Book Review: Katie's Choice

Author: Amy Lillard
Title: Katie's Choice
Publisher: B & H
Publish Date: May 1, 2013
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley

Book Blurb: 

Katie Rose Fisher loved Samuel Beachy with an intensity that shook their Amish district. No one doubted they would one day marry, until Samuel turned his back on the church and joined the world of the English.

Alone now in Clover Ridge, Katie Rose dedicates her life to God and the school children she teaches each day. Although she secretly longs for more, Katie knows God’s hand is at work, and she is happy.

News correspondent Zane Carson never even knew Oklahoma had an Amish community until he got the chance to live among them and learn about their day-to-day activities. Their simple way of life is intriguing, but not half as much as the young teacher.

Katie Rose is flattered over the attention she receives from Zane, but she has resolved to never marry. Even if she were to entertain the idea, it surely couldn’t be with an outsider like Zane.

Never one prone to the restraints of organized religion, Zane finds a comfort in the rituals and blessings in the day to day righteous living of this small Amish community. He finds himself, God, and love with Katie Rose.

But as Zane draws closer to Katie Rose, Samuel comes back to repent his ways and return to his place at her side. Can Zane convince Katie Rose that he is committed to adapting to her way of life, or will Samuel win her affec- tions back for himself once again

Review: Most books that you read about the Amish involve just the Amish. This book was very different in that respect. Zane Carson is a worldly reported, used to covering stories in the worst conditions. He's sent to Oklahoma to study the Amish way of life and bring their story to the world for his magazine.

Amy Lillard brings the day to day life of the Fisher family to life on each page. You feel like you knew all of them. I adored Ruth, who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer and had her own demons she was facing. She was spunky and determined even though she was frightened.

And John Paul, who seems like the typical teenage boy on his rumspringa, who is anything but.

These characters show the importance of family as well as Zane's journey to find God and love. You may think that the story is about Katie Rose, and yes, she's the heroine here, but it is Zane who is front and center.

Amy shows us through his eyes how the Amish live and how he came to become one of them while he worked on her families farm and how he fell in love with her.

It isn't often that Englischers turn Amish. I hope that in future books, we'll see if Zane and Katie's relationship succeeds. You certainly are rooting for them. You even feel a bit sad for Zane's girlfriend, who is often forgotten throughout the book. As for Samuel Beachy? Well when he returns you have to let out a groan of disgust. I mean, he left the faith and was gone for 6 years and expected Katie to agree to marry him?

Not good marriage material if you ask me.

Again, it leaves you wondering what will become of him in the future, will he return to the fold or will he go back out into the world

I can't wait for the next book!

Rating: 5 flowers