Jayne Tate loves her life as it is-living in a big city, working as a reporter for a fast-paced newspaper, and dating a guy who knows nothing about her past. When her father passes away though, she's forced to take another look at what she wants out of life. After losing out on the big career opportunity she was hoping, for she decides to escape to Oregon Amish country, seeking solace and maybe a big story.

Even in this land of buggies and bonnets, Jayne finds life more complicated than she expected. Can she persuade herself that her growing friendship with the mysterious and handsome Levi Burkholder is just about research? And what's a latte-drinking, laptop-using, motorcycle-riding reporter to do when this new life starts to change her?

Talented new author Hillary Manton Lodge brings a new twist to the popular Amish novel.

Jayne Tate loves her life as it is--living in a big city, working as a reporter for a fast-paced newspaper, and dating a guy who knows nothing about her past.  When her father passes away though, she's forced to take another look at what she wants out of life.  After losing out on the big career opportunity she was hoping for, she decides to escape to Oregon Amish country, seeking solace and maybe a big story.

Even in this land of buggies and bonnets, Jayne finds life more complicated than she expected.  Can she persuade herself that her growing friendship with the mysterious and handsome Levi Burkholder is just about research?  And what's a latte-drinking, laptop-using, motorcycle-riding reporter to do when this new life starts to change her?

With humor, faith, and unexpected romance, Plain Jayne will delight readers.

Hillary Manton Lodge is a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and is the author of Plain Jayne and Simply Sara. When not working on her next novel, Hillary enjoys photography, art films, and discovering new restaurants. She and her husband, Danny, live in the Pacific Northwest.

Hillary Manton Lodge uses her book, Plain Jayne, to contrast the quaint life of the Amish with fast-paced city life. The main character, Jayne Tate, finds she is conflicted when she begins to appreciate the simplistic world of an Amish family, the Burkholders. Their lifestyle challenges Tate to reconnect with her estranged family and with God. Lodge depicts the Amish life by describing the Burkholders’ everyday chores and conversations. The book is written in first person, seen through the eyes of Tate, an investigative reporter.

At the beginning of the book, Tate’s boss forces her to take a vacation by asserting she is a workaholic. Secretly, Tate uses this vacation to live with an Amish family, in hopes that a possible story will surface. During this time, Tate meets Levi Burkholder, who already left the Amish way of life for a better education and a career. Tate’s attractions for Levi and the Amish culture continue to intensify throughout the book.

The book lacks suspense and forward motion, however, this is to be expected since the author wants to portray the Amish lifestyle accurately. Lodge uses subtle humor effectively, and develops believable characters.

Plain Jayne is characteristic of most Amish fiction. The message of salvation is woven delicately at the end of the book, and value is given toward family bonding and a strong work ethic. The reader gains respect for the Proverbs 31 wife. Personally, I thought the book was too sentimental, but if you are looking for a relaxing, feel-good book, Plain Jayne is the story to read. – Tamara Peachy, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

Debut fiction author Lodge, a freelance photographer with a background in journalism, enters the popular arena of “plain people” fiction with a surprisingly funny, refreshing and strong story line. Lodge creates the lovable and always acerbic protagonist Jayne Tate, reporter for Portland's Oregonian. Forced by her employer to take time off to regain her edge, Jayne goes hunting for a feature in Oregon's Amish country. What this independent and thoroughly modern journalist finds is an alternative lifestyle that keeps her slightly off-balance even while, in good reporter form, Jayne tries to remain coolly objective. Enter Levi Burkholder, formerly Amish, presently a carpenter, and Jayne's heart goes off kilter as well. Jayne joins the household of Levi's estranged parents for some real Amish experiences, learning to respect the hardworking family. Smart, fast-paced and chock-full of endearing characters, Lodge's entry into inspirational fiction is a keeper, plain and simple. (Jan.)Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

http://www.christianbook.com/plain-jayne-and-simple/hillary-lodge/9780736926980/pd/692698

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product_review

__USERID__

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/ask_and_answer

• Books >> Fiction >> Amish
• Fiction >> Amish
• Start A New Christianbook.com Search

I'm the author/artist and I want to review Plain Jayne, Plain and Simple Series #1.