The Englisch Daughter by Cindy Woodsmall
and Erin Woodsmall 352 pages
This
quote, which appears on Page 242, succinctly captures the essence of this
novel.
There
are two plot lines, one greater than the other.
First there is the major plot involving Jemima and Roy Gaber. An Old
Order Amish family, Jemima and Roy have four children. While she tends to the
children and the house, Roy spends long hours training and selling horses. Roy’s
life is also complicated. He’s gone more and more often for long stretches of
time.
This
is only one of the things that create a big strain on their marriage that
pushes it to the brink. Roy is also
recovering from a carriage accident that he and oldest daughter, Laura, had
last year. Roy’s sister, Abigail, had
taken a leave of absence from her teaching position to help, but it’s not
enough.
Abigail
and Jemima had dreams of owning and operating a food truck. They have been saving for years. When an advertisement
offering what seems to be exactly what they envisioned, Roy must admit that the
money is gone. He has depleted their savings account. The hurt Roy has
inflicted upon Jemima is deep. But when she learns what he has done with the money
that cuts the wound even deeper.
The
other plot line is the attraction that Abigail feels toward the new hired hand,
Chris. Not currently practicing the Amish faith, Chris has been turned out of
his parent’s home and shunned by the community. But nonetheless, the
attraction is strong.
I
really enjoyed this novel. It as fairly east to ascertain what the Amish words
meant. I found the glossary when I was already two-thirds through. I think it
would have been helpful to have upfront because I was annoyed while I was
reading, and highly annoyed after I found the novel.
There
are some very exciting part to the story that had my nerves on edge.
“The Englisch
Daughter” receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
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