A Plain Leaving by Leslie Gould
In this book by Leslie Gould, Jessica Bachmann has already left the Amish community she grew up in. But she is called back by her youngest sister to attend her father’s funeral. This is the most difficult thing she has ever done in her life because of the divisive family drama that pushed her out in the first place. She is subjected to shunning practices while at the same time she is trying to grieve over her father’s passing. Then her brother Amos arrives. He had left the family more than a decade ago with similar conflicts in the family, especially with his twin, the brother now in charge of the family homestead.
Her aunt Suz helps Jessica cope while inviting her to the house she lives in. So during the days Jessica stays with her aunt while she tells her a story about one of her ancestors, a Ruby Bachmann who lived Plain during the days of the colonial period and the beginning of the American Revolution against Britain. There are parallels between the two women of this book. Both have tough choices to make that can change their lives drastically.
The historical fiction story about Ruby Bachmann is filled with suspense and tough choices. As Jessica was listening to her aunt telling this story, she wasn’t quite sure what point her aunt was making. Not until the very last few pages of the book does Jessica realize what the message was. In the meantime, watching her former fiance court another woman was breaking her heart when it shouldn’t have, and seeing her older brother plan things for her father’s farm that could jeopardize the family legacy irreversibly worried her in spite of the fact that she no longer lives on the farm. What was her heart trying to tell her?
This is a fast-paced contemporary story about family conflicts, past hurts, reconciliation, and challenges that keeps our interest high. I loved this story. I loved the story within the story as well. Many of the characters go through a transition within their character. There are a lot of good dynamics moving throughout this book that takes awhile to process. There are even a few surprises toward the end of both stories. But all the conflict is well worth reading. I know this is one book I will enjoy reading several times.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers on behalf of the author. I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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