Home All Along

In the delightful final installment of Wiseman’s Amish Secrets series (after Love Bears All Things), heroine Charlotte must examine her commitment to her boyfriend, Daniel, as well as her desire to serve God. The story opens with the funeral of Charlotte’s estranged mother, and readers who are new to the series may have trouble following all the dynamics at play; even though Daniel is at Charlotte’s side, some of her Amish friends are missing from the event, among them Lena and Amos, her surrogate parents. It becomes evident that Charlotte, an “English” (non-Amish) transplant, is on shaky ground within the Amish community, and her troubles are compounded by the unexpected arrival of her long-lost younger sister, Andrea, with a baby (and suspect motives) in tow. Outside of Charlotte’s own spiritual struggles, many characters from earlier books face their own dilemmas, which Wiseman uses to slow the pace and examine sticky religious, moral, and ethical issues. Wiseman also ruminates at length on Charlotte’s misery and uncertainty. The conclusion will surprise and please readers who have been rooting for Charlotte to finally find happiness. Agent: Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary. (Sept.)