Amish Sweethearts (Neighbors of Lancaster County)

Amish Sweethearts by Leslie Gould is the second book in Neighbors of Lancaster County series. Lila Lehman and Zane Beck have grown up next door to each other and are close friends. Lila is Amish and Zane is Englisch (as the Amish call us). It is May in 2010 and Zane just received a scholarship to college in Michigan. Zane asks Lila to come with him to Michigan. Lila could not do that to her family (especially to the man that raised her). She sends Zane away. Instead of going to college, Zane joins the Army (mainly because his father told him that he was not soldier material). Two and half years later Zane is returning home for Christmas. He has avoided coming home because of Lila. He still loves her and cannot get her out of his mind. Lila is being courted by Rueben (the Bishop's son) but she has yet to join the church (she still thinks of Zane). Everyone tells Lila that Reuben is perfect her. Zane is going to be deployed in a month to Afghanistan (he is going to work in a Civil Affairs Unit as a translator). Two people so much in love but so far apart. Can these two overcome the many obstacles in their path to happiness?

Amish Sweethearts is a lovely book. It is well-written, engaging, and easy to read. Amish Sweethearts can be read as a stand-alone novel (in case you did not read the first book in the series). We get to see life from two different perspectives. How time and experience change people. I started this book and just kept reading until I finished it. I give Amish Sweethearts 5 out of 5 stars. Amish Sweethearts is not a sappy romance book nor is it overly religious. Leslie Gould wove together a wonderful, heartwarming tale.

I received a complimentary copy of Amish Sweethearts from Bethany House and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.