Love Beverly Lewis's books. She brings her characters, stories, and places alive. Narration was fine.

FROM AMAZON: Paradise, Pennsylvania, is likened to a little slice of heaven on earth...but for Annie Zook--the preacher's eldest daughter--it seems like a dead-end street. She is expected to join the Amish church, but at 20 she is "still deciding". Because of the strict rules that guide the Plain community, she must continually squelch her artistic passion, although it has become her solace. In her signature style, with character depth and unexpected plot twists, beloved novelist Beverly Lewis once again opens the door to the world of the Amish. Audiobook edition.

FROM AMAZON: Annie Zook, the only daughter of an Old Order Amish preacher, wants to please her parents and her Plain community, but a hidden passion stands in the way. Creating art is strictly forbidden by Annie's church district. Her secret has already cost her the affection of handsome Rudy Esh. She must choose between her art and the People - the only life she knows. Louisa Stratford, Annie's longtime pen pal, is a modern Denverite who shares Annie's love of art. When Louisa escapes her own problems to go to Paradise for a taste of the simple life, will she nudge Annie closer to all she has known and loved....or tempt Annie to pursue her own dreams? ( )

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Book on CD read by Aimee Lily

From the book jacket: For Annie Zook, the only daughter of an Old order Amish preacher, the “Plain and simple life” is anything but plain and simple. She juggles conflicting desires and closely guarded secrets – a “fancy” friend, a secret room, and an unthinkable dream … while a long-ago mysterious disappearance weighs heavily on her heart.

My reactions
I think Lewis’s ambitions got away from her. There is just too much going on in this novel and none of if it satisfactorily explored. There’s that mysterious disappearance from the past, which is worthy of a novel all its own. Those events haunt not only Annie, but Zeke as well. Then there’s Zeke and Esther’s marriage difficulties, which would certainly make an interesting story. And the central story of the preacher’s daughter, Annie, who is pulled to expressing herself in painting, though it is forbidden, and who is encouraged by her English friend, Louisa (who is running for an all-but-arranged marriage).

I think Lewis does have a knack for exploring the Amish and Mennonite cultures, and contrasting their perspectives against those of modern-day America. I’m glad she gives voice to people who struggle with the basic tenets of faith and a way of life that may not completely suit them. This is the first in a series (“Annie’s People”) and I may read another.

I didn’t realize until I started the CD that it was an abridged version. Aimee Lily seems to do a good job, but I abandoned the audio for the text version so I could fill in the blanks left by the abridged audio. ( )

Love Beverly Lewis's books. She brings her characters alive alive,
Paradise, Pennsylvania, is likened to a little slice of heaven on earth...but for Annie Zook--the preacher's eldest daughter--it seems like a dead-end street. She is expected to join the Amish church, but at 20 she is "still deciding." Because of the strict rules that guide the Plain community, she must continually squelch her artistic passion, although it has become her solace. In her signature style, with character depth and unexpected plot twists, beloved novelist Beverly Lewis once again opens the door to the world of the Amish.

FROM AMAZON: Annie Zook, the only daughter of an Old Order Amish preacher, wants to please her parents and her Plain community, but a hidden passion stands in the way. Creating art is strictly forbidden by Annie's church district. Her secret has already cost her the affection of handsome Rudy Esh. She must choose between her art and the People - the only life she knows. Louisa Stratford, Annie's longtime pen pal, is a modern Denverite who shares Annie's love of art. When Louisa escapes her own problems to go to Paradise for a taste of the simple life, will she nudge Annie closer to all she has known and loved....or tempt Annie to pursue her own dreams? ( )

The first in "Annie's People" series, one of the best Amish series I've read. Kind of mystery + real romance. Starts out w/ boy disappeared some years ago, Amish do not report that. By the end of the third book, we find out he was alive & adopted out of Amish. Very very good. ( )