"The Winnowing Season" by Cindy Woodsmall

Gifted horticulturist Rhoda is on the verge of setting off to the new Amish settlement in Maine when Samuel King's well-meaning efforts put the whole move in jeopardy. Her church leaders have never felt comfortable with Rhoda's keen intuition, and decide at the eleventh hour to hold an open meeting in an attempt to discredit and shame her. Stalwart Rhoda has faith that things will work out the way they are supposed to, but she is sad her new friends the Kings will finally see the way her community has treated her ever since she was young.

Samuel only desired to help Rhoda in getting the church leaders involved, but now feels terrible that he unintentionally put his friend and business partner in hot water. He has staked everything on starting the new colony in Maine and restoring the apple orchard there.

Meanwhile, Samuel's brother Jacob, who is courting Rhoda, finds he cannot be there to support her in her hour of need because the secrets of his past are calling him away. Why did they have to come up now, when he was beginning to believe he could have a fresh start with Rhoda? Will he ever be free of his sins? His absenses begin to stretch into weeks and months, and Rhoda's penchant for finding herself in trouble have her needing a friend more than ever. As they fight to weather their respective storms, their relationship may not be strong enough to survive.

This second book of the "Amish Vines and Orchards" series focuses on faithfulness through trials. Rhoda, Jacob, and Samuel all desire to do the right thing and for their struggles to be tools which draw them closer to God. I'm really not sure where the final two books will take our characters! It will be a while before I'm able to read them, but I look forward to seeing their stories through to conclusion in good time.