Written in Love

Starred review from January 23, 2017
Fuller (A Love Made New) steps away from the traditionally idealized life of the Amish to focus more on the ideas of redemption and grace as they pertain to flawed yet loving individuals in her latest inspirational romance. Phoebe Bontrager is a young Amish woman with secrets. She and four-year-old Malachi are staying with her Aunt Bertha for a time when a letter from Jalon Chupp finds its way to Phoebe’s hands. Thus begins an epistolary relationship between two people filled with desperate loneliness. Jalon, who lives in Birch Creek, Ohio, has been suffering from guilt for years over an accident that gravely injured his cousin. Then he and Phoebe begin their correspondence. The connection they forge simply reinforces his faith in God and the knowledge that God’s plan is in play. Yet the secrets both have had to keep in order to protect others may be the very things that tear them apart. Fuller’s refreshing portrayal of the Amish as complex, flawed children of God adds deeper dimension to a plot already filled with lovable characters and an artfully crafted world that draws readers in and invites them to stay. Passion and joy for God and the written word are evident throughout the book, woven into a heartwarming invitation to share the love. Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray, Steve Laube Agency.

February 1, 2017

Phoebe Bontrager and Jalon Chupp have been pen pals since a misdirected letter from Phoebe found its way into Jalon's hands. Soon their letters to each other blossom into a romance. Jalon is attempting to overcome his troubled youth through reaffirmation of his faith, and Phoebe has a past she would prefer to keep hidden, at least in her missives to Jalon. When he suggests they meet in person, Phoebe is alarmed. Between her overbearing aunt and her own personal secrets, she is hesitant to accept his invitation. However, Jalon surprises her by showing up on her doorstep without notice, and it isn't long before her secrets are exposed. Phoebe hopes that God will help Jalon and her move forward together. VERDICT Evoking a simpler time, when letters were handwritten and partially narrated in an epistolary style, Fuller's (The Promise of a Letter) first volume in a new series introduces two charismatic protagonists and an appealing, heartwarming story line. With elegantly clear prose and evocative settings, the author delivers another captivating read fans will relish.

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