Friday, January 29, 2016

Journey to Pleasant Prairie

Cover ArtHannah Yoder loves her quiet life on the banks of the Conestoga Creek. In 1842, this corner of Lancaster County is settled and peaceful--yet problems lurk beneath the placid faade. Hannah's father worries about the spread of liberal ideas from their Mennonite and Brethren neighbors. And Hannah blames herself for a tragedy that struck their home nine years ago. She strives to be the one person who can bind the threads of her family together in spite of her mother's ongoing depression and her sister's rejection of their family. But her world is threatening to unravel.

When two young men seek her hand in marriage--one offering the home she craves and the other promising the adventure of following God's call west--Hannah must make a choice. Faithfully perform her duties to her family? Or defy her father and abandon her community?
Published January 19th 2016
 by Revell  
4 Stars 
My Thoughts:
  
What a wonderful story set in 1842 in Lancaster County, Pa. which revolves around the Yoder family.  As the story opens we meet Hannah Yoder, a young, Amish woman who strives to be the perfect daughter.  The past few years have been difficult for her.  At the age of 9 she lost 3 of her siblings and has been living with a mother consumed with grief. Hannah is a sweet girl.  She shows a deep love for her family and Amish faith not only in her words, but also in her works.  My heart goes out to her for all she has endured and dealt with. 
Hannah's family lives beside the Metzler's farm and growing up her best friend was their son, Adam.  Adam would like to marry Hannah, but she knows that is impossible for Adam is not Amish.  He's a Mennonite and therefore an outsider.  Adam is changing not only his behavior, but also his beliefs as well.  Hannah finds herself suddenly questioning not only her beliefs, but her faith as well.  Of course when Josef Bender, an Amish man, arrives suddenly Hannah is fighting the attraction of two men.  
This is a heart tugging storyI was immediately drawn into the story from page one and the engaging characters kept me turning the pages.  I loved Hannah from the very start of the story and hoped she would get her heart's desire.  The friendship between Adam and Hannah is conveyed in a very genuine way.  I liked Josef and the way in which he helped Hannah. The characters and setting are detailed and perceptive. The use of imagery immediately drew me in.  The plot has good flow and pace that keeps the reader's attention.  This is a book that I would recommend to anyone who loves Amish fiction.  
*I received this book free from the publisher's book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

Meet the Author:

Jan Drexler 
Jan Drexler brings a unique understanding of Amish traditions and beliefs to her writing. Her ancestors were among the first Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1700s. Their experiences are the basis for her stories. Jan lives in South Dakota with her husband, their four adult children, two active dogs, and a cat. When she isn't writing, she enjoys hiking the Black Hills and the Badlands. She is the author of the Love Inspired novels The Prodigal Son Returns, A Mother for His Children, and A Home for His Family (September 2015). 
  

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