Lorie is grief stricken at the unexpected passing of her father, yet she wants to stay strong to support Maddie, her stepmother who had been her Mamm since she was a young child. She doesn't remember her real Mamm, and that bothers her, so she wants to have a good final look to remember the father she loves so much. But as she focuses on remembering every detail, Lorie is shocked by what she sees.

Lorie knows the Amish way is to accept God's will and not to questions things, but she is so confused. She seeks answers from Maddie, but her stepmother shuts her down and does not want to answer any of her questions. Why does her stepmother refuse to tell her anything?

Lorie struggles with her dilemma to adhere to her Amish beliefs. Driven by her curiosity and need to understand, Lorie seeks to find out more about her father. The more she learns, the more it adds to the mystery and brings forth many more questions. With her head full of confusion and questions, Lorie is forced to confront her own values and abilities. Why had she been lied to? Who was she?

LORIE'S HEART is the third book in Amy Lillard's latest Amish series set in Wells Landing, Oklahoma. While Wells Landing is a fictional place, Lilliard is very familiar with the Oklahoma landscape and environment which brings a strong sense of realism to this part-mystery, part-romance story. While it reads quite well as a standalone novel, fans who read the earlier books in the series, CAROLINE'S SECRET and COURTING EMILY are sure to enjoy a richer depth to the story in LORIE'S HEART.

Lillard is known for having unusual storylines in her Amish books and LORIE'S HEART is no exception. Lorie's quest to delve into her father's past certainly is an intriguing way to highlight differences and lifestyles, attitudes, perspectives and beliefs between the Amish and the North American English (or non-Amish as they are collectively called) and the pressures it can place on people who lives encounter both worlds.

The characters in LORIE'S HEART are as realistic in their actions and emotions and spring easily to life. Lorie is quite young and has much difficulty dealing with her confusion and her questions, so some parts near the beginning of LORIE'S HEART may prove slow for some readers. The pace picks up considerably in the second half of the book and it is quite an engrossing story as the dilemmas increase. What path will Lorie take? Amish story fans as well as those who believe in the power of love and forgiveness are sure to enjoy finding out the answers in the intriguing story found in LORIE'S HEART!

Book Summary

Welcome back to Wells Landing, Oklahoma, the tranquil Amish community where still waters run deep and a brave young woman sets out to discover her faith, her family, and herself…
 
Lorie Kauffman is grief-stricken when her father passes away unexpectedly. But her heartache quickly turns to bewilderment when she discovers he’d been leading two lives—one of simplicity and hard work in Wells Landing, and one fraught with painful ordeals in Tulsa. As she starts digging into her family’s past, Lorie finds herself torn between the Amish world and the Englisch world—and she’s no longer certain where she belongs…
 
Lorie knows that if she leaves Wells Landing, she may never be able to return. But what if her destiny lies in the outside world—the world her father knew so well? Change is never easy, but with a bit of courage and the help of a handsome and kind-hearted Englischer, she just may find the peace, acceptance, and love she’s been longing for…