Mary Brenneman lives in Washington County, Iowa. She is working hard in the Sweet Delights bakeshop in a town which, according to her estimate, is just big enough to support one bakery. THE AMISH BAKER’S RIVAL sets up a deli and bakery across the road, and he offers fancy lattes and cappuccinos. Oh dear, oh dear.

Noah Miller, a city man, not only didn’t mean to upset anyone, he is looking for family members. Emily, his little sister, is typically friendly and endearing, able to go into a shop and offer to help with the work to earn some delicious cookies while the hard graft of stocking the deli is conducted.  Kids often see past tensions and potential rivalry. Like it or not though, the two adult bakers are about to be embroiled in a town baking contest. Mary needs to buy a new coffee machine if she is to keep up, and Noah wants to show everyone how good his stock is, though it may not help him get accepted. Mary will also need the bishop’s permission to enter a contest for money and a trophy.

I had a good time reading about the two hard workers. Noah has the advantages of mechanisation – he drives a car whereas Mary has to harness, drive and care for a horse and buggy. While Mary is single, an Amish gentleman, Seth Knepp, was her fiancé, until he left to see city life. Now he returns, having decided that outside life isn’t for him. The community has its own views on returnees, but Seth has the lead over Noah where Mary is concerned, as Noah hasn’t been raised Amish. I was pleased to see the introduction of this issue as otherwise the romance would have seemed like a forgone conclusion.

Be warned that you may find yourself craving some of the sweet treats and fruit pies! I could practically scent the cinnamon and nutmeg. At the end of the tale we find a recipe, but anyone paying attention throughout can probably make the most gorgeous apple pies.

The story in THE AMISH BAKER’S RIVAL hums along with summer, and people keep busy, up early, moving fast and taking stock of others’ work so they can improve their own efforts. The romance by Marie E. Bast is a good metaphor for life, then, and how we all keep moving, modernising, adapting our output and attitude. Blessed be the bakers.