Plain Perfect (Daughters of the Promise, Book 1) [Paperback]

Beth Wiseman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 9, 2008

A search for peace in Amish country proves anything but simple for a woman on the run from life...and herself.

On the rolling plains of Lancaster County, PA., Lillian Miller is searching for her grandparents' house...and so much more. After years of neglect and abuse, she's turning to a lifestyle of simplicity among the Amish to find herself.

As she discards the distractions of her former life, she befriends the young boy working on her family's farm and his attractive widowed father, Samuel Stoltzfus.  Despite Lillian's best efforts to the contrary, her feelings for Samuel--and his for her--deepen.  Will Lillian find her faith in Plain living, or will she be forced to return to her former life?

Content verified by Amish reader.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"What makes life perfect? For many, the pursuit of a 'perfect life' can lead to disappointment. At the very heart of humans, the perfect life is one of peace and contentment. Beth Wiseman pens a tale of a woman's search for peace. The pursuit takes Lillian to an unlikely location--her mother's Amish birthplace. But the lifestyle of these Plain, honest people turns Lillian's heart upside-down. For a sweet journey toward faith, enjoy reading Plain Perfect."

-Kim Vogel Sawyer

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

Writing has always been a part of debut novelist Beth Wiseman’s life—whether writing books, articles, or a weekly column. When Beth was introduced to the Amish, she gained an appreciation for their simpler way of life and began writing love stories featuring this fascinating and endearing group of people. She and her family live in Texas.  Visit bethwiseman.com

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595546308
• ISBN-13: 978-1595546302
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Beth is a Carol Award Winner, Inspirational Readers Choice Winner, INSPY Winner, and the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. All of her books have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) bestseller list and the CBA (Christian Book Association) bestseller list. She grew up in Houston, Texas and now resides in a small town west of Houston with a population of around 300. She lives with her husband, two dogs, two cats, two pot bellied pigs, two chickens and a pygmy goat. Her two grown sons also live in Texas.

Beth has been writing in some capacity for most of her life. She's a former award-winning journalist with eleven honors, including 'First Place News Writing' for The Texas Press Association. However, writing love stories with a spiritual message is where her heart is.

When Beth isn't writing (which is seldom these days) she enjoys traveling, cooking, fishing, reading, or just settling in for a good movie. Her best times are spent with family and friends!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing Read, October 25, 2008

By 

Suzanne J. Sellner (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plain Perfect (Daughters of the Promise, Book 1) (Paperback)

Since Beth Wiseman's first novel far exceeds any expectations I had when I began reading it, I'm highly recommending it to friends and family. Lillian, her main female character, exudes a refreshingly humorous but realistic nature. While seeking to redeem the mess she has made of her life, Lillian arrives to live with her mother's parents, her grandparents, in their Amish community and experiences gentle acceptance and forgiveness as she learns the Amish beliefs and culture and seeks a relationship with God. Her Amish friends--Samuel, a widower, and his son--marvel at her kindness and cuteness while they grow to love her deeply. Unexpected events grip the reader emotionally. Plain Perfect is a refreshing read! Waiting for the second book of the trilogy will be difficult, but I will definitely pre-order it in order to receive it as soon as possible.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational story of finding family and new beginnings in a simpler life, November 17, 2008

By 

W. Barker ""http://wendisbookcorner.blogs... (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plain Perfect (Daughters of the Promise, Book 1) (Paperback)

Perfect for : Personal reading, Book Club reading (Note: the book does include discussion questions at the end)

In a nutshell: One thing I really appreciated is that the author provided a glossary of Amish words in the front of the book!! What a benefit as most of us wouldn't know that "boppli" means baby. Right away, the reader gets a glimpse of the importance of the choice Lilly is making to leave her boyfriend and visit her grandparents, who are Amish. I fell in love with them right away, with their kind remarks and realistic expectations. Through both ups and downs Lilly builds some remarkable relationships that help to shape the future of her life. I highly recommend this inspirational book.

My Review:
I absolutely loved this book! Lilly went to visit her grandparents for a great reason - she needed to re-evaluate her life and get back on the right track. Once there, she begins to learn a little more about the Amish lifestyle and beliefs. She meets some wonderful people and becomes a functioning family member. This is certainly a feel-good book by the end, and the reader gets to witness more than one person's transformation. The story explores joy as well as sorrow, forgiveness and new-starts. I really enjoyed this peak into relationships and Amish life.

Characters: Beautifully written, each character has a personality all their own. I loved them all . . . except Rickie - who was never meant to be a nice person. The subtle changes within the book were wonderful.

Story-Line: The story was great - Lilly chose to leave the "English" world to join her Amish grandparents as a result of a bad relationship and many disappointments. What she finds is even better than she expected. She finds real friends, family, contentment in a "Plain" lifestyle, and more than anything . . . faith.

Readability: A truely enjoyable read from start to finish. The book was made even easier with the inclusion of a glossary.

Overall: Another favorite book to be added to my "favorites" bookshelf. The story and wonderfully written characters help to make this story come to life. Lilly gets a chance to reconnect with family, and a chance at a new beginning in this gently inspirational story.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW, September 2, 2008

By 

V. Spalek (Columbus, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plain Perfect (Daughters of the Promise, Book 1) (Paperback)

I don't normally read love stories, but I did read this one, and I am glad I did. The book was filled with drama and anticipation and I found that I could not put the book down. I wanted to know the ending to Samuel and Lillian's life and could not have been more please with how it turned out. I can hardly wait for the other books in the series to come out and look forward to reading other book from Beth Wiseman.Plain Perfect