Prodigal

Secrets of the Son #1

by Willard N. Carpenter

Where does an 18-year-old Amish boy go when he ‘jumps the fence’ during his rumspringa? What does he become? Who is he when he returns?

Prodigal, is about a young Amish teenager who leaves the Amish community to pursue an education and finds himself, in a unique career, abhorrent to the Amish. His father dying, he returns home 25 years later.

Clues involving secrets to his past begin to emerge. Though Prodigal is about the mystery surrounding Samuel, it most importantly is about his wife, Mary, an Amish widow with two children. She is 16 years younger than Samuel, who is all but by name English.

Because of her husband’s past, she enjoys and is empowered with freedoms not afforded other Amish married woman. Though she adheres to the tenants of her faith, Mary is also strong, passionate and somewhat independent.

Genres: Amish

258 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2011

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prodigal - A Book You Won’t Forget!

I don’t even know how to begin to describe how much I enjoyed this book. It is a read you won’t soon forget.

Samuel Hersberger is returning to his Amish roots after being away for 25 years. What brings him home? His dying Father.

Samuel’s 25 years in the English world has been quite a journey. A journey that the reader will find is filled with many secrets that Samuel does not share in this book. There are a few secrets that come out but mostly for the time being Samuel is keeping secrets to himself until the time is right. There is a secret that was kept from Samuel that he knew nothing about.

Samuel is happy that he has arrived home before his Father’s passing. Samuel knows he has spent too many years away and has missed his family immensely.

While home he quickly becomes smitten with Mary, an Amish widow. She is quite a few years younger than Samuel and has two children. Mary quickly becomes quite smitten with Samuel too.

I do not want to go into a lot of detail about this book because it would be a spoiler for those who haven’t read it. I hope I’ve written the right words that will make you feel as though this is a must read book for you.

I love that the author brings out the importance of Faith in God. He paints a picture of a gentle man who loves his God, his family, his friends, and his community. A gentle man who is willing to risk his life to save others.

There is one thing that I did not like about this book. It ended too soon! I can’t wait for Book 2 to be released. Readers you will not be disappointed in Prodigal.

[Joan Bolen]

Prodigal is a story of Samuel hersberger who grew up Amish but left the community only to return to the Amish way of life when he gets word of his fathers impending death. He returns after 20 years just in time to speak with his father before he passes away. He learns the family farm will be his. Samuel owned a very successful horse ranch in north Carolina but he also spent lots of time away from the ranch on business but no one knows what type of business it is. He decides to relocate his rach to the farm in Pennsylvania and move his manager bill and his family along with all of the ranch hands.
The beginning to me was a bit confusing as it seemed like it went too fast and it seemed like some parts were missing. It seems like Samuel meets Mary a widow and then they're married. I would have liked to see this romance progress a little slower.

When 9/ 11 happens the hersberger farm is swarmed with police cars and government vehicles and no one knows why. They disappear into samuels office and when they emerge Samuel announces he needs to go away on business for awhile and he can't tell anyone where he's going. Just a quick as he leaves he returns and still no one knows where he's been.
I found it a little hard to get into but stayed with it and by the time I was halfway through I started to enjoy it. Ended with a cliffhanger. Can't wait for book 2.

[ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and even with the Dutch/German in it I quickly figured out what the words meant and read them with no problem. I was sad at the end that it was the end. I can't wait for book 2

[Tammy Bernadt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story. It is a book hard to put down.. I can't wait to find next book. Your going to really enjoy this book. Don't miss reading it.

[Cherese Akhavein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prodigal ( Secrets of the Son) Book 1 by Willard N. Carpenter
Ok first let me say it did take me awhile it get into this book as it’s not like any Amish book I’ve read, however with that said once I hit about Chapter 3 or 4 I believe, I could not put it down and if it were not for life getting in my way I would not have put it down I was so drawn to Samuel and Mary’s story.
Samuel’s story captured me I found myself wishing I was right there sitting at their dining room table listening to his live or walking around the ranch with both Mary and him. The love they have for each other is palpable in Willard N. Carpenter’s writing style. The heartache in which Samuel had to make decisions in his life and yet walk the path God had for him shows of his love for not just his family but his love of his Christian values.
This is so much more than a wonderful book it’s a work of the heart in which you can visualize every heartfelt step, dream, and love of a son for his family. I am so excited to start Book 2 which is Unveiling ( Secrets of the Son )
If you read no other book please read this series.

[Joleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this book had potential with intriguing secret background history, but nothing much was developed.
Samuel, raised Amish, leaves for 25 years to live a successful "English" life. He comes back when his dad is dying.
There's virtually no explanation of family reaction other than he was missed. No reaction from relatives, neighbors or church community. There's nothing about how he became Amish again, just that when his dad died he seemed attracted to the Amish widow across the street. After the only social interaction they had alone they both profess their love for one another. One date -- and aside from church, the next tIme they see each other she throws herself at him and he proposes. It was so strange. No lead up, no real talks, history or getting to know each other.
The writing was poor, constantly using the present tense to talk about past events... A sentence might have been phrased like this... "Samuel goes to the door, sticks his head out, and says to Mary... When it should be written Samuel WENT to the door, STUCK his head out, and SAID to Mary. This was written throughout the whole book.
I think improvements like this could be made, then more detailed history and character development and update the Kindle edition. I'll pick it back up again if there's an update. I noticed it isn't even being sold in a Kindle version anymore.
As it is now, I'd hold off. Wait to see if it improves.

[Cheryl Baranski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prodigal, By” Willard Carpenter
This is the story of Samuel Hersberger.
He left home as a youth. After all these years
he receives a call letting him know that his dad
is dying. He decides that is time to go back to the life that he
left behind years ago. He packs up his belongs and starts
the journey home. Mary Stutzman is a widow. Mary is
good friends with Katie who is Samuel's sister.
Samuel and Mary catch each other's eye.
Will things work out for Samuel and Mary?
I love this book.
Willard puts such a unique on this amish book.
This book is 5 stars.