Book Review: "Plain Jayne" by Hillary Manton Lodge

Plain & Simple Series

Book Description:

Jayne Tate loves her life as it is'living in a big city, working as a reporter for a fast-paced newspaper, and dating a guy who knows nothing about her past. When her father passes away though, she's forced to take another look at what she wants out of life. After losing out on the big career opportunity she was hoping, for she decides to escape to Oregon Amish country, seeking solace and maybe a big story.

Even in this land of buggies and bonnets, Jayne finds life more complicated than she expected. Can she persuade herself that her growing friendship with the mysterious and handsome Levi Burkholder is just about research? And what's a latte-drinking, laptop-using, motorcycle-riding reporter to do when this new life starts to change her?

My Thoughts:

For a long time I avoided "Amish Fiction" because I just didn't care for it. Recently though I've been reading some new authors who are writing Amish Fiction and I really like them.

Hillary Manton Lodge does a wonderful job with this book. It was so fun to see how Jayne starts thinking about things differently as she spends time with the Amish.

She goes from a anti-Susie-homemaker to quilting and baking. She realizes that it is Ok to have varied interests. That not one thing defines who she is.

I also liked how seeing the family interaction among the Amish made Jayne want to heal the relationship she had with her family.

This book was light and yet had very deep lessons to be learned. I completely enjoyed reading it.

The next book of the series, Simply Sara, tells the story of how Sara manages after leaving the Amish lifestyle. I'm looking forward to reading it.