MY REVIEW:
Over the years I have read many novels about pioneers who travel west by wagon train but “Mattie’s Pledge” is the first one I’ve encountered that features the Amish. I found their story to be interesting, especially the contrast in their views from other settlers toward protecting themselves and their property.
When Mattie’s family decides to move west to a new settlement in Indiana, she was eager to go. Mattie had a good case of what many might call wanderlust and felt that if she could just see what was over the mountains, the emptiness in her soul would be filled. Jacob Yoder, Mattie’s childhood friend, and his family are part of the group of travelers. All Jacob wants is a home of his own and hopefully Mattie as his wife. Although they care for each other, neither of them quite understands the other’s dreams. The Amish travelers’ trail is dogged by a group of men who are intent on stealing their horses and one of them has his eyes on Mattie. Danger seems imminent but only Jacob seems to discern the threat.
Overall, “Mattie’s Pledge” was an enjoyable story but I did grow frustrated with Mattie and her sometimes foolish actions. I was also disappointed that the author did not take the opportunity to illustrate that the emptiness Mattie felt could only be filled by the Lord. Nevertheless, I believe that most fans of Amish fiction should love “Mattie’s Pledge.
A free copy of this book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When she feels the pull of both home and the horizon, which will she choose?
Mattie Schrock is no stranger to uprooting her life. Even as her father relocated her family from one Amish community to the next, she always managed to find a footing in their new homes. Now as the Schrock family plans to move west from Somerset County to a fledgling Amish settlement in Indiana, she looks forward to connecting with old friends who will be joining them from another Pennsylvania community–friends like Jacob Yoder, who has always held a special place in her heart.
Since Mattie last saw Jacob, they’ve both grown into different people with different dreams. Jacob yearns to settle down, but Mattie can’t help but dream of what may lie over the western horizon. When a handsome Englisher tempts her to leave the Amish behind to search for adventure in the West, will her pledge to Jacob be the anchor that holds her secure?
Tender, poignant, and gentle, Mattie’s Pledge offers you a glimpse into Amish life in the 1840s–and into the yearning heart of a character you’ll not soon forget.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jan Drexler brings a unique understanding of Amish traditions and beliefs to her writing. Her ancestors were among the first Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1700s. Their experiences are the basis for her stories. Jan lives in South Dakota with her husband, their four adult children, two active dogs, and a cat. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking the Black Hills and the Badlands. She is the author of the Love Inspired novels The Prodigal Son Returns, A Mother for His Children, and A Home for His Family (September 2015).
