Though the Valley - Patricia Johns

Miri is a girl who loves cows and the farming life. Which is unfortunate since her Amish family and community is very Traditional and expect girls to marry young and be homemakers rather than getting involved in the 'outdoor' work. A view which means Miri isn't keen on the idea of being married off since she's much happier outside. 

All her hopes and dreams look as though they've come true when she very unexpectedly inherits the farm of Old Tom Yoder, for whom she's been caring for months. But Tom's son and grandsons are equally shocked. And angry. And her community and family are also unimpressed by this turn of events. Moses, Tom's grandson, is asked by the Bishop to continue helping on the farm while Miri finds her feet, but he finds himself caught between his angry family and his fledgling attraction to Miri. Miri, however, does not want to be wooed just so the Yoder family can reclaim the farm, push her away from the cows and countryside she loves and shut her into the kitchen.

I enjoyed reading this but I confess that my 'English' (in fact, my ENGLISH!) viewpoint did make me exceptionally irritated at times! I found Miri's family frustratingly annoying in their reluctance to stand behind Miri in any real way and I was shocked by the realisation of WHY, much later in the book. I felt a bit short-changed by the way Miri's story panned out, although it was very well told, and I liked both Miri and Moses in terms of their characters individual struggles and progression throughout.

At the same time, we're following Tabitha and Jonas, who seem to be playing a dangerous game in terms of their emotions and desires. Tabitha has a broken relationship behind her, but divorce is not recognised in the Amish community to which she has returned. To the members of her community, she is still bound by her marriage vows to the man who betrayed and left her. Furthermore, Jonas is engaged to another...

A well told, easy to read story, which gives lots of opportunity to consider choices, reactions, faith, legacy and how life's path has many bends. 

NOTE: I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.