Category Archives: The Infamous Amish Series

Review: The Preacher’s Daughter by Patricia Johns

Title: The Preacher’s Daughter by Patricia Johns
The Infamous Amish Series Book Two
Publisher: Zebra Books
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating:

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

For a Pennsylvania Amish family whose faith has been tested, the blessings of marriage, home, and togetherness seem impossible. Patricia Johns brings her trademark warmth to this story of love’s powerful redemption.

With her preacher father in prison for fraud, Elizabeth Yoder’s life in the community of Bountiful has been painfully uprooted. Mindful of wearing out her welcome with her family, she jumps at the chance to stay with elderly Bridget Lantz while the woman’s daughter is away. Elizabeth has secret plans to leave for another Amish community where she might get a fresh start, but here with Bridget, she feels comfortable—until Bridget’s strapping grandson, Solomon, returns from eight years with the English, and inspires feelings that shake Elizabeth’s resolution . . .

Solomon has had his own trouble with the law, after falling in with some bad influences. He’s paid the price, despite his innocence, but the Amish are even more wary of him than they are of spirited Elizabeth. With good reason, he supposes—he’s not sure he’s ready to commit to this way of life again, especially since the Englishers are the ones offering him solutions. The only thing that seems certain is his attraction to Elizabeth. As they strive to find their places in the community, and with each other, can they open their hearts to the blessing of love?

Review:

The Preacher’s Daughter by Patricia Johns is a thought-provoking Amish romance. Although this newest release is the second installment in The Infamous Amish series, it can be read as a standalone.

Elizabeth Yoder lives under the cloud of her once respected father’s arrest and conviction for fraud. She is also still very upset she has not heard her youngest sister, Lovina, who left their community a year earlier. Elizabeth is temporarily staying with Bridget Lantz, an elderly widow who needs a little assistance while her daughter-in-law is out of town. Elizabeth is considering her plans for the future since she would like to marry and have a family. With her family name so tarnished, her prospects in her community are dim. Will the arrival of Bridget’s grandson Solomon change her mind about her plans?

Solomon left the Amish community and fell in with the wrong crowd. Having paid for his mistakes, he is looking for a fresh start. Solomon hopes the community will show him grace but he is discovering forgiveness and trust are in short supply. He is finding comfort in the time he spends with Elizabeth. However, a life together seems impossibly out of reach as he considers what he will do next.

Elizabeth is surprised by how much she likes Solomon, but she is hoping to become a respected person within her community. She knows a relationship with him is impossible but she cannot deny the attraction between them. With few options open to him, Solomon is hoping to convince Elizabeth to agree to his plans. But is there any chance she will say yes?

The Preacher’s Daughter is a very sweet romance with a realistic storyline. Elizabeth and Solomon are both wonderfully developed characters with relatable strengths and flaws. The plot is well-written with true to life problems to solve. With an unexpected twist, Patricia Johns brings this captivating romance to a very satisfying conclusion. Old and new fans of The Infamous Amish series are sure to enjoy this heartwarming love story.

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Filed under Amish, Contemporary, Patricia Johns, Rated B+, Review, Romance, The Infamous Amish Series, The Preachers Daughter, Zebra Books

Review: The Preacher’s Son by Patricia Johns

Title: The Preacher’s Son by Patricia Davids
The Infamous Amish Series Book One
Publisher: Zebra Books
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In this poignant new series, Patricia Johns introduces an Amish family striving to reclaim the promise of love, marriage, and community . . .

The Amish residents of Bountiful, Pennsylvania, are stunned when preacher Abe Yoder is imprisoned for fraud. For Abe’s son, Isaiah, the news cuts doubly deep. His daet’s misdeeds have cost Isaiah his family’s land and their good name. To support his sisters, he takes a job in the Glick family’s
book-binding shop, though it means working alongside a woman who has every reason to resent him. Yet his attraction to Bethany Glick’s beauty and warmth is undimmed . . .

Isaiah’s daet’s actions helped drive Bethany’s fiancé to the Englischer world, and cost her own father his savings. Their shop has need of Isaiah’s brawn and skill, but if she’s to start over after heartbreak, she needs a man she can trust. Not a Yoder. But Isaiah isn’t giving up so easily. And when Bethany faces a dilemma, there may be a way for each to find not just redemption, but a joyful new love . . .

Review:

The Preacher’s Son by Patricia Johns is a heartfelt Amish romance.

Isaiah Yoder’s life is in shambles following the arrest and conviction of his father for swindling the people in their community.  Living with his uncle, Isaish feels unwelcome so he is desperate to get a job so he can take care of his sisters.  Isaiah is not trusted by the other Amish families and the future he envisioned for himself is now unattainable. But he is unwilling to give up his faith or his community, so he continues trying to show he is worthy of their support and friendship.

Following her fiancé Micah Weibe’s sudden departure, Bethany Glick is heartbroken and mad at herself for not seeing Micah more clearly. She continues working with her dad in his binding shop where she misses Micah’s help and presence.  With everyone else hoping Micah will come to his senses and return to Bountiful, Bethany gradually realizes she would not marry him if he did come back. But after an unwelcome discovery, Bethany is faced with an untenable decision.

When Bethany’s father takes a risk hiring Isaiah, she is at first displeased to see him every day. She is angry that his father’s actions have a direct impact on her parents’ lives. But as they begin to occasionally spend time together outside of work, Bethany gradually begins to thaw towards him. Isaiah knows he will not be able to move  on until he  understands why his father stole from their friends.  With so much going on in Bethany and Isaiah’s lives, will they nurture the fledgling feelings that are growing between them?

The Preacher’s Son is a captivating novel of grace, love and healing. Bethany and Isaiah are wonderfully drawn, vibrant characters who are grappling with realistic problems. They are both dedicated to their faith. However, after Bethany’s circumstances unexpectedly change, she is forced to make a choice that she is uncomfortable with.  Patricia Johns brings this marvelous Amish romance to a heartwarming conclusion. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this first installment in The Infamous Amish series to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Contemporary, Patricia Johns, Rated B+, Review, Romance, The Infamous Amish Series, The Preachers Son, Zebra Books