Growing up, I remember going to market and seeing Amish families in their drab dress riding in their horse-drawn buggies. They produced beautiful quilts and yummy cheeses and breads which they often sold at the country farmers' market. I thought that I had an understanding of their ways and customs. Having had this exposure, you would think that I would be drawn to Amish fiction, yet, I must confess that I am not. Having once struggled through a book by Beverly Lewis, I realized it not my cup of tea.

I often receive requests to review Amish fiction, and normally politely refuse. This particular request; however, came from a publicist whose opinion I respect and was written by Lori Copeland (and Virginia Smith). Not being familiar with her, I assumed that she was affiliated with Kenneth Copeland. This was the first of my misconceptions. Lori lives in the Ozarks...not Texas. My second misconception arose over my understanding of Amish customs. I have always believed that the custom of shunning occurred whenever someone left the order; however, this was not the case in this book. Upon research, I discovered shunning is subject that is left up to the discretion of the Bishop, and normally does not occur unless the person leaves after having been baptized into the faith.

In A Plain and Simple Heart, young Rebecca Switzer sets out for rumspringa. Unbeknownst to her family, Rebecca is setting off to find the cowboy whom she imagines to be her one true love. Rebecca enlists the assistance of her sister, Emma, and Emma's non-Amish husband. The two provide Rebecca with money and train passage across the state. Arriving in Lawrence, Kansas, Emma steps off from the train and finds herself in the middle of a temperance protest which results in her arrest. While she is incarcerated, Rebecca despises the sheriff and forges friendships with the town's women. One friend whose husband is departing for business, affords him the added task of finding Rebecca's love interest. In a predictable ending, Rebecca's true love turns out to be less than desirable, while the relationship with the sheriff slowly morphs from adversarial to love.

A Plain and Simple Heart is recommended for fans of Margaret Brownley, wild west romances, or Amish fiction.

A Plain and Simple Heart is available from online retailers such as Amazon.com





Disclaimer: A Plain and Simple Heart was provided by the author's publicist in exchange for a fair review. Compensation was not offered.