Fans of Amish Fiction discussion

I love Amish fiction, but too many of them are predictable love stories where there is a misunderstanding or miscommunication and you wait and see how it resolves. I am a grandma with a Bachelor's in English so I try to find books that are a bit deeper and have more characters in my age group..not just young girls in love. I don't mean to be critical but I wish the authors would realize there are people put here like me who are looking for something a little different. Not looking for mysteries, but also not predictable love stories. Any recommendations?

I am reading the first book in a series by Cindy Woodsmall called A Season for Tending. It's a little different to me because it is about herb gardening and apple orchards. Also the main character has a "sixth sense" which I find interesting. It's got a love story to it, but it's a little different to me because I can't figure out yet what's going to happen in the book.... usually I can tell - like you said, predictable. I agree with you though, I would like some that are deeper than just the normal way the Amish books are usually written. I, too, love to read these books but they do seem basically to have the same story line... I'd also be interested to hear what books others might suggest.

I'm a grandma, too, and I can relate to what Marie said. I have read the entire four book series, Amish Vines and Orchards, which Carolesther referred to, and I agree that it is a little different from a lot of Amish stories. I found it to be excellent, with enough twists and turns to keep one wondering what would happen next. It has romance, too, but I would say that that is secondary to the development of the main character. Give it a try!

Did you enjoy the rest of this series, Carolyn? I really like this book. You're right, it has enough twists and turns that keep you guessing. And I like that about it. Marie is right, a lot of the Amish books are very predictable. I like that the main character has a sixth sense about things. It just made this book a little different and it's kept me interested, and I'm about 3/4 of the way through.

If you enjoyed the rest of this series, then I will read all of them :-) Thank you.

another excellent book by cindy woodsmall is the christmas three in one book about appleridge. these stories are excellent with their details of woodworking etc. and are not ur typical amish young girl stories. i would recommend it. ive read it twice.

Carolesther wrote: "If you enjoyed the rest of this series, then I will read all of them :-) Thank you."

Yes, I really liked them all. I guess it would rank as one of my most favorite series ever.

Oh awesome! Thank you, Carolyn!!!

Thank you, Tonja. I'll check that out!!!

Marie, I think you'd like my Amish/Mennonite series: The Loves of Snyder County.
Bachelor's Choice
Teacher's Pet
Love Song for Louellen
I think you'll find no predictability in any of them.
I recommend you start with Love Song for Louellen.
Thank you, Marsha Hubler (Author)

I'm currently reading "The Miting" by Dee Yoder. It is different in that it is dealing with sexual abuse as well as a bishop who is so in "love with being a bishop" that he is tightening the rules for his people more and more. Also is a former Amish couple who are conducting Bible studies and help those who wish to leave the community. With the Bishop doing what he is -- some young people do investigate. I'm only 14% into the book so hardly giving away the ending. I find it well-written and draws me into the book with the characters.

Update 1/12/2015: I finished the book yesterday. Gave it 5 stars.

Thank you, Marsha and Linda!

Try . An excellent book.

Hi everyone. Since I left the Amish 9 yrs ago I fid it hard to find a good book on the Amish. I do like to read them though since they remind me of family that I miss( I am shunned)I guess this being said i would also recomend "The Miting" by David Yoder as well. I am a sexual abuse survivor myself and I beleive many people do not realy realize what it is like to be Amish in it's entirety.

Misty wrote: "Hi everyone. Since I left the Amish 9 yrs ago I fid it hard to find a good book on the Amish. I do like to read them though since they remind me of family that I miss( I am shunned)I guess this bei..."

Misty -- your post touched me. Nine years plus a sexual abuse survivor. No wonder "The Miting" resonated with you. Stay strong. ~ Lynda

Check out Ruth Reid! Her books are a bit more...I don't want to say "risque" but they're definitely more adult.

J.E.B. Spredemann's are quite different from traditional Amish fiction. I'm sure they will surprise you. She has one (An Unforgivable Secret) free right now (ebook).

Misty wrote: "Hi everyone. Since I left the Amish 9 yrs ago I fid it hard to find a good book on the Amish. I do like to read them though since they remind me of family that I miss( I am shunned)I guess this bei..."
Hi, Misty! Have you ever heard of MAP (Mission to the Amish People)? It is a great ministry founded by an exAmish man and geared toward reaching the Amish people with the Gospel.
P.S. Dee Yoder (author of The Miting) is also a part of this ministry.

I have liked every J.E.B. Spredemann book I've read. Besides "An Unforgivable Secret", "Danika's Journey (Amish Girls Series - Book 2)" is also free right now. Misty, I thank Brandi for posting the info on MAP.

Hi Marie, and all. I've just published my first Amish-ish novel which is slightly different. Not what publishers called a typical bonnet tale and were reluctant to take a stab but Heritage House was very interested in it. It's called "The Secret Voice" by Bob Nailor and is available at Amazon. Maybe it would be something you'd be interested in. The story takes place in the early 1960s.

These have older main characters,I loved the first two,haven't yet read the last one, but it sounds good.~



[Mennonite]

Bob wrote: "Hi Marie, and all. I've just published my first Amish-ish novel which is slightly different. Not what publishers called a typical bonnet tale and were reluctant to take a stab but Heritage House wa..."

The Secret Voice sounds like a wonderful story!I wish you much success with your writing.

Misty, i just want to say im so sorry what you have been through. :(

So kind of you.
Misty

Angelos: From Whence Come Wars?

I wrote a book. I had thought about writing an Amish fiction book, but in the end it was this little book, with a merging of Anabaptism and Scottish history, that I wrote. It is fiction, but like Amish fiction has a moral message.

How about this for different?~Double Take by Melody Carlson

It's spring break of her senior year and Madison Van Buren is fed up. Stressed over Ivy League pressure, her parents' marital problems, and her boyfriend's neglect, Madison gets in her car and drives west. Meanwhile, eighteen-year-old Anna Fisher wants to escape the so-called simple life--which for her consists of caring for younger siblings, sewing, cooking, and gardening--and she's well aware that her future will simply be more of the same with a man she doesn't love. Suddenly, worlds collide when Madison and Anna meet in a small town, realize they look uncannily similar, and decide the grass is definitely greener on the other side.

C. wrote: "How about this for different?~Double Take by Melody Carlson

It's spring break of her senior year and Madison Van Buren is fed up. Stressed over Ivy League pressure, her parents' marital problems, ..."

I read this last year & gave it 4 stars.

Misty, I feel for you. Although I have not been shunned & see my family often, I left the Mennonite community I grew up in and I realize that leap was only a puddle jump compared to what Amish go thru when they leave. And even my own experience was difficult. I just wanted to say that I'm on a mission to locate authentic descriptions of Amish and Mennonite cultures literature! The problem is that we are such a small "tribe" --and not exactly worldly-- so the % of authors you are going to get out of that is pretty teeny.

Shirley Showalter's
"Blush" was a good narrative (though more "memoirs") of her Mennonite life. I enjoyed it. I just started Beverly Lewis. Do you find her work authentic? I saw that her grandmother left the Amish, so she's a few steps removed.

I'm writing some about Mennonite life (tho I know I can't self-promo here!) But the whole reason I began writing about Mennonite life because there were no descriptions on the shelf that depicted my culture (beyond Rudy Weibe, and he's Canadian)!

Maybe you will write something...? I

Re:Lynda & Double Take by Melody Carlson.

I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed this enough to give it a 4-star rating, it makes me more excited to read it, so I just borrowed the Kindle edition from my library!

Hi C., yes it reminded me of my mother's growing up years on a farm in PA. It is more "memoirs" as I said rather than slice of life narrative story, but it's a really well-done portrait of Mennonite life. Something we have sorry little of!!

I also enjoyed this unique storyline and got it from the library
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

I loved this first book and found it at the library
may not be amish; but, somewhat that old fashioned life style

Carolyn wrote: "
I loved this first book and found it at the library
may not be amish; but, somewhat that old fashioned life style"

I read that one. The canal is still there, it's a real place. My husband's family is from there.

Hi gals. If you're looking for something "different" my newest release is Sarah's Orphans, and it's about Amish adopting children outside their faith (and yeah, that really happens). I hope you'll give it a try!

That sounds really interesting, Vannetta.

Thanks, C.
It was a fun book to write--emotional, but rewarding.
C. wrote: "That sounds really interesting, Vannetta."

I sure put it on my TBR list. :D

Sarah' s Orphans was a really good book. I couldn't put it down.

Re: Diamond, oohh those are the books I love!

I'm re-reading Anna's Healing, then going to re-read Joshua's Mission & then Sarah's Orphans :)

a different type of amish read; I'm up for that, sounds interesting

Lorraine wrote: "I'm re-reading Anna's Healing, then going to re-read Joshua's Mission & then Sarah's Orphans :)"

What did you think of Anna's Healing? I'm hesitant to read it, I heard it had a paranormal slant. Is that true?

Nancy wrote: "Lorraine wrote: "I'm re-reading Anna's Healing, then going to re-read Joshua's Mission & then Sarah's Orphans :)"

What did you think of Anna's Healing? I'm hesitant to read it, I heard it had a paranormal..."

I haven't read it yet. It's on my "Wanna Read" list. I tend to like Vannetta Chapman's Amish books though.

Anna's Healing was wonderful! And no paranormal stuff.

Lynda wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Lorraine wrote: "I'm re-reading Anna's Healing, then going to re-read Joshua's Mission & then Sarah's Orphans :)"

What did you think of Anna's Healing? I'm hesitant to read it, I hea..."
I loved it....no paranormal stuff

No. I don't put paranormal aspects in my books. Anna's Healing is about a miraculous healing, but it's taken from the New Testament and applied to our times. I do believe God still is in the business of miracles!!! Can I get an amen?

Amen.

AMEN! Loved the faith of her praying grandmother.

Vannetta wrote: "No. I don't put paranormal aspects in my books. Anna's Healing is about a miraculous healing, but it's taken from the New Testament and applied to our times. I do believe God still is in the busine..."

AMEN

Sadly, there are some folks that feel that divine healing is "paranormal".