Amish Sweethearts

I received a copy of AMISH SWEETHEARTS by Leslie Gould from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.  It is the second installment of the Neighbors of Lancaster County series. 

I previously read the first book, and had enjoyed it, but I didn’t really care for this one all that much.  In this book, Zane joins the army and is sent to Afghanistan.  Meanwhile, his neighbor Lila struggles with her feelings for him while courting an Amish man. 

I couldn’t get a sense of age for Zane or Lila.  They both seemed old, maybe middle aged, but she was actually eighteen and he a little older.  I didn’t really get a sense of Zane and the Amish community.  The book talks about him farming with Lila’s dad – who seemed completely different than the first book, much less of a complex character – but not about his feelings toward the Amish religion.  Lila loved being Amish, and although her change of mind is sort of explained, at the end she is willing to become Mennonite for Zane.  That seemed a bit out of the blue.

Maybe it is because my mother and I often read Amish books so I have a lot tucked away on my shelf, but I didn’t find this one to be as exciting as others.  If you’re looking for a Christian romance or a portrayal of life in the army, this is great.