CFBA Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingAlmost AmishBethany House Publishers (July 1, 2012)byKathryn CushmanABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy, but all her life she knew that she wanted to write a novel “some day”. For her, “some day” came in 2003, when she started writing and never looked back.

Her first two manuscripts remain firmly ensconced in the back of her closet (the dust bunnies tell her they really are terrific!). Her third attempt became her first published novel.

A Promise to Remember and Leaving Yesterday were both finalists for the American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award, and Waiting for Daybreak was a finalist in Women’s Fiction for the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award.

On the homefront, she has been married to the wonderful and handsome Lee for nearly twenty-five years now, and their two daughters are currently braving the worlds of high school and college.

They’ve lived in Santa Barbara for over twenty years. It’s a beautiful place and Kathryn feel blessed to be there (although a seventy degree Christmas still leaves her dreaming of a white one—or at least a colder one!)

When she’s not writing or reading or braving seventy degree holidays, you’ll find her trying her best to keep up with her daughters in their various theater, softball, dance, and filled-with-activity lives.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Proving the Simple Life Isn’t So Simple After All

Overcommitted and overwhelmed, Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She knows she should feel blessed as a mother and wife–but she just feels exhausted. And then, the miraculous happens. Her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series about trying to live like the Amish and needs another family to join her. It’s just the break Julie needs.

But the summer adventure in simple living soon proves anything but simple. 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. Whether it’s cooking, cleaning, or dressing differently, each new Amish challenge raises new complications…and soon each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.

 

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

This is a very different book about the Amish, since it is Almost Amish. Susan is perfect. Well almost. Everything she does has to be perfect. She even makes sure her seventeen year old daughter is perfect in everything she does. That is the way life is suppose to be, right? And Julie is the opposite. She is struggling with just what her position in life should be. She can’t find a thing she is really good at.

Then the opportunity comes to be on the reality show, Almost Amish. This is Susan’s one sure take at being famous, and sister in law Julie is willing to help, alone with her son and daughter. This is an interesting read, one that will make you stop and think about your own busy life. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, though some parts irked me. Like when the producer, and even Susan was ok with the cameraman sneaking pictures and video of the real Amish people, even though they were told not too. The answer was that they would never know it. Well, that rips respect all to pieces. Anything to up the ratings, and thats just what they strove to do. I was really happy that Julie had the guts to take a stand that one time, which make a huge difference in the decisions from then on out.

My only problem with the book was wondering how the Amish would feel about a reality TV show like this, or even a book written like this about their life style. Is this an invasion on their private lives? I wouldn’t want anything that gives us a reading thrill to upset them in any way!

That said, go grab a copy and see what you think. It will be interesting to see what people think about this very interesting book!

A copy of this book was provided by Bethany House through CFBA. I was not required or expected to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only.

 

If you would like to read the first chapter of Almost Amish, go HERE.