When faith and freedom collide, mistakes made in the past may decide the future.Twenty-year-old Priscilla King is unsure about joining the Amish Church and wants to use her rumspringa freedom to paint beach landscapes. She’s been offered a two-month-long nanny position in Siesta Key, Florida by an author on a tight writing deadline. The opportunities presented are more than a little tempting for … tempting for Priscilla, even if it means disappointing her parents and leaving her new boyfriend.
Stephen Hertzler grew up in an Amish family, but, like Priscilla, he’s undecided about joining the church. He loves Priscilla and wants to marry her, though he knows she’s not ready to decide about anything other than her summer plans. His biggest worry is that she’ll meet someone else in Florida and forget him.
Priscilla’s father Amos, bishop of the church, has a secret. As a child, he’d also loved painting pictures. But, because of his Amish district, painting was frowned upon and he was forced to do it in hiding. His father found out about his art and, in fury, he burned the paintings. When he was older, Amos moved to Fields Corner, where he would have been allowed to paint. Traumatized, he’d instead buried his passion for art in order to focus on being a good bishop for the community.
When Priscilla’s parents sabotage her part-time job at a local fabric store to dissuade her from following a “worldly lifestyle” in taking the nanny position in Florida, Priscilla is distraught. She knows she would regret not taking this chance. Leaving a note, she sneaks out in disobedience of her parents’ wishes.
Free to paint, dreams she’s never fully envisioned before seem within reach…but at what price?
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Priscilla wanted to paint and when an opportunity came up to go work as a Nanny and get to paint the ocean.. she took it! As an Amish young lady it was hard for her to do but it proved to be a good lesson as well as very rewarding. Another Amish story I enjoyed reading. I was gifted a copy, no review was required. My review is voluntary…
Feeling uncertain about whether to join the Amish Chirac or not, Priscilla King chooses to go to Florida with an English author as a nanny to her daughter for two months. While there, she hopes to paint the ocean, which is something she has always dreamed of doing. Her excitement about this trip is dampened when her father, the bishop in her church district, tells her no. He not only tells her she can’t go, he ends the job she already had at a fabric store, and tells her he doesn’t want her to paint for two months so she can focus on joining the church and finding a spouse. Feeling like she is being misunderstood and not treated fairly, she goes to Florida against her parent’s wishes, leaving behind her family and her new boyfriend Stephen, who is also uncertain about joining the Amish church.
Just as all decisions have consequences whether good or bad, Priscilla must accept the consequences of her actions. Will her disobedience be worth it?
As a huge fan of Amish fiction, the third book in the Bishop’s Daughter’s series, Priscilla’s Escape was a very enjoyable read. It can be read as a stand-a-lone book as I have done, and it did not affect my ability to read and enjoy this book. I definitely do plan to go back and read the first two in this series after enjoying this book so much!
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit and the author, but was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion of this book.
Priscilla’s Escape
I enjoyed Priscilla character, she loved to paint and wanted to paint the beach while being a nanny for a little while in Florida. She lives in Ohio with her parents and being Amish they don’t want her to go. She has a mind of her own so she just may do it anyway.
I did see this was book 3 in a series but can be read as a stand alone but I hope to read the first two books some day. I will have to check to see what the other two are about and put on my to read list. I really enjoyed Diane Craver writing. This is my first book by her and definitely won’t be my last. It was a fun book and very inspiring.
I received an complementary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.
In many of the Amish books I read, rumspinga is usually done in the teen years. This book was refreshing because it features a young woman in her twenties who has decided to explore the English world at an older age. I loved getting to know Priscilla and how she struggles with joining the church. It was surprising to learn that her dad was the Bishop. Her parents wanted her to join but knew she needed to do it with the right heart.
The Amish are not prideful and don’t like to brag about their skills or trades. Priscilla is a very gifted artist but for some reason her dad wants her to stop painting. I could feel the pain it caused her when her dad disapproved of her art. Priscilla has always wanted her dad’s approval and has felt she isn’t as loved as her other siblings.
When Priscilla is offered an opportunity to go to Florida for a few months as a nanny, I think she took the job to explore what was out there and also to find a little distance from her parents. I was very surprised in how she left and knew she was being rebellious. The author let readers glimpse how Amish can do things that hurt others like Priscilla did to her family. Can she make amends for leaving the way she did?
I really enjoyed her time in Florida and how free she felt to paint while there. She makes a special bond with the child she is watching and I loved how she seemed to fit in right away with the family. She misses her family and especially a special person that she has deep feelings for.
Stephen was such a joy to read about. He is also struggling with joining the church and has grown to care for Priscilla. His visit to Florida to see her was very well written. I love how supportive they are for each other. When an unexpected opportunity arises for Priscilla to show case her art, will she accept the offer? She is concerned how her dad especially will feel about displaying her work in public. One of the best parts of the book is when Priscilla’s dad makes a phone call to her. It is emotional, opens old wounds and will change things between father and daughter.
I loved how the author has a story that touches on forgiveness, acceptance and faith. I do wish I had read the previous books in this series to be familiar when some of the characters. This book is written well enough that it didn’t stop me from enjoying a beautifully written story.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
I throughly enjoyed getting to know the characters in this novel. They could easily be friends of mine in real life. The Amish have all different groups over different parts of this country with different rules. Some groups are more strict than others. Priscilla was facing the big decision of whether to join her Amish church in which her father was bishop. She is not 100% sure she is ready to commit. When an opportunity comes available for Priscilla to work for an English lady as her child’s nanny over the summer months, she jumps at the opportunity. She would be living in Florida, Pinecraft, that has a small more liberal Amish community. Her parents forbid her to go and when she finds out they resided her job at the fabric shop where she was working, she feels like that is the final straw. She sneaks out during the night with the help of her friend, Stephen, who has a romantic interest in her. Priscilla already has a strike against her in that she loves to paint pictures and has an unually great talent in that area.
What happens when she leaves and her family realizes what she has done? Will they be angry? Will they accept her back if she comes back home? Or will she choose to stay in Florida?
These two young people have many decisions to make and look to God for their answers over the short summer months.
It is refreshing for me to read of teenagers and young adult Amish going through their rumspringa and enjoying some of the milder pursuits of the English world. It is a time of much prayer and searching answers before deciding to join the Amish church or not.
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required a review
While this is the third book in the series, and the first that I have read, I didn’t feel at all lost. There was a lot of information offered that brought me up to date, and I felt soon at home in this read.
The author gives us a young couple whom are both unsure whether to take a knee and join the Amish church.
We find them both doing things that their parents would disapprove of, and we soon wonder whether one or the other will end up joining the church, especially after tasting the English world.
Come and enjoy this book and see that all cultures parents and children clash at times, and then there are secrets that we get to see unfold.
Now I’m ready to go and read the first two books in this series.
I received this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to give a positive review.
This is a charming Amish romance.
I love both Priscilla and Stephen. They are extremely believable. They have very normal questions about their faith and how God wants them to live their lives. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that they started by developing a friendship based on common interests and an ease in talking things over with each other.
The way that Priscilla’s family came together to discuss the situation when she left home was fantastic. That was a remarkable example of a close knit family working together when faced with difficulty.
There were a number of times that things that happened prior to the beginning of this book were discussed. I felt that many of them may have taken place in previous books about the King family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
Book three of the Bishop’s Daughters series, I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I have not read the other two books. I had no trouble following what was happening so don’t let that stop you from reading this one.
Well-formed characters gave this story a sense of reality. There were tough choices to be decided on, and pressure to do certain things came at Priscilla from both the English and Amish world. We see that secrets are never hidden forever but eventually God brings them to light. Author Diane Craver also shows us that people are just people, no matter if they’re English or Amish. Parents and children clash at times. It’s just life. However trust in God and love of family will guide us to the best choices.
This book was a quick read, but I thoroughly enjoyed the interaction of the different cultures. If you enjoy Amish fiction and are looking for something different I recommend Priscilla’s Escape.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Priscilla’s Escape by Diane Carver is the third story in The Bishop’s Daughters. Priscilla King is nineteen years old and has yet to join the Amish church. She loves to paint and has an opportunity to spend the summer in Florida which allow her to paint the ocean. Madison Wittenberg has offered Priscilla a job as nanny to her daughter while they spend the summer in Siesta Key. Priscilla wants to go, but her father is against the idea. He feels she is spending too much time painting and wishes her to quit for the summer. Amos King has a secret from his past that he has not shared with his family. When it comes out, it will surprise the family and explain his behavior. When Priscilla’s parents sabotage her job at the fabric store, she searches for a way to get to Florida. Stephen Hertzler is also unsure about being baptized and has purchased a car to enjoy during his rumspringa. He would prefer that Priscilla not go to Florida and worries that she will meet someone else while she is away. When Priscilla’s best friend, Hannah is needed in Pinecraft to help relatives with their bed and breakfast, Priscilla’s plan comes together. She sneaks out early one morning leaving a note behind for her family. Priscilla does not want to upset her parents, but she cannot pass up the opportunity to paint the ocean. What does the summer hold for Priscilla?
Priscilla’s Escape is nicely written with steady pacing and smooth transitions. I recommend reading the books in The Bishop’s Daughters series in order. I have not read the previous books and I felt I was missing important information. Characters and situations from the other books are mentioned in Priscilla’s Escape. We get to follow Priscilla and Stephen on a journey in Priscilla’s Escape. They both have important decisions to make about their futures. Once they are baptized, they are bound by the rules of their faith. It was nice to see them grow as individuals and in their faith. I enjoyed the descriptions of Pinecraft and Siesta key along with Priscilla’s artwork. Some of the Christian themes include pride, faith and the importance of prayer. There is scripture included that suits the various situations in the book. I like how Priscilla states her art is how she strives “to honor God” and how she feels close to Him while painting. I laughed when it was mentioned that in Florida caffeinated beverages are called soda and in Ohio they are called pop. People frequently corrected me when we first moved to Florida from Columbus, Ohio. Priscilla’s Escape has a heartwarming ending that wraps up the various storylines. There is a recipe for German pizza included. Priscilla’s Escape is perfect for younger audiences (the teens in your life). Priscilla’s Escape is a sweet, uplifting Amish romance.
This book is part of a trilogy and I wish I would have known that at first. I felt that I didn’t really know some of the characters and felt lost at some of the referred incidents that had happened. I also felt that the story was written too simply in some areas. Otherwise, it kept my interest enough to finish.
I had been abiding time to read Priscilla’s Escape book three in Craver’s latest series, The Bishop’s Daughters. I was not disappointed in reading Priscilla’s story and her adventure outside of her Amish community. It was nice to return to Fields Corner, OH and catch up with previous characters and young Priscilla King. She was a talented young lady with her mind set on experiencing an opportunity to paint ocean scenes while being a nanny, but her Bishop father was not on board with her decision. However, Priscilla made her own choice and went to FL for the summer. The happenings and scenery in Ohio and Florida throughout this touching story of Priscilla discovering what path to follow in life kept me immersed in the story. The hidden secrets in the Bishop King’s family came to light after Priscilla made her choice to disobey her Bishop dad. Stephen Hertzler’s surprise visit to Priscilla in Florida along with other action, suspense, God’s word, faith and romance kept the pages turning. Will Priscilla be forced to forsake her God given talent of painting or will she be allowed to use this gift to benefit the Amish Community fund? Readers of Amish fiction will enjoy this latest installment by Diane Craver with a message of forgiveness, hope and love by letting God guide your life. I received a complimentary copy of Priscilla’s Escape from the author. I was not required to write a positive review but have shared my sincere opinion.