PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER • A marriage is tested in this Old Order Amish novel of longing for renewed love and a path for forgiveness from the best-selling author of Gathering the Threads. Old Order Amish wife and mother Jemima has put her marriage and family ahead of herself for years. She’s set herself aside. Raising four children, she’s followed all the rules and has been patient in looking … the rules and has been patient in looking forward to her time to chase a dream of her own.
But when she finds out that her life savings for pursuing that dream is gone—and her husband, Roy, has been hiding a child with another woman—her entire world is shattered. Will she be able to listen to God and love Roy’s child? With so much at stake, how can she and Roy fix their relationship before their lives come crashing down?
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What a range of emotions this book brings out, and they continue right to the last page and beyond to the epilogue.
All the while I’m reading, I kept think, but “these people are Amish”, and I guess I hold them to a higher standard, but we are all human and sinners. The author’s did a wonderful job of weaving a tale that made you want to shake the main character, and yet have compassion for him, and the innocent baby!
I can warn you, you will be page turning and there is never a dull moment, and there is a lot going on here, from horses to fighting, from cooking to farming, from family to friends, and those less fortunate, giving and receiving, and forgiveness.
A book that I will be recommending, it has something for everyone!
I received this book through the Publisher Waterbrook, and was not required to give a positive review.
The Englisch Daughter was not at all what I expected but in my opinion that’s what made it so good. A multi-faceted story of betrayal and lost hopes and dreams, this book is an honest and open look at the life of an Amish couple and their close friends and family. The wife has sacrificed her own dreams to take care of her home and family, putting aside funds for the future business she has long desired. When the time is right she learns that her plans have been for nothing and she has a new added responsibility that came as the result of a hurtful secret her husband has carried on his own.
What a wonderful story of repentance, forgiveness, and restoration! The narrative was written in such a way that I was never certain if everything would turn out well or not. I could easily relate to the feelings of both Jemima and her husband Roy and suspected there was more to the story than it seemed. A difficult situation that was deftly handled by the author, The Englisch Daughter is so good. I recommend it to all readers but especially to those who love Amish fiction.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Waterbrook Multnomah. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
The Englisch Daughter by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall is an Amish Romance book not to be missed. I love these two authors’ collaborative books and this one did not disappoint. It is a great story about an excruciatingly painful situation for Jemima and Roy–one that would tear asunder many marriages. The authors have crafted strong, believable characters that evoke a range of emotions as they learn how to live with the consequences of a circumstance, learn to embrace life with honesty and vulnerability, and recognize that God’s gift of forgiveness and grace can bring freedom to their lives. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Waterbrook & Mulnomah Publishers and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
This is definitely not a regular book about the Amish. This is one of the first books that I have read that has the main characters having a different set of problems than I have read about before. Jemima and Roy seem to be growing apart because of something that happened months before after an accident that he was in. I loved how this book was put together. This made me cry in a lot of places. I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Cindy Woodsmall has given us another excellent read in The Englisch Daughter. Unlike many Amish books I’ve read, Woodsmall’s writing contains a depth and complexity that not only delivers an intriguing tale, but also one that forces you to analyze your own perceptions. And although I downed this book in 2 days, I also had to pause at times to reflect. For me, this takes a book to a whole other level. Good literature should not only entertain, but also impact our minds and hearts for the better. This book certainly delivers on both counts.
Without giving too much away, The Englisch Daughter deals with some complicated familial and personal issues. Woodsmall skillfully presents complex characters struggling with forgiveness, identity, trauma, and secrets. There is a desperation that fuels this novel, providing a tension that holds you to every page. The ending is satisfying and beautiful, well fought for and deserved. I closed the book with a sigh of peace, feeling fulfilled in the way only good novels can deliver.
If you are looking for a good read that moves beyond light, fluffy entertainment, this is a great choice for you. Woodsmall in an excellent storyteller you will not want to miss.
I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
A story that touches the heart and soul. From learning about a terrible mistake made by her husband to showing love and forgiveness, the main character find strength and courage during trials. Devotion, faith, forgiveness and love and are found in this special story. I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author and publisher. No review was required.
I am the type of person who does not read the back of the book because most the times it give away a good portion of the book away, but with this book after the first two chapters I read it and was able to understand more what was happening. I was not able to put this book down it really just drew me in. My heart broke with Abi and Jemima, they are both strong women but both seem to face something that they need each other and God to get them through. I have to say I was a huge fan of Chris totally cheering him on through out the book. I will say that this book may touch a nerve with some people as it does discuss things that some christians find unfathomable, but go if you go into this story with an open heart and mind I believe wholeheartedly that the authors have something for all of us to learn from and will totally leaving you wanting more. This book is a good clean read and well worth the read. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”
This is my favorite book written by Cindy Woodsmall and her daughter-in-law, Erin and I have read several. I was surprised by the emotional story and was infuriated by it at the same time. At first, I was shocked by how deceitful Roy was but more than that I truly felt so sorry for his wife Jemima and the pain he inflicted on their family.
Let’s be real here, admit the Amish are flawed human beings but I don’t think I have ever read a book quite like this one and hats off to Jemima for her compassion and her ability to forgive and to trust again. She is the epitome of a loving faithful wife which made me respect her decisions. There were a couple of twists that I didn’t expect which added to my enjoyment of this novel.
With any good book, there is bound to be a character you don’t like and some who you wind up liking much more than you anticipated. To me that is a sure sign of a well written, interesting storyline that holds you attention throughout which is why I loved The Englisch Daughter so much.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Different perspective on Amish Life than most other books portray. I lived about an hour north of the largest Amish community in the world in Mid-Ohio and have dear Amish and Mennonite friends. Some of the Amish books written don’t seem quite accurate from the Amish I know.
But this book was a great read showing some true possibilities they face in life just like we do. The authors did a great job of storytelling but with such realistic showing of the thoughts and struggles Amish face, too. Not unlike us Englischers!
They did a great job – as usual – at pulling you into the story and leaving you wanting more at the end of every chapter.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah as part of their Launch Team program with no expectations in return. The comments above are my own.
“One of the things I’ve learned this past year is that whatever we choose to do sacrifices something else.”
–Roy Graber
The Englisch Daughter explores the implosion of Roy and Jemima Graber’s marriage. Living in the Old Order Amish requires a unique lifestyle, set of rules, and faith, particularly for the women. Jemima’s dreams and savings disappear overnight along with the husband she thought she knew well. Left with a husband who lies, cheats, and brings his secrets home, she struggles to find herself and to deal with four young children.
Pulled into the complexities of Roy and Jemima’s troubles is Abigail Graber, Roy’s younger sister. She too trusted her brother with her life savings and her future. Chris Fisher, a young man with his own set of challenges resulting from his lifestyle choices, comes to work at the Graber farm to help Roy. Abigail and Chris fight their attraction as they become pulled into Roy and Jemima’s problems.
A deeply moving story that centers on the lessons learned when we try to protect the ones we love with lies and dishonesty. Can the pieces of broken trust be healed? How far must a person go to figure out his personal self-identity? How far is too far? Read this compelling story about these four people each at different places in their life struggling to find forgiveness, trust, and to rebuild their family and lives.
This ARC copy was received from Waterbrook Press and NetGalley. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
#TheEnglischDaughter #NetGalley
The news is scary for many people in our world lately. Watching the constant updates and minute by minute changes to our routines can be overwhelming. I have a suggestion, Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing, Waterbrookmultnomah.com, has released new titles this Spring and it is the perfect time to stay in and enjoy an inspirational story!
The Englisch Daughter by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall is a perfect choice to read. I received The Englisch Daughter from Waterbrook & Multnomah as part of the launch team for an honest review.
From the beginning of the story, I was captured. The book really spoke to me for many reasons. First of all, I love Christian romance novels. When my mom was alive, we would both read many of the stories, and share our appreciation for heartwarming tales as we discussed the plots and characters together. I miss her and reading these books makes me feel like she is still with me. Woodsmall has captured the heart of a tender and uplifting story in The Englisch Daughter.
Secondly, I live in a Kansas town that is only 20 miles away from an Amish community. I am very familiar with many of the Amish customs. So reading about an Amish family in Woodsmall’s novel was fun.
I sincerely liked everything about The Englisch Daughter. The book begins with the old order Amish family, the Grabers. Jemima Graber, wife and mother, has a troubled heart. Her husband Roy has become distant and distracted. She doesn’t know why but feels that it may have to do with injuries from an accident he suffered. As fate would have it, it was partly due to the fallout of his accident, but not in the way that Jemima thinks. In the midst of the struggle, Jemima is busy raising her four small children and helping her husband with their family horse farm, along with Roy’s outspoken sister Abigail. Abigail and Jemima have their own dream to pursue, owning a food truck together to serve the visitors to the Amish community during tourist season. Abigail plans to give up her teaching job to pursue the enterprise. With so many irons in the fire and the troubles distracting Roy, keeping him from his family and work, Roy hires a man to work with the horses, Chris Fisher. Chris becomes an integral part of the Graber’s community, all while facing troubles of his own.
As one would predict all works out in the end which is why these novels are so fun to read, no matter the turmoil the characters face, the reader knows that God’s plan and forgiveness will be illustrated in the story.
I enjoyed Woodnmall’s book on several accounts. The story is fast-paced with well-developed characters. Each character faces their own struggles but Woodsmall wove all their lives together into an interesting plot. I also appreciated the glimpses into the Amish life. I was intrigued that they could use cell phones for business now and called Ubers to go places. Even though I live near a community, I didn’t know these customs were now a part of the lifestyle. Overall, I feel that the book is a delight and a perfect escape from the world’s worries right now. I heartily recommend The Englisch Daughter by Woodsmall, take a break from the news and savor a great read.
Jemima Graber is an old-order Amish wife and mother. Recently she and her husband, Roy, have become distant. She has four little ones and has been a dutiful wife and mom, patiently waiting for her dream of owning a food truck to come true while Roy continues to invest in the family’s horse farm. Only now, something is wrong and her dream isn’t going to be realized. Roy is distant and his behavior is erratic. What is wrong? Read the Englisch Daughter by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall to find out.
I haven’t read an Amish novel for a long time so I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but I enjoyed The Englisch Daughter. The story grabbed me from the beginning and kept me turning pages quickly until the end. I was also impressed that this book deals with some issues many women deal with like how to remain close to your spouse during the years of parenting young children. It also dealt with some issues that are unique to the Amish and I learned some things about the Amish way of life in today’s world. The Englisch Daughter also made me think about forgiveness and how to deal with those who hurt us from a spiritual perspective. It was a much more complex story than I expected to find and everything seemed to tie together well. I was so glad for the opportunity to read this book.
I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. All opinions within this review are my own.
The Englisch Daughter is an emotion-packed story of betrayal and the struggle toward forgiveness. Dealing with the issues of infidelity and addiction, it is unlike any Amish story I have ever read. The plot, impacted by mistrust, deception, broken dreams, manipulation, and misplaced loyalties, is complex with multiple story lines yet easy-to-read and follow.
The characters in this narrative are well-crafted and believable, and the surprising conclusion is satisfying. A strong faith element is present throughout the book, and the story demonstrates that in God’s hands deliberate evil becomes ultimate good. I enjoyed this read and recommend it especially for fans of Amish romance novels.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
The Englisch Daughter was Ah Maz Ing! I read this puppy in two days. When I got it, I thought I’d read a few pages to see what it was all about. Well about four hours later, I find myself about half way through it. This book isn’t just a fluffy light read. This story has depth and emotion that I haven’t found in most Amish books. I loved the characters. I felt their pain. I kept thinking to myself, would I react like that? How would I react? How would I feel? I’m telling y’all this book is worth it. The ending is absolutely precious and happy. These are new to me authors and I will be reading more by them. I will definitely recommend to all Amish book lovers and any who are looking for a good read.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, this is my honest opinion.
Wow, this is one intense book to read filled with complex characters and plots. This story is about Roy and his infidelity within an Amish community that is filled with deceit and lies until the truth is revealed. Jemima and Roy marriage is strained due to his behaviors. Jemima and Abigail, Roy’s sister, are devastated when they are told there are no funds left in the savings account to fulfill their dream of a food truck. Bring in another Amish man Chris to help Roy on his horse farm, only to discover he is assisting his addict brother with his gambling debts by fighting for money. The characters have several unique circumstances and issues to overcome. This story is filled with true to life issues to overcome; however, there is a faith message of forgiveness, God’s love, romance and mercy even after suffering intense pain and sorrow of rejection.
This is a well penned story by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall confronting some modern issues. I’m never disappointed in reading their books as they are relatable stories about real life issues.
Thank you to NetGalley and Waterbrook publisher for an opportunity to read this advance book. I was not required to write a positive review but have shared my own thoughts as this book is definitely a 5++ star read.
This review is freely given and not required even though I received a free ARC through Netgalley.com.
I have not read a book by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall before but I truly enjoyed this book. It is a Christian book with the main characters from the Amish faith. It is different than most of the “Amish” books I’ve read before as it doesn’t deal so strongly with their practices. It did mention being shunned and some other forms of discipline but it wasn’t based on these things.
There were four main characters in this book and they were quite well developed. You learned “what made them tick”. The minor characters were understandable also.
The story flowed well and kept my interest. I was glad they put in an epilogue at the end. It was written so that a second book could happen but is not needed. The editing was well done, a couple of minor things but nothing to distract a reader.
I always enjoy A good Amish book and I love this author. This was slightly different than other topics in Amish books but very enjoyable. The story was about Jemima and her husband Roy. After a car accident they were in there marriage seem to be having problems. Jemima felt the pull in there marriage but could not figure out what the problem was. After Roy was missing and came home hurt the secret started to unravel. Could Jemima forget Roy and could there marriage be saved? A good book of secrets and forgiveness. I could not put this book down. Read it in one day.