A Recommended Read. An insightful novel about slowing down and enjoying life, Almost Amish is an absolutely delightful read that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend. To read my review in its entirety, please click HERE. ( )

Not a typical "Amish" or even Christian novel, this is actually more about how we all need to focus on the gifts God has given us and how He wants us to use those gifts to bless others. It is a lesson I've been learning over the last few years as I've stopped trying to do everything expertly but do a few things well and with joy, leaving time to serve my family and others. I'd like to reread this. Also it wasn't preachy and had an entertaining plot. ( )

This was such a wonderful read. And so believable. I will admit that I wanted to strangle a certain character more than once (you'll know who I mean) but it was very true to life.

This book makes me feel like it was a journal someone kept during such an experience. It's that real.

The character development is excellent. The plot moves nicely without a lot of bumps or false starts. At times I almost felt like it was moving too fast but that was probably more my excitement to get to the next part!

Bravo Kathryn Cushman. I will be seeking out more of your wonderful novels.

Check out my blog for a more in-depth review. ( )

Really enjoyed this book. I love Amish fiction and this was a different spin in it.

As part of a TV series a family goes Amish for the summer. They learn what it is like without electricity, a oven, and the on goings of life on a Amish farm - canning, chickens. Now I don't want to give it away but there was a point that was a stretch for me but maybe it is just me and I don't stretch that way.
A book I would suggest to all.

Goodreads writes:

Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She's overwhelmed and burned out, and in today's unrelenting society, her kids are, too. When her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series promoting simple living, and needs another family to join her, it seems like the perfect opportunity.
The location is an idyllic farm outside an Amish community in Tennessee. Julie, with her two children, joins Susan and her teenage daughter for a summer adventure. Susan needs to succeed in order to become self-sufficient after an ugly divorce, Julie needs to slow down long enough to remember what her priorities are and regain a sense of purpose and meaning. It becomes clear from the start that "living simple" is no simple matter. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. With each new challenge, their season of "going Amish" gets more and more complicated, as each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family ( )

It’s an interesting concept: live simply, as do the Amish. Forsaking modern conveniences, Julie and her sister-in-law Susan and their kids embark on this adventure. Julie just wants to get away from the demands of her hectic life. Susan wants to promote her talents as a cook and a home decorator, hoping to secure a means to provide for her daughter and herself. Now, throw in the added challenges of a reality TV show, and you will understand what these people will face. Simple most definitely does not mean easy. And while most Amish have grown up learning to compensate for the lack of appliances and the electricity to run them, these folks have not. They also lack the support of community that the Amish have, and most importantly, the Amish don’t have cameras following them 24/7 in their living space. There is much more to the Amish way of life than what this author brings to this story. But perhaps we shouldn’t expect it to be of a religious nature, because it is just “almost” Amish. The family members do reconnect with each other, and each person discovers his and her own strengths. Overall, it was an interesting and satisfying read. ( )