Plain Pursuit (Daughters of the Promise Series #2)

Pleasant Read

This is the second book in the Daughters Of Promise series. Carley Marek is a journalist who is having a hard time dealing with the loss of her mother after a tragic car accident in which Carley survives. She is struggling with her survival and the loss of her mother. She is forced to take a much needed vacation from work and ends up going to visit her Amish friend Lillian in Pennsylvania. While Carley is there, Lillian's stepson, David is discovered to need a kidney transplant. Dr. Noah, who first treats David is actually a shunned member of Lillian's new family. This brings many questions to Carly's mind about God's role in her life as well as the lives of others and forgiveness.

This series is very pleasant to read. I am enjoying meeting the various families and getting to know them. I like how Beth Wiseman gives us an honest look into the lives of the Amish. I could see and understand the story from both points of views, the Englishers and the Amish. This book leaves you with a feeling of hope at the end. As a bonus there are a few Amish recipes in the back of the book.

Review of Plain Pursuit

I have read Plain Pursuit written by Beth Wiseman and published by Thomas Nelson who has generously provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. At first I was only interested in reading a book that would be entertaining, I have read plenty of Amish stories before and the layout seems all too familiar to me. What an unexpected surprise to hold in my hands a book that didn't just entertain me but tugged my heart strings, caused me that cliche of laughing and crying. I had read no other book written by Beth Wiseman before how ever thanks to Plain Pursuit I will gladly consider any other she has written.

The book follows the lives of Carley who has been forced to take a vacation. Being a workaholic she merges her work and involuntary vacation in visiting a friend of hers who has joined the Amish way of life. The book also follows a man named Dr. Noah who is the only man who can save the life of a young Amish boy. Trouble sets when the entire Amish community will have nothing to do with the Dr., even the boys father stays away from the very man who can save his son's life! Carley see's a story, a mystery to unravel, and Dr. Noah see's a chance to use her to help save a boys life and as an opportunity at redemption.

The author does not just use Amish facts or fiction to write this incredible book but she fully understands, grasps and communicates the very base emotions of those in her book. Each character is not surface writing but true depth in each person she has written in. Each with their own stories, mindset, emotions, pain, each grappling with the desire to heal but the fear of being hurt. So true to every person not just the Amish. The story twists bringing on the unexpected, and sometimes just for the readers peace of heart the very expected. This book was very delightful in every way it will be one that I will read again and even recommend to others.

Enjoyable Read

The story starts out very much like Beverly Lewis's The Redemption of Sarah Cain. Down-on-her-luck-reporter, Carley Marek, is forced to take a vacation after a fatal car accident. Carley tries to turn her month long "vacation" to Lancaster Pa, into an article, that's sure to bring her back on top, but the Amish family she is staying with, are skeptical she will write a fair article about Amish life. I had never read "Amish" fiction before I'd read Plain Pursuit. But I was pleasantly surprised about how much liked it. Of course it wasn't "edgy" or "head-over-heels" romantic but, it had something that, just made you want to read more. The story starts out very much like Beverly Lewis's The Redemption of Sarah Cain. And although this is a series, I didn't feel I was missing much by not reading the first book in the Daughters of the Promise series, Plain Perfect. The characters were real, even when it came to the Amish family, Carley was staying with. They had charm and wit. I like how the romance between Noah and Carley was sweet and gentle at first. Noah never wanting to frighten Carley off, and on the next plane home. Carley, knowing she can never fully be what Noah wants in a wife. These things keep the two distant from each other, despite the attraction they feel. The story takes a turning point when Lilly's , Carley newly converted Amish friend, stepson falls gravely ill, and the only one who can help save him, is being shunned by his "Amish" family, which she is not a part of. The emotions in Plain Pursuit aren't dialed down, and show real fear and despair in a life or death situation and the frustrations of knowing there is a cure but pride is in the way. Plain Pursuit is a very relatable book that has a message we should hear (or read, in this case) from time to time. I would definlety recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet romance combined with a little heartbreak and a message that can be applied to everyone.

Good Book

I just finished reading the wonderful Christian romance titled, Plain Pursuit by Beth Wiseman. It is the story of a journalist named Carley who travels to Amish Country to visit her friend, Lillian, who has recently joined the Amish faith. Carley is looking for a vacation to rediscover herself and the chance at a great article about Amish living. During her visit, Lillian's stepson becomes ill and Carley begins to fall for his doctor, Noah. Noah was raised Amish and was shunned but he Amish community. Carley is forced to take a new look at her life and relationships with friends and God to decide where to go next.

I really enjoyed this book. After reading it, I discovered it was the second book in a three book series. I immediately reserved the other books at my local library. I really enjoyed the whole series and finished each book in a matter of days. It is easy, joyful reading that makes you long for a simpler life full of love, family, and faith. The characters were very like able and realistic. The details into the culture and traditions of the Amish life were very intriguing and were represented in a positive, respectful manner. My only complain with this book is that it can be somewhat cheesy at times but overall is a very well-written moving love story.

A Page Turner !!

To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm not really into historical or amish novels, but once I began reading this, I could not put it down. At the end of the book, I was so engrossed with the characters that I cried - always a sign of a good book!

Beth Wiseman, author, did a wonderful job painting a picture of Amish living. Carley is a non-Amish woman that is integrated into the community. I loved seeing the Amish community from Carley's perspective. How she wonders if a simpler way of life might be a better way to live. Life without television, computers, telephones, cell phones, electricity . . . hmm the Amish do have a point!

I enjoyed how Beth deepened the characters with every chapter. Each scene and chapter ended with a lingering question--making this a page turner!

This book is to stay in my personal library!

I jumped at the chance to read an Amish fiction book by Thomas Nelson. The Amish have always intrigued me and I thought this would be a great chance to learn even more.

Carley Marek, the main character hails from Houston, Texas. (Immediately, I knew I was going to like that girl - I'm also from Houston.) Carley has experienced a few very traumatic and sad events in her life that causes her to take a "forced" vacation.

She ends up in the Amish country. Instead of "resting," she gains new experiences that tend to change her life forever.

This book was written in a way that kept me intrigued and delighted. I didn't want to put it down and even gave my children extra television time so I could finish reading it. From tears to laughter, my emotions were constantly being challenged.

At the end of the book, the author even includes some great Old Order Amish Recipes. I can't wait to try those out!

Would I recommend this book? The answer is definitely - YES! It is an easy read and is such a fine story. This is one book that is going to stay in my personal library.

Out of one to five stars, (five being the highest), I give this book 5 stars!

Blessings to you!!! You are LOVED!!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://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 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Plain Pursuit

Review of Plain Pursuit by Beth Wiseman

Wiseman's series of romances set in Pennsylvania Dutch country are a delight to read. She's done the research and added a touch of the mother tongue to draw the reader even deeper in the life of her Amish characters.

Plain Pursuit is the story of forgiveness. What act loses the love of family and community? Murder? Adultery? Writing a best-selling tell-all memoir?

Wiseman explores the determination of a particular old-order Amish district's attempt to keep the church pure. They can forgive choosing not to join the community; they can forgive vow-breakers who rejoin. But forgiveness goes only so far.

Guilt-ridden, fearful and wounded in body and spirit, Carley Marek is offered a choice by her boss: take a short-term vacation, or take a permanent one. Thinking she'd find peace and quiet, Carley chooses a working vacation with a friend who had joined an Amish community.

The peaceful vacation is not to be as Carley is drawn first of all in to the early to bed and even earlier to rise lifestyle of her hosts, but also plunged into an emergency medical situation which forces all of Carley's fears to the surface. Can the handsome and pushy Dr. Noah put her fears to rest, even after Carley is asked not to see him? What would a shunned man know of God and forgiveness?

I love books that make me a little weepy at the end, like this one. Then I feel the compelling emotion of the characters drawn by the author. Wiseman's stories are an honest and in-depth read for those who enjoy tales set in religious communities such as the Amish.

LOVE IT!

Carley Marek finds herself forced to take a vacation or else lose her job. She reluctantly takes the vacation option and heads to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to visit a friend who recently left the ways of the world to join the Amish community. Wanting to keep busy by working, Carley expects to be able to write a story about the Amish that will portray who they really are, but what she finds may be more than her heart can handle.

I have to admit that I have always been intrigued by the Amish, but until this book came out, I didn't know there were Christian fiction books that could teach me about the Amish way of life through a beautifully told story. With this book, Beth Wiseman has opened my eyes to a wonderful part of our society that I might not have known otherwise. And to top it all off, Beth even includes Amish recipes in the back. YUM!

I loved the book so much that I did not want the story to end! I can't wait to read the other books by Beth Wiseman in the "Daughters of Promise" series.

This book was provided to me for review by Thomas Nelson.

Plain Pursuit Review

Another wonderful book! Okay, okay, I know I say that about a lot of books that I read. This book was one of those page-turners that you just can't put down. It's about a young woman named Carley, who finds herself very discontented with her life. She takes a month vacation to visit her Amish friend in Pennsylvania. Plain Pursuit is the story of her journey throughout that month. Wiseman does an amazing job of making you feel like you're right there in the story. The characters are well developed and story is easy to follow. When I first picked up the book, I thought to myself that this would be one of those books my mom would like - a typical romance story with some other stuff in between. It turned out to be so much better than that, and I can proudly say that I enjoy the same books as my mom. :)

If You Like Beverly Lewis, You'll Love Beth Wiseman!

I love reading Amish novels, but it's hard finding authors that can live up to the standard that Beverly Lewis set. Beth Wiseman seems to be the exception, and may have even passed that standard. In "Plain Pursuit", Wiseman flawlessly blends both views and feelings of the Amish and the "Englisch" when she puts Carley in the Stolfus household and in the middle of the Amish community. It gave the book a certain realism and made the characters multidimensional. I enjoyed the book being centered around an "Englischer" intruding into the lives of the Amish instead of being focused on just the Amish point of view. I found the book refreshing, faith building and heartwarming. (Shhhh... don't tell anyone, but there were even times I found tears trying to surface.)

This is the second book of Wiseman's Daughters of the Promise series, however, I read it as a stand alone novel, and didn't feel lost or like I was missing anything. I did love the book enough to order the first book "Plain Perfection" and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.

One last note... In the back of the book are some absolutely delicious authentic Amish recipes. What a lovely bonus to a delightful novel!

A Great Orginal Amish Story!

Carley Marek is forced to take a vacation by her boss, so she heads for Pennsylvania Dutch country and her Amish reformed friend. Entering the tranquil countryside and community of the Amish soon proves to be anything, but relaxing. From a shunning no one wants to forgive to a dying child in need of a kidney transplant, Carley is about to discover what she never expected to find.
I hate clichéd Amish stories and there are so many out there. But, I am so thrilled to share with you a simply wonderful story. A tale fresh with new perspective on the Amish culture. I am a huge stickler when it comes to getting facts right on the Amish, but Beth Wiseman does a marvelous job on accuracy. It was like a breath of fresh air and a story I loved from page one to the end. There was one moment that must have been a typo when it came to changing character perspective, but aside from that it was a great read. The ending will even make you cry (in a very good way!) 5/5 stars!

Plain Pursuit

Carley's dear friend Lillian has moved to Amish country. Not only that, she has converted to the Amish religion. Arriving for a visit, and a forced vacation by her boss, Carley is going to use this visit to write an article for her newspaper, but also to catch up with Lillian.

Things quickly change though, as at the very beginning of her visit, Lillian's stepson David, falls and cuts his chin, using her rental car Carley drives them to the hospital. There a doctor who seems to know Lillian's husband Samuel treats David, and disturbs Samuel. Something just is not right about the whole story, and Carley can sense as does Lillian. Samuel, however is not sharing or telling anything.

Life in the Stoltzfus family is fixing to change drastically. The doctor who knew Samuel is his brother who was shunned for leaving the Ordnung and becoming a doctor, but the big change is that David is sick, very sick. In fact his life is in danger, he will die without a kidney transplant. Of all the family, the only who is a match is the the doctor, Noah Stoltzfus. Samuel is full of mixed feelings, he loves his brother, even though he is shunned, but Samuel must follow the shunning, and even though it allows Noah to donate the kidney, it doesn't allow them to be in contact with Noah. How is this all going to work out??

Carley, facing her own demons, concerning hospitals, death and infertility, finds she is quickly falling for the shunned doctor. She realizes how important family is to him, and knowing she will never have children returns home to her job in Texas.

Will she recover from her broken heart? Will David live? Will Dr. Noah Stoltzfus donate his kidney to a family member who cannot even talk to him according to the Amish Ordnung? Where will all of this bring Carley faith in God?

A heart gripping story, full of twists, turns and even a bit suspenseful. Beth Wiseman has written another wonderful Amish story that will thrill her readers. You will not want to miss this book. Recipes and discussion guide at the end of the book. 346 pages US $14.99 4 and half stars



This book was provided by Thomas Nelson for review purposes only.

Guilty pleasure reading

I can't help it. Amish books are my weakness. I know, I know. However I have no desire to become Amish nor do I agree with all their beliefs. In fact I will state when I find something I disagree about. But still, they are good escape reading especially when you want to read something that is comforting.

I did like this book. The characters were all very engaging and interesting to read. Noah's story especially was my favorite. Personally I would have loved to have read his book and read all the juicy secrets of the behind the scenes details of Amish life. I felt really bad for him because he wanted to live the life he felt called to do and his family shunned him instead. I'm really glad that he stays true to his self and doesn't allow guilt from others to change his mind. The drama involving Samuel's son is a bit soap opera-ish at times due to the rapid pace it took off but still made for good reading.

This is not spoiling the story at all but I just wanted to say I was thrilled that no one turned Amish in this book. I have been worried that this series would fall into the stereotype where every non-Amish person that gets a whiff of Amish life suddenly has the desire to give up their life and join the community. If your intentions are true then that's fine but it just seem like it's the latest trend in books. I mean, really, Amish life is more seductive than most romance novels it seems because people can't seem to keep away. Therefore I was more than relieved when Carley showed no interest in giving up her regular life.

I've stated before in my review of the first book in the series that I didn't really like Samuel. During that book I just felt that he came off as very standoffish to me. Well I was right to feel that way because he gets even worse in this book. Throughout the whole book I just wanted to scream at him for being so unreasonable. Also, to be honest I really don't know how Lillian can put up with him. I'm also amazed at how quickly she adapted to the Amish lifestyle. It was like one minute she can't even up her jeans, now she can speak fluent Pennsylvania German.

All in all I am enjoying this series. They are very refreshing reads. While I may not agree with all the beliefs of the Amish, this series doesn't try to make me feel guilty for that. Plus there's tons of food mentioned in the book, which as I've said before is always a plus in my book. This book is a great way to escape for the weekend. If you're an Amish fan, you'll enjoy this one.

Second novel in Daughters of the Promise series is more great Amish lit

Plain Pursuit by Beth Wiseman is the second book in the Daughters of the Promise series, following Plain Perfect. Lillian, from the first book, has settled into the Amish life with new husband Samuel, stepson David, and daughter Anna. When her Englischer friend Carley needs a place to stay for a few weeks and find some peace, Lillian invites her to stay with her family. Carley's working on an article for her newspaper about the Amish lifestyle, but she runs into some roadblocks after meeting Dr. Noah. Noah treats David after a strange fall that leads to a serious diagnosis for the boy, but because of Noah's history with the Plain People, he can't continue to treat David. Carley's investigative instincts tell her that there's a story here, but finding it may put her friendship with Lillian at risk. Wiseman presents a well-rounded view of the Amish people, focusing in this book on shunning or meiding which can be difficult for non-Amish to understand. Noah and Carley are both forced to consider how their actions impact those around them. Wiseman's series is a terrific entry in the growing Amish genre, and readers will appreciate the recipes she includes in the back of each book.

Wunderbaar Book

This is a great book. It takes you right to Amish country in almost every way. You feel the breeze, see the beautiful land, and hear the peaceful quiet. I loved the characters and the way they make you want to be the best person you can be. I could not stop reading because I did not want to leave the peacefulness that came over me as I visited this people group. They had challenges but the way they faced them was inspiring. It also made me see that they make a lot of sense in choosing to live a simple life. Noah was my favorite character. I think I fell in love with him too. I can't wait for book 3.

Plain pursuit is a must read !!

Beth Wiseman is a new author with a very bright future. She captures the reader from word one and holds them till the very end. I found myself reading long into the night ( till 3am ) not wanting to stop.
She brings forth life into each character making them seem very real and life like. I found myself wanting to move to Paradise Penn.

I truly enjoy that she has continued with each character from book one and into book two and will hopefully be in book three ( I hope!! ).
Without spoiling the story for anyone who has yet to read it ( and what is taking you so long to read it i ask!!? ) she makes the reader feel the love that the character has, the pain that they have, the happiness, everything.

I know new authors come and go, however, Mrs Wiseman is here to stay. Her style of writing romance is refreshing and sweet. She weaves Gods love for us into each story, in such a sweet way. That no matter what your faith is you will feel as if it is your faith that she is writing about.

The only thing I can say about the book, is that it is Awesome!!

Beth Wiseman has done it again!!

Ms. Wiseman has done it again. She has written a second novel that is, if possible, more endearing than the first. She has a way of drawing you in and making the book impossible to put down. You feel yourself rooting for the characters and hoping things turn out the way you think they should. She draws you in from the first page and pulls at your heart strings the whole way through to the last page. I would recommend this book to everyone. I can hardly wait for the third book in the series. I enjoyed the first book "Plain Perfect" and didn't think she could outdo herself with the second book, but I enjoyed this book even more if that is possible.

Great

Really great. I was so impressed with this book as I could not put it down. Great read for anyone.

better than plain perfect

i had the great privilege to get to read plain pursuit and i have to admitt if you loved plain perfect like i did you are going to love plain pursuit. what a wonderful story line, so intense, hard to put the book down. beth wiseman is a wonderful author and i cant wait to read more from her.

No text was provided for this review.