Story Description:
WaterBrook
Press|September 18, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-307-73002-2
In a community
where conformity flourishes, seeds of Rhoda’s odd behaviour were planted long
ago. Can she cultivate her relationships
with the same care and tenderness that she gives her beloved garden? Old Order Amish Rhoda Byler’s unusual gift
and her remarkable abilities to grow herbs and berries have caused many to
think her odd. As rumors mount that
Rhoda’s “gift” is a detriment to the community, she chooses isolation, spending
her time in her fruit garden and on her thriving canning business.
Miles away in
Harvest Mills, Samuel King struggles to keep his family’s apple orchard
profitable. As the eldest son, Samuel
farms with his brothers, the irrepressible Jacob and brash Eli, while his
longtime girlfriend, Catherine remains hopeful that Samuel will marry her when
he feels financially stable.
Meanwhile, Samuel’s
younger sister Leah is testing all the boundaries during her rumschpringe, and
finds herself far from home in Rhoda’s garden after a night of partying gone
badly. But Leah’s poor choices serve as
a bridge between Rhoda and the King family when a tragic mistake in the orchard
leaves Samuel searching for solutions.
Rhoda’s expertise in canning could be the answer, but she struggles with
the guilt over the tragic death of her sister and doesn’t trust herself outside
her garden walls. As the lines between
business, love, and family begin to blur, can Rhoda finally open up to a new
life? And what effect will this odd,
amazing woman have on the entire King family?
My Review:
Rhoda Byler is a
gardener who grows herbs and flowers.
She uses the herbs to help people suffering from various ills and
ailments. However, not everyone in her
Amish community believe in her practice of healing. One Rueben Glick is a constant thorn in her
side who is quickly turning people away from her.
Rhoda also
possesses a special “gift” of having “premonitions”. She sees and feels things before they happen
and this fuels Rueben’s vendetta against Rhoda all the more and he tells people
she is practicing witchcraft. This
leaves her at odds with her entire community as well as some family
members.
Rhoda is also
living with immense guilt over the death of her beloved sister. She is having a very difficult time moving
past this part of her life in order to live her own life to the fullest.
Then she meets the
King family and things begin to change for Rhoda. When the King brothers run into difficulty
with their apple orchard, they approach Rhoda with a deal that they feel will
benefit themselves and Rhoda.
Will Rhoda strike
up a deal with this family? Is it
possible she might even find a love interest too?
You won’t be able
to put this one down. I was so upset
when the book ended and now have to wait until the Spring of 2013 for Book #2.
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