Return to Paradise (Coming Home #1) by Barbara Cameron

Twelve months ago, David Stoltzfus left the Amish community in Paradise, Pennsylvania—and encouraged his siblings to follow—after their father became overly stern and even abusive with them. Escaping to a new life in the Englisch world was the only way to keep one another safe. But it was not without sacrifice. When David left his father’s house and community, he also left behind Lavina Zook, the woman he planned to wed.

Lavina hasn’t forgiven David for abandoning her, but when David’s father is diagnosed with cancer, she believes she might be the only one to lure him back to make peace . . . before it’s too late. Still, forgiveness isn’t easy. Even if she can get David to return, she’s not sure he will forgive his father. And she’s not sure she can forgive David, either.


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About The Author

Barbara Cameron has a heart for writing about the spiritual values and simple joys of the Amish. She is the author of more than 35 fiction and nonfiction books, three nationally televised movies, and the winner of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. Barbara currently resides in Edgewater, Florida. Find out more about Barbara at BarbaraCameron.com and Amishliving.com.


My Review

Boy and girl grow up together, live near each other, and fall in love and are to be married, and then without so much of a goodbye boy leaves. To top everything off they live in and belong in an Amish Community.
Now not only does one son leave his family, but his two other brothers do also, all at once. Can you imagine the pain and anguish especially the mother felt, and to hold face in there community. The problem becomes apparent when boy returns after meeting girl and her telling him how ill his father is.
David had just bought his first truck, and although he didn’t attend Amish services, he was living a plain life. A chance meeting with the girl, Lavina, again changes the course of his life, but will he be able to stay. He had left because of his father, he is not any easy person to get along with, but he has cancer and his mother is taking care of him alone.
Will David be able to take what his father constantly dishes out, we know he wants to for his mom, but will he be able to stay when his father makes him feel so worthless?
How can Lavina stand to see him back in there community, she trusted David and he let her down, she hadn’t seen him in over a year, will she ever be able to be in his company again?
There are side stories here and we see some of the same abuse going on in the English world, whether it is verbal or physical, some families are broken.
I for one cannot wait for the next book in this series, and find out about the other two brothers.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Abingdon and was not required to give a positive review.