciding the life they want to live.
September 24, 2011
I loved this book. Plain Jayne by Hillary Manton Lodge is an absolutely delightful, light-hearted story that takes place in a fictional Amish community in Oregon. Yes, it has its ups and downs as do most Amish stories, but it also has a wonderful touch of humor that makes it a joy to read.
I am planning to read Simply Sara as soon as I can get a copy of this second book in the series. I hope we will be hearing more from this author--perhaps another book in this series.
I am planning to read Simply Sara as soon as I can get a copy of this second book in the series. I hope we will be hearing more from this author--perhaps another book in this series.
August 20, 2011
Hillary Manton Lodge is a new a relative newcomer in the ever-growing genre of Amish fiction. Plain Jayne is her debut novel, and it was an enjoyable read. The story centers around journalist Jayne Tate. After Jayne's father dies, her boss sends her on a mandatory vacation in which she pursues an idea for a story about the Amish community. Finding a Amish carpenter in the phone book, Jayne enlists the help of Levi Burkholder. She stays with his family and learns not only about the Amish, but also about herself. This is both a coming of age story and a sweet romance. It is a quick and fun read, with likable characters. I would recommend this to fans of light romances and Amish fiction.
May 26, 2012
Jayne Tate left home at 18 and rarely returned, putting herself through college then working as a successful reporter for the Portland Oregonian, rarely mentioning her small-town upbringing to anyone. But when her work begins to suffer after her father dies, her boss orders her to take vacation time. She turns that into a "working vacation", traveling to a nearby Amish community to do a free lance story on them.
As she spends time with Levi Burkholder and his family, she learns to slow down and appreciate a different way of life, and begins to think about reconnecting with her own family.
I enjoyed this story, it wasn't your typical "Amish romance" story, it was kind of mixture of Amish and "chick lit"; it was charming, and also had humor in it.
As she spends time with Levi Burkholder and his family, she learns to slow down and appreciate a different way of life, and begins to think about reconnecting with her own family.
I enjoyed this story, it wasn't your typical "Amish romance" story, it was kind of mixture of Amish and "chick lit"; it was charming, and also had humor in it.
June 10, 2010
The main reason why I picked it up was that it is by a local author. I liked that right at the beginning of the book she says that no, there isn't an Amish community in our valley (there is a Mennonite one though) so that people aren't confused. Besides that little bit of inaccuracy, I thought the book was wonderful. It is a clean, wholesome Christian book, but not one of those overly pushy ones that make you uncomfortable. There were plenty of parts that made me laugh out loud, which I really like in a book. It looks like it is going to be a series of books and I am looking forward to number two coming out.
March 23, 2010
Jayne is a motorcycle-riding investigative reporter from Portland, who is told to take some time off. So she decides to do a story on an Amish family. First though, she needs to find one who will let her stay with them and agree to be written about (all the names will be changed, of course.) She begins her search at the Amish Woodworking shop in Albany, and quite possibly begins something else as well. Levi, the owner of the shop, is friendly, helpful, and yes--she'll admit it--handsome. He also happens to have some connections in the Amish community, just as she was hoping.
No real surprises here, but a quick and fun read.
No real surprises here, but a quick and fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews