Four young adults move to be near their grandparents in rural Ohio. There might be many reasons for this, but unusually, the Schrock siblings Martin, Jonny, Kelsey, and Beth, are considering becoming more like their Amish roots. B IS FOR BONNET is, as you may guess, the second in a delightful new series called Amish ABCs, which has already seen one of the family married into the community.
Holmes County, Ohio, seems quite modern, with a spread of religious sects. Josiah and Sylvia Schrock, while quite traditional, welcome Jonny Schrock from Cleveland into their home. Jonny has received a concerning diagnosis and has to reduce his cholesterol and sugar levels, fast. Living with his grandparents is quiet, but he helps out on the farm and has taken a job at the Landen bicycle shop. He promotes new ideas, including a solar power kit for an electric bicycle from Harley Davidson, which I think is a lovely inclusion.
A young woman living with her parents nearby returned from Rumspringa with the notion of starting a café. She is trained and a great baker, so her family helped her convert a barn. Now Treva Hershberger, using a propane generator, sees the newcomer from the electric bicycle shop every morning as he savours the oat milk lattes. Rumour has it he is thinking of becoming Amish, but his father jumped the fence, after all. Treva has been burned once by a man, and won’t take any chances.
A nice touch is that back in the modern world, Matt, the siblings’ father, checks his emails with anxiety. He’s not close to the youngsters and is pretty sure Jonny only wants to stay covered for healthcare, but it’s worrying, all the same. He has a new lady friend, Kennedy, and is wondering how to drop her into the conversation. Matt had perfectly understandable reasons for leaving the farming community, and I would like to know more about the reasons for the siblings choosing to move back, as it’s a hard-working life at the mercy of the weather.
While the constraints of Amish life are not trivialised, I think they are shown lightly, as though, along with electricity generated in situ, it is acceptable for a woman in her twenties to court someone not Amish. Probably this isn’t the case. Shelley Shepard Gray has introduced an interesting variety of people and lifestyles, modernising the genre. B IS FOR BONNET reads as a follow-up to A is for Amish and leads into the next in the series, C is for Courting but can be enjoyed as a standalone.
The second in this delightfully moving new series from beloved, New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray continues the story of four English-raised siblings who return to their grandparents' Ohio community planning to become Amish. But one by one, they will soon learn more about living—and love—than they'd ever imagined . . .
Exploring the relationship between Amish and English cultures through the lens of a single family, the Amish Again series is perfect for fans of Beverly Lewis, Amy Clipston, and Charlotte Hubbard—and anyone who enjoys uplifting stories about faith, family, love, and the simple life.
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Raised by their divorced, lapsed-Amish father and English mother, siblings Jonny, Martin, Kelsey, and Beth can't wait to reinvent their lives. The four don't have much in common, but they long for the stable sense of family they felt when visiting their New Order grandparents, Josiah and Sylvia Schrock, in peaceful Holmes County, Ohio. And the Schrocks couldn't be more surprised when the grandkids want to try living with them—and joining their faith . . .
When Jonny hears startling news about his health, he knows it's past time to change his life. Quitting college, he unexpectedly finds the fulfilling job of his dreams. And he's instantly smitten with cafe owner Treva Kramer, whose baked goods are as warm and delicious as her lively personality. But no matter how hard Jonny tries, he can't seem to get past her secret sadness and distrust. Can he prove that his feelings for her are for real—and forever—in time?
A bad breakup left Treva heartbroken—and resolved to be independent without relying on anyone ever again. Exhausted from pouring everything she's got into her cafe, she’s stunned by Jonny’s easygoing ways—and drawn to his optimistic nature. But when she thinks his real interest is in becoming Amish, she's even more determined to stay focused—and keep her heart safe . . .
Soon, deep secrets and hidden family truths will test Jonny and Treva in unexpected ways. And with help from his warm-hearted grandparents, he and Treva might gain the happiness they secretly long for—with each other.
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