Plain Jayne (Plain and Simple) [Paperback]

Hillary Manton Lodge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010 | Series: Plain and Simple

Talented new author Hillary Manton Lodge brings a new twist to the popular Amish novel.

Jayne Tate loves her life as it is—living in a big city, working as a reporter for a fast-paced newspaper, and dating a guy who knows nothing about her past.  When her father passes away though, she’s forced to take another look at what she wants out of life.  After losing out on the big career opportunity she was hoping for, she decides to escape to Oregon Amish country, seeking solace and maybe a big story.

Even in this land of buggies and bonnets, Jayne finds life more complicated than she expected.  Can she persuade herself that her growing friendship with the mysterious and handsome Levi Burkholder is just about research?  And what’s a latte-drinking, laptop-using, motorcycle-riding reporter to do when this new life starts to change her?

With humor, faith, and unexpected romance, Plain Jayne will delight readers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Debut fiction author Lodge, a freelance photographer with a background in journalism, enters the popular arena of “plain people” fiction with a surprisingly funny, refreshing and strong story line. Lodge creates the lovable and always acerbic protagonist Jayne Tate, reporter for Portland's Oregonian. Forced by her employer to take time off to regain her edge, Jayne goes hunting for a feature in Oregon's Amish country. What this independent and thoroughly modern journalist finds is an alternative lifestyle that keeps her slightly off-balance even while, in good reporter form, Jayne tries to remain coolly objective. Enter Levi Burkholder, formerly Amish, presently a carpenter, and Jayne's heart goes off kilter as well. Jayne joins the household of Levi's estranged parents for some real Amish experiences, learning to respect the hardworking family. Smart, fast-paced and chock-full of endearing characters, Lodge's entry into inspirational fiction is a keeper, plain and simple. (Jan.)
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From Booklist

Jayne left home at 18 and has rarely returned, preferring to re-create herself as a successful reporter for the Portland Oregonian and avoiding any mention of her small-town religious upbringing. When Jayne’s father dies suddenly, her work begins to suffer and her boss orders her to take some of her accumulated vacation time to relax and regroup. At loose ends, Jayne spots a magazine article on the Plain People in a nearby community and her journalistic instinct is piqued. Picking an Amish carpenter at random from the phone book, she convinces Levi Burkholder of her sincere interest in this very different way of life, and as she spends time with his family she learns to slow down and appreciate both their way of life and her own, vastly wider opportunities. Capitalizing on the recent popularity of “bonnet romances” but with a very different focus, Lodge’s debut contemporary inspirational offers a fresh new voice as Lodge explores issues of self-worth, family, culture, and faith in a charming, fast-paced, coming-of-age story. --Lynne Welch

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Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers; Original edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736926984
• ISBN-13: 978-0736926980
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #704,482 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hillary writes Generation-Next fiction for today's market. Her debut novel Plain Jayne will be released by Harvest House in 2010. Hillary is a graduate of the University of Oregon's School of Journalism, maintains a freelance photography business, and is an active participant with Oregon Christian Writers. She resides in Eugene, Oregon, with her husband, Danny.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh New Voice!, January 15, 2010

By 

Bonnie Leon "Unveiling Truth Through Fiction" (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plain Jayne (Plain and Simple) (Paperback)

A fresh new voice in literature! Hillary Manton Lodge told this touching story with wit and humor, not to mention great skill.

Jayne Tate has walked away from her past, but is confronted by it in the most unexected place--in the midst of an Amish family. Jayne has a lot to learn about who she is, and life's lessons are never easy. Thanks, Hillary, for allowing me to be part of Jayne's journey of self discovery.

We have not heard the last from Hillary Manton Lodge. I'm eager to read her next book.

Plain Jayne will definitely be on my list of best reads for 2010.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just Plain witty!, February 15, 2010

By 

Delia Latham "Inspirational Romance Author" (Okmulgee, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plain Jayne (Plain and Simple) (Paperback)

Jayne Tate lives in the big city of Portland, Oregon. She loves her job as a reporter for a busy newspaper, and enjoys an undemanding relationship with her boyfriend. Shane knows her only as the motorcycle-riding, modern news gal from Portland. Her childhood hasn't been discussed, he hasn't met her family, and Jayne's perfectly fine with that.

Then her father dies, and her boss insists she take a three-week break from her job, based on a pronounced downswing in writing quality. This forced hiatus effectively cuts Jayne out of a prime career opportunity. She responds by heading off to a nearby Amish community, seeking a story that will put her back in her boss's good graces. Being forced away from her desk for three weeks doesn't mean she can't work on her own.

Her first contact in Albany is Levi Burkholder, who arranges for Jayne to stay with his Amish family--a family and a way of life he is no longer a part of. While wrestling with an undeniable attraction to the kind, handsome carpenter who is shunned by his Amish father, Jayne finds herself drawn to the Burkholder family and their simple way of life. Three weeks under their roof changes her, and when she returns to Portland--her job, her lonely apartment, and the handsome suitor who really doesn't know her--they no longer satisfy.

To say nothing of the fact that her mind refuses to let go of one unforgettable kiss she shared with a not-quite-Plain man.

Plain Jayne is not your everyday Amish love story, and Jayne Tate is not your everyday heroine. Hillary Manton Lodge brings a different kind of romance. Dropping a very modern woman into a devoutly Plain community has all the makings of disaster, but the author makes it work, believably and without obvious contrivance. She throws in a dash of humor, a whole lot of heart, and an Amish kitchen full of home cooking to come up with the perfect recipe for a romance to remember.

I look forward to the next stories in the Plain and Simple series.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amish with a twist, January 23, 2010

By 

Eileen Key (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plain Jayne (Plain and Simple) (Paperback)

Hillary Manton Lodge has crafted an interesting romance novel, well-written, funny and informative. This is NOT a typical Amish love story. Excellent read!