Promise Lodge

Energetic widow Mattie Bender Schwartz is working day and night to get Promise Lodge going. She's also hoping the change will help her son Noah's heart to heal after his broken engagement. Filled with regret, and cast out by her dad for a reason she can't yet reveal, Deborah can only pray Noah will forgive her foolishness. But with her cruel words still ringing in his head, he's reluctant to accept her apology - even if the Old Order ways demand he try. If only he could obey Christ's most important commandment: love one another. But one thing is certain - his mother and aunts, and their beloved Preacher Amos, will do their best to help him get there.

As Promise Lodge's first wedding arrives, the evidence of a community building a foundation for the future is a cause for celebration. But the bishop's narrow-minded wedding sermon doesn't sit well with the Bender sisters, the town's courageous founders, especially widowed Mattie Schwartz. She believes marriage and family aren't the most important of God's gifts-even if she suspects her tender feelings for Preacher Amos Troyer run deeper than simple friendship. When an accident threatens to change the course of his life forever, he wonders if the Lord has sent him a message. He'll need faith, hope, and charity to find the right path-and a Christmas blessing to convince Mattie to walk it with him.

When Christine Bender meets widowed Bishop Monroe Burkholder, it's love at first sight. But Preacher Amos finds him too good to be true and is determined to find out what's behind his sudden, unannounced arrival. Still, the colony needs a new bishop, and everyone is excited to have a younger, more progressive leader. As for Christine, Monroe returns her affection, but her bubble is soon burst when a young woman half his age arrives. Leola Duff claims Monroe ruined her, and she now intends to make an honest man of him. But throughout the process of discovering the truth about Leola's claims, Christine never doubts that Monroe is the fine man she believes him to be - and never wavers in her faith that all will work out as it should. When Monroe is forced to confess the truth before the entire congregation, he can only pray that open hearts and minds will prevail, allowing him a future at Promise Lodge - and with Christine.

Spring blossoms with new life and new beginnings for the flourishing Amish community of Promise Lodge. And as a just-opened bakery sweetens the air with fresh-baked goodness, residents will find that change can be a most joyous test . . . Recently widowed after twenty years of marriage, Frances Lehman is only just tasting the freedom and opportunity that her Promise Lodge friends enjoy. So she's not about to be pressured into marriage by her widowed brother-in-law, even if she and her daughter have no real means of support. Much more promising is her new friendship with Preacher Marlin Kurtz, though their respective families don't see their relationship as proper . . . When Frances suffers a serious injury, she's determined to prove she can recover-and remain independent-without burdening Marlin. Now, with his steadfast belief in real love tested, Marlin's hope is that Promise Lodge's irrepressible residents can help him restore Frances's joy-and that faith will show them a way to turn their fragile second chance into a blessed and abiding future together . . .

With autumn in full brilliant color, the Amish of Promise Lodge celebrate a successful harvest-and a community rooted in deep friendship. But as cold winds of judgment cast doubt and fear, residents will need each other more than ever to weather the storm . . . For abandoned wife Annabelle Beachey, Promise Lodge is a refuge where she's gained confidence and self-sufficiency. But she and others are dismayed when newly arrived Bishop Clayton King claims the community is too progressive and sets out to change its ways. Worse, her husband, Phineas returns, expecting her to give up her faith as he has. And he won't leave Promise Lodge without her . . . But little by little, Annabelle's determination and new forthrightness make Phineas realize his mistakes-and truly hear his wife for the first time. Meanwhile, Annabelle finds herself feeling compassion-and even renewed love-for her newly humble, more caring husband. And as Bishop Clayton's attempt to control Promise Lodge threatens everything its residents have built, Phineas and Annabelle must work together with unshakeable courage to save their new home-and their opportunity for forever happiness.

With two spring weddings to celebrate, friends and family are reunited at the Amish community of Promise Lodge, where nothing-and no one-can derail an unexpected new love when it's part of a glorious plan . . . In the year since he lost his wife in a tragic accident, Lester Lehman has found healing and purpose-helping construct Dale Kraybill's new bulk store, enjoying the Kuhn sisters' hearty meals, and settling into a tiny, built-for-one lakeside house. Falling in love again is surely not on Lester's mind. Yet despite his firm "no," two available ladies have set their kapps on the handsome widower-in a boisterous rivalry that weaves mayhem among the wedding festivities . . . A welcome escape comes from a fresh-faced newcomer. Marlene Fisher disarms Lester with her witty quips on his romantic predicament, while her sparkling eyes inspire surprising thoughts of a shared future. But the heartbreak that brought Marlene to Promise Lodge runs deep, and the pretty maidel believes she's not meant to marry. In a season of vows to love and honor, scripture holds the key to building their happiness together: love is kind, and above all . . . patient.

Returning to the fan-favorite world of the closeknit Amish community of Promise Lodge, the small-town Missouri setting of her beloved Amish inspirational romance novels, the author continues to delight listeners with uplifting tales of faith, family, and the blessings and happiness of true love and caring partnership. When Karen Mercer and Andi Swann come to Promise Lodge for a week's stay, the Kuhn sisters quickly detect the guests are not Plain folk, despite their kapps and homemade dresses. Entranced by the idyllic Amish lifestyle they've read about in romance novels, the visitors have gone undercover to revisit the place that was once the church camp where they spent happy summers. They mean no harm-but when the truth is uncovered, their deception has an intriguing impact on the faithful, hard-working community . . . Meanwhile, amid bustling preparations for a spring wedding, a shy horse trainer is encouraged to share his colorful world with a newcomer awaiting a miracle . . . while the widowed baker of luscious Promise Lodge Pies sees a long-time friendship in a romantic new light. And in the wake of a destructive storm, Karen and Andi's insider knowledge of the grounds may offer the safe passage they all need to renew and rebuild-stronger than ever . . .

A season of change has blessed the Amish of Missouri's Promise Lodge, as mothers-to-be anticipate the arrival of their little miracles and one young man's life is about to take an unexpected turn as he sheds his bad boy reputation and embraces the value of faith and hard work. Long-time residents of Promise Lodge welcome a wave of newcomers that includes a pretty potter who's come to help an expectant couple, and a hard-working dairy expert ready to manage the herds on the expanding Burkholder farm. Then there's Isaac Chupp, the handsome, charming son of a notoriously unyielding Bishop from nearby Coldstream. Isaac has recklessly rebelled against his dad, and his bad boy reputation precedes him. Now he seeks a fresh start, applying for work at Dale Kraybill's bulk store. Proving himself reliable while Dale takes off for his wedding trip is Isaac's bold first step. But more miraculous awakenings may come as he settles into the warm new light of the faithful community. And while Promise Lodge celebrates an abundance of newborns as summer turns to fall, Isaac discovers a kindred soul who has her own share of challenges. In helping her, he just may find his true purpose in loving selflessly, building up, and giving back...