Fans of Amish Fiction discussion

These don't necessarily have to be books published in 2010, just ones you read this year. Which were your favourites? Which did you find disappointing?

I only really started reading Amish fiction in 2010 but I discovered so many excellent books!

1. Beverly Lewis's "Abram's Daughters" series. So far I've only read The Covenant, The Betrayal and The Sacrifice but I got the fourth book for my Christmas and can't wait to continue the series! I've read a couple of other books from this author this year but these are definitely my favourites.

2. Amy Clipston's "Kauffman Amish Bakery" series, which so far consists of A Gift of Grace and A Promise of Hope, both of which I adored. I love her style of writing and the way that she displays her characters' faith in their everyday lives. Plus, so many lovely recipes! I can't wait to get hold of #3 in the series.

3. A Simple Amish Christmas by Vannetta Chapman - our current group read. I actually read this back in August but it was still so lovely. Such a sweet romance and I could really relate to the characters. I do hope the author gets to continue the strands left unfinished at the end of this book.

4. A Time to Love by Barbara Cameron - another of our group reads! Like Vannetta, this is her first full-length Amish novel but you wouldn't know this from her writing. Looking forward to #2 in the series next year.

5. Sarah's Christmas Miracle by Mary Ellis - my first from this author but definitely not my last! This was such a cute little novella and I was so happy to discover that she has plenty of other books waiting to be read. Put this on your list for next Christmas!

There were only two Amish novels that I read this year and didn't really like.

1. On Her Own by Wanda E. Brunstetter - I found this too predictable and formulaic. I'm normally a sucker for any romantic story but I felt like I never got to know the characters well enough to care about them. In comparison to the Amish books I'd read prior to this it just seemed a bit boring.

2. Plain and Fancy by Wanda E. Brunstetter - maybe Wanda's style just doesn't suit me? Again, this just seemed too simple and predictable. It didn't help that I found the main character really annoying!

So, which Amish books did you love or hate this year? Don't be scared to share your true thoughts! I always find it interested when someone adores I book I didn't care for, or vice versa. And maybe we'll find some new books to add to our wishlists?

I too just discovered Amish fiction this year while on a trip to Lancaster, PA in May (fitting, huh??!!).

Some of my favorites were:

1. The Storekeeper's Daughter, The Quilter's Daughter and The Bishop's Daughter by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I thought this series was wonderful and I loved how it carried over all three books and over several years.

2. Hidden, Wanted, Forgiven and Grace by Shelley Shepard Gray. I read Grace first as a review for netgalley. I loved it so much that I had to start from the first book.

3. An Amish Christmas by Patricia Davids. I read this one for Christmas and I am going to have to read Katie's Redemption (Steeple Hill Love Inspired and The Doctor's Blessing soon.

And as of now, I have not come across any Amish fiction books that I have not liked.

Hi Rachel,

So glad to see that you've listed my book (A Time to Love, first book in the Quilts of Lancaster County series) as one of your favorites for 2010.

Just wanted to let you know that I'm not a debut author -- that's my first book in a series for Abingdon Press (they've now bought 3 series!) but I've been published for a long time and even had three movies made of my work (HBO/Cinemax).

Would love for you to look into my previous Amish books published by Thomas Nelson: the bestselling An Amish Christmas, Expanded Edition (collection includes stories by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Barbara Cameron, and Kelly Long), and An Amish Gathering (with Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Barbara Cameron).

The second book of the Quilts series (A Time to Heal) will be out in late February.

Happy reading!

Barbara Cameron

Barbara, what movies have you had made? I would love to watch them, so if you could share the titles and the books they were based on I would be very appreciative!

The HBO/Cinemax movies were part of a series they called The Colors of Love. They were The Garnet Princess, Make Mine Chartreuse, and Indigo Autumn. Romantic Times Magazine called The Garnet Princess their favorite. It's mine, too.

You can still find the movies on Amazon.com (FYI: The movies are not Amish or Christian in content.)

Barbara wrote: "Hi Rachel,

So glad to see that you've listed my book (A Time to Love, first book in the Quilts of Lancaster County series) as one of your favorites for 2010.

Just wanted to let you know that..."

Whoops, I didn't know that! Apologies :)

That's very exciting that you've been contracted for three series!

Hmm I think my favorite of last year has to go to

The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher and The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

I loved loved loved these books!!! I already bought Search, The: A Novel and can't wait to read it though I am waiting to get through a few more review books first.

I don't really have any I didn't like but I only got into Amish Fiction in November.

Abbie, Search, The: A Novel was amazing! It was the first book that I read from her and I cannot wait to read the first two!

This is the first year I branched out and read other Amish authors besides Wanda Brunstetter and Beverly Lewis. Here are the new authors and the books I read by them. I enjoyed all that I read!

1. Beth Wiseman
Plain Perfect
Plain Pursuit
Plain Promise
Plain Paradise
I loved this whole series!!!
I also read this book by her that is a new series with some of the characters from the other series but some move to Colorada.
Seek Me with All Your Heart
2. Amy Clipston
A Gift of Grace: A Novel
A Promise of Hope
Loved this series and can't wait for the next book.
3. Shelley Shepard Gray
Hidden
Wanted
Wanted
Grace
Loved this series. Also read another series of hers:
Winter's Awakening
Spring's Renewal
Autumn's Promise
I also really loved this series.
4. Barbara Cameron
A Time to Heal
Can't wait for the next ones in the series to come out.
5. Vannetta Chapman
A Simple Amish Christmas
I really liked this one too.

I also discovered a new Mennonite wriiter:
1. Nancy Mehl
Simple Secrets
Simple Deceit: A Mennonite Community's Way of Life Is Threatened by Outsiders

I also read these two books by her but they are not about Amish or Mennonite but I enjoyed them.
Missing Mabel
Blown Away

I also enjoyed a new autor that writes about the Shakers:
1.Ann H. Gabhart
The Outsider: A Novel
The Believer: A Novel
I enjoyed both of these but the second one was so much better for me.


I also read some old authors that I loved too.
1. Wanda E. Brunstetter
Lydia's Charm I think this is one of my favorite books of the year.
I also enjoyed another book by her but it is not Amish. I assumed it was because most everything she writes is about the Amish. This is the only book I read in the series and really enjoyed it after I figured out that how mules were carring boats.
Kelly's Chance