This Amish tale reminded me of the sisters in 'Fiddler On The Roof' as four sisters on an Indiana farm worry over who they will marry. Respect for their elders means that they should obey the uncle who houses them in this Plain community. After all, maybe he is right and a stern widower thirty years older would make a good husband for the eldest, Clara Barkman.

THE SHEPHERD'S BRIDE moves swiftly as second sister Lizzie is determined to travel to Hope Springs and seek her grandfather. He may have fallen out with their late parents, but maybe he could give them a home. Arriving alone at her sheep-farming grandfather's house in Ohio she can see that there is plenty of work in this home without a woman. Carl King the shepherd is first to meet her, and he doubts that Joseph Shetler will be pleased with her arrival.

Joseph cannot forget that Lizzie's mother disobeyed him and married a man he distrusted. He believes it would be wrong for him to go against the wishes of the girls' uncle. For all he has the first hot water tap that Lizzie has used, and even a propane washer, he's of the old ways. What's more odd is that he asks Carl to drive Lizzie in the trap to the bus, only for Lizzie to discover that Carl has been shunned by those of their faith. Why would Joseph put her in this position? And what could Carl possibly have done?

I was amused by the way that people get around restrictions. Lizzie can't accept a lift from a shunned person, but it is okay to give him a lift, so she takes the pony's reins, although it's Carl's pony and trap. The two men technically eat at different tables, though covered by the same tablecloth. Lizzie comes across as continually trusting in others' goodness. She doesn't have a skill other than housework; other ladies make beautiful star quilts which are in demand with Englisch customers. Basket weaving and alpaca wool are more of the Amish crafts. The confident, positive-thinking girl makes friends easily among people who remember her mother. Now if she could only find some suitable men!

I particularly enjoyed the alpaca shearing scene while the sheep shearing seems like harder work. In fact the story is thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to reading more of the Brides of Amish County series by Patricia Davids. My only quibble is that THE SHEPHERD'S BRIDE title rather gives away the ending!