Just Plain Sadie (Zebra Books) is the newest, and quite possibly, the best Amish romance novel by Amy Lillard in the Wells Landing series. This book is so touching and heart felt that the ending will leave readers with tears of joy. At the same time, valuable life lessons are apparent within the pages of Just Plain Sadie.
The tension in this book comes from Sadie feeling she needs to choose between Chris, a “steady, strong, and true” Amish man who has been Sadie’s best friend for forever and Ezra, a Mennonite man who makes her heart beat faster when she sees him. Sadie craves the romance that she feels with Ezra but their interfaith relationship upsets both families. Neither Sadie’s momma nor Ezra’s momma can see past the religious differences to see the person they are in their heart.
Quoting Sadie in the book, “Why were people so narrow minded?Why couldn’t they see past all the little things on the surface to the person underneath?” Quite a message for all of us!
Ezra is totally smitten with Sadie. Here is a quote from the book that sums it up quite nicely, “He really couldn’t say why, but she pulled him in like a magnet, like a moth, like a hundred other things that couldn’t resist something more powerful than them. And there was no fighting it. Not that he wanted to.” This is terrific swoon worthy writing!
Conversely, Chris has been in Sadie’s life always. They grew up together and were coupled up in their buddy group. Everyone expected them to get married and Sadie wants that too. Her whole goal in life is to marry Chris, start a family, and happily live in their Wells Landing Amish community. Sadie feels that their relationship may not be romantic, but they would have a good life together.
Just Plain Sadie requires readers to ask themselves which is more important, your partner’s heart or their religious affiliation? Should a person forego romance for family harmony?
Amy Lillard’s brilliant writing, character growth, and captivating romantic scenes clearly set the reader up for a delightful reading experience. As noted before, Amy is talented in maintaining the romantic tension as well as interjecting humor between the characters in her books. Readers of the Amish genre will treasure every page of Just Plain Sadie.
Gloria is a retired RN and former accountant who has a life long love of reading. She has spent the last two years reading every Amish novel she can get her hands on. When not reading, Gloria spends her day trading stocks and options, tweeting under the name of @gloriason, and expressing her gratitude to God. She blogs at amishreader.blogspot.com.