Plain Promise, by Beth Wiseman, is the story of Sadie Fisher, an Amish widow who rents out her guest cottage to visitors and runs a small shop with other Amish women. During the cold winter, millionaire Kade Sanders decides to rent the cottage for three months. Unaware of Amish traditions he often puts Sadie into situations that would be called innappropriate by Sadie’s people.
When Kade’s ex-wife shows up with his autistic son, Tyler, and the news that she’s getting married, Kade is frantic. He doesn’t know how to take care of Tyler. So, of course, Sadie begins to make friendly visits to the cottage to help with Tyler. Sadie is scared by Kade’s behavior towards her, especially when he makes physical advances on her such as a kiss on the cheek. When Sadie asks him to stop, he pretty much says “Why? What’s wrong with it?”
The author comes up with a lot more excuses for them to be alone, such as a snowed in cabin or going to help with Tyler. Although it never goes farther than a hug or a kiss, this is just a regular love story with some things omitted that go “too far” and some God sprinkled in. Kade eventually gives up his job that made him a millionaire and becomes Amish and Sadie moves back from Texas after deciding that the Amish man Milo, who she’s been in a long-distance relationship for over two years, is not right for her. Kade and Sadie get married, but not before your typical “I thought you loved me!” routine comes up, not really a good story to base your life on. Your basic “Christian” love story.
