Amish of Big Sky Country Series by Kelly Irvin

In the first of a new series set in the Amish communities of Montana, bestselling author Kelly Irvin explores what the Amish do in the aftermath of natural disaster. Schoolteacher Mercy Yoder loves her life in the beautiful West Kootenai region of Montana. But when a wildfire blazes outside her beloved community, she and her family are forced to evacuate and flee to the small town of Eureka... moreIn the first of a new series set in the Amish communities of Montana, bestselling author Kelly Irvin explores what the Amish do in the aftermath of natural disaster. Schoolteacher Mercy Yoder loves her life in the beautiful West Kootenai region of Montana. But when a wildfire blazes outside her beloved community, she and her family are forced to evacuate and flee to the small town of Eureka. John Hostetler, Mercy’s beau, sorts through the damage left by the fire, helping Mercy set up a makeshift school to continue her passion. Eureka is filled with fire personnel, media, and rubberneckers—more contact with the outside world than Mercy has ever experienced. A chance encounter with a smoke jumper, Travis Cooper, leads to longer conversations about her Amish beliefs and life. As word arrives that their home was one of the houses destroyed in the fire, Mercy struggles to accept that everything they owned is gone. A life’s worth of memories. She hides her bitterness from her father, who accepts such events as God’s will. How can it be God’s will that they would start over with nothing? John’s decision to return to Kansas pours kerosene on her doubts. Her heart is doubly broken. While John is away, Travis continues to seek Mercy’s company. His observations force her to look at her life from a different perspective. But is it the right perspective? When all seems lost, including her way, Mary finds unexpected beauty and love springing from the ashes of all that she’s known. less

After her community in the awe-inspiring Montana mountains is suddenly consumed by a raging wildfire, one young Amish woman finds herself in a new town where she’s introduced to the Native culture of the Kootenai people.  When the Mast family is forced to evacuate their home in the West Kootenai region of Montana, Christine chooses not to move with her family to her father’s childhood home in Kansas... moreAfter her community in the awe-inspiring Montana mountains is suddenly consumed by a raging wildfire, one young Amish woman finds herself in a new town where she’s introduced to the Native culture of the Kootenai people.  When the Mast family is forced to evacuate their home in the West Kootenai region of Montana, Christine chooses not to move with her family to her father’s childhood home in Kansas. Instead, she wants to stay closer to home and to her beau, Andy Lambright, who has yet to ask for her hand in marriage and who seems to be holding tightly to secrets from his past.  Now, living with her aunt and uncle in St. Ignatius, Christine is on her own for the first time in her life. While working in her uncle’s store Christine meets Raymond Old Fox, whom she befriends, and he introduces her to his rich native culture with strong ties to the earth and nature. Despite the warnings of her aunt and uncle, Christine is inexplicably drawn to Raymond, and her mind is opened to a history and heritage far different from her own.  With her newly expanding horizons, Christine wonders if she can return to the domestic life that is expected of her. Her heart still longs to be with Andy, but she isn’t the same person she was before the fire, and she wonders if he can accept who she is becoming. Has too much distance grown between them? Or can they bridge the gap from past to present and find their way back together? less

After a devastating wildfire sweeps through her town, one young Amish woman is shown a different way to practice her faith . . . but will it cost her everything she holds dear?Nora Beachy is caught in the middle. She’s been content to live a simple life in West Kootenai, working in the community store, taking care of her family, and courting with Isaac Burke... moreAfter a devastating wildfire sweeps through her town, one young Amish woman is shown a different way to practice her faith . . . but will it cost her everything she holds dear?Nora Beachy is caught in the middle. She’s been content to live a simple life in West Kootenai, working in the community store, taking care of her family, and courting with Isaac Burke.When wildfires threaten her home, she’s forced to stay with family in Libby where the Amish community has embraced an evangelical form of worship frowned upon by her own parents and district elders in West Kootenai. She’s drawn to their unfamiliar worship style, use of musical instruments, and more relaxed form of dress.A young preacher begins to woo her spiritually, telling her she needs a personal relationship with Jesus in order to flourish as a believer. He and her cousins want her to “come alive” in her faith “for the first time.” Her parents rush her back to West Kootenai as soon as they can but fear the “damage” has already been done.Nora has to make a decision—return to her traditional Amish life or embrace this new way of worshipping and living. Will she leave behind her family and the man she loves for a different kind of faith? less