Loving Jenna
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4.4 • 44 Ratings
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
In this new novel set in the beloved Oklahoma Amish community of Wells Landing, three generations of women challenge themselves and each other to make a fresh start in faith, family—and love.
Jenna Burkhart is tired of being “special” and hearing about what she can't do. Even though she suffered a head injury in a childhood swimming accident, she wants a life of her own just like any Amish woman. But now that she, her mamm, and her mammi have moved to Wells Landing, she's having a hard time fitting in. . . . Until she meets Buddy Miller, a boy just like her, who gives her the confidence to reach for the impossible . . .
Like Jenna, Buddy is used to being the boy no one expects much from, the one people see as “different.” Still, being around Jenna’s lively, kind-hearted ways makes him strive ever-harder to become the self-sufficient Amish man she deserves. But in the face of family disapproval and their own fears, will Jenna and Buddy's courage be enough to give them a forever happiness together?
Praise for Amy Lillard and her Wells Landing novels
“An inspirational story of romance, faith, and trust . . . will appeal to fans of Wanda Brunstetter and Beverly Lewis.”
—Library Journal
“Fans of inspirational romance will appreciate Lillard’s vivid characters and positive message.”
—Publishers Weekly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The lovely ninth installment of Lillard's Wells Landing series (after Marrying Jonah) set in the Amish community of Wells Landing, Okla., centers on the budding romance between two unlikely heroes. Jenna and Buddy are both seen as "less than" by their community due to their cognitive slowness. Jenna's mother and grandmother have just arrived in town wanting a fresh start after the death of Jenna's father. Jenna longs to make friends, but because she suffered a traumatic brain injury as a child, her mother forbids any act of independence. Twenty-year-old Jenna meets Buddy at church and learns that he has Down's syndrome. The two quickly form a friendship and connect over their shared challenges. When their relationship takes a romantic turn, their families try to keep them apart, but their courage in pursuing love and independence changes what their families think they are capable of. Lillard does an excellent job of depicting with accuracy and compassion the difficulties faced by those with mental disabilities. This affecting tale will surely inspire.
