A Is for Amish

Book 1: Amish ABCs

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Genres: Amish & Mennonite; Christian Anthologies & Collections; Clean & Wholesome Romance

Synopsis

In a heartwarming new series from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray, four siblings take a genuine leap of faith when they move to their grandparents’ farm in rural Ohio and decide to become Amish.

Exploring the relationship between Amish and English cultures through the lens of a single family, the Amish Again series is perfect for fans of Beverly Lewis, Suzanne Woods Fisher, and Charlotte Hubbard – and anyone who enjoys uplifting stories about faith, family, love, and the simple life.

SIMULTANEOUS HARDCOVER AND TRADE PAPERBACK RELEASE!

Siblings Martin, Kelsey, Beth, and Jonny are as different as can be, but they have one thing in common. They’re all longing to reinvent their lives. Raised by their divorced lapsed-Amish father and English mother, they only knew real stability and a sense of family when visiting their Old Order grandparents, Josiah and Sylvia Schrock, in peaceful small-town Millersburg, Ohio. Now the four want to try living with them and joining their faith—much to the Schrocks’ surprise . . .

Martin, the eldest, is reeling from a bad breakup, so he’s especially determined to make a fresh start. When he meets his grandparents’ neighbor, Patti Coblentz, he’s immediately drawn to her outgoing, helpful nature—but is so overwhelmed that he appears blunt and rude. Is there any way he can drop his defenses enough to admit she’s captured his heart?

Always self-conscious about the birthmark on her temple, Patti is resigned to never marrying and busying herself with the responsibilities of the large home and property she has inherited. Besides, Martin’s ill-mannered behavior and disconcerting directness make him the last man she’d ever want to wed—no matter how handsome he is.

Yet given time and patience—and adhering to their grandparents’ unexpectedly challenging rules—the whole family might just find what they’re looking for, even Martin and Patti.

Release date: June 25, 2024

Publisher: Kensington Books

Print pages: 304

Sample

August

It had been a while since they’d all been in one car together. Because each of his siblings lived in different suburbs and hamlets around the Cleveland area, whenever the four of them got together, it was easier to simply meet at a restaurant for a quick bite to eat.

Today was different, though.

Even though Martin was the oldest brother and the one driving, he felt just as nervous as his twenty-year-old brother, Jonny. He had the steering wheel in a death grip and every worst-case scenario was running through his head.

What in the world were they actually thinking about doing? Had they lost their ever-loving minds?

“You okay up there, Martin?” Kelsey asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because you’ve been wearing a permanent frown for the last ten miles.”

Kelsey, all curly blond hair and blue eyes, was his favorite sibling. From the time she’d been born, he’d looked after her. Even though she was now twenty-two years old, she still sometimes looked to him for guidance.

That was fine with him. He was used to looking after himself and the rest of them. Even though Beth was just two years younger than he at twenty-five and could take care of herself, he still felt protective of her.

“Have I been frowning? I didn’t realize it.”

“Sure you did,” Jonny said. “And the reason she noticed is because I’ve been frowning just as much. Guys, I can’t believe we’re actually thinking about doing this.”

Even though he’d just been thinking the very same thing, Martin felt obligated to calm his brother’s worries. “Remember, all we’re doing is thinking about it. Don’t forget, if we change our minds this afternoon, no one will even know. Especially not Mommi and Dawdi.”

“They know something’s up with us,” Beth chimed in from the passenger seat next to him. “Mommi sounded pretty skeptical when I told her that the four of us want to pay them a visit because we haven’t seen them in a while.”

“Has it really been that long since any of us went to visit?” Kelsey asked.

“I saw them around Easter,” Beth said. “None of you could make it.” Just as it usually did when they were all in elementary school, her voice carried a hint of criticism.

Martin groaned. “Don’t act like I blew our grandparents off for no reason. I told you that I was stuck going to Cara’s parents’ house with her.”

“I didn’t say you blew them off, Martin.” Her voice softened. “I am sorry you two broke up.”

“I thought she broke up with you, Martin,” Jonny said.

She had. He hadn’t tried to persuade her otherwise, though. He’d met Cara at work and had thought her snarky comments behind their customers’ backs meant that she was fun. He’d soon found out that she was simply mean.

Pushing thoughts of Cara aside, Martin said, “I called our grandparents just last month. They were doing well.”

“I’m not going to lie,” Kelsey said. “I haven’t seen either Mommi or Dawdi in almost a year. In fact, the last time Mommi called and left a message, I forgot to call her back.”

“You were graduating and looking for a job. She understood.”

“I know, but that’s hardly an excuse. What about you, Jonny?”

“Um, well, I drove down to see them last month. I needed a break from school.”

“You never told me that,” Beth said.

“Why did you need to know?” His tone was a little defensive. Martin wondered why.

Beth didn’t seem to notice, though. “Don’t keep us in suspense. How were they?”

“The same as Mommi and Dawdi always are. They’re good.”

“You mean ‘wonderful-gut,’ ” Kelsey teased.

Jonny chuckled. “Yeah. Anyway, we had a super time together. I drove them to a farmers market in Berlin and then we cooked out in the backyard. It was awesome.”

“Did you spend the night?”

“Yep. I wasn’t planning on it, but I started thinking that I would rather be with my grandparents than with my three roommates.”

“Your friends are crazy,” Kelsey chided. “I can’t think of anyone who would rather be with them in that gross apartment than with Mommi and Dawdi.”

“It isn’t that gross.”

“It’s not that clean.”

He chuckled. “I can’t argue with you there, but would you expect any different? All of us are working and going to school.”

“And going out.”

“That’s true. But anyway, I can’t deny that it was good to sleep at their house. The sheets smelled so fresh, and Grandma made cornmeal cakes, eggs, and bacon.”

Martin’s mouth watered. “Did she serve hot maple syrup with the corn cakes?”

“You know she did.”

“So . . . you liked being there?” Beth asked.

“Of course.” He cleared his throat. “It was as good as it always is. All I’m saying is that no one would pass up a chance to stay at their house if they could help it.”

“Except for Mom and Dad,” Kelsey said.

Glad he was approaching a stoplight, Martin groaned. “Kelsey, why did you bring them up?”

“How could I not? I mean, aren’t you thinking about Mom and Dad-and wondering how each of them is going to react if we actually go through with this plan?”

“Actually?” Beth turned around to look at their sister. “I thought we were all on the same page. I thought we were all going to Walden today to tell our grandparents that we want to be Amish. Just like them.”

“I think we’re thinking about it . . . but who even knows?” Kelsey asked.

“Kels is right,” Jonny said. “Mommi and Dawdi might put the brakes on this idea before we do anything besides talk about it.”

“I hope not,” Kelsey said. “I’ve always kind of wanted to be Amish. If I back out now, I think I’m always going to regret it.”

“It’s one thing to think about becoming Amish. It’s another to actually go ahead and start the process,” Martin said.

“We all know that, Martin,” Jonny said. “Don’t act as if we don’t.”

“Sorry. I guess that did sound condescending. The truth is, I’m sort of freaking out.”

“You should pull the car over,” Beth said.

“Why? Are you afraid I can’t drive while I’m freaking out?”

“Maybe we don’t want to be stuck in the back seat while your head is obviously not on the road,” Kelsey said.

“I’m fine.”

“Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of your pulling over so we can talk this through again,” Beth said.

Jonny groaned. “All we’ve done is talk through it all. We Zoomed together three different nights this past week. What else do we really have to say?”

Martin pulled off to the side in an empty parking lot. “Let’s get out for a minute.”

For once, none of them argued or questioned. They just unbuckled their seat belts and got out.

And then, there they were. Standing together.

It brought back so many memories. Of them all standing together before church on Sundays. Getting ready to ride the bus to school together.

Wondering when their mother was coming home.

They all had their father’s and grandfather’s dark blue eyes. Jonny and Beth had their father’s lanky build, Kelsey favored their mom, and Martin seemed to follow in their mom’s brother’s footsteps. Their uncle was a football player in college and was huge.

Beth crossed her arms over her chest. “I think we should be honest with one another. Each of us should share as a percentage how much they’re seriously thinking about becoming Amish.”

This was a classic Beth move. Making a pronouncement and expecting the three of them to go along—then being shocked when they didn’t follow her lead immediately.

When Martin noticed Kelsey and Jonny exchange looks . . . and that Beth wasn’t volunteering to go first, he sighed.

She noticed. “What?”

Martin bit back the worst of the snarky comments running through his head. “Beth, really? We’re suddenly supposed to say how much we want to be Amish?”

“I think it’s a perfectly good idea.”

“Fine. You go first.”

She looked away. “How about you?”

“No. It was your idea. Go.”

Her eyes darted to Jonny and Kelsey. Without looking their way, Martin knew they were gazing at her with the same expression he was.

She sighed. “Fine. I’m sixty percent.”

“That’s it?” Jonny asked.

“Leaving everything is going to be really hard. I’m not a hundred percent sure I want to do it. And don’t get mad because I’m being honest.”

Jonny lifted his chin. “I’m ninety.”

Martin was floored. Jonny was not only the youngest sibling, he also led the most English life. “Kels?”

“I’m somewhere in between. I guess seventy-five percent? What about you, Martin?”

“I don’t know for sure. It fluctuates. Some days, when everything is going fine, I don’t want to be Amish at all. Other times, something will happen or I’ll get overwhelmed . . . and I’ll be almost a hundred percent.”

“That’s unhelpful.”

“I know. I’m a mental mess right now. My brain feels scrambled.”

Beth worried her bottom lip. “Maybe we should have waited until we were sure about what we wanted to do before going to see Mommi and Dawdi.”

“I want to see them,” Kelsey said. “Don’t you?”

“Of course. I’m just saying . . .” Her voice drifted off. “I’m just trying to be honest here.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Martin said. “If we can’t be honest with one another, we’re never going to be okay.”

“That’s what this is all about anyway, right?” Jonny asked. “Don’t we all just want to be okay?”

No one replied as they got back into the car, but no one really needed to.

That statement, at least, was something all of them could agree upon.

Patti Coblentz had never seen her sweet neighbor in such a state. Yesterday, when they’d crossed paths at the farmers market, she’d known within seconds that something was bothering Sylvia Schrock. She’d been staring at a container of berries as if the decision about whether to purchase them was a matter of life and death. That had been so out of character for the easygoing woman, Patti had reached out to her.

She’d never imagined that Sylvia and her husband, Josiah, were getting ready for a visit from their four English grandchildren. It was obvious that the young folks’ appearance wasn’t a usual occurrence. Patti was eager to lend a hand, so she had volunteered to come over that morning and help Sylvia make the luncheon and mop the floor.

Now, looking at the clock, she saw it was time to leave. Her neighbors’ guests would be arriving soon.

“I think that’s everything, Sylvia,” she said as she headed to the front door. “Enjoy your visit.”

Sylvia’s look of panic was almost comical. “Wait. Don’tcha want to stay here for a spell? You could meet them. They’re all near your age.”

“That’s kind of you, but I’m afraid I’d be in the way.”

“Not at all. They’d be happy to meet ya,” she added in a rush.

“Perhaps.” Or perhaps not. If she’d been so blessed as to have grandparents like Sylvia and Josiah, she would not have wanted their long-awaited reunion marred by a stranger.

“Please stay long enough to say hello.”

Concerned about how stressed Sylvia’s expression appeared, Patti relented. Even though she had several things to do at her own house—and still didn’t think it was wise to intrude on this family moment, she never could say no to the woman. “All right, but don’t make me feel bad when I say it’s time for me to leave.”

Sylvia’s golden-brown eyes lit with relief. “I’d never do that.”

“I wasn’t born yesterday, Sylvia.”

“That’s true, but you aren’t as tough and world-weary as you like to act, dear. You’re only twenty-five.”

“I feel like I’m twenty-five going on fifty.”

“That’s simply your nature.” Moving one of the ties of her kapp away from her face, she added, “But that ain’t a bad thing, true?”

Patti wasn’t sure about that. She’d cared for her great-aunt until she died two years ago. Now Patti had inherited a four-bedroom house and a full acre of land to take care of while most other women her age were focused on eligible men and a wide-open future.

She sometimes found herself wishing that she didn’t already feel as if she’d lived a lifetime.

“Chin up, child. There’s nothing wrong with having your head firmly placed on your shoulders. The Lord gave you the maturity to handle everything He’s thrown at you. That’s a blessing, ain’t so?”

“Jah. It is.” Just as she was about to offer Sylvia a cup of her own coffee, a car pulled up. “They’re here.”

Looking a little shaky, Sylvia got to her feet. “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Where’s Josiah?”

“He’s out in one of the fields. He’ll come in soon.”

“Do you want me to try to find him?”

“Nee. I think he’s a little nervous about seeing the grands as well. It sounds awful, but they’re a mite overwhelming when they’re all together.” She grimaced. “They talk a lot.”

“Sylvia!”

“It’s true! Anyways, no worries about Josiah. He’ll join us when he’s ready.”

Patti nodded her understanding, but the truth was that Sylvia’s words didn’t make a bit of sense. As far as she knew, both Sylvia and Josiah got along with their grandchildren just fine. It was only their son, Mark, who they sometimes had issues with. Though she might have imagined that, Patti realized. She didn’t recall either of them ever saying a bad word about any of their family members.

Opening the front door, she gestured for Sylvia to go on out. It didn’t escape her notice that the gesture would be more appropriately made to a young child than an older woman. “Come on, dear,” she coaxed. “I’m sure they’re wondering where you are.”

Whether it had been the gesture, her smile, or the reminder that her beloved grandchildren were outside, Sylvia’s expression eased.

“You’re right.” After quickly squeezing her hand, Sylvia walked out the front door with a big smile on her face. “Hallo, kinner!”

All four turned around.

“Mommi!” a willowy blonde said as she rushed forward. “I’m so happy to see ya.”

“No happier than I feel seeing you.” Raising her chin, she added, “And you, too, Jonny dear. And Beth and Martin.”

“It’s been too long, Mommi. I’m sorry for that.”

“You are busy. That’s how it’s supposed to be,” she said as the others took their turn to hug Sylvia tight.

After the oldest-the one who Patti was fairly sure was named Martin-hugged Sylvia, he seemed to notice Patti standing in the doorway of the house, watching them.

Meeting her gaze directly, Martin seemed to take in everything she was in one fell swoop.

Patti felt her face heat. She no longer thought much about her looks until someone like Martin came around. That was when she remembered that the port-wine stain on the side of her neck was dark and obvious. And-contrary to what her mother said-ugly. That was when all the teasing she’d endured returned tenfold and she was once again trying to blend in with the scenery. Anything to avoid being noticed.

“Who are you?” he asked.

Well, she had to give him credit for asking her directly instead of going to his grandmother.

“I’m your grandmother’s next-door neighbor.”

“I see.” He didn’t move or make any effort to introduce himself.

Which, in her opinion, was pretty rude.

Who did he think he was anyway? One of the girls, the willowy blonde, stepped closer. “Hi. Please ignore my bruder Martin. He’s standoffish with nearly everyone. We haven’t met, have we? I’m Kelsey.”

Sylvia glanced her way. “Close the door, Patti. You’re letting in flies.”

She closed it. “Sorry.”

Kelsey was still wearing a friendly smile and standing by her side. She fairly oozed goodness. “Your name is Patti?”

“Yes. Patti Coblentz.”

“Well, as you know, I’m Kelsey, and my rude brother is Martin. Then there’s Beth and Jonny.” She winked. “He’s the baby of the family, but don’t tell him I said so.”

“I heard ya, Kels,” Jonny said as he held out his hand for her to shake. His smile was slightly bashful. “I’m real glad to finally meet ya, Patti. Gram talks about you all the time.”

“She talks about you, too.”

“Me?”

“Well, I mean all of you.” She waved a hand in the air, obviously trying to encompass all of them.

Walking with Sylvia, Beth said, “Gram just told me that you’ve been helping her prepare the house for our visit. That was really nice of you.”

“It was my pleasure. She does a lot for me. She and Josiah both do.” Glad that Sylvia looked like her usual self again, Patti added, “I’m going to be on my way now, Sylvia. See you later.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay, dear?”

“Danke, but I’ve got some things I need to do at home.”

“Oh, of course you do. I kept you here all morning.”

Thinking it was strange that Sylvia’s husband still hadn’t made an appearance, she added, “Do you want me to find Josiah for you on my way out?”

“There’s no need for that. I’ll do it,” Martin said.

Once again, she felt him studying her intently—and had the unfortunate feeling that he found her wanting. Eager to remove herself from his scrutiny, she pasted a smile on her face. “It was nice to finally meet you all! Goodbye!”

“Bye, Patti,” Jonny called out. “Thanks for sticking around to say hi.”

Patti smiled at him before walking back to her property. Then she realized that she wasn’t alone. “Martin, do you need something?”

“No. I just thought I’d walk with you to see if my grandfather’s in the barn. It’s on the way to your house, right?”

“Jah.”

Feeling even more self-conscious, she continued to stare straight ahead. At least that way she wouldn’t feel as if he was staring at the mark on her neck.

“So, it’s really nice of you to help out my grandmother so much. Do you do that a lot?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure what ‘a lot’ is to you. We like to help each other out when we can.”

“What about your family?”

“What about what?” Really, she had had enough of his questions.

“I mean your parents. Your siblings. What are they like?”

“They are nonexistent. I live on my own.”

“They’ve all gone to Heaven?”

“Martin, forgive me, but you’re asking me a lot of personal questions that aren’t any of your business.”

He looked taken aback. “I don’t see how asking about your parents is all that personal. You are on my grandparents’ property. I have every right to know more about you.”

Patti’s temper flared as she felt his too-pretty eyes focus directly on her. Against her will, she squirmed under his regard.

Inside, though, she was fuming. Had she ever met a man so full of himself? She certainly didn’t think so. What she needed to do was finish the conversation before she said something she would likely regret.

Pulling herself together, Patti stopped at the entrance to the barn. “That might be your opinion, but it sure ain’t mine.”

“It ain’t?” He raised an eyebrow.

Patti wasn’t one for violence, but she wished she was the type for just a second. Removing his smirk would feel awfully good.

Praying for patience, she folded her hands over her chest. “I’d rather not answer any more of your questions right now, Martin. I might be on your grandparents’ land, but I don’t know you at all. As far as I’m concerned, you’re a stranger.”

“Fine.”

“And just in case you’re wondering, your grandfather is likely in the very back,” she added, pointing to the barn’s entrance. “He enjoys his workshop.”

“I know where his workshop is.”

“Then it seems you have everything taken care of. Enjoy your visit. It’s been a while, so I’m sure you’ll find it gut to be here.” She started walking before he had a chance to say another word.

Yes, she was being rude, but there was something about him that she found very aggravating. No, everything about him was aggravating.

And disconcerting.

And . . . he was far too handsome for his own good.

Picking up her pace, Patti hurried home. She needed to get some space between her and Martin Schrock. No doubt he and his brother and two sisters would be gone very soon. Given their track record, they probably wouldn’t return for months. She wouldn’t see him again for a long time.

She only hoped it would be just as easy to get him out of her mind.

Martin could hea. . .