Accidentally Amish - eBook

This book started out well but didn't meet expectations at the end. There were lot of loose ends by the end of the book. For e.g. what happened with Annie's original lawyer? What happened with her partner, did he accept a job with the new owner of the company? What happened with Kramer after Annie found that piece of paper proving he may have been the one to hurt Rufus? I was disappointed with all these unanswered questions by the end of the book. The story just fell flat.

It is allmost 3 a.m. and I simply had to finish Accidently Amish. I enjoyed it very, very much and could not put it down. I have ordered book 2 and 3 in this series and cannot wait for them to arrive . I enjoyed seeing how the ancestors survived and lived and also tried to place myself in Annie's situation as to what decision she had made and wondered if I could do the same. Delightful, intersting book so don't miss it!!!!

Normally, I'm not much for Amish stories. I can't quite put my finger on it, but while I don't mind the occasional Amish-themed book, I tend to avoid them. However the premise of Accidentally Amish by Olivia Newport had enough suggested adventure that I had to give it a try.

"Our life is grounded in submission, and yours seeks control. You can't have both." (Page 304)

Annie must run away from Colorado Springs just long enough to decide what she's going to do to avoid the schemes of her partner and boyfriend. She takes refuge at an Amish farm, and soon learns the eldest son, Rufus, is walking through his own battle with a local contractor.

What I Liked

Mrs. Newport did an excellent job weaving in the secondary story of the Jakob, the ancestor who first brought Rufus' family to America. Through his life, you get a glimpse past the depth of the Amish culture to the sacrifice those who dare to step outside the confines of the church must endure. I found his story very interesting, adding true love to the overall story and insight to the chapters about the modern characters, Annie and Rufus.

I liked sensing the struggle in Rufus, both in his developing feelings for Annie, and his turmoil over his sister's decision. Yet his beliefs were never called into question through his steadfastness and the honor he showed his parents.

I also enjoyed the fresh ending on the story of the Rich Young Ruler from Matthew 10 as seen through Annie's story. What if this young man has looked at Jesus and decided to try life God's way?

What I Didn't Like

The only thing that really comes to mind is the relationship between Annie and her partner. During the story, Annie tries to reach out a couple times, and although it can be assumed things ended the way she wanted, it still seems unfinished. Now, I do know that another book follows this one, telling more of Annie's story (In Plain View), so perhaps this is addressed there.

The Bottom Line - 5 stars

This book was very enjoyable, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you enjoy Amish books or would like to see what an Englischer considering the Amish lifestyle might look like, then I recommend giving this book a try.

It's just like reading two books in one. There is the modern story of Annaliese Friesen and the adventure which transforms her life when she becomes accidentally entwined in the Amish world of Jacob Bieler. It's exciting from page one, as Annaliese is gently wooed by a loving God to change her priorities and her lifestyle. Then, there is the second story, which happened 300 years earlier, when another Jakob Beyeler transported his wife and five young children to the New World to escape the religious persecution of his native Switzerland.

The stories work together to give a very balanced view of Amish life, with its good and bad points, with no judgement or bias. Olivia Newport has included just enough humor and romance to make it all come together as one very entertaining novel, which I highly recommend.

I loved this book and it was much more than what I had expected. I enjoyed the "history" part of the story as much as the current part because it helped me to understand what this family went through in coming here and how it affected the present day. I was sorry to see it end, not realizing that it was just #1 of a series!! I'm reading the 2nd one now.