Widowed by war and left raising an infant son, Hannah
Conroy is in dire need of assistance. She embraces the
only offer given to her, a warm welcoming place in her
aunt's home and a job in her aunt's bakery. Hannah has not
been back to Pleasant Valley since her parents turned their
back on the Mennonite faith when she was a child. She
finds comfort in the simple ways, and marvels at the
interaction among the English, the Mennonite, and the
Amish. She meets William Brand, an Amish man, and finds
him to be a true friend. Unfortunately, others are
conspiring against her. Her father-in-law views her living
among the Mennonite as turning her back on everything that
his son and her husband stood for. He wants to take her
son away from her, and raise him to be proud of a father
who served his country. Can Hannah find the place where
she truly belongs? What is she willing to sacrifice to
keep her family together?
William Brand has always been overlooked. His older
brother treats him as a child, and will not give him the
chance to speak his mind. He has a talent for working with
wood, and is grateful for the chance to work in his
cousin's furniture store. His cousin is much more patient
with him, and listens to his ideas even though his stutter
makes it hard for him to form words. When Hannah and her
young son come to town, he finds an unlikely friend. He is
drawn to her as she patiently waits for him to say whatever
it is he has to say. She listens intently, and does not
dismiss him as most others do. She even offers to help him
with his speech as she was studying to be a speech
therapist. When trouble comes her way, William knows he is
willing to do anything to help her. Will she accept his
help? Or are their lives too different for them to remain
friends?
Marta Perry treats us to an emotionally powerful romance.
She brings us back once again to Pleasant Valley where
cultures collide and anything is possible. We are able to
visit with a few old friends to see how they are doing and
are introduced to some new ones with a few problems.
Whichever may be the case, her characters are well rounded
and easily to identify with. Hannah juggles her
relationships with her aunt, her father-in-law, and William
while trying to figure out what is best for her and her
son. William struggles to communicate his wants, his ideas,
and his dreams even though he is a fully grown man capable
of leading a family of his own. I was caught up in Hannah's
and William's lives as they agonized over their troubles,
determined whom to trust, and finally gained the strength
to conquer their personal demons. HANNAH'S JOY is a
heartwarming tale of two lonely people grappling with what
life throws at them, but never relenting to the pressures
around them. Ms. Perry writes uplifting romance, and it is
always a treasure to read her stories. I love visiting
Pleasant Valley and the interesting people who live there.
Returning to Pleasant Valley is giving Hannah Conroy a
much-needed chance at a new life. But now she must
discover her true place in the world …
Unexpected tragedy has left Hannah without her soldier
husband and a home for her baby son, Jamie. Seeking refuge,
she comes to live with her aunt in Pleasant Valley, a place
she hasn’t seen since childhood, when her parents left the
Mennonite faith. Working in her aunt’s bakery is a way for
Hannah to get back on her feet, but she isn’t sure if she
can live by tradition—or if she and Jamie should stay for
good. She finds an unexpected, sympathetic listener in
furniture maker William Brand. His stutter makes him feel
like a permanent outsider in his Amish community, and he
understands her loneliness.
Hannah is irresistibly drawn to the shy, caring William, and
her education in speech therapy makes it natural for her to
want to help him speak more easily. But how can she
encourage his attention when she might someday leave
Pleasant Valley, and when her father-in-law, a military
officer, is scheming to take Jamie away from her? As William
seeks the courage to stand up for the woman who believes in
him, Hannah must decide where her true home lies—in the
free, ever-changing world she knows, or in the simpler,
loving community she’s found…
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