Joann Yoder, with past bookstore experience, is being let
go from her job at an Amish publishing house because the
owner's nephew Roman has a paralysed arm and needs a job.
He's only worked in a sawmill, but a man gets work before a
woman. Joann is single at twenty-six, living with her
brothers' families in turn and wishing for a home of her
own. But if she can't earn a proper living how can she be
independent?
Roman, recovering from his accident, frets at not being
able to do a proper man's job and knows nothing about
publishing. His family asked for the job as a favour
without consulting him, and the firm, serving the old order
community, is a respectable employer. He recalls Joanna as
a plain, shy bookworm in school, and doesn't realise his
appointment is pushing her out the door... after she's
shown him how to do the job. He's been escorting a young
woman home from church, but her affections have moved on.
PLAIN ADMIRER shows some pitfalls of the old ways; Joann, a
keen fisher, buys a new rod and reel but her brother
resents that she has caught more fish than he and throws it
into the lake, saying that her pride is sinful. Unable to
stand up for herself or get a mortgage, Joann is being
pushed around by everyone and called an old maid. On the
other hand, she has women friends, is entitled to family
support and will be given back her bookstore clerk's job.
The magazine is printed old-style, with moveable type, and
we hear the explanation of the typesetter minding his p's
and q's. One staffer is an 'Englisch' man who left a press
when they installed computers. Englisch printing tasks are
accepted if the content is suitable, and Amish cookbooks
are very popular with tourists, while the community
collects money for state road upkeep. Amusingly Joann and
Roman begin a correspondence over fishing, without knowing
the other's identity, and we can see that they have more in
common than they realised.
There is a lot to like in Patricia Davids' book, from her
depiction of the Plain People to the fine details of
occupations, while tensions mount when the Englisch man who
caused Roman's accident is jailed and retaliation strikes
occur. PLAIN ADMIRER is a good involving read from start
to finish and a pleasing romance
o what if Joann Yoder's Amish community deems her a
spinster? She's content to stay single. In the meantime,
she's working hard to finally buy her dream house. So it's
problematic when she's fired from her job to make room for
the owner's nephew, Roman Weaver. His blue eyes aside, she
simply can't stand him! Good thing she has the secret
letters she's been exchanging with a mystery man to keep her
going. But who is writing her letters? And could she
possibly fall for him in real life, too?
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