Lessons in Love

Irvin picks up the story of Lenora Byler in this tender installment of the Heart of the Amish series (after Miriam’s Little Gentleman). Lenora’s lived a life of sacrifice, first caring for her dying grandfather and now serving as live-in housekeeper for her brother’s family. She can’t help wondering if God has any plans at all for her future. When she’s unexpectedly offered a teaching position at the local school, she jumps at the opportunity. She relishes helping her students, especially Finn, the six-year-old son of the town’s new deacon, Malcolm King. The pair are grieving the recent death of Finn’s mother—Malcolm’s wife—in a buggy accident for which Malcolm blames himself. Though Lenora must resign from her teaching position after just six weeks to care for her injured sister-in-law, she continues to tutor Finn and, in the process, comes to care deeply for Malcolm. Perhaps God has a plan for her after all, but Malcolm will need to overcome his grief for them to have a future together—and Lenora will need to choose herself over others for the first time. Irvin excels at breathing life into a complex cast of characters as they weigh obligation, tradition, and sacrifice against the promise of happiness. The result is a touching romance between two wounded souls. (Nov.)