Plains City Bridesmaids

I read these two back to back, and thought I'd tell you about them, back to back...

Travel to Plain City, Ohio, to witness the Mennonite and English culture clash. As Katy Yoder accepts a new job and struggles to define her place in the world, childhood friends and a past romance get in the way. Even when her friends try to help her change her judgmental attitude, Katy is certain that seeing things as black and white is the only way to please God. But as love softens her heart, slowly shades of gray seep into her world, and she discovers the right answer isn't always the easiest one.

Return to Plain City, Ohio, where lifelong goals open paths to something new. Lil Landis aspires to become a head chef…a far cry from her Conservative Mennonite upbringing. But as she chases after her dream, problems seem to hinder her every move—from her mother’s depression to her family’s failing farm. Veterinary student Fletch Stauffer comes to the Landis farm with some goals of his own. But as Fletch is drawn deeper into deceptive ambitions, he finds himself falling for spunky Lil and at odds with his dream. Will determination cloud their thoughts until their goals—and love—disappear?

My passion is Amish fiction and there's a lot of it out there for me but I have to say that  I am really enjoying reading about other Anabaptist groups (the Mennonites and the Quakers) since I grew up in the Church of the Brethren, so we're all sort of cousins.

What a wonderful friendship these three girls have.  Katy, Lil, and Megan have been best friends forever and these books take a look at each girl. In Something Old we read about Katy's old flame. In Something New we read about Lil's new acquaintance.  I can't wait to read Megan's story in Something Blue.

These girls are more my daughters' ages than mine but I understood their battles -- trying to fit, trying to be true to themselves, trying to be adults, trying to please their families, all the while having lapses in remembering who their greatest strength is. Many of the same problems all young adults have. While I did feel that the girls are a bit immature I did enjoy the stories.