Return to Paradise

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.

When David Stoltzfus’ father became overly stern and even abusive, he and his siblings did the only thing they knew to do to keep one another safe: they escaped from the Amish community of Paradise, Pennsylvania to a new life in the Englisch world.  Leaving the only life they had ever known was hard, especially for David, because leaving Paradise meant leaving Lavina Zook, the woman he planned to wed.

A year later, Lavina hasn’t forgiven David for abandoning her, but when his father is diagnosed with cancer she knows she has to get David to come back and make peace with his father before it’s too late. Even if she can get David to return, she’s not sure he will find forgiveness in his heart. She’s not sure she will, either.