Change of Heart (Sisters & Friends, #1) by Rachel J. Good

Lydia Esh’s younger sister Emma is running wild during rumschpringe, causing the family major heartaches. Although it means risking her reputation, her job as a schoolteacher, and her courtship with Jakob Zook, Lydia attends parties to watch over Emma and protect her sister’s virtue.

When Emma begins a relationship with Kyle, an Englischer, Lydia teams up with Kyle’s older brother, Caleb, to keep the couple apart. As Lydia and Caleb spend time together keeping an eye on their siblings, Lydia falls for this forbidden love. But she fights her attraction and determines to stay true to her faith.

Caleb confesses his feelings to Lydia. She admits her attraction to him, but she’s made her decision to join the church and marry Jakob Zook as her family is pressing her to do.
 Will Lydia stay true to her faith even when it means giving up the things that are most precious to her?

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About The Author

Rachel J. Good grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for her Amish novels. A former teacher and librarian, she completed her MA from Vermont College while raising five children. She is presently an MFA student at Hollins University. In addition to having more tha 2200 articles and 30 books in print or forthcoming under several pseudonyms, she also juggles freelance editing and illustration careers.

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My Review

As the story opens we see Lydia sneaking around and keeping tabs on her sister Emma, but is she why has she taken the responsibility to keep eyes on her sister? What happens as an outcome of these spying or chaperoning ends up being the makings of this book?
Lydia has yet to join the church, and she has been keeping Jakob at arms length, and it is supposed by all that they will soon marry. Life cannot always run smooth, and by chance the brother of Emma’s boyfriend keeps running into Lydia, and so we meet Caleb. You can almost see the sparks running between the two, yes they are attracted to one another, but it can never be, as Lydia will never leave her faith.
We meet their father who is having anger issues over all that happens to Emma, he need to live his faith, and forgive. What about Lydia? Will she go ahead and marry Jakob, knowing she loves another. The answers are here, but are we going to like them? This is an interesting Amish read, that really makes you think, it becomes a real page-turner, and I couldn’t put it down.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Charisma House, and was not required to give a positive review.