Josiah for President

by Martha Bolton

When former Congressman Mark Stedman throws in the towel on his presidential campaign, his only choice is to return to his home state and decide how to spend the rest of his life … until he meets Josiah Stoltzfus, an Amish farmer from Pennsylvania.

Stedman learns more from Josiah in a few hours than in his many years in office. He comes to the conclusion that someone like Josiah should be running the country. Not a career politician, but someone with a little old-fashioned common sense, someone who’s not afraid of rolling up his sleeves and getting his hands dirty. Someone like Josiah Stoltzfus.

Using his old campaign headquarters for a base, Mark Stedman determines to introduce a new candidate to America. He pledges to do everything in his power to make sure Josiah gets elected. But can a plain man of faith turn the tide of politics and become the leader of America, and what will he have to risk to do it?

Genres: Amish, Fiction, Amish Fiction, Christian, Christian Fiction

295 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2012

About the author

Bob Hope's first female staff writer, working for the legendary comedian in the 1980s and 1990s. She has received nominations for an Emmy, a Dove, and a WGA Award. The author of 88 books, including her newest, Dear Bob... Bob Hope's Wartime Correspondence with the GIs of WW2, which was awarded the Christian Market Book of the Year and the AWSA Memoir of the Year at the Golden Scrolls 2021. She was also named AWSA Member of the Year for 2021. Martha is also a prolific playwright with shows playing in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Two of the musicals are based on her novels, Josiah for President and The Home Game. Martha has also written for Phyllis Diller and numerous other comedians.

Reviews

[Daleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josiah for President. An Amish man in the White House. Sounds absurd, and yet amazing. I'm not old enough to vote yet, but I can still see the amazing impact this would have on our country and with our nation's leaders. I know this would never happen... but it's a nice dream.

[Hannah Grace Staton (on hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagining an Amish man becoming president sounds like a laughable concept even for a novel, especially in light of the current political atmosphere (I'm pretty sure that statement would be applicable at almost any time in American history). But while this story is funny at points, it's not all lighthearted (especially the ending). It drives home a serious message, causing readers to ponder this thought-provoking question: How far would you go to live out your deepest values?

It's definitely a creative and unique concept. While I wouldn't say this book is life-changing, there's definitely more to it than meets the eye at first sight. So if you're looking for a quirky twist on Amish fiction that will make you laugh and think and maybe even cry, I would recommend that you pick up this book.

[Mel Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good!

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josiah for President is not your typical Amish genre books. It was a nice read with the values of the Amish shown when Josiah is asked to run as President. There are plenty of positives and negatives throughout this story. The ending was not what I had expected though.

[Clif Hostetler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a political fantasy. It provides relief for those who are burned out from the recent presidential campaign. It's also a creative spin off from the Amish romance genre which seems to dominate the shelves at many Christian book stores.

The book is premised on a situation where the American electorate is so fed up with gridlock and partisan snipping in Washington D.C. that when a third party write-in alternative appears on the national scene that is headed by a plain spoken Amish farmer from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, it suddenly surges to the top of the polls.

It occurs to me that I can't say much more at this point without being a spoiler. So the rest of this review is hidden. Click on the following to view the spoiler.

The Amish man does indeed win the election. All things Amish becomes the new fashion fad (i.e. hats, suspenders etc.). There's a barn raising behind the White House and the nasty politicians begin to warm to the Amish charm. After a year in office he is assassinated. The nation is so shaken by the incident that the politicians stop snipping, gridlock is broken, and Washington D.C. begins to function like it is suppose to.

See! I told you it was a fantasy.

The premise of this novel is so implausible that I read the book to see how the author could make the story hold together. In that regard the author did a pretty good job.

The enthusiasm of the electorate for a previously unknown running for president reminded me of the early days of the Ross Perot candidacy in 1992. So maybe it's not so fanciful after all.

[Edward Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an interesting concept – a devout Amish man for President, a man who is convinced that God is leading him to seek the highest office in the land, even though running for the office is in direct opposition to their rule book. What would cause an Amish man to consider running for the office of President when many of them never get involved even in local politics? Considering the vast differences between living in the Amish world and living in Washington, D.C., what compromises would an Amish man have to make to move into the White House? Probably the biggest question of all for me is whether or not there is the slightest possibility we could ever elect such a man as our President. That would certainly shake things up if something like this would play out in real life. The author has mixed equal parts of seriousness and levity to keep the book entertaining. I recommend it for all who love a good story.

[Oliver H. France · Rating 5 out of 5]

TNFRENCHIE (Oliver France)

I enjoyed this book and the writer Martha Bolton. She gave us insight to the Amish, a godly people. I have great respect for the Amish and their faith. I always enjoy visiting Muddy Pond an Amish Community not far from the Wesleyan Church Cumberland Groove Campgrounds about 6 miles from Jamestown, TN. This book was a TERRIFIC read and I saw a lot of President Donald Trump in this novel. He has brought God back into the Whitehouse. And he truly is making America Great Again. God Bless America. Martha Bolton as Josiah said he hit a home run for America so our 45th President Donald Trump is hitting home runs for Americans.

[Nanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining story about a plain man meeting a politician and talked into running for President of the United States. This story has been made into a musical being shown at the Blue Gate Theatre in Shipshewana, Indiana. It is a lighthearted story and easy to read, especially for those of us who are completely weary of current politics.

[Rachel Brand · Rating 3 out of 5]

GENRE: AMISH/CONTEMPORARY
PUBLISHER: ZONDERVAN
PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 09, 2012
RATING: 2.5 OUT OF 5 – AVERAGE

PROS: Feel-good story; much needed reminder of what really matters in life and politics; concept will appeal to Amish fans

CONS: Execution was cheesy and contrived; riddled with caricatures; Mark’s character was mostly unexplored; ending felt very unrealistic

Forced to abandon his presidential campaign when he’s alienated by his own party, Mark Stedman decides to leave Washington, DC, and return home to spend time with his wife and children. But his GPS has other ideas, taking him on a convoluted tour through the back roads of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Mark couldn’t be more irritated at the directions his device is giving him, particularly when it guides him straight into a ditch. Mark is thankful that a local Amish man, Josiah Stoltzfus, comes along just in time to pull him out of the ditch, and he’s surprised when the man opens his home to him and offers to help patch up his car. As Mark spends time with Josiah and his family, he can’t help but admire the wisdom and old-fashioned common sense that the man possesses. Wouldn’t America be a better place if only it had someone like Josiah at its helm? This thought stays with Mark long after he leaves Lancaster County, and when he’s called upon to give an endorsement for a presidential candidate, the one name that comes to mind is not the one America is expecting: Josiah. But is an Amish man willing to run for president? And even if he does, will anyone support his campaign? Can Josiah really be the answer America is looking for?

When I was asked to review Josiah for President, I nearly turned down the offer, since I knew that I wasn’t exactly the target audience for this novel. Although I’m a massive fan of Amish fiction, I’m not American, and my knowledge of contemporary American politics doesn’t extend terribly far. But as election time grew nearer and my Facebook and Twitter feeds began to explode with political rants, propaganda, second-by-second debate commentaries and badly photo-shopped images of the opposing parties from my American friends, even I felt like I need a break from all of the election hype. Josiah for President seemed to appear on my reading schedule at just the right moment, and for the most part, it did its job well. I appreciated reading about a politician who didn’t insult his competitor to get ahead, and who emphasised the responsibility that the ordinary American citizen had for improving their country, rather than allowing that duty to be lumped on his shoulders alone. But I did have my issues with this book, and unfortunately, there were several factors that hold me back from giving this novel a higher rating.

Josiah for President reminded me a lot of the moralistic Christmas novellas that start appearing on the shelves at this time of year. As much as I enjoy a ludicrously optimistic Christmas novella or two every time December rolls around, I often find that, in their attempt to put across a moral message, they resort to using caricatures. Josiah for President was much the same, and by the time I reached the end of the story, I realised that I never truly got close to any of the characters. With the possible exception of Josiah’s dilemma about running for president despite the disapproval of his Amish community, very few aspects of the main characters’ personalities were really explored. I’m not so concerned about Harley Phillips, Josiah’s political opponent, as the “villain” in any story often becomes a little caricatured, and he was really only in the book to provide a contrast to Josiah’s style of politics. But I truly wished that Mark’s character had been explored more fully. When we’re first introduced to Mark, he’s hoping to return home and make more of an effort with his family life and reconnect with his children. But when he takes up Josiah’s campaign, this strand is dropped and I couldn’t help but wonder how he was continuing to balance his family and his political career. This is an aspect of the storyline that I’m sure a lot of readers would have appreciated being explored further.

The concept of a failed politician meeting an Amish man and falling in love with the simplicity of his lifestyle is what most appealed to me about this novel, and I’m sure a lot of readers will feel the same. Considering the recent PBS documentary and TLC reality show, it’s clear that the Amish aren’t just popular amongst Christian romance readers, and everyone wants to grab a snippet of their wisdom and minimalism to apply to their own lives. Mark’s meeting with Josiah and the impact it had on him is probably the most realistic aspect of this otherwise incredibly contrived and fantastical story. I wasn’t entirely sure how Josiah’s political campaign would unfold, but once it got rolling, I kind of had to suspend my disbelief in order to truly enjoy the story. This is definitely a story for those who are unhappy with the current political scene in the US and wish that someone with a good dose of common sense and faith would step up to the challenge of running the country.

For the most part, Josiah for President is a fun, feel-good read. I’m sure that Martha Bolton isn’t suggesting that all America needs to get back on its feet is for Amish man to run for president. But I’m sure it’ll help a lot of readers escape the election mania and remind them of what really matters when it comes to placing their vote. If you’re looking for an easy, light-hearted read, this is the book for you. Since I read a lot of happily-ever-after romance novels, you’d think this would be the perfect novel for me also, but I’m afraid that the ending to Josiah for President upset my reading experience a little. I won’t spoil the ending for anyone, but I will say that I didn’t expect it in the slightest. And once the rather emotional, unexpected event had taken place, the book took on an even more optimistic tone. While I’d found Josiah’s election campaign and journey towards the White House to be rather contrived and unrealistic, I’d not let it bother me too much, but when the book went on to detail Josiah’s impact on American politics, the next president and even the economy, I’m afraid it was just too much for me. It seemed as if Martha Bolton was aiming for a bittersweet ending, with a sad event that had many positive consequences, but I just found it incredibly cheesy. The ending pushed my suspension of disbelief over the edge, I’m afraid.

Josiah for President is not the next, great American novel. It’s not even the next, great Amish novel. But if the concept appeals to you and you’re in need of an escape from the current election hype, you’ll probably end up enjoying it. It’s a feel-good read that verges on the cheesy and the contrived just a little bit too much for me, and it could have added another interesting dimension to the story by exploring how Mark’s career conflicted with his family life. But as it is, Josiah for President is sure to appeal to fans of the genre and serves well as a distraction from the run up to elections.

Review title provided by Zondervan.

[Sue Wilber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently moved out of my home state of CT to a retirement community in NC and joined the book club, which meets once a month to discuss a book. At the first meeting I went to in June, I was selected to lead the July discussion on THIS book - which I just finished reading. It was an easy read, but I found myself identifying with so much of the lifestyle of the main character and his family - not because I am of a similar background, but because I went to college in PA and this book evoked dear memories of the Amish communities and their steadfastness for me. I won't give away the plot, but suffice it to say it really made me think of the way we not only elect those who represent us in Washington but also made me think of so many "what ifs," "let's try this a different way," and just plain sincerity in legislation and how this country is managed and run. A very thought-provoking read, and given current events, and in particular the terrible event last evening in PA with the attack of a Presidential candidate, I have a feeling our book club discussion this week will be quite spirited.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my 1st book by this author, and my goodness it was great!!
Martha Bolton done an amazing job writing this beautiful, touching, loving, & amazing story.
Josiah & his wife, Elizabeth, are just regular Plain Amish folks in Lancaster, PA. Then, an unexpected run in with a man in a ditch, named Mark, changes their entire life from then on out.
Josiah & Mark strike up an unlikely friendship while Mark's stranded at their home, until his car's fixed. They form a bond & friendship like no other. From then on, things get complicated for Josiah, thanks to Mark.
Mark is/was a Congressman, and he threw Josiah's name in the ring for President, without telling him first.
Because of that, this is when things get crazy for both of them.
This story was such a great read, and I highly recommend it! You won't be disappointed!
Martha makes you feel like you know the characters, from the descriptions, and you come so involved in it. I loved this book

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Realistic this was not, but it was a pretty fun ride most of the way. One pet peeve was an unrealistic plot point, the issue of shunning. In the fall, the bishop had this big meeting with others and came out of it feeling he'd have to punish Josiah. Then he talks to Josiah and makes it clear he's in danger for continuing to run even before being elected. Then he's elected and over 2 months later sworn in, and he still hasn't been shunned, and apparently, they never get around to it! I also found the later parts of the book a bit more unbelievable, less connected, etc. There were some things that crossed the line from unlikely to roll my eyes picture-perfect results. But a decent one-time read.

[Angela Kinnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I would vote for Josiah and the honesty that someone like him would bring to our country. I read this with such longing for our country to be led by a simple man. I grew up near an Amish community, and admire their faith. I was angry at Mark for dragging Josiah and his community into such a difficult experience, but enjoyed reading about how Josiah and Elizabeth honored their way of life.

[Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. The author did a good job with an interesting if somewhat unbelievable idea; What if an Amish man ran for president. The narrative flowed smoothly and the characters were well developed. I was a bit disappointed with the rather abrupt ending and would have preferred to have an alternate sequence of events at the end, but still enjoyed this book. Recommended

[Karen Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be recommended reading for every American.

This is undoubtedly the BEST book I’ve ever read. By midpoint I was wishing it would never end. Almost every page provides laugh-our-loud humor and rich wisdom that can be applied to every aspect of life. This story should be required reading for everyone serving in public office

[Patricia A. Dubois · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story my heart needef! Easy to read and it stirs the goodness sithim. We need people like this in g mg e White House today!

Great read...wish it were a true story! We need this kind of goodness in the White House today
Easy read

[Mary Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. There were somethings that I found inaccurate about the Amish. From reading books about the Amish written by Beverly Lewis and Wanda Brunstetter, the Amish don’t hold hands and pray out pound before meals. Other then that I enjoyed the book.

[Susan Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!

This book captured me by its title! It is very well written and I enjoyed the book immensely! I will recommend it to my friends!

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! Great story!! It was cool that a amish became president!! Too bad he was killed!!

[Nancy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Read before I saw play at Bird in Hand, PA.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book with a very different plot line - wonderful read!

[Jennifer Widenbrant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute feel good book about Amish life mixed with DC politics. Always fun to read about the peaceful Amish lifestyle. Always reminds me how to balance my life.

[Kristiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, quick read. It’s nice reading a political book without it being a political thriller.

[Gina Shupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fifty year old Mark Stedman has been a Congressman from Wisconsin for twenty years. His wife is named Cindy, and they have three children, teenagers Carrie and Seth, and ten year old Marcus. Mark had decided to run for President, but trailing badly in the polls, he is eliminated by the party officials from the last primary debate, so he withdraws from the race, quits Congress, and decides to drive home. While he takes a detour through Lancaster County, PA, due to road construction and heavy traffic, his car runs off the road and is pulled out by the horse of a nearby Amish farmer named Josiah Stoltzfus. Mark has to spend a few days with Josiah, his wife Elizabeth, and their four children while his car is being repaired. Their oldest child had been killed in an automobile-buggy accident the previous summer.

Mark is greatly impressed with the quiet wisdom and courage of Josiah and gets the wild idea of running him as an independent, write-in candidate against his own former party’s Harley Phillips, a senator from Mississippi, and the other party’s Karen Ledbetter, Governor of Kansas. At first, Josiah adamantly refuses because the Amish don’t become involved in national politics. However, the more he thinks about it, the more he wonders if the whole process which led up to the situation might not be of God’s doing, so he finally agrees, but only if Mark will be his running mate. At the same time, his decision runs afoul of the local Amish church officials. How will the campaign go? Who will win the election? And what will happen between Josiah and his bishop? A couple of common euphemisms (blasted, dadgum--both used by Harley) occur, but there is nothing really objectionable.

The biggest complaint I saw in both professional and reader reviews is that the book has a “somewhat ridiculous premise” which “never really feels like it could be real.” Remember, after all it is fiction. Yet, one reviewer wrote, “Although while reading this novel, I was aware that the premise of the story was far-fetched and probably would never happen, I truly wanted this for our country.” Evidently a lot of other people, including myself, feel the same way. Someone else said, “This has to be the most boring book. The plot was awful. The exchange in characters dull. I don't recommend this author to anyone; they need to rethink a career choice.” People are entitled to their own opinions, but Martha Bolton is an Emmy-nominated and Dove-nominated author of over eighty books of inspiration and humor who was a staff writer for Bob Hope for over fifteen years. The book has endorsements by Marsha Blackburn, United States House of Representatives; Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas; and Beverly Lewis, inspirational author; among others. It is a fascinating story, and I don’t want to give away the ending, but the reader should be prepared to shed a few tears.

[Kari Sommers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my third foray into Amish fiction. The first, Broken English by P.L. Gaus, was a mystery, and if I remember right, the Amish were more window dressing than main focus - or they were actually written well, so their portrayal didn't bother me. My second foray (The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter), like this one, took place only because my husband works for Dutchman Hospitality and we are going to see a staged musical production based on it. Like I always say: read the book first.
Like Half-Stitched, this book is full-on Amish fiction with Amish people as major characters. Unlike Half-Stitched, I actually liked it, eventually. Maybe Brunstetter lowered my expectations. Actually, I'm sure she did. But, considering that I normally would read something with spaceships in it, or something more literary, Martha Bolton has impressed me.
That said, I almost stopped 30 pages in. There are no Amish people until page 45. Until then, it's just a washed-up former presidential candidate bemoaning the failure of his campaign while making his way back to Wisconsin from D. C. Then he meets Josiah, and...well, the title says it all.
Although Josiah comes off as a little hokey, especially at first, he is written far more believably than Brunstetter's Amish characters. And the "English' characters don't act like they've never even seen an Amish person, so the writing is a lot less patronizing toward its audience.
My biggest annoyance was with the way politics were handled. The Englisher who starts out the story goes on and on about "the other side" and makes it clear that he's not an independent...but never says which party he belongs to. Later on, the president vetoes a bill, which makes him lose some polling numbers - but there is no reference to what the bill contains. At all. I understand that the author wanted to be vague and not alienate either 60% or 40% of her readers, but as someone who follows politics this bothered me.
The best part of the book, though, is that even though it fits into the Amish genre, it's really more speculative fiction than anything - and well-imagineed, at that. An Amish man running for president is really more fantastical than spaceships, but the author followed through in providing real-world consequences that such an unlikely Amish person would probably face. And while the "back to basics" message made me think that the author and her characters were glorifying a bygone era that wasn't as wonderful as they think it was, what can I say? Josiah and his (often cheesy) wit won me over.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please accept my highest recommendation for this surprising, insightful novel.

NOTE: SPOILERS BEGIN AT THE HALFWAY POINT IN THIS REVIEW.
I really didn't expect to be so affected by this book. When I picked it off the New Arrivals shelf at my local library, it looked like an interesting, or perhaps silly, take on the presidential election which is looming on the horizon. I glanced through it, read the first few pages, and thought I'd give it a try.
Oh my. What a wonderful story.

Disillusioned by a career in Washington politics and shunned from the presidential race by the early polls, Mark Stedman is on his way home to his family in Wisconsin to lick his wounds, cocoon with his family, and figure what to do next. Before he can complete the two-day drive though, he is run off the road (by his battle with his GPS). His car nondrivable, his cell phone finding no signal, he is rescued by a Plain man in a horse drawn carriage - an Amish farmer on his way home. After spending a couple of days at Josiah Stoltzfus' farm as his car is repaired, Mark is impressed by the farmer's simple, common sense, humble approach to issues.

And, after a few days of being harangued by his political committee's demands that he back a candidate whom he distrusts, Mark half-jokingly announces that he is backing an Amish candidate named Josiah.
>>SPOILERS FOLLOW<<

Convincing Josiah to step away from his Amish ordnung by entering national politics is the beginning of a process of learning, revelations, and shocks for Josiah, Mark, their families, and the American citizenry. The Plain, simple Amish farmer is far outside his comfort zone in handling mudslinging opponents, intricacies of the electoral process (he is affiliated with neither party and, in fact, a write-in candidate!), and the non-stop pressure of the campaign trail.

But through Amish common sense, a home-grown sense of dedication and hard work, and a deep faith in God's will, this simple, kind, almost backward farmer slowly wins the hearts and trust, and eventually the votes of Americans. The campaign is only a taste of things to come as the unthinkable happens.

Please take time - I read it in two sittings - to read this unique and touching novel. I approached it half-heartedly, and finished it with a lump in my throat. Josiah's heart touched my own cynical attitude and lead me to dream of possibilities.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Josiah for President” by Martha Bolton, who has authored over eighty books, is a wonderful story. I found myself hoping and praying that we in the United States could have such a man as a candidate for President. Although while reading this novel, I was aware that the premise of the story was far-fetched and probably would never happen, I truly wanted this for our country.

Josiah is a simple, humble Amish man with the wisdom of the ages and the ability to keep his integrity and honesty at the forefront of his life. He helps pull a car out of a ditch and then uses his simple tools to try to fix it. The driver is, conveniently, a congressman who has tried running for president, has resigned from Congress, but wants only the best for our country. He thinks he has found it in Josiah and begins a campaign to draft him for the presidential ballot. I cannot explain the simplicity and refreshing feeling that came over me as I read this tale. I know it cannot happen, but it would be so wonderful if we could have people like Josiah running this country. They would have only the good of the people and the country as their purpose and not the glamour, wealth and ego that seem to go along with everyone connected with politics today.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I think that it provides something for everyone to think about. What if this were possible? What if we could have leaders who truly had the best interests of the people at heart? What if?

I downloaded this Kindle edition from Zondervan and NetGalley.com for my honest review. I also purchased this book because I wanted to keep it in my library.

You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-6u

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Josiah For President" was such different yet delightful twist on the Amish fiction that I normally read. What's more it's one of those stories that sort of captures the imagination, and while you know it isn't very plausible that the plot would ever take place, it really did have me wondering what if!

After twenty years in Washington D.C. Mark Stedman, a fifty year old Congressman is disillusioned and disappointed after he realizes that his run for president was just a dream that was never intended for him . Unsure where he will go with his life he decides to head back home to Wisconsin and take the time to get to know his youngest son Marcus and reconnect with his wife. When he gets lost in Lancaster PA, he winds up in a ditch and is rescued by Josiah Stoltzfus, an Amish farmer. Mark sees the qualities in Josiah that he feels the country needs, and decides to encourage him to run for president! Will Josiah go along with it, and is America ready for someone like Josiah?

I really enjoyed this one. The humor was wonderful, and because of the subject it certainly was a timely read. I loved the character of Josiah, he was honest and stuck to his morals. Anyone who is fed up with politics and enjoys humor woven into your not so typical Amish read will certainly enjoy this story. I know that I did!

A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if an Amish man could be convinced to run for president? That's the question Martha Bolton addresses in her latest book, JOSIAH FOR PRESIDENT. The result is a fun, funny tale that had me laughing many times, and turning pages as quickly as I could to see what happened next.

Congressman Mark Stedman pulls out of his bed for the White House when his standing in the polls flags. But then a random (maybe?) mishap leave him stranded in Pennsylvania Amish country. There he meets Josiah Stolzfus, a Plain man of integrity and wit. Before long, Mark comes to believe that Josiah is exactly what this country needs - and he signs him up as a write-in candidate for president!

Though Martha Bolton has written over 40 books, this is her first novel, and I think it's a terrific debut. Mark is a realistic character, and though I have no personal experience with politics, he resonated with me. I LOVE his arguments with the Lady of the Dashboard (his GPS). And yet, Bolton gives us an insider's view to political campaining that left me wondering if perhaps she'd run for office herself sometime.

The timing couldn't be more appropriate, with the US Presidential election going on right now. Don't think this is a "statement" book, though. It's just a fun story with a timely setting and theme. And since Bolton is a professional comedian, she pulls off the humor masterfully!