- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Whitaker House (March 1, 2012)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1603742573
- ISBN-13: 978-1603742573
About the book:
Annie Beiler is a spunky, spirited schoolteacher, but she's struggled ever since the man she was promised to "jumped the fence" and left the Amish of Seymour. She needs a man who is committed to his Amish beliefs. And now, she's struggling to regain the trust of the school board members and the parents of her pupils for taking her class on an unauthorized field trip to a nearby Civil War battlefield. She's put on probation, and one wrong step could cost her the position permanently. Joshua Esh of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, moved to Missouri ostensibly as part of the man swap meant tobring new blood into the community. Annie Beiler caught his attention the moment he arrived in Seymour, but he's disheartened to discover that she is promised to another man Luke, who left the Amish but vowed to return one day and claim "his" Annie. So, Josh fills his social calendar with singings and frolics, taking a different girl home from every event with the exception of Annie, since she is already committed to someone. When Luke comes home, Annie pushes him away, and Josh Esh comes to her rescue. But the situation becomes awkward, since Josh is staying with Luke's family. An awareness of each other's attraction to Annie causes the awkwardness to escalate, and Annie's father soon invites Josh to stay with his family. But not all of the Beilers are happy about this new arrangement.
My take on this book:
I have been fortunate enough to read all three books in the Amish of Seymour series and have become a Laura V. Hilton fan. She has the writing skills to easily transport the reader right into the heart of the stories that she is telling, allowing me to envision the characters, setting and drama so vividly it makes me feel as if I have been transported to another place.
In "Promised To Another" we get the story of Annie Beiler and Joshua Esh. Annie is the local Amish schoolteacher, she is always excited about history and learning which often gets her in trouble and puts her teaching job in jeopardy, something she can't afford to lose. You see her steady beau Luke Schwartz jumped the fence to become English and no one else has even noticed her, or at least that's what she thinks. When Luke makes an unexpected appearance after a singing and offers to take her home she turns him down flat but her refuses to listen, that is until Joshua Esh steps in and offers her a ride home, a rider home with the other girl he is already taking home. While the men who came to Seymour from Pennsylvania came looking for wives Joshua didn't instead he came to see a different part of the world but has plans to return to PA. He has earned the reputation of a player because he is always taking a different Amish girl home after singings, but that doesn't stop Annie from noticing him.Thing is Luke has decided to join the church and marry Annie and doesn't want to take no for an answer. Is Josh really a player or does Annie have the wrong idea about him? Will Annie give in and do what Luke wants or will she realize that there just might be someone else for her after all.
The beginning of this story started out a bit predictable but then the author started throwing in several different plot twists that had me changing my mind. I thought the characters in the story seemed very realistic, especially Annie. I could totally understand her love of history and wanting to share it with her pupils. I enjoyed getting to know the different sides of Annie, there was the Annie who stood strong when her beau left her, but we also got a glimpse of an insecure Annie wondering if she would ever have someone of her own, we also saw someone who had a zest for teaching and wanted to share her love of learning with her pupils even though the board members didn't always see things her way. I thought Josh was a good male lead, and while he kept a secret from Annie I still liked him. I liked the unconventional twist the relationship took toward the end of the story.
If your a fan of Amish fiction then your going to want to read this story. Even though it's the third book in The Amish of Seymour series it can easily be read as a stand alone work although this series is so good that your going to want to read all three books. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this whole series a six because it's just that good!
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I have been fortunate enough to read all three books in the Amish of Seymour series and have become a Laura V. Hilton fan. She has the writing skills to easily transport the reader right into the heart of the stories that she is telling, allowing me to envision the characters, setting and drama so vividly it makes me feel as if I have been transported to another place.
In "Promised To Another" we get the story of Annie Beiler and Joshua Esh. Annie is the local Amish schoolteacher, she is always excited about history and learning which often gets her in trouble and puts her teaching job in jeopardy, something she can't afford to lose. You see her steady beau Luke Schwartz jumped the fence to become English and no one else has even noticed her, or at least that's what she thinks. When Luke makes an unexpected appearance after a singing and offers to take her home she turns him down flat but her refuses to listen, that is until Joshua Esh steps in and offers her a ride home, a rider home with the other girl he is already taking home. While the men who came to Seymour from Pennsylvania came looking for wives Joshua didn't instead he came to see a different part of the world but has plans to return to PA. He has earned the reputation of a player because he is always taking a different Amish girl home after singings, but that doesn't stop Annie from noticing him.Thing is Luke has decided to join the church and marry Annie and doesn't want to take no for an answer. Is Josh really a player or does Annie have the wrong idea about him? Will Annie give in and do what Luke wants or will she realize that there just might be someone else for her after all.
The beginning of this story started out a bit predictable but then the author started throwing in several different plot twists that had me changing my mind. I thought the characters in the story seemed very realistic, especially Annie. I could totally understand her love of history and wanting to share it with her pupils. I enjoyed getting to know the different sides of Annie, there was the Annie who stood strong when her beau left her, but we also got a glimpse of an insecure Annie wondering if she would ever have someone of her own, we also saw someone who had a zest for teaching and wanted to share her love of learning with her pupils even though the board members didn't always see things her way. I thought Josh was a good male lead, and while he kept a secret from Annie I still liked him. I liked the unconventional twist the relationship took toward the end of the story.
If your a fan of Amish fiction then your going to want to read this story. Even though it's the third book in The Amish of Seymour series it can easily be read as a stand alone work although this series is so good that your going to want to read all three books. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this whole series a six because it's just that good!
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Nice review -- thanks!
ReplyDeleteCathy Hickling