Inescapable by Nancy Mehl

Having enjoyed Nancy Mehl's Unbreakable, I was looking forward to her next book, and I was not disappointed. Once again she deftly crafts a story in a unique genre -- Mennonite suspense, with a touch of romance thrown in.

Lizzie had left her Mennonite community years ago.  She was pregnant out of wedlock, and couldn't face the judgmental friends and disappointed family that were inevitable when her boyfriend didn't stick around to father the baby. She had built a new life for herself, and was happy and successful until it all started falling apart.  It wasn't bad enough that she was being stalked, but she was also accused of theft at work.  She has nowhere else to run except for back home to Kingdom. Unsure of her reception from her father, she stays with a friend.

She can't believe what her life has come to. Back home to a house with an outhouse instead of indoor plumbing. Back home to a mother who is loving, but has to go behind her father's back to even see her.  Back home to a father whose rigidity has culminated in trying to unseat the pastor. The irony of infighting in this supposedly peace-loving community is an interesting sub-theme that is handled sensitively.  Mehl avoids the temptation of implying that the Mennonite community inevitably leads to hypocrisy, and instead shows the way people's personalities and values lead them to make different choices.  Cora gives her a job at the cafe. She is not a church member, but follows the Holy Spirit and acts in love. The church is suffering from factions. Those who are afraid to 'relax their standards' cause tension and infighting.

She is surprised to encounter her old boyfriend, Clay.  Maybe he wasn't such a bad guy after all. As it turns out, he had tried to contact her after she left, but her father intercepted the letters. She wonders if it is too late to make a family with Clay, but is also torn by an attraction to Noah, a childhood friend who is still reaching out in friendship (and whom her daughter thinks looks like a prince).

Things are looking up, but the stalker has found her.  Will she have to run again?  Will she be able to choose between Clay and Noah?  Will her family reconcile?   Is anyone trustworthy?  I don't want to spoil it -- read the book to find out.