Though deeply religious and acting in accordance with their faith, the Amish aren’t immune to the failings of all people. Keeping secrets, giving into temptations, lying, and more creep into Amish life. The first book of this series sets up some pretty awful happenings. The writing is quite good, and characters and plot develop at a good pace. The ending will lead you right into the next installment, so be sure you have it handy, because you won’t want to stop with the first novel. ( )

Apparently I have read this book once before even though the site I usually review first on did not have it listed--which means I either read it before I started keeping an online bookshelf or it was one that didn't transfer over when Shelfari was closing and I made a file to transfer.

I suspected early on in my reading that I'd read the book before, but when I checked it wasn't listed, but I know too many of the plot points before they occur so . . .

Abram and Ida Ebersol have only daughters. This book is set around the time of World War II.

Sadie, the oldest daughter, is in her "running around" period and is very drawn to a boy outside the Anabaptist faith. I don't think he cares for her as much as she cares for him though--I think he was just using her innocence or ignorance to get what he wanted. At least at this time. I also don't like that Sadie went through with joining the church just to please her parents, with no intent at the time of living up to the vows she was making.

Leah, the next oldest daughter, is just coming into the age of "running around". Her life is complicated by several factors: 1) her family has treated her like the "boy" of the family so she is much more familiar with outdoor chores than womanly things like cooking and sewing, 2) her father has arranged a marriage with the Smithy's son (but Leah prefers another boy), 3) Her best friend being the Smithy's daughter (who would like nothing more than to have Leah as a sister-in-law), and 4) her sister Sadie's secrets. ( )

Leah has always been the son that Abram and Ida Ebersol never had. She has always helped her father with running the farm and caring for the livestock. But as she nears 16, she will be allowed to attend social gatherings with the other young members of her Amish community and she begins to yearn for more than farming duties. Sadie is the eldest Ebersol daughter and is already socializing with the boys, perhaps more than she should. But when Sadie begins meeting a young man in the woods, whose identity and existence is kept a secret from her family, she may be in danger of loosing her heart and her home. As Sadie continues along her dangerous path, Leah is discovering hers...but neither of them expects the path to be so rocky and winding.

This is book 1 of the Abraham’s Daughters series. It was very good and I am about to pick up book 2 of 5. It will be interesting to see what is in store for the five Ebersol daughters. ( )

There are secrets and dramas happening even in the places you wouldn't expect it. I was pretty interested in the goings on with the girls. This book is fairly short and only the beginning. I'd like to read the next book at some point to find out what happens. ( )

There are secrets and dramas happening even in the places you wouldn't expect it. I was pretty interested in the goings on with the girls. This book is fairly short and only the beginning. I'd like to read the next book at some point to find out what happens. ( )