Jeb’s Wife

Johns (Thursday’s Bride) introduces readers to the small Amish community of Abundance in this moving tale of a 30-year-old woman whose fiancé broke their engagement upon discovering her inability to bear children. Leah Riehl, whose grief has made her question if she is lovable, returns to Abundance following a brief time away only to find her younger brother Simon beaten because he hadn’t paid a gambling debt. In order to repay Simon’s debt and save his life, Leah agrees to marry Jeb, a widower with physical scars from the fire that killed his wife. The two agree that the marriage will be strictly for monetary purposes, as Jeb can only inherit his recently deceased uncle Peter’s estate if he marries within four weeks of Peter’s death; and Leah will then have enough money to be able to pay off Simon’s debt. As Jeb and Leah attempt to convince the community that the marriage is a love match, they form a friendship as they share their daily life and learn to trust the other. Though both are reluctant to fully trust again, the arrangement becomes complicated when romantic feelings develop. Johns crafts a quaint, intimate town and characters who struggle believably with hard choices and self-doubt. Fans of Wanda Brunstetter will love this. [em](Sept.) [/em]