A Cousin's Promise

January 12, 2009
Amish specialist Brunstetter kicks off a new series set in Indiana Amish country. Loraine Miller's fiancé, Wayne Lambright, is crippled in the car accident that opens the novel. That initiates a tale of complications in their relationship. Wayne wants Loraine to be happy and doesn't believe a disabled man can meet her needs; Loraine doesn't understand the psychological complexities of Wayne's recovery. Into the tension between the two lovers comes Loraine's old boyfriend Jake, sorry for what he's lost and hoping to pick up the pieces. There's cooking, visiting and lots of neighborly support that fans of Brunstetter will appreciate as staples of Amish fiction. Since Loraine Miller also has a number of cousins introduced who face difficulties in the novel, the series setup is clear. Brunstetter could develop a better ear for dialogue, but she has a good ear for the distinctive Dietsch language of the Amish, sprinkling phrases of it into her characters' speech. Fans might enjoy reading this while the friendship bread is baking in the oven.