Fans of Amish Fiction discussion

Living in Harmony by Mary Ellis

Living in Harmony is the first book in bestselling author Mary Ellis’s New Beginnings series. It’s about fresh starts and love…and how faith in God and His perfect plan for our lives provides us with the peace and joy we desire.

Amy King—young, engaged, and Amish—faces difficult challenges in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. Her fiancé, John Detweiler, persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony, Maine, where he has relatives who can help the women in their time of need.

John’s brother Thomas and sister-in-law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Wise beyond his years, Thomas, a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival, suggesting instead a period of adjustment and counseling. During this time Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.

Can John and Amy find a way to live in happily in Harmony before making a lifetime commitment to one another?

We will start this on May 1, if you are interested in reading with us let us know here. Also all discussion will be in this thread.

So I have the following people reading with us.

Brittany, Janet, Rebecca, Fairlee, Rebecca D., Krystaleve, Lorie and Melissa.

Our reading schedule for discussion:

May 8: Chapters 1-5
May 15: Chapters 6-10
May 22: Chapters 11-16
May 29: Chapters 17-20

Sounds interesting. I would love to read this. I'll have to find it at the library, I'll see if they can get it.

Can we maybe get the book a couple of months in advance. This may not be able to be done but thought I'd ask.:)

Rebecca will you let me know if you and when you find this book?

I guess it all depends on the person wanting a buddy to read as to when they want to read. Brittany is the other person who wants to read, we can put it off until the middle of May if others reading want to do that? I am open but I really want to read it sometime in May.

Rebecca, if you need a few more weeks to get a copy of the book. I'd be more than willing to wait a little while until you and Lorie are both ready to read it.

I know I have plenty of other books I need to read, so I should be busy until we decide to read it. Lol!

I would like to see if I have a copy or can find one to join as well. Will let everyone know. :)

Found one at the Conroe Library so I'll get it this weekend. So I'm in when ever we all get it.

Can I join in please.

Sure! We'd love to have you Fairlee!

Yay! The more, the merrier!

I read this book last year and absolutely loved it! I'll be looking forward to reading the discussion.

Will everyone be able to start reading on Wednesday or do we need to wait awhile?

I've had my book waiting on the shelf, so I'll be able to start then. :)

I want to join in. I know I saw this book somewhere but I can't remember where. I will check the stores tomorrow.

I can start Wednesday

Janet and Fairlee do you have the book yet?

Melissa will you let us know before Wednesday if you find it or not?

Yes, I'm planning to go to Barnes and Noble tonight. :)

At B&N now. Got it.

I will have it on Saturday so I am ready to begin. :)

so do we wait til Sat to start?

No please start, I am a fast reader I will catch up.

So, this is my first buddy read. Do we discuss certain chapters at a time? I started reading it. It's my first time reading this author and I'm really enjoying it so far. It's really grabbing my interest and pulling me in.

I've never been in a buddy group either so I guess we'll all learn together. I also have just started this book and the first of this author. My first reaction in looking through the book is "Pretty neat that each chapter is a part of the hymn-Rock of Ages". Can't wait to see how that lines up with each chapter.

In the past buddy reads I have done we have set a certain number of chapters to read or read 1/2 the book then yes we discuss. Since I don't have the book yet what do you guys think of a good first stopping point?

If we have a month to read it and since there are 20 chapters in this book why not say: either 5 chapters in a week and then discuss OR 10 chapters by May 15 and then discuss those. Since this is a buddy group I'll throw my thought out-let's do it weekly but everyone needs to have input. Then at the same time, anytime, we can throw things that are intersting about the storyline or things that you wonder about.

I like the weekly idea too. 5 chapters a week. Anyone else want to weigh in?

sounds perfect! 5 chapters by ?????

Janet wrote: "sounds perfect! 5 chapters by ?????"

May 8 would be a week so here would be the schedule:

May 8: Chapters 1-5
May 15: Chapters 6-10
May 22: Chapters 11-16
May 29: Chapters 17-20

Would this work for everyone?

Works for me, very excited.

Its a great plan. Maybe I'll learn how to start a blog and will have this as my first book. Anyone have a blog:) that might point me in the right direction?

So I have the following people reading with us.

Brittany, Janet, Rebecca, Fairlee, Rebecca D., Krystaleve, Lorie and Melissa.

I've already read my chapters. It's really good, it'll be hard to wait to keep going!

I am noticing some of the Amish submission as is discussed in another thread. However Amy seems to show a little some backbone, which I like. It will be interesting to see how that plays out. John seems to get irked with that side of Amy.

I am in. I got my copy downloaded from library loan. I can be Rebecca D. As there r two of us here.

Yes, I'm in.

Please add me to the list. I am enjoying the book. Thanks for forming the group. The discussion will be fun.
Happy reading!

Krystaleve wrote: "Please add me to the list. I am enjoying the book. Thanks for forming the group. The discussion will be fun.
Happy reading!"

Your added!

I have been reading today and I don't know if I can stick to 5 chapters a week lol. It's really good!

I'm starting the book this morning. I'm so glad to see a lot of us are enjoying it so far!

Lorie wrote: "I have been reading today and I don't know if I can stick to 5 chapters a week lol. It's really good!"



I agree Lorie.

Starting it now......

I have to admit I went a little farther than chapter 5. How far is everyone?

I am also. Maybe a month to read one book is a little long. May have to go back and read my chapters again

I couldn't stop. I've finished.

I read farther, too. Lol. I plan on finishing it today so I can move on to other group reads, but I'll continue to participate in the discussion.

Was anyone else as surprised as I was to see how conservative Harmony was? I haven't read of any Amish community as conservative as this one in all the other Amish fiction book I read. But, at the very least, it makes for some good drama!

I was also surprised by how conservative it was. I didn't know if the sister, especially Nora, would be able to handle it.

I am on Chapter 3. I am enjoying the book.

I must admit that I will probably be done today or tomorrow too. I just can't put it down lol.

I read in Almost Amish about Amish communities that do not have the rumming around period, but I do not think I have ever read a story about one of those.

Wonder why with so few members they felt the need to be so conservative? To keep from losing members? Especially the teens?

Perhaps so. But I would think being more lenient would attract more young people and other families. I imagine it would be hard for a young person to make such a big decision - especially in an "all or nothing" sort of community.

well I guess I meant that the teens did not know any different so not letting them experience it would keep them away from what they wanted them to stay away from. However most of the time that backfires so I think that is why most have the running around time.

Sounds like we all could do a book a week. I'm busy with work, church and square dancing but I definitely find time to read

Lorie wrote: "well I guess I meant that the teens did not know any different so not letting them experience it would keep them away from what they wanted them to stay away from. However most of the time that bac..."

Oh, I understood where you were coming from. :) I just decided to play devil's advocate. And true enough, if they grew up in Harmony, they really wouldn't know any different.