In 1737, Anna Konig and her fellow church members stagger off a small wooden ship after 10 weeks at sea, eager to start a new life in the vibrant but raw Pennsylvania frontier. On the docks of Port Philadelphia waits bishop Jacob Bauer, founder of the settlement and father to ship carpenter Bairn. It’s a time of new beginnings for the reunited Bauer family, and for Anna and Bairn’s shipboard romance to blossom. But this perfect moment cannot last.
The Newcomer
by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Baker Publishing Group
January 2017
As Bairn grasps the reality of what it means to be Amish in the New World – isolated, rigid with expectations, under the thumb of his domineering father – his enthusiasm evaporates. When a sea captain offers the chance to cross the ocean one more time, Bairn grabs it. Just one more crossing, he promises Anna. But will she wait for him? When Henrik Newman joins the church just as it makes its way to the frontier, Anna is torn. He seems to be everything Bairn is not – bold, devoted, and delighted to vie for her heart. And the most dramatic difference? He is here; Bairn is not. Far from the frontier, an unexpected turn of events weaves together the lives of Bairn, Anna, and Henrik. When a secret is revealed, which true love will emerge?
My Thoughts:
This is the second book in the Amish Beginnings Series. Overall, this could be read without the first book in the series. The first book in the series is Anna’s journey to the new world. You will miss some of the character interactions and some of the history behind the individuals. Suzanne Woods Fisher’s books always does a good job laying the ground work on a series in each book. I love stories that are historical.
The story picks up when they arrive in the port of Philadelphia after they crossed the Atlantic Ocean. They are preparing to make the journey in the wilderness were Jacob Bauer has secured some land for the community.
I find it intriguing the Amish coming to the New World to create a community to worship God without persecution. The details of the era and the worked needed to create a community was intriguing and made for an interesting read. The courage and faith of the individuals kept the group going despite the difficulties they faced.
All the characters have a lot of depth about them to make you feel almost part of the story. I love all the history put into the pages and the individuals you meet.
I look forward to the next book in the series.
ReneeK is a sweet tea addicted mamma who loves to cuddle up to a good book. She blogs at Little Homeschool on the Praire and writes about family, homeschooling, having a special needs child, and about whatever else tickles her fancy.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.