Sense and Sensibility ~ An Amish Retelling of Jane Austen's Classic ~ Sarah Price

• File Size: 2032 KB
• Print Length: 306 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1629986593
• Publisher: Realms (March 1, 2016)
• Publication Date: March 1, 2016
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• ASIN: B01053YQ06

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Henry Detweiler dies unexpectedly, leaving his second wife and three daughters, Eleanor, Mary Ann, and Maggie, in the care of John, his oldest son from a previous marriage. John and his wife, Fanny, inherit the farm and, despite a deathbed promise to take care of their stepmother and half-sisters, John and Fanny make it obvious that Mrs. Detweiler and her daughters are not welcomed at the farm. When Edwin Fischer, Fanny’s older brother, takes notice of Eleanor and begins to court her, much to the disapproval of his sister, Fanny makes life even more difficult for the Detweiler women.

In their new home, Eleanor wonders if Edwin will come calling while Mary Ann catches the attention of Christian Bechtler, an older bachelor in the church district, and John Willis, a younger man set to inherit a nearby farm. While Eleanor quietly pines for Edwin, Mary Ann does not hide her infatuation with John Willis. When the marriage proposal from John Willis does not materialize, Mary Ann is left grief-stricken and humiliated as the Amish community begins to gossip about their relationship. In the meantime, a broken-hearted Eleanor learns that Edwin is engaged to another woman.

Will admitting her affections for him result in the marriage proposal Eleanor has always desired? 

My take on this book:

While on his deathbed Henry Detweiler asks his son John to make him one promise that when he takes over the farm that he will continue to provide for his stepmother and three half sisters Eleanor, Mary-Ann and Maggie. He makes the promise, but within a few weeks of his father's death John and his wife Fanny along with their spoiled son take over the farm, and it doesn't take Fanny long to take over, and she makes it pretty clear that the family that her husband promised to take care of are nothing but a burden.  When Fanny's brother Edwin comes to the farm to help out a relationship of sorts forms between him and the oldest daughter Eleanor, but when the Detweiler women decide to move to another relative's farm  that is a good distance away what will happen with Eleanor and Edwin? Meanwhile Mary-Ann blames Eleanor for not making her feelings clear where Edwin was concerned. When two men show an interest in Mary-Ann she overlooks one and begins openly dating the second, but when things don't work out as she anticipated she finds herself heartbroken. What is in store for these two Amish sisters?

I must admit I haven't read Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, but I can't imagine that it could be any better than Sarah Price's Amish twist on the story. I found myself drawn in immediately and couldn't put this book down. The story was compelling. It was interesting to see the different way that Eleanor and Mary-Ann think about courtship. I really could commiserate with the Detweiler women, I could just imagine how it must have felt to have Fanny move in and take over, and then to act like they were a burden. I really kept hoping that John would get some backbone. I would love if the author would provide another book in order to see what happens with the youngest sister Maggie. I really feel like her story could be fantastic. Truly an enjoyable read that has me wanting to read Sarah Price's other books on the retelling of Jane Austen Amish style.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.