Five year old Zeke Miller and his sister Rebecca, seven, are Amish and recently without a mother. Their mother died along with their baby brother at the time of his birth. It's been a year and they are spending their first Christmas in Florida since their death. Their father Jacob is a cabinet maker and having a difficult time dealing with his loss and providing the best he can to compensate his children for their loss. The whole Miller family travels to Florida from Ohio by bus to spend the holiday with Jacob's grandparents in the village of Pinecraft, an Amish settlement in Sarasota. A tragic accident renders Rebecca in the hospital and turns the life of this lonely Amish man upside down as he waits for his daughter's recovery.

Natalie Bennett is previously a circus performer who, after an accident,is unable to perform and now teaching other circus performers instead. She also donates her time as Bubbles the Clown, visiting the unfortunate children in the Hospital. Meeting the Miller family sparks a deep emotional tie when Natalie finds among her recently deceased mother's items, proof that her mother was raised as Amish and chose to keep the secret of her leaving the order. She searches for the family that shunned her mother while becoming completely drawn in by Jacob and his family; especially his children. Jacob desires Natalie but knows an "Englisch" woman is forbidden with too many obstacles to overcome. With Mennonites also living in the Florida community, can there be a compromise for Natalie and Jacob?

The Amish and Mennonite lifestyles are so foreign to most, but they also make fascinating reading and a better understanding of this faith. Their faith is so absolute that their desires are mostly denied if finding love is outside their order. This author has an exceptional knowledge of the Amish and Mennonite lifestyles and has spun a heartwarming and love filled story of renewal and the ability to move on. A SEASON OF CHANGE will definitely not be the last book I will read from Lynette Sowell nor of the Amish religion. This is one of my personal favorites.

Book Summary

Can a past filled with loss lead to a new season of life? Stranded at a Sarasota hospital at the bedside of his ailing daughter, Amish widower Jacob Miller is wary of his unfamiliar surroundings—including the strange curiosity of Englischer Natalie Bennett. Natalie, an aerial silks artist whose career in the circus ended before it began, has just uncovered a secret her mother kept hidden for years. Her mom—or rather, mamm—was once Amish. A hundred questions suddenly surface.

Why did Natalie’s mother keep this secret for so long? Does Natalie still have Amish relatives? How can she learn more about her heritage? Can Jacob trust Natalie’s piqued interest in his family and their simple ways, or will their clashing cultures thwart their hopes for finding the love of a family? “A Season of Change is an Amish tale with a fresh voice and unique twist. Filled with warmth and love and fried pies, it’s poignant and compelling in a whole new way. You’ll read it and wish you could stay there . . . just a little longer.”