Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman

I chose to read this book because I was curious about why Amish novels are the ‘big thing’ right now. I personally know Amish people, and I was curious to see how they were depicted and what type of story lines could be written around such a quiet, spiritual people.

Plain Promise is a ‘Daughters of Promise Novel’ which the book states, “focuses on one woman and her journey into the Amish Community”. This book is about the relationship between an Amish girl, Linda, and her English mother, Josie. Josie comes back to the small Amish community seventeen years after giving her daughter up for adoption to an Amish couple. The story entails the emotions felt by all sides, Linda, Josie, and Josie’s adoptive parents. While new relationships are being forged, old relationships are being put to the test. It is a story about change and hope.

The book focuses mostly on the Amish and their way of life, interjecting some of the German vocabulary into the story (don’t worry; there is a dictionary of the words used). It explains how the Amish live simple lives of faith and how family is the most important thing to them. I was very eager to read this book because it is set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and I have family there. My family is friends with Amish people, and I have spent time in their home and observed their culture firsthand. Most of what the author wrote is true of the Amish. The only thing that I found to be different is that the author has the characters using German words when speaking with non-Amish people, and from my experiences, they do not do that, the will only speak German to each other.
Other than that, what is depicted in the book is true.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was written well, and the story was moving and touching. The story was wonderful and it definitely flowed well and was an overall good read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction that is heartwarming and wholesome.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have 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.”