Rachel Miller dreams of traveling beyond her mundane existence in Jamesport, Missouri. To satisfy her wanderlust, she sends letters to people she reads about in the Budget, the Amish newspaper, and asks that they consider mailing her a simple postcard in return. Her collection of correspondence from various Amish communities isn’t as exciting as traveling, but it keeps her occupied. One of her … occupied. One of her regular communicants is David Lapp, of Seymour, Missouri, and she soon feels as if he knows her better than her own beau, Obadiah. Too bad she is already promised to marry him.
Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, David Lapp moved to Seymour, Missouri, as part of a “man swap.” The transition was going fine until a serious buggy accident landed him in the hospital, where he nearly died following surgery on his broken leg. After extensive therapy, he has lingering mobility problems and is still struggling to find his place in the world. When he realizes that his spirited pen pal, Rachel Miller, lives in a community where closed buggies are used, he decides on a whim to move there, hopeful for a fresh start.
Rachel never expected to meet David Lapp in person. Even less did she anticipate that his intentions would be to court her. As their friendship moves from the written page to in-person encounters, they discover that the chemistry in their correspondence was real. But what will this mean for the future? Following their hearts–and God’s leading–will require no small amount of sacrifice and significant life changes.
THE POST CARD by Laura V. Hilton is the second book in the Amish of Jamesport series.
The author breathes life into the story of Rachel Miller and David Lap and their budding relationship by weaving a story that we can’t wait to take in as we flip the pages.
Rachel was born in Jamesport, been there her entire life and has always dreamed of traveling and seeing other sites. Whereas David is originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania moved to Seymour, MO in a “man swap” before following his heart to the writer on the postcards and letters he’s gotten over the past year and moves to Jamesport unannounced. Rachel started sending David mail after seeing a notice in the Budget, an Amish newspaper after his disastrous open buggy accident that left him in the hospital recovering and with permanently disabled.
There is an immediate connection from their first face to face meeting albeit unexpected on Rachel’s part. There are many obstacles between Rachel and David though. Rachel is promised to Obahiah. David, as Bishop Joe calls him, is a “stray” with no home, no means of support in order to take care of frau (wife), and limited physical abilities.
David takes the temporary job of school teacher living in the school’s very small back room equipped with a cot. Sam, Rachel’s brother doesn’t like David at all and is instrumental in a few school “accidents” that David falls prey to. Later you find out why and how they work it out which is very touching and realistic.
Although emotions get the better of them from time to time, David tells Rachel that they have to take the ‘high road’ to see if they can work things out, to see if it’s really meant to be and to be sure it’s God’s will.
It takes a fire that destroys Rachel’s home while she is away with Obahiah and where David is badly hurt to bring it home to Rachel that David is her one true love. However, with the incorrect news that his Daed (Dad) had died, David abruptly leaves the hospital for Pennsylvania without talking to Rachel.
The author not only expertly tells the budding romance of Rachel and David with all the interwoven complications of the here and now and the events of the past which greatly affect the present, but she also tells a wonderful story of how that by keeping our eye on the heavens and our prayers in earnest that God’s plan will become evident. She shows us that none of us are perfect and can be tempted, but if we take the ‘high road’ and walk with God that our lives can be richly rewarded.
THE POSTCARD can definitely be read as a standalone book. If this is your first book in the series, you will see that you want to read the first book too. In the first book, we are first introduced to Rachel and learn briefly about her desire to travel and her fulfilling that desire through postcards – both sent and received. I am now looking forward to the third book in this series with great expectations and wonderful longing to read more about the folks of Jamesport.
I recommend this book to anyone that not only loves Amish storied but to those that love a book written with faith, love, hope, family, forgiveness, resilience and the power of prayer woven into the pages of that story by an amazing author that consistently writes wonderful stories that will have your heart smiling and you wanting to share it with others.