Love by the Numbers

by Laura V. Hilton

Overview

After a buggy accident claims the life of her fiancé, Lydia Hershberger makes a fresh start in Jamesport, Missouri, managing a gift store. It isn’t long before she meets the young man hired to handle the bookkeeping—Caleb Bontrager, whose handcrafted cuckoo clocks are sold in the store.       //       

And it isn't long before Caleb has made up his mind about her: bright and sparkly but not right for him. Alarmed by his attraction to her, he determines to settle down with someone more practical. Less sparkle. More logic. But he can’t seem to shake his feelings for Lydia.       //       
When false allegations by the bishop back home catch up with Lydia and threaten to ruin her reputation, can she clear her name and find lasting happiness? Or will her sunny disposition fade away into heartbreak?

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629119328
Publisher:	Whitaker House
Publication date:	02/06/2018
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

LAURA V. HILTON is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with more than a thousand reviews published on the web. Her first series with Whitaker was The Amish of Seymour, including A Harvest of Hearts (2012 Laurel Award winner, first place in the Amish Genre Clash); and her second was The Amish of Webster County. Her most recent series was The Amish of Jamesport, featuring The Post Card, The Snow Globe, and The Birdhouse. Laura and her husband, Steve, live in Arkansas with their five children, whom Laura homeschools.

Interviews

Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512

Editorial Reviews

12/11/2017
Hilton (Patchwork Dreams) offers a tale about the fallout of one’s character being unjustly called into question. Living in a small, unnamed Amish town, Lydia Hershberger is shunned by her neighbors after her fiancé dies when his buggy is struck by lightning. To escape local gossip surrounding a claim she makes against a married man who approaches her after the death of her husband, Lydia takes a job working in Jamesport, Miss., at her aunt and uncle’s gift shop while they go on a missionary trip. Lydia’s best friend, Abigail, also lives there, and she’s anxious to see her. Caleb, an employee of the gift shop, becomes lovestruck when the girl he admired from afar at Abigail’s wedding earlier that year turns out to be the temporary helper. But Lydia, at least at first, wants nothing to do with romance after the disastrous end of her engagement. When false allegations reach Jamesport thanks to a visiting bishop, Lydia has to choose whether to face her accuser or run away again. Caleb, determined to win Lydia’s trust, decides to rely on God’s wisdom and intervene or her behalf. Hilton unflinchingly demonstrates the personal consequences of being judged guilty by one’s community. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

11/01/2017
Lydia Hershberger moves to Jamesport, MO, to escape the rumors that she had something to do with her fiancé's death. Working in her aunt's gift store, she meets the shop's bookkeeper Caleb Bontrager, who is immediately attracted to her. But the vivacious Lydia is a bit too energetic for Caleb, or so he thinks, though his heart disagrees. When false allegations from the bishop of Lydia's former community reach Jamesport, Lydia is certain her life is over. Unexpectedly, Caleb joins her family in an effort to clear her name. Hilton (The Amish Firefighter) endows her well-drawn protagonists with integrity, faithfulness, and compassion, and the themes of God's grace and mercy bring the story line to a gratifying close. VERDICT Readers who appreciate strong character development will delight in the endearing Lydia and Caleb, and Hilton's twisty, fast-paced plot will keep them captivated.

Library Journal