Meek and Mild

Amish Turns of Time #2

by Olivia Newport

The leadership in an Old Order Amish community requires shunning friends and family whose only offense is to embrace the new Protestant practice of Sunday school among the Mennonites, but teaching Bible stories to children is one of Clara Kuhns’ great joys. Clara’s on the verge of saying yes to Andrew Raber’s marriage proposal, but now he is flagrantly refusing to submit to the bishop’s authority by owning a car. When the lot falls to Moses Beachy to become the new bishop, the community waits for him to take bold steps toward change. Clara and Andrew step together into a more progressive Amish faith as the Beachy Amish take form.

Genres: Amish, Christian Fiction, Amish Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Ebooks, Historical Romance

304 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2015

About the author

Hello!

I’m imagining you. You walk past as I water my front flowerbeds and we wave. You check the time as we both stand in a long line at the grocery store. You sit in front of me in church. I’m at my table in the coffee shop and you’re at yours.

We may smile politely and move on with our separate lives. Or one of us may speak, a simple invitation to conversation, and the words flow between us.

Here the adventure begins. When we meet someone new, we never know where it might lead.

I’ve been married over 40 years and have two adult kids and a son-in-law. We live in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where the day lilies in my back yard grow as tall as I am. (No short jokes, please.)

Not every piece of my life is pretty, though. Some days I want to throw out whole chunks. But I am living each day looking for the grace of God to me, in me, and through me. Having your companionship along the way will help uncover a lot of great stories.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written and interesting Amish novel based on the period of time when an Old Order district in Somerset county, Pennsylvania becomes seriously divided on the issue of shunning the nearby Conservative Amish Mennonites referred to as Marylanders mainly because they have followed the Protestant practice of having Sunday school for their children. Because there are so many family ties and friendships on both sides of the border, for many years most members of the district have ignored the shunning decree, but when the bishop decides to take a much firmer stance on enforcing the shun, tensions rise between those who support his decision and those who don't. As things escalate, a new bishop, Mose Beachy, is chosen who has to determine how to deal with the division in the district and what came to be called the Beachy Amish emerged from his leadership when the group who wanted to rescind the shun against the Marylanders eventually completely split away from the Old Order district who wanted to continue to enforce it. While the author has taken some liberties with the timeline for the sake of her story, I felt that she did a great job shedding light on an interesting development in the history of the Amish church. The majority of this book's characters, unsurprisingly, are fictional, but they live on the page. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is different than any type of Amish book I've read. Discontentment in the church leads to many unhappy members.

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series, but it is not a continuation of the story line in book one. This book is based on the historical events surrounding the split of an Amish community on the border of Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the effect it had on the families. Although there is historical background to the book, Olivia Newport did a wonderful job of creating characters that draw the reader into the story. She did such a good job, there was one character whose actions I did not like and another character I wanted to hug because of her deep sadness. (No spoilers, so no names!) The characters were so real, they elicited many emotions from me. Great story!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fictional recounting of some of the events leading up to the creation of the Beachy Amish congregation in 1927. I also enjoyed Clara and Andrew's story, and how Clara especially, was able to let go of her fears and learn to trust in God's will. The added viewpoints of Yonnie, and Fannie were unexpected, yet added depth to the story. Fannie's arc especially resonated with me.
I admit that after struggling with the first book of this series, I was unsure if I would like the second, but it definitely did not disappoint!

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending of this book was so good. It's just the beginning and middle that we're a little redundant and slow. The story of Clara is the main point of the book, but there are a lot of side characters weaved in and some of their stories have the same details over and over again. That's what makes it a little slow and hard to find a good rhythm to reading the story. The other thing I wish was different was that we got a bit more closer on Clara's cousin Fannie's story. A mention of her in the epilogue would have.been nice. But I did enjoy Clara's story and the book overall. Was a good read.

[Gaylina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. Just the way Clara went against the Old Order Amish to teach the children Bible stories. She did this knowing she could be shunned. It’s called persecution of our faith and it even happens in churches that go against what the Bible teaches believing one must be a bishop or a priest or a man to teach others about the teachings of the Bible and Jesus. I loved her bravery. This is totally stand alone even though it us book #2 in the Amish Turns of Times series. It contains lots of historical facts about the Amish, even though it is a work of fiction.

[Micahya Costen · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I’ve had this book for a while and decided to
Just go ahead and pick it up and read it. The first 5 chapters seemed a little slow, but also has key information you don’t want to miss. I started out just wanting to read it to get it over with so it wouldn’t be just sitting there, to actually really enjoying it and anticipating the next chapters!

[Nat Kidder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ambitious mix of complex characters and plot lines, as an Amish district is torn by the seeming heresy of an adjoining one. Newport, a skillful writer, almost pulls it off, but cannot quite climax everything at the end. Based on a true story.

[TransparentFilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't a bad read. It has a romance wrapped around historical events in the Amish community. I never knew there was a split in their communities. So, even though my life was falling apart while I read this book, it was an interesting distraction.

[Brooke Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever book. Lovely way to learn more about Amish history

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about how the Amish changed between 1895 and 1920’s. How a church had to decide if they should stay together or split apart. It did seem long.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful story of conquering fear

[Di Schlenk · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely read

[Maggie Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1895 Caroline Kuhn's Somerset County, Pennsylvania Amish church determined to peaceably divide from the conservative Amish congregation in Maryland. The churches remained close physically, spiritually, and emotionally with many families having relatives in both congregations. Then in 1905, while Caroline is in the midst of a difficult pregnancy, Bishop Yoder of the Somerset congregation pushes through a vote to enact the Shunning, a harsh teaching that forces families to ignore anyone from the Marylander congregation. Since technically a Shunning has a grandfather clause which allows mingling with any congregant who moved to the Maryland congregation before the edict, most families ignore it and live exactly as they had before. Caroline dies during childbirth but her young daughter Clara continues to enjoy close ties with her Marylander family. However, she is deeply scarred by her mother's death in child birth and her step-mother's three miscarriages. Afraid of having children, Clara finds herself single at the ripe old age of 23, even though her heart yearns for patient, gentle, kind Andrew Raber. She remains in her home, helping with her young siblings and sending her cousin's daughter letters containing bible stories that delight the young girl.

Things take a bad turn for the church and Clara in the summer of 1927. Clara's stepmother determines that it is high time for Clara to start her own life and begins to not just withhold affection but keep her young children from doing so as well. Clara finds herself with little to do and must determine how best to fill her hours. She soon spends more time with her Marylander cousins and finds herself telling more simplified bible stories to the young children around her.

Church proves no consolation to Clara as a strong divide is building in that community as well. Bishop Yoder and his two sons are pushing for a stronger enforcement of the Shunning and only the calm, loving voice of Moses Beachy preaches tolerance and kindness to the congregation. While all this is happening Clara's young beau Andrew finds a car abandoned on the side of the road with a sign offering it to whoever can get it running. He quickly learns how from the local mechanic and is now the owner of a vehicle. But will the increasingly strict Yoder led church allow him to own modern technology? And how will they respond to Clara's bible stories, which come dangerously close to breaking the ban on Sunday School teachings for children?

I enjoyed a lot of things about this book. For starters, the history captured here is absolutely fascinating as we see the formation of the Beachy Amish and the factors that led them to split from the stricter old order Amish. The author does a good job of bringing the whole issue to life and letting us see how painful it was for many in both congregations.

Another truly fantastic factor is that unlike in some Amish fiction, the author does not make the characters perfect. Here we see what happens when people lie, gossip and connive. We see the dangers of dogmatism and we see the harm caused by careless speech. I absolutely loved how the Amish characters were all depicted as human here. The sins are small but it only takes a tiny pebble to disrupt a placid lake and that is what happens here.

I also loved the look at the Shunning. Compelling, biblical reasons are given for the enacting of it but Clara's own experience within her home shows how we can mean well and still cause great harm. The issue was handled with balance, showing the good purpose of it but it was clear the author felt any good done was outweighed by the evil of it.

Regarding the characters and romance I was less thrilled. Andrew was perfect - just perfect - but Clara grated on me a bit. Her fear was understandable but also a bit out of place in her time period.In 1927 (like today) women do die in childbirth and while this is horrifyingly difficult to accept her response seemed a bit exaggerated.

Ultimately though, I enjoyed this book and appreciated the look it gave us at the history of these fascinating people.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy the historical perspective that deal with their deepest fears as they strive to find fulfillment as Amish women in the early twentieth century. Clara longs to be a wife and mother, but is terrified of childbirth - understandable because her own mamm died giving birth to a stillborn son. Her inner struggles are made worse by a stepmother who does all she can to make Clara feel unwanted and unneeded at home in an effort to push her into marriage. Fannie has a loving husband and daughter, but is disappointed by their inability to have more children - a situation made even more painful when her own parents conceive a baby in their forties. The close relationship she's always had with her mother becomes a difficult reminder of her own infertility, and they drift apart.
Both Clara's and Fannie's turmoil within their families parallels the tension in the Amish Church. Leaders disagree about the use of discipline (shunning) to bring about conformity in doctrine and practice. Conflict is made worse when open conversations are avoided, or worse yet, leaders resort to deception. Like Clara's stepmother, we wonder if some of the ministers truly have believers' good in mind, or just seek to control others.
I love the depth of each character included in this book. Newport never cuts corners when it comes to giving each personality his or her own "voice." An emotional climax in the book causes both Clara and Fannie to face their worst fears in a single night. This same event leads to a watershed decision in the congregation's life, too. In both cases, we see how Biblical love really does conquer all.
This book was especially meaningful to me because at various times in my life I have faced many of the issues this book touches on, both personally and theologically. I appreciate the deft way Newport brings about a real-life resolution to the challenges facing these Amish families, plus learning more about Amish history. I pre-ordered this book, and delightedly raced through it in two days after it arrived. Definitely worth the investment of my time and money, and I think when you come to the last page, you'll say the same thing.

[Mardell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of Amish Fiction and I thoroughly enjoyed reading Meek and Mild by Olivia Newport. The story is about the Amish but is rich with complex issues you aren't looking for in the plain lifestyle. Clara Kuhns' is in love with Andrew Raber but is hesitant to wed. Clara's mother passed away in childbirth, leaving her worried and anxious about having children of her own. Her family is part of an Old Order Amish community. Her mother's family is part of a growing Mennonite group who believe in teaching Sunday School. The Bishop of Clara's community has made it difficult for her to visit with her aunt and cousins by instituting the age old custom of shunning people with different beliefs. As the story developed, I felt impatient with the old order because of this practice.

Truth about a change that began by a vote when Clara was very young comes to light and sends the community on the brink of big change. Reading about what happened was not predictable and the outcome was surprising enough to lead me to appreciate Olivia's writing style. The characters are very well written and I found myself disappointed to put the book down.

I really liked this book because of how it dealt with the heart of the young heroine who has so many questions about life and her faith and feels quite alone. Her stepmother seems to be pushing her out of the home by making her feel unneeded for even the simplest task around the house. Andrew has been tempting fate and the Ordnung with his acquisition of a car found by the side of the road bearing a note asking the finder to please take the car. Cars are not part of the simple life and Clara is worried it may get Andrew Shunned. Andrew takes everything in stride which worries Clara more. It is a twist of fate that changes her heart toward love and marriage.

This new glimpse into the Amish people has given me a chance to do a little extra research afterwards. Suffice it to say that not only is this a wonderful love story, it is a nice work of historical fiction on a difficult period for the Amish. They have succeeded in continuing to live good lives of strong faith and adherence to a lifestyle that has survived since it began in 1693.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like its predecessor Wonderful Lonesome, the second book in the Amish Turns of Time series - Meek and Mild - shows the damage that can be done to a community when legalistic spiritual leaders are given too much power. Also like its predecessor, Meek and Mild is beautifully written and based on historical accounts of actual Amish communities in the early 1900s. But where Wonderful Lonesome seemed dis-satisfyingly somber to me, Meek and Mild was able to retain a much lighter tone without sacrificing any of the sobering reality.

The history is fascinating, and the author's note at the end provides more information on some of the characters and situations who were based on real-life people and events. This, to me, is the best sort of fiction because the end isn't really the end - your interest is now piqued and you are drawn to do more research, learning far more than you expected and carrying a part of the story around with you forever.

Clara and her stories, Andrew and his Model T - these brought elements of fun and laughter amid the heavier issues addressed in the book. Just try to imagine an Amish man trying to teach himself how to drive a cantankerous Model T, and you have an idea of how amusing those scenes will be! And Clara - probably my favorite character in the book. Pure of heart but strong in spirit (once she gets up enough gumption), she giggles freely and loves warmly and serves selflessly. Clara and Andrew together are simply delightful!

Bottom Line: You will experience a full gamut of emotions while reading this book! Not a light read, Meek and Mild addresses the agony of infertility as well as the harsh reality of legalism and abuse of power in the Amish church at the turn of the 20th century. Despite the heaviness of the issues, Olivia Newport's characters are full of life and there are many opportunities for you to smile as you follow their lives throughout the pages.

While this is the second book in a series, it is fine as a stand-alone. They are not connected by characters or plot, only by theme.

(I received a digital copy of the book from Barbour Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for only my honest review.)

Read my full review here: https://readingismysuperpower.wordpre...

[Gail Hollingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meek and Mild was a very different type of Amish book from others that I have read. Some of the actual history is included although the characters are fictional. Even today there are many different Amish communities. This tells of the separation of the Old Order Amish from the Maryland settlement that are more like the Mennonnite group. The Maryland settlement allows Sunday School to be taught to the young children whereas the Old Order does not. The Bishop Yoder and his two sons are very strict and promote shunning those that associate with the Maryland group and some of their ways. Clara Kuhn, even though she grew up Old Order, has her mother's family on the Maryland side. Her mother died when she was very young trying to give birth. This has scared her from marriage even though she is seeing Andrew Raber and he has asked her several times. Andrew also struggles with using a Model T that he found abandoned on the side of the road. Clara has a gift of telling Bible stories to young children to help them understand the Bible better. Since it is considered a sinful offense by her church, she does this secretly just like Andrew struggles with hiding and learning to repair the Model T that he now considers his own. Andrew's childhood friend Yonnie is what I would consider a self righteous tattle tell. He feels superior and goes running to the bishop at every little discretion he finds among his friends and church members. Yonnie was portrayed as a very unlike able character. Clara's stepmother also made Clara feel unloved and unwanted in her father's household. It's interesting to see how the author brings everything together in the end. Although I'm still concerned about Fannie and her situation. The story kind of went very slow for me at first but it picked up considerably about three fourths of the way through and I found myself staying up late to finish it. This was the Amish Turns of Time book 2. I did not read book one but that was not necessary to enjoy this book.
I received this copy of the book from the publisher for my honest review which I have given.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meek and Mild by Olivia Newport is a lovely historical Amish Christian fiction book. The book starts out in 1895 when the Niverton Amish community is asked to take a vote about shunning members of Maryland Amish community. The Maryland Amish have started Sunday school services for their young children and have added a few new hymns. Little do the people know how much this vote will affect their lives in the future as well as their children's lives.

Meek and Mild then skips forward to 1916. Clara Kuhn is 23 years old and still living at home with her father (Hiram), stepmother (Rhoda), and their children. Clara's stepmother has decided it is time for Clara to marry so she is not letting her spend time with other children, help around the house, or work outside the home. Clara is in love with Andrew Raber but she is afraid to have children. After her mother dying in childbirth and hearing the troubles other woman have during labor, Clara is scared.

Clara spends more time visiting her mother's relatives in Maryland. Fannie Esh is Clara's cousin and is married to Elam. They have one child but would like more children (the Amish way). Fannie is obsessed with having more children and gets more upset and depressed each month when she finds out that she is not expecting. Fannie and Elam's marriage is starting to suffer.

Clara will have to get over her fear of childbirth and Fannie will need to put her worry's aside and give over the situation to God. The two Amish communities are going to have to come up with a solution. Meek and Mild is such a good book and very enjoyable to read. I especially love the ending of the book. Meek and Mild is the second book in this series. Wonderful Lonesome is the first book in the Amish Turns of Time series. Happy Reading!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meek and Mild by Olivia Newport is a lovely historical Amish Christian fiction book. The book starts out in 1895 when the Niverton Amish community is asked to take a vote about shunning members of Maryland Amish community. The Maryland Amish have started Sunday school services for their young children and have added a few new hymns. Little do the people know how much this vote will affect their lives in the future as well as their children's lives.

Meek and Mild then skips forward to 1916. Clara Kuhn is 23 years old and still living at home with her father (Hiram), stepmother (Rhoda), and their children. Clara's stepmother has decided it is time for Clara to marry so she is not letting her spend time with other children, help around the house, or work outside the home. Clara is in love with Andrew Raber but she is afraid to have children. After her mother dying in childbirth and hearing the troubles other woman have during labor, Clara is scared.

Clara spends more time visiting her mother's relatives in Maryland. Fannie Esh is Clara's cousin and is married to Elam. They have one child but would like more children (the Amish way). Fannie is obsessed with having more children and gets more upset and depressed each month when she finds out that she is not expecting. Fannie and Elam's marriage is starting to suffer.

Clara will have to get over her fear of childbirth and Fannie will need to put her worry's aside and give over the situation to God. The two Amish communities are going to have to come up with a solution. Meek and Mild is such a good book and very enjoyable to read. I especially love the ending of the book. Meek and Mild is the second book in this series. Wonderful Lonesome is the first book in the Amish Turns of Time series. Happy Reading!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...

[ASC Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting, well written read! I really wanted to read this book, because I always wondered how the Beachy Amish came about! The fact that I LOVE Olivia Newport was the cherry on the cupcake! :) The story within the history is lovely! I immediately felt for Clara who needs to overcome fears and problems wiin her home and family as changes unfold around her! Andrew became a fun and loved character as his curiosity and intelligence came through as well as his kindness, love, and sincerity. I really love how Olivia also writes from both sides of the controversy, so I can understand why those who are strict think they are in the right to shun! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the way Olivia writes! Her expressiveness draws me in every time, and the situations she writes about are highly interesting! With all of her amazing character's lives weaving together she sets the pace beautifully! The wide spectrum of characters include many that I love, some that my heart aches for, and some that aggravate! :D I did find that I wanted to know more about what happened to some characters, but I LOVE where the book ends and how it comes full circle in a way. I can't wait for more from this fabulous author who is quickly becoming one of my all time favorites!!!! Filled with historical detail, Meek and Mild is a wonderful story with Faith, love, controversy, hope, fear, family, friendship, change, and much more! I highly recommend this entertaining and interesting read!

Songs: "Leaning On the Everlasting Arms / 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (Medley)" from David Crowder Band, "I Am Not Alone (Live)" by Kari Jobe, and "The Proof Of Your Love (The Monologue Mix)" by for KING & COUNTRY
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC

Romans 12:18

~ASC

*I received this book from Barbour for the purpose of reviewing it. This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about Meek and Mild. ~ASC

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meek and Mild is the second book in Amish Turns of Times. This book was written by Olivia Newport. Meek and Mild takes us back to 1917 at a time when several members of the Old Order Amish are considering dropping the ban against the Marylanders.

The story tells us about Clara Kuhn and Andrew Raber's journey to find peace within their community. Andrew has acquired something that definitely could cause him to be shunned and Clara continues to seek a family relationship with her mother's family even though they have been shunned by her community. Clara was just a young girl when the shunning took place, should she be allowed to continue her relationship or find herself shunned?

When Andrew and Clara's Bishop becomes sick and a new Bishop is chosen will the shunning be lifted? Will Andrew be allowed to continue his secret quest? How will the community react to the new Bishop?

Andrew has asked Clara several times to marry him but she refuses to do so because of a fear she harbors. What will it take to prove to Clara that her fear may never occur? Does Andrews secret prevent her from accepting his proposal?

This is a well written fictional story of events that happened in the early 1900's but really could have happened. There are several story lines involved in this book but the author links them together for a wonderful story. If you love books about the early times of the Amish and the problems they faced this is the book for you.

I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to review. I enjoyed Meek and Mild so much I wanted to submit my honest review for others to decide if it was a book they wanted to read. I have also given this book a 5 star rating.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meek and Mild covers several stories in one, with about five miles between them the member of the local Amish Community, some live in Pennsylvania and others live in Maryland.
When the Old Order feels they can not tolerate the progressive stance the members who live in Maryland seem to be taking, the Bishop calls for a shunning and declares that the majority all agree. Not quite, but no one seems to be listening, or are they?
We now are focusing on the lives of Clara Kuhn and Andrew Raber, and those who are their friends and extended family. Unfortunately, Clara has family in Maryland, and doesn’t want to stop seeing them. Andrew, now he seems to be following his own drummer in what at that time was considered worldly. These two have fallen in love, and although they want to marry, Clara is afraid of childbirth. She lost her Mom, and others and now is afraid to move on in her life.
At times I didn’t agree with the hard stance Clara’s stepmother took at trying to bend Clara’s will. Did it work, you will have to decide and I still am not sure. I did love her family in Maryland, and am wondering about her cousin, even after the end of the book, I’m not sure that all was worked out for her. Visiting here in Maryland does have a great learning experience for Clara, and there is a lot of love shown.
Come along and enjoy this rather historical read and find out how the Beachy Amish come about, I really enjoyed reading about this, and although fictional, there is a lot of fact provided.

I received this book through NetGalley and the Publisher Shiloh Run Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meek and Mild

Olivia Newport

Barbour Publishing Inc.

On the background of a conflict and tension inside the Amish community, dividing families on religious basis, we follow lives of Clara and Andrew and their extended families and friends. Clara has close family ties with Maryland Amish community just five miles away that get stronger as her stepmother pushes her out of home; the new shunning asks her to never see them again. She also loves to share Bible stories with other people´s children, which is considered a sin. Andrew loves Clara, is sincere in his faith, but happens to own a model T, which is quite rare at that time and frowned upon by some in the community. Both of them, just as many secondary characters, have to put their worries and expectations into God´s hands to able to move on.

Meek and Mild is the first historical Amish novel I read and I enjoyed it very much. Olivia Newport, beside just being a good story-teller, has clearly done plenty of research. Her story of the beginning of the Beachy Amish branch is far from a dry historical account; it is populated by many characters, all of them given distinctive features. One of the many who stay in my memory is Yonnie, Andrew´s self-righteous friend. He reminds me so much of other angry young men, not necessarily of Christian faith, who are so poor and without prospects in life that their beliefs are the only thing they own and can use as a weapon against the world that seems so hostile to them.

I am certainly looking forward to read next installments of this series by Olivia Newport.

I was given a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB
Suddenly shun has become a serious word, for Clara Kuhn. As 1917 approaches, her Amish church's aging bishop is coming down hard on members who dally in untraditional practices--like offering Sunday school for children--and Clara's gift for telling Bible stories to little ones collides with new mandates. The young Pennsylvania Amish woman had always moved freely over the state line to visit family in the more progressive Maryland district, but now those visits are coming under scrutiny by some members of Clara's church.

On the verge of accepting Andrew Raber's marriage proposal, Clara is unsure what to make of his new hobby to rehabilitate an abandoned Model T. Just how hard can they push against the bishop's wishes?

As the chasm widens between Old Order Amish and the Marylanders, and tensions rise between longtime friends and close-knit family, Clara and Andrew must look inward to examine their own hearts and consciences and above all, seek Gottes ville--God's will.


MY REVIEW
Olivia did a wonderful job of telling Clara's story and going into how the Amish can have discourse among themselves. Not only did Clara fear being shunned by the church but she felt like she was being shunned by her family, something she didn't share with anyone and bore the hurt herself. Great book, great story, great series and great writing. Can't wait for "Brightest and Best" comes out. Don't get excited it doesn't come out until August, you still have time to read the first two books in this series!

[Kara Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say first off that this book had more to offer than I expected. It's been awhile since I have read a book set in the life of the Amish. I started this book with the expectation of a predictable and serene plot. I was quickly made aware that there was going to be more conflict than I expected. The characters in Meek and Mild are strong voiced, which I appreciate. I could hear their hearts and minds. I typically read very plot and action driven books, which demand a strong character to carry the action through. Taking it down a notch to a slower pace was really enjoyable with this book. The main characters are faced with more conflict and conviction that I did not see coming. I felt that although I could not relate to the lifestyle of the characters, I could relate to their struggles. I appreciate that in a book. It was made relevant to me, rather than an escape style book full of easy living. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a gentle book. It has plenty to offer a thinker and those who are tired of predictable plots. Although it's not an action packed book I was surprised at quite a few points.

*I was given a copy of this book, however I am under no obligation to read or post a review*

[Alice Chittock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at www.cherrydropprincess.com
Although the title of this book may be Meek and Mild; the emotions in this story are raw and real.
Carla loves children but is scared to have her own and afraid to marry the man she loves. She also has a passion for teaching children, but is not allowed to with in the Amish Church. Her mother is trying her hardest to do what is best for all of her children, Carla's cousin is struggling to conceive although she is desperate to, and becomes jealous of those around her who are able to have children, including her own mother.
This is a story of a real, long and painful church split, within the Amish community and the way in which people handled it. Although the characters are Amish there is something every one could learn from reading this book.
A great tale of working out the will of God, and one you will not easily forget.
Thanks netgalley for the free review copy, all opinions are my own!

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an Amish fiction book quite different from any others I have read. It takes place in the early 1900's and tells of the events that led to the what is known as the "Beachy Amish".

Historical aspect aside this book had a good storyline with Clara being afraid to go through childbirth because of her mother dying during it. There was a sweet love story between Clara and Andrew that drew me to both characters. There are some unlikable characters as well but they are part of the story and were well written in their roles. Olivia Newport did a great job of combining the history with other storyline to make the book an interesting read.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is wanting a different kind of Amish story and to those who are maybe looking for Amish fiction with history in the story.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Melissa Wardwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Meek and Mild! Now I am not the biggest fan of Amish fiction, but I REALLY enjoyed this story.

The community is on the verge of major change and lines have been drawn. In the middle is a couple trying to make sense of their own relationship and God's plan for them. One of them is a bit of a rebel and more than ready and has waited a long time for their union. The other is frozen in fear of the unknown and is driven by their convictions.

I was trapped in the story and stayed up reading far longer than I should have.
Thank you, Ms. Newport for giving us a wonderful story- yet again.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a First Reads copy of Olivia Newport's book, Meek and Mild. The book is set in Amish country near the border of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The book spans the years between 1895 and 1927. The book is a delightful read centering around the main character, Clara, her family, extended family, friends, and church members. The book talks a great deal about shunning, and the reader is expecting several characters to be shunned at any moment. I look forward to reading more of Olivia Newport's books.