Hope on the Plains

Dakota #2

by Linda Byler

Hannah, a feisty young Amish woman, lives on her family’s farm in North Dakota. After moving halfway across the country and struggling to land on their feet, Hannah’s family is finally feeling settled. The cattle business is doing well, and other Amish families have moved into the area.

Feeling betrayed by Clay Jenkins and unimpressed with her own father, Hannah is hesitant to trust the men around her. Jerry Riehl, intrigued by her intelligence and strong will, will try anything to earn Hannah’s respect.

Just as the local Amish community begins to thrive, a terrible drought befalls the plains. Hannah’s family tries to remain hopeful, but the continuing drought and a windmill fire devastate their business and the community. Running out of options, the Amish families decide to move back to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hannah is faced with difficult Should she stay in North Dakota or follow the others to Lancaster? Does Jerry deserve her trust?

Genres: Amish, Historical Fiction, Amish Fiction, Fiction

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2017

About the author

Linda Byler grew up Amish and is an active member of the Amish church today. Growing up, Linda Byler loved to read and write. In fact, she still does. She is well known within the Amish community as a columnist for a weekly Amish newspaper. Linda and her husband, their children and grandchildren live in central Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure why Linda Byler created such an unlikeable mean-spirited alley cat like Hannah Detweiler that completely absorbs anything good in the story. I understood her more in the first book when she was just a belligerent daughter not understanding her mother following after her father. Tides change in the second book and the mother is portrayed as following after her teenage daughter who has fallen away from the Ordnung and is mean and controlling to everyone she meets. I could not imagine an Old Order Amish mother doing such a thing.

[Barbara M McVicker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hannah is a miserable human being.... the story was actually interesting, but Hannah made reading it a miserable book.. also, it was not well proof read... I would have given it a 1 Star, except, I liked the OTHER family members... Hannah ruined it.

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still trying to homestead in the Dakotas, life just keeps getting harder for Hannah and her family. More Amish families have come to settle by them, much to Hannah’s dismay and to her mother’s delight. Hannah does not want to conform to the strict rules of the Amish community, but follows her own headstrong ways. This series is less about the Amish and their faith and more about the hardships of living in the west. Hannah, along with the others, are nearly broken by drought, coyotes, lack of food, cold in the winter and heat in the summer, and other problems. Hannah never gives up, even when wiser heads think she should. This book sees the splitting of the family, which may further weaken Hannah’s ability to survive on the plains. Complex characters in compelling circumstances will keep readers interested in how the story ends.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This poor family struggles through a lot of hardships. Not a very happy story. Hoping book #3 in the series is happier.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series, & it leaves you wondering how things will turn out. It will be a long wait for the next installment to arrive. I really enjoyed the book & am looking forward to the next one.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Hope on the Plains” is the second book in The Dakota Series by Linda Byler. I did not read the first book in the series, but if I had I might have a different slant on this book. The story takes place on the plains of North Dakota during the 1930’s and the Great Depression. Those who tried to eke out a living during this time of drought and hard times had to have the constitution of an ox.

The Detweiler family, an Amish family who lost the father to a maddened cow a few months before, are trying to make a go of the cattle ranch they want to build. Fighting fire, blizzards, wolves, floods, and dust storms, it is not easy to keep the faith. Some in the region are going back home to Pennsylvania. Sarah, the mom, is trying to believe that God will provide even though at times her children are near starvation. Hannah and Manny are working themselves to death to keep the herd of cattle they have from starving.

I believe in hard work, but I have issues with Hannah and her attitude. She is a loner. Hates people, hates to be told no and hates for someone to question her ideas. She also is determined not to marry and holds men at arm’s length. Actually, she really got on my nerves to the point that I wished her mother would smack her. This really colored my thoughts on the book as a whole. Also, the ending left me wanting. Hannah was the reason for this also.

You can read this review on my blog at https://wp.me/p2pjIt-v1. Check out other book reviews at http://imhookedonbooks.wordpress.com.

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Enjoyed the first book in this series more than the second. Main character is way too mean spirited and obnoxious. Will not read the last book in the series.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah, her mother Sarah, brother, and other younger siblings are struggling to survive on their homestead after their husband/father was killed by an angry, long-horned cow. A prairie fire took their home but they decided to stay on and keep trying, with the help of friends who helped them rebuild. They face winters with little firewood to keep warm and no hay for the cattle. They turn the cattle free to find dead grass to eat. Then due to no snow, wolves and coyotes have an easy time to get to and kill cattle. The cattle are the family's means of survival.
A long drought came and Sarah and her son want to give up and go back home. Hannah refuses and decides to take Jerry, an Amish guy who is obsessed with her, on his offer which is her only way to be able to stay on the plains.
I didn't realize that this book is number two of a series, but it was good enough to stand on its own.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I managed to get through the second book in this series. I found the story telling to be a bit choppy. Like the author was trying to throw every obstacle in the path of this family. It also seemed like some of the events didn’t do much to move the story along. And I still dislike the main character. She shows no personal growth throughout the book. She seems oblivious to her own shortcomings and blames everything on others. She also seems overly preoccupied by how ugly she finds every man in the story. Since nothing gets resolved, you’re almost forced into reading the next book to find out what happens. Probably more of the main character being a bad tempered spoiled brat. I also disliked her because of her attitude towards dogs and cats. If you don’t like animals, I don’t have much respect for you.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hannah, a feisty Young Amish Woman lives on her family's farm in North Dakota. After moving half way round the country and struggling to land on their feet, Hannah's family is finally feeling settled Meanwhile, Jerry Riebl, intrigued by Hannah's intelligence and strong will, will try to earn her respect.
But just as the local Amish community begins to thrive, a terrible drought befalls the plains. Hannah's family tries to remain hopeful but the continuing drought and a windmill fire devastate their business and he community. Running out of options, the Amish families decide to move back to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hannah is faced with a difficult decision. should she stay in North Dakota or follow the others to Lancaster? Does Jerry deserve her trust?

[Aviva Liokumovich · Rating 5 out of 5]

(SPOILER ALERT)I really liked this book. Hannah is strong-willed and determined to prove all others wrong and show that she can survive on the plains. When a fire breaks out and the farm destroyed they have to once again ask their grandfather for help. Trying again for the 2nd time they start to survive and even pay off half of the loan they borrowed from their grandfather, but when hardship falls once again and her family heads back east Hannah decides to stay. BUT... she must marry jerry Reich who has been wanting her heart for years. jerry loves Hannah but she doesn't feel the same way. Overall I think Linda Byler did a splendid sequel to the first book of the Dakota series. Another thing I love about this series is how clean it is. I am a young teen and was pleased with this book

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The continuing story of Hannah and her family. Hannah continues with her dream of running a cattle ranch. Some Amish come to build a windmill and a few of them decide to stay. Among them.is Jerry who Hannah has feelings for. She denies these feelings because she thinks only of her ranch. After a tough winter, Hannah sells some cows and repays some of the debt to her grandfather. Then a drought happens. They lose many cows and the Amish that came are starving. They decide to leave and so does Hannah's family. Jerry proposes to her and they get married. Hannah is determined that the marriage will be in name only. We'll see what happens next.

[Thea Marlowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t think I would continue reading this second of three book series due to storyline being so different from other Amish books. Amish settling in North Dakota and Hannah determined to stay. Reluctantly marrying Jerry, a marriage of convenience only as her family and all other Amish give up and head back to Lancaster, PA.
Book three should be interesting as the couple try to survive such a harsh homestead life. Hopefully Hannah’s hard/selfish heart will soften and she will grow to love Jerry since he adores her.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 rating overall. I have never read something quite like this before. Nothing as ever made me incredibly sad and comforted at the same time. The family endures so much from loss to fire to drought. Through it all Hannah is determined to save what life they have created at the homestead now. It's a story of preserverance from a young girl who has lost so much and is looking for a good future for her and her family.

[Grace McMann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! The trials, the heartbreak, the rejoicing. I felt like every emotion was touched and you feel with the characters. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say the way she came home from the cow action was amazing, one of the best parts of the book. And the ending!! Overall great book would highly suggest.

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have never reviewed a book before, but this was so bad I feel I have to warn others. There are so many typos in this book I found it frustrating. I am not that strong of a reader, so if I can pick out all the mistakes it must be bad.

[Jean Martello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful series. Although they really do leave you hanging at the end of each book.

[Myrtle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this story but was not really thrilled with it.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book, book two of this series.

[Patricia]

Good reading.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good sequel.

[Henry Percy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah continues her struggle on the N. Dakota prairie. Yes it's a romance, and yes she gets married, but Byler manages unexpected plot twists.

[Carol Stanley-Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the adventure continues!

Hannah is a handful!

[Carrie Causey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good. The three in this series are like one long story.

Beware: cliffhanger at the end of this book.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't understand why this book has such a high rating. It was not well proof read and the main character is highly unlikeable.

[Sandy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

not what I expected.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using your imagination is ideal due to all the typos and inconsistancies. Otherwise, okay book.

[Sharon Manz · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my favorite

This book was a bit on the boring side. I’m glad I read it but not interested in reading the other two books in the series.

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope on the Plains is the second book written Linda Byler inher The Dakota series. In this book we pick up where the first book ended and Hannah is still on her quest to make her homestead prosperous. Hannah has a strong will which keeps her going but what lays ahead may bring Hannah down.

I enjoyed this storyline because alot of what has been brought out because of the Great Depression I remember my grandparents speaking of. I can really understand Hannah's great strong will to keep going. Hannah is my favorite character because she doesn't let others talk her into being a quiter. The other characters have some great qualities too which add alot to the story. The author has brought to life each of these characters. I also loved the character of Abby such a strongwilled, outspoken lady who loves without boundaries.

I was not given a complimentary copy of this amazing book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable review at anytime. I have rated this book with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that i can highly recommend to all those who love the Amish genre and the story of the Great Depression. The author has done a remarkable job telling this story.

CONGRATULATIONS to Linda Byler on writing another fantastic book for her readers to enjoy and I look forward to reading more amazing books by this author in the future.

[Harold Cheetham · Rating 5 out of 5]

can't wait to get to book 3 in the series. a real attention holder. a must read series for sure.