Tricia Goyer

Although proud of living apart from the world, Marianna Sommer's newly relocated Amish family is discovering that life in the remote mountains of Montana requires working together with the Englisch. As Marianna pours her life into helping those around her-and receiving their help-her heart further considers two directions. She's torn between the Amish man from Indiana whom she has long planned on marrying and the friendly Englischer who models a close walk with God like she’s never seen before. Who should have young Marianna's heart? What is God asking of her through ongoing family struggles and this romantic and spiritual tension? The answer is found along the wooded paths.

Along Wooded Paths

Jeni Enjaian

It is not often that one has the chance to read two great books in a single day. I honestly wish I could get paid to read. 
I often approach the sub-genre of Amish fiction within Christian literature, warily. Too often the Amish lifestyle is romanticized with no real questions ever asked of the characters. Many authors paint the characters as quaint, slightly backwards but good people. They may be. However, as a Christian, one cannot leave it at that. Being a Christian means so much more than being "good." However, this is a book review, not a theological discussion. I will get back to the book review.
Goyer approaches the genre (at least in this series...I was not impressed with a stand alone novel of hers in the genre that I read recently) with refreshing inquisitiveness. She creates believable characters that really wrestle with what it means to love God and to have a personal relationship with him. These characters are anything but static, Marianna especially. She might be one of the most well-developed characters I have ever encountered, especially in Christian fiction. 
I could not put this book down. I wish I had reserved the third book as well so that I would not have to wait for the conclusion. I probably would have stayed up late to read it.
I highly recommend this book and have added it (and the entire series) to my Amazon wishlist.

Along Wooded Paths

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