Author Beverly Lewis is known for writing stories that transport readers to the simple life of the Amish plain folk.  The lives of her characters are not always easy and uncomplicated however, as they face many issues related to courting, their relationships to others in the community, the allure of the modern world, and matters of faith.

For fans of Lewis who have read all of her books and are waiting for her newest The Missing, here are some authors who also write gentle fiction set among communities with simple lifestyles.

Wanda Brunstetter: Like Lewis, Brunstetter has been writing fiction set among the Amish for a long time.  One of her most popular series is the Daughters of Lancaster County, which starts with The Storekeeper's Daughter.  This story concerns a young woman who would rather be thinking about courting than looking after her younger brothers and sisters—until one of her siblings disappears.

Jerry Eicher: Try his Rebecca's Promise which tells the story of Rebecca Kelm—a young Amish girl who has just agreed to marry, but is haunted by a vague memory of a promise of love she gave long ago. 

Ann H. Gabhart: Gabhart's The Outsider should appeal to fans who like the tension created when people living in restrictive communities encounter the outside world.  This well reviewed novel is set among the Shakers of Kentucky and takes place during the 1800's.  The story concerns a young woman named Gabrielle who must choose between a forbidden love and the community that has embraced her and her gift.

Shelley Shephard Gray: This newer author has written a trilogy set among the Amish that starts with Hidden.  Anna's boyfriend Rob has everyone fooled—except her.  She has seen his dark side—and in order to escape from his abuse she turns to the only safe haven she can find—the Amish family who run her favorite bed and breakfast. 

B.J. Hoff: This long established author of Christian historical fiction has a series called The Riverhaven Years which concerns an Amish community that takes in an injured riverboat captain—who also happens to be a secret conductor for the Underground Railroad.  The first in the series is Rachel's Secret.

Kim Vogel Sawyer:  This Kansas native and longtime author should not be missed by those who enjoy reading gentle stories set in our own area.  A good one to start with is Bygones (#1 in the Sommerfield trilogy).  Marie and her daughter Beth return to the Mennonite community that Marie left before Beth was born—where they end up having to face not only Marie's past life, but also the suspicion of the local community when a series of  thefts is blamed on them.

Beth Wiseman: This new author has a trilogy set among the Amish, the first is Plain Perfect.  It concerns a young woman who returns to her mother's Amish roots hoping to find peace—but the distractions of romance and the ghosts of her former life may keep her from her goal.

Cindy Woodsmall: This author's Sisters of the Quilt series features both Amish and Mennonite faith communities, as it concerns a couple who wish to marry—but she is Old Order Amish and he is Mennonite, and her father has vowed to not allow their marriage to take place.  The first book is When the Heart Cries.

And a standalone title that I would highly recommend to fans of Amish fiction is Levi's Will by W. Dale Cramer.  This powerful story of the power of forgiveness concerns a young man who runs away from his Amish family—but years later seeks to become reconnected to them, though he fears they will never forgive him.  Click here to read my full review.

For more look at ChristianBoook.com's Amish Fiction page, or look through the fiction section of the Mennonite Publishing  Network, which is a good place to find authors such as Carrie Bender and Mary Borntrager that write stories of Amish/Mennonite life

Photo of Beverly Lewis courtesy of Baker Publishing Group.