With a backdrop of the community of The Amana Colonies, the Civil War, and a great
love story, Melanie Dobson’s new historical fiction title Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa is both
enlightening and entertaining.
The novel is set in the United States during the turmoil of the 1860s. As the rest of the
nation is embroiled in the Civil War, the Amana Colonies have remained at peace. The people
of the Amana Colonies live in a communal society and work together to provide all the
necessities of life without the help of the outside world. At the center of The Amana Society is a
strong faith in God and pursuit of community, intertwined with hard work, family life and the
building of their colony.
Amalie Wiese is travelling to the newly built village of Amana in 1863. When she
arrives in the colonies she finds that her fiancée, Friedrich has left to fight with the Union Army.
Amalie fears for his safety as she also struggles with his decision to abandon the colony’s
beliefs. Matthias, Frederick’s friend, stays back in Amana to work in the colonies. But there is
something wrong with Matthias; he always seems angry at Amalie when there is no simple
explanation for him to act that way.
Among the goods the colonies manufacture are much needed supplies for the war effort
and Matthias decides to deliver the goods to the soldiers. When he leaves, Amalie realizes that
her fear for Matthias’s safety is equally as strong. What will become of Friedrich, will Matthias
return safely, and will Amalie marry Friedrich? Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa is a richly
told story of life in the Amana Society and the people who live and love there.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melanie Dobson has written eight novels including Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa. Prior to starting her own public relations firm, Dobson Media, she was the corporate
publicity manager at Focus on the Family. She also worked at The Family Channel and has spent
fifteen years in the publicity and journalism field. She received her undergraduate degree in
journalism from Liberty University and her master’s degree in communication from Regent
University. She lives with her husband and two children in Oregon.
ABOUT THE LOVE FINDS YOU SERIES
The Love Finds You series of novels published by Summerside Press captures the flavors of the
towns and cities in America that have alluring charm, great names and colorful histories. The
series is romantic fiction that uses the flavor of these places and fictional stories about the people
who live and find love there. Each novel in the series draws on the compelling history or the
unique character of the real place. The stories center on romances kindled in a small town, lost
and found again on the high plains, or newly discovered at exciting vacation getaways.
Launched in 2008, the Love Finds You series has 37 titles with 1.5 million copies in print, and it
is one of the most successful series that Summerside Press publishes. It publishes two new
books every other month and its goal is to include at least one novel from each of the fifty states.