Gretchen Kohler is an Amana storekeeper's daughter with a secret passion for writing. But artistic pursuits are frowned upon in her conservative Amana village, so she confines her poems and stories to her journals, letting only close friends read them. When a young reporter comes into her store, she believes she's found a kindred spirit. She shares a few of her stories with him--only to have her trust betrayed in the worst of ways, resulting in trouble for her entire community. The scandal is made even worse by the fact that gypsies have camped nearby and seem to be preying upon the Amanans' compassionate, pacifist nature. Will Gretchen lose her job, her reputation, and the love of her childhood beau all because of one bad decision?Editorial ReviewsFrom BooklistAfter her mother's death, Gretchen Kohler has her hands full helping run her father's general store in Homestead and taking care of her irresponsible younger brother and her beloved Oma. More and more, Oma's mind slips away, and unless Gretchen keeps a constant watch on her, she gets into trouble. All of this work leaves little time for Gretchen to write in her journal, not that the elders in the Amana Society consider writing--or any other individual artistic pursuit--worthwhile. When Allen Finley shows up one day at the store selling lace and other sewing goods, Gretchen thinks she finally has found someone who understands her literary ambitions. But should Gretchen give up everything and everyone she holds dear for the chance at finally achieving her dream of becoming a writer? In the second installment in her Daughters of Amana series, Miller delivers a sweet tale of faith and hope laced with a dash of gentle romance that will be an easy sell to the bonnet-based historical-fiction and romance brigade. --John CharlesAbout the AuthorJudith Miller is an award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her bestselling novels. She has written 25 books, including three series coauthored with Tracie Peterson. Judy and her husband make their home in Topeka, Kansas.