Can an Englisch city girl ever become one of the Plain People? She needed a safe place to hide. Instead she found a place to call home… Television journalist Leah Porte never imagined her career would end with her witnessing a murder. Now she’s temporarily living among the Amish in witness protection. Instead of feeling alone and adrift, Leah is warmly welcomed by the close-knit … close-knit community–and Amish bachelor Isaac Sommer. But caught between two very different worlds, choosing love would mean leaving her Englisch life behind forever…
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The Amish Newcomer by Patrice Lewis is unique Amish novel. We get to see an Englischer adapt to living in an Amish home. It is an uphill battle for Leah who is used to keeping abreast of the news and reporting it. She is unused to doing domestic chores without the aid of modern conveniences. Leah is also dealing with the loss of her career thanks to the scar inflicted by a gang member. She has no idea how long she will be living with the Byler’s. I thought An Amish Newcomer was well-written and an engaging novel. It was a quick read and hard to put down. I am amazed at how much work it takes to run an Amish home. The family in this story make most of their own food. We see sustainable living at its finest. It was fun watching the worldly Leah at awe of an Amish home and all the hard work. She felt inferior because she did not know how to accomplish tasks that a twelve-year-old easily accomplished. Isaac Sommer was an interesting character. A man who lived in the Englisch world for a time, but he returned to his Amish roots. He created a magazine for Plain people that has wide distribution. This Amish tale has developed characters and good plotlines. I liked the Christian messages in the story especially about discovering what is important in life. I liked how the Amish looked past Leah’s scar to see the person inside as they did with one of the Byler daughters. Our world would be a better place if this philosophy is widely followed. I liked how the relationship between Isaac and Leah slowly developed. I also enjoyed seeing the changes in Leah. I look forward to reading Patrice Lewis’ next Amish novel when it comes out in the spring. The Amish Newcomer is an uplifting Amish novel with continuous domestic chores, woodworking woes, curious children, computer conundrum, and God’s generous gifts.
This was my first book by this author but I love “Love Inspired” books and the book description sounded great, so I decided to give it a try. I really enjoyed it!!
Leah goes into witness protection in an Amish community in Ohio and learns alot about faith, family, community and love. While she is there it gives her a chance to reflect on her own life and what she wants. I really enjoyed reading more into the Amish community and faith-how they do things on a daily basis, how they help each other, their chores, the Amish way of living versus English.
Easy to read, clean romance, Amish fiction book. Highly recommend!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
Who is Leah Porte? Where is she from? Where is she at and why? Who are Edith, Amos, Sarah, Ivan, Isaac, Rachel, and Eliza? What do we learn about why she is there? I could picture what Leah was seeing in the workshop in my mind. Reading about the gathering at the Millers had me tearing up when Leah had a moment of clarity after catching a firefly. Made me miss seeing and catching them myself. They are not found or seen where I live now. This story was one of the most interesting Amish Romance stories I have read. I highly recommend it. This is a book I will enjoy re-reading.
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT from Netgalley FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin’ With M. Brennan.
A heartfelt, warm, and sweet tale of an urban city woman escaping a dire situation in LA to the Amish community where she learns new ways to look at life, about faith in God, and falls so adorably in love with the neighbor.
This story had such a welcoming inclusive vibe, it was truly a pleasure to read and experience. The community was helpful, kind, and considerate, they embraced Leah Porte, took her in, and taught her their ways, as she requested and wanted to learn more.
I loved Leah’s development in this story as she gains an understanding of Amish ways she learns about her self as well. For the first time, she truly hears about God and is intrigued, wanting more. Leah is easy to like, she is smart and kind and considerate and assimilates so easily into the new culture and ways of the Amish. She yearns to know more, to understand, and as she does she accepts the simple ways herself.
The romance with Isaac is a delightfully precious slow process, yet the feels they have for each other are real, believable, and on a strong foundation.
A solid, admirable tale of searching for meaning, learning to trust, to have faith, to love, and live your life’s purpose.
~ Four Spoons
This is a very quick and entertaining book! The premise is that a former newscaster from LA is in witness protection, and the U.S. Marshalls hide her with an Amish family. Dressing like the Amish is not a big problem for Leah, but learning the Amish way of life was a bit of a challenge. Much of the book reads like a primer about the Amish lifestyle and religious beliefs and I found it all very interesting. The characters were believable and likable as well as presented realistically for that culture. My favorite character was a young woman named Rachel who had physical problems but who tackled life with zest and wisdom. The plot also includes drama, conflict and a romantic interest between Leah and a young Amish man named Isaac who is devoted to his faith. Both of them know that for her to have a relationship with him would be almost impossible since she is “Englisch” and he tried that world and returned to his Amish life. I really enjoyed the descriptions of how the Amish do things like laundry and healthcare, things that we take modern conveniences for granted. I learned more about reading this book than I thought possible and was entertained as I read it. Fans of light, clean romance will enjoy this book and the light that it sheds on a group of people who live a different kind of life.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The 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 Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I loved the unusual storyline of this book. I also thought the author did a good job with the pacing of the story as Leah finds her place as an Englisher living in an Amish community. The author also did an excellent job of showing the reader how the everyday routine and work of an Amish household appeared to a young lady whose whole world has revolved around city living and technology, rather than country farm living. I liked that Leah was always respectful of the Amish and determined to fit into the community as best she could. But the most touching part of the book or me was Leah’s journey of coming to faith in God and His provision in her life. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I’ll be looking forward to her next book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this read, and the pages flew, read in one sitting, but will linger.
Awesome premise, and it seemed so real. The characters were living their faith, and sharing. An eye opener for a city girl, seeing and experiencing where our food comes from, and living with and enjoying the basics.
Acceptance and love for everyone, no matter their problems or disabilities, something to emulate!
I will be looking for reads by this author again, she has a gift and she is sharring!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Love Inspired. and was not required to give a positive review.