Lillian Landis is back at home and miserable. She moved out of the doddy house she was sharing with Katy Yoder when her mother fell prey to depression and her father needed someone to cook and clean house. Katy has married Jake now and is living in the doddy house with him. But Lillian's chores, along with her job at the restaurant as a line cook, is more than she can handle right now. Her dream of becoming a head chef is falling by the wayside. It's the reason she went to culinary school.

Late for work and not paying attention to how she pulled into the parking place, she backs out hurriedly and hits the car Fletcher Stauffer is driving. It's his bosses' wife's brand new car. There is an immediate attraction for both Lillian and Fletch. They trade information and Lil hurries into work. She doesn't hear from Fletch until he shows up at her house one day with her brother, Matt. He and Fletch met at a seminar on farming and Matt invited Fletch to see their farm, look at some sick animals and discuss possible changes. Fletch is in veterinarian school and interning with a local vet.

Part of Fletch's attraction to Lil is that she is a Mennonite like him. He grew up as a missionary kid. However, she is of the Conservative branch and he is more liberal. This is only the first obstacle in their path toward dating and beginning a relationship. Fletch compromises his integrity when he videos some of the Landis' sick animals for a friend who has financed Fletch's education. Lil catches him in the act and refuses to see him anymore. But she can't get Fletch out of her mind, and he's determined to win her back. Their relationship goes through a series of ups and downs. Can they find any common ground to make it work?

SOMETHING NEW is the second book in Diane Christner's Plain City Bridesmaids series. It's a story about trust and finding your way in life, about fulfilling your dreams or finding them change as time moves forward. Old characters return to this story about living a conservative Mennonite life in a world that is fast-paced and filled with technology that the Mennonites reject. This is a poignant story about faith, conviction and betrayal, well written and inspirational. You'll enjoy it.

Book Summary

Dreams Aren’t Always Worth the Sacrifice

Lil Landis dreads a lifetime spent on the farm. . .instead she dreams of turning her flair for cooking into a successful career as head chef. There’s only one problem. Her Conservative Mennonite father would rather see her settle down as a wife and mother. As Lil struggles against expectation in pursuit of her goals, her once clear plan becomes muddled with hardship—from her guilt over leaving her depressed mother alone for a restaurant job to worry over her family’s failing farm. Then there’s Fletch. . . .

Fletch Stauffer’s good intentions toward an old friend backfire when his job providing veterinary service at the Landis farm becomes undercover work filming a documentary to expose animal cruelty. But as Fletch is drawn deeper into the deception, he finds himself falling for spunky Lil—and at odds with his dream.

Will determination cloud both Lil and Fletch’s thoughts until what matters most disappears? Or will their misguided goals open paths to something new?