The Amish Groom

The Men of Lancaster County #1

by Mindy Starns Clark, Susan Meissner

The Amish Groom explores the men of an Amish community in Lancaster County, how their Amish beliefs play out in their unique roles, and the women who change their lives.

Born to an ex-Amish mother and an Englisch father, 23-year-old Tyler Anderson was raised as a military kid until the age of 6, when his mom passed away. His dad, shipping off to yet another overseas post, placed Tyler in the care of his Amish grandparents, an arrangement that was supposed to be temporary. It lasted a lifetime.

Rachel Hoeck is the young woman waiting for Tyler’s proposal. She senses that though he loves her and wishes to make a commitment to her and his Amish beliefs, part of him still wonders whether an Amish lifestyle is truly for him.

When an opportunity to connect with his father unexpectedly arises, a visit to California causes Tyler to question everything, including a future with Rachel. Will the new girl in his life, Lark, cause him to remain in the Englisch world? Or will he choose to be an Amish groom after all?

Genres: Amish, Christian Fiction, Amish Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Christian, Chick Lit

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

Mindy Starns Clark is the bestselling author of more than 30 books, both fiction and nonfiction, and has received numerous literary honors, including two Christy Awards and RT Book Review Magazine’s 2012 Career Achievement Award. Mindy and her husband, John, have two adult children and live near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can identify with Tyler's struggles because, like him, I was born into a unique situation. Gaining a brother-in-law at the age of eight, and having a sister who was technically fifteen years my senior but had to be taken care of like a baby due to a severe disability, were things many of my friends and peers had trouble understanding. So, Tyler's triumphs over his rare circumstances made this book very inspirational. I hope the later books in this series follow the same trend.

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it's not something I would normally pick up on my own, I did quite enjoy this book. There's something about the Amish religion that fascinates me and I always find it interesting to read about it. While I did enjoy this book, it didn't quite get 5 stars because I did find it a bit predictable. The story was well written and enjoyable.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Amish Groom was on our high demand shelf at the library, thus I had to check it out. I’m so glad I did. This is a sensational book to start The Men of Lancaster County series by Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner.

Tyler Anderson had a longing there was something else outside of his Amish family and community, where he had lived since he was six years old. He didn’t recall a lot of his early life, but had visits or visited his dad, step-mother and half-brother sporadically. He loved his life with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and his sweetheart Rachel, but was just didn’t feel he was ready to commit to becoming a baptized member of the Amish church. A phone call gave him an opportunity to travel to his dad’s to care for Brady, his half-brother. The Englischer world was so different with no sense of connectivity to family or community. The realism of today’s world brought answers and new questions along with discovering more about his mother who had died unexpectedly years prior. This is a very worthwhile book to read.

[ANNETTE · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning started off kinda slow.I thought each chapter got better. The story had some interesting characters. A sweet story about a young man torn between Amish and Englisher. After much soul searching and prayer he turns it all over to God.
He realized where his true roots are .

[Janice Coy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I'm a fan of Susan Meissner. I'm not sure how much of her input was in this book because the writing seemed a lot simpler than her usual style. Still, this was a fun, easy read. Tyler is raised by his Amish grandparents. Not sure he wants to commit to the Amish life, (his dead mother was Amish, his father is not) he agrees to supervise his half-brother in Newport Beach, California. I learned some things about the Amish way of life which was interesting. If you're looking for a light read, this is it.

[Wendy Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

After just finishing the Women of Lancaster County, I was excited to delve into the Men of Lancaster County. I was caught off-guard right away because the book is told from the man's viewpoint. Uncommon, but not unheard of and frankly a nice change of pace.

Tyler was born to an Amish mother and a military father. When his mother dies when he is young, he is taken in by his Amish grandparents while his dad finished his tours in the military. After time passes, his dad has remarried and had another son. It's at this time he gives Tyler the option to return with him or continue being raised with his grandparents. Tyler is still a child but he decides to remain where he is.

Many years forward, Tyler still hasn't joined the church because he feels like he is missing something. Even though he loves Rachel, he can't commit to marrying her until he joins the church. He prays to God to give him a sign of what to do. His answer is his dad calling from California needing someone to sit with Tyler's younger brother while he is away on business.

This time gives Tyler the chance to experience life without his community. He's hoping it will give him more time to spend with his brother and maybe give him the answers he is seeking. But there are several curveballs thrown into Tyler's orderly plan and he will need to follow his heart and his faith to find what he is looking for.

A great addition to the Lancaster series. I really enjoyed seeing Tyler in the English and the Amish world and how he acted/reacted in both. The characters were all believable and the story moved along at a good pace. I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.

[Kav]

What an absorbing story! And, honestly, I'm gobsmacked over how quickly I got lost in it because it is told entirely from Tyler's perspective, In first person point of view no less. And you know what? That wouldn't be my first pick for any kind of novel but it totally worked for this one. I was on tenterhooks the whole read, feeling the pressure right along with Tyler as he struggled for answers.

This story explores the perils and rewards of being in relationship.Tyler impressed me from the very beginning. Honest about the issues he is wrestling with, he seeks counsel and then steps out in faith. He feels like he is caught between two worlds. When he's living Amish he feels something tugging him outside of the close knit community. When he's visiting his dad he yearns for the simplicity of the Amish life he was raised in. His journey towards self-discovery completely captivated me. And it's punctuated with wry observations on our fast-paced 21st century lifestyle. Riveting from start to finish.

[CarolynB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I was very much "into" Tyler and all that had happened in his life to bring him to the decision he was facing--was he Amish, or English? All of the people in this book were so believable! I agonized with each of them as Tyler agonized with his decision. Though I thought at the beginning that Tyler would make the decision he made, it was a very intense journey with him as he prayed through. I loved the resolution, not just for the future, but with the past as well. Now I remember why Mindy Starns Clark is one of my most favorite authors!

[Greg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got paid. I have to keep that thought or I shall go mad.

[Melissa James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read. The main character goes through a lot of soul searching and turning to God in his efforts to find answers. I found the story to be inspirational.

[Kathywalter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great comparison of two vastly different cultures. I loved his list!

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors created a beautiful storyline in Tyler's spiritual journey that showed who God truly is and how much He loves each one of us.

[M.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tyler Anderson has lived with his mother’s Amish family for seventeen years after his mother died when he was six. He is seemingly content with the Amish life, but in truth he struggles with knowing where he truly belongs. Should he join the church and marry his longtime-girlfriend, Rachel Hoeck? Or is he better suited for the outside world, joining his father, stepmother, and half-brother in California? When an unexpected circumstance lands Tyler in California for a month, he realizes that this is the perfect opportunity to learn who he really is—and maybe to learn why his mother left the Amish faith in the first place...
This was a pretty good book. I wasn’t entirely sure if I would like it when I started it, but I’ve been a fan of Mindy Starns Clark for a while, so I thought I’d give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised, especially about Tyler’s character and struggles. His uncertainty about where he truly belongs was very relatable, and I appreciated how the author approached this topic. I think this also might be the first Amish book I’ve read that spends most of its time outside of the Amish community. But somehow, even though the majority of the book takes place in California, it was still quite easy to remember that Tyler was Amish. Everything about him and the other characters was quite realistic. Also, what made me quite happy was that the romance was kept to a minimum. Tyler has a girlfriend, but their romance focuses more on their relationship as people rather than their longing thoughts for each other.
By way of dislikes, I do think the story was a bit slow, and there were a few parts that were a little cheesy and just a wee bit soap-operaish. There were also a couple of characters that didn’t really serve much purpose in the story, other than to provide a few extra pages. But complaints aside, this was definitely a good read. Though there are none of the mysterious elements Ms. Clark is known for, this collaborative work between her and Susan Meissner is sure to delight fans of calm, sweet Amish fiction.

[Cherese Akhavein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Men of Lancaster County Series. "The Amish Groom" by Mindy Starne Clark and Susan Meissner.
Where do I start? Like other Christian Amish books that you are familiar with you will find love, joy, the pure simple pleasure of the uncomplicated life , and of course Gods scripture. However, you will also find in this book a deep story within a story of a struggle with a young man ( Tyler Andnerson) and his search for not only who he is, but where he belongs. Tyler knows he is loved and he loves in return but sometimes life holds deeper meaning and for Tyler his journey will take him into his deceased mothers life to look for answers.
Rachel Hoeck had loved Tyler her whole life she only hopes at the end of Tyler's journey she will be able to still be standing there.
For me this book was truly a wonderful look into not only the Amish way of life through the eyes of an Enghlish Author but an Amish character looking honestly back at the English eyes point of view. It showed compassion, and true empathy for one another. To be able to look at those barriers once crossed openly and have faith God will see you through is not always easy. This book helps bridge that gap. A true must read.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very easy read because the writing was good and the characters were real enough for you even if you do not know any Amish. The Amish lifestyle is explained very well and plays a very large part in the story. Tyler Anderson is both Amish and Englisch. His mother left her Amish home in Pennsylvania to live in the Englisch world, looking for something for her life she did not have at home. She married a military man and moved around a great deal but died while she was taking care of her son who was 6 years old at the time. His father took him back to his grandparents in Pennsylvania and left him to be raised by them. Tyler thrived there since his father never returned to get him until he married the second time and also had another son. But Tyler stayed with his grandparents until his father called him to come to California to help out in a family problem there. This was Tyler chance to find out if he, too wanted a different lifestyle. Tyler's faith in God is very prevalent through out the book and is his guiding light. Family dynamics are well written and the story is heart warming. I enjoyed it very much and had a hard time laying it down!

[Rachel Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tyler Anderson found himself thrust upon his Amish grandparents when his ex-Amish mother suddenly died when he was six years old. His grandparents were more than happy to take him in, understanding that Tyler’s father’s work in the military meant that he could not provide a stable home for Tyler right then. It was always assumed that his father would return for him once his tour of duty was complete, but Tyler’s stay in Lancaster County stretched on, beyond what any of them expected. By the time his father did return for him—new wife and son in tow—Tyler was settled in his Amish life.

Tyler has visited his English family in California numerous times over the years, but he’s never thought about going to live with them permanently. Still, something holds him back from officially joining his grandparents’ church. If his mother felt the call of the English world, what’s to say he won’t? Especially given that he grew up with one foot in either lifestyle. His girlfriend, Rachel, has patiently waited for Tyler to join the church so that they can get married, and Tyler knows he put it off any longer. When his father calls him unexpectedly to tell him that he needs Tyler to look after his younger brother, Brady, for a couple of weeks, Tyler wonders if God is giving him one final chance to explore the English world and discover where he truly belongs.

Much to Rachel’s disappointment, Tyler sets off to California to find himself. But will his time with Brady lead him away from Rachel and his community, or leave him more confused than ever? How can he know which world he belongs in?

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Women of Lancaster County series that Mindy Starns Clark penned with Leslie Gould, and while I was sad to see it end, I was intrigued when I learned that Mindy was writing a new series with Susan Meissner. Not only did the fantastic authorship of this new series appeal to me, but I was pleased to discover that these books were told from men’s perspectives. I’ve lost count of the number of Amish books that explore the issues facing Amish women. It’s about time that we get to read about the men!

Given that this wasn’t a traditional romance-based Amish novel, I didn’t feel that the book was lacking anything in just being told from Tyler’s perspective. The plot centres around Tyler trying to figure out which world he belongs to, and how his mother’s decision to leave the Amish church impacts his life. In a sense, it’s a coming of age story, and one that a lot of readers should be able to relate to on some level. Even if my family heritage doesn’t include such a massive clash of cultures, the decisions our parents make can leave a lasting impact on our lives and the decisions we make.

I enjoyed reading about Tyler’s time in California and his discoveries about the English world. Although he’s spent time visiting his family previously, there are still plenty of quirks about the English lifestyle that he hasn’t picked up on. I was particularly amused by the list he began making of his perplexing “discoveries”, such as the presence of artificial plants in his dad’s home (which he tries to water), fireplaces that turn on with the flick of a switch, and the fact that his teenage brother would rather text him than talk to him in person. Sometimes it takes someone from another culture to point out how weird certain aspects of our lives are.

The dynamics in Tyler’s Californian family were certainly interesting and touching, and I appreciated seeing him attempt to mend fences with his brother, father and step-mother. It took Tyler a while to acknowledge that he might have hurt his Californian family by choosing to stay in Lancaster County. While the relationships between them might not be perfect by the close of the book, they’ve definitely come a long way.

His stay in California also gives Tyler the chance to delve into his mother’s past, and discover why she left her Amish upbringing all those years ago. In an attempt to connect with his mother, Tyler takes photography lessons from a family friend, trying to understand why something so forbidden appealed to his mother. His friendship with the photographer, Lark, introduces Tyler to plenty of new things aside from photography, and it was fun to read about his first taste of sushi and his visit to a modern, English church. I wasn’t entirely sure if I’d like the blossoming relationship between Tyler and Lark—I was worried that it might become clichéd, with the modern, English girl “seducing” Tyler away from the Amish—but it was actually approached rather realistically.

I didn’t have any major issues with this book, but something about the mystery aspect didn’t sit entirely right with me. Early on, Tyler mentions that he has a mysterious key that belonged to his mother, but he’s never figured out what it opens. It’s hinted that the key might be linked to the reason why his mother left the Amish church, but this mystery isn’t cleared up until right at the end of the book. Given that most of the story has been focused on Tyler’s journey of self-discovery—rather than his mother’s past—it felt like the conclusion to the mystery kind of came out of nowhere, like an after-thought. Given how both Mindy and Susan are usually fantastic at tying family secrets and mysteries into their stories, this one felt a bit flat in comparison.

Although The Amish Groom didn’t have that special factor that pushed it into the “loved it!” category, it was still an incredibly engaging story. If you’re getting burned out on typical Amish novels, I’d definitely recommend reading this one.

Review title provided by Harvest House.

[Tracy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amish fiction is one of my very favorite genres of books to read and this one did not disappoint me, though it was totally different from all the others that I have enjoyed. This one is totally coming from a male perspective and that is a first for me. Born to an ex-Amish mother and an English father, but raised by his Amish grandparents, Tyler Anderson searches for where he belongs. Follow his journey as his faith shows him where his home and heart lies. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about the struggles of figuring out where and what is most important to you in this life. Happy Reading!

[Victoria Zigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

My actual rating is 3.5 stars, but I rounded up.

I only read this book because it was the first in the series that was of interest to one of the book clubs I am part of, and I was honestly not terribly enthusiastic about the idea of reading it. As it turned out though, I was pleasantly surprised. It had a much more interesting plot than expected, had more of a creative element that would work for the crafting book club in it than I thought it was going to have based on the description, and turned out to be a reasonably enjoyable read. Is it a new favourite series? No. But I don’t regret reading it, and I’m not quite as reluctant as I was to read the rest of the series.

[Denver Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had read this one first, I probably would not be reading the series. Don’t get me wrong. The author is very good. This one just did not have the snap I was expecting. It did not keep my attention the way most Amish books do. I’m guessing that has something to do with the fact that he spent more time in the English world in this book than he does in the Amish world. I know it was meant that way so that we would see how they sometimes question their faith. It just did not have the appeal to me. I had thought it would.

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler knew the English world, and being oversea. His mother dies, and he is sent to grandparents to live. A young boy of six, now at twenty three. The uncertainties of everything, and making decisions was impossible. His love for Rachel he did not question, a commitment he did. Her saying it was because his father gave him away, he felt unwanted. Time again with his father will he get the answers he needs to move forward. A well written story, that Amish or English a young boy would question.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because Susan Meissner was the co-author and I like her books. It popped up when I was searching for her books on Libby.

While it started off a bit slow, I quickly became engaged with Tyler’s predicament and wanted to see how it would resolve. As I hoped, the writing was more meaty than the typical Christian novels I’ve read in the past. This wasn’t preachy and Tyler came across as genuine.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler and Rachel

I loved this story of Tyler and Rachel. After his mother died, Tyler is sent to live with his Amish grandparents. Wondering why his father deserted him he conforms to the Amish life but still not feeling like he can totally commit. Lovely story of Tyler trying to listen to what God wants for his life. What life should be live Amish or English.

[Rianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blijkbaar had ik dit boek al eerder gelezen. Destijds heb ik hem 4 sterren gegeven. Het is een leuk boek met een mooi verhaal en het leest makkelijk weg. Maar er staan hier en daar wat typefoutjes in en ik merk te duidelijk dat het boek vertaald is. Bovendien vind ik de gesprekken tussen personages af en toe wat gek overkomen

[Mrs. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've wanted to read this for a long time and it did not disappoint. Great story of faith with plenty of Amishy angst and a peaceful outcome. I enjoy reading Amish stories when my own life is scrambled.

[Judy Ruud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Love

I have to read an Amish story frequently. This was really good. It was about a man, who didn’t know who he was. I enjoyed going through the process he had to go through to find himself. It was a great Christian love story.

[Kodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Amish story is not usually the sort of thing I’d pick up but I’ve loved Susan Meissner’s other books. It’s a PG Christian main-character-figuring-out-where-he-belongs story, and he’s super sweet and naive to the point where you’re not sure if he can possibly be a real person.

[Joann Scanlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amish Groom by Mindy Starns Clark
An enjoyable book about growing up Amish or English. Choices made, some harder than others. A few wonderful love stories with more decisions to make. More religion than I prefer but understandable within the nature of the novel.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little bit to get into this story, but that might have been because it's so much slower-paced than the book I'd finished reading right before starting this one, since after I got into it, I enjoyed it a great deal. In any case, this was a well-written and entertaining Amish novel with interesting characters, most of which were well drawn. I found the plot to be reasonably unique for its genre, and it made for a sweet story. I will likely read more of the series at some point.

[Dôris Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read

A compelling story of a young man torn between two upbringing . How through pray an God's quite voice he discovers where he belongs.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was predictable, but I still loved it! I liked the characters, their internal conflicts and how they deal with them.