New Beginnings — Linda Byler

The first book in beloved Amish novelist Linda Byler's Seekers series.As a young man growing up in an Amish family, Amos struggles to fit in. Slow in school, overweight, and afflicted with terrible acne, he feels he's a constant disappointment to his teachers, mother, and sisters. Convinced that he will never be good enough for them, he leaves home and accepts a job as live-in groundskeeper for an “English” (non-Amish) couple. With their help, he moves toward a healthier, more confident version of himself. But he can't leave behind the fact that living as an English person—driving a pickup truck, sporting short hair and a flannel button-up shirt—is the greatest disappointment to his family yet.When Amos meets Skye, he's drawn to her refreshingly forthright mannerisms. With her camouflage baseball cap and love of the outdoors, she's fun and free in ways that only an English girl can be. And then there's Anna, a young Amish woman who is sweet and kind and unmistakably cute. In fact, she's cute enough to make him wonder if he could go back to the Amish life to be with her. But how could he do that with any kind of sincerity, given he's not even sure he believes in God?Author Linda Byler is an active member of the Amish church and writes all her novels by hand with a pen and notebook. She offers a unique and fascinating look into Amish history and culture.