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Book Reviews of The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1)

The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1)
The Preacher's Daughter - Annie's People, Bk 1
Author: Beverly Lewis
ISBN-13: 9780764201202
ISBN-10: 0764201204
Publication Date: 10/1/2005
Pages: 349
Rating:
  • Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
 63

4.4 stars, based on 63 ratings
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

60 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 147 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
The Preacher's Daughter begins the captivating new series ANNIE'S PEOPLE and introduces an Amish community in Paradise, Pennsylvania-a
heavenly sounding place, but one that has seen it's share of heartache and mystery. A moving story of friendship, secrets, and love.
Excellent book from start to finish.
Grnemae avatar reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 451 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
A very thoughtful story of a woman's struggle with her creative side and with her religion. Several enjoyable side stories are intertwined.
You will become so invested in the characters that by the end of the book you want to start immediately on the next book in the series in order to follow the developments in their lives.
This is the first book I have read by this author but I want to read more. I am very glad that a friend suggested this book to me.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Part of the what's it like to explore the Amish series by Lewis. Interesting juxtaposition between the English and the AMish when a pen-pal comes to stay in the community. Glances at the advantages and disadvantages of the closed society built on Christian discipline.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 234 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This book is the 1st of 3 in the series, "Annie's People". Beverly Lewis put so much dimension in her characters. If you liked her series, "The Heritage of Lancaster County", you will absolutely enjoy this book. There is suspense, friendship, loyalty and love mixed in throughout the story. I can't wait to read the 2nd in the series. GREAT READ!!!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 29 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Book One of Annie's People series. I loved this one just as much as all Lewis's work. So touching and innocent.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful Story, although the reader is left hanging about Annie's future (that's why there's two sequels, probably.) The book sets up a complicated situation and only explains one aspect. Great Read. Beverly Lewis at her best. From back cover: Annie Zook has a secret. It has already cost her her first beau. She will have to choose between the meaning of the secret and life with the Plain People.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is very wholesome and thought provoking on the lives of the amish. It s well worth the read for anybody.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 16 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was the first of Beverly Lewis' books that I ever read. It is a very good read and left me wanting to explore more of this authors books which I have done and have been completely satisfied!!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 350 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I give it 3.75 stars. I kept wanting to learn more about each character and could barely put the book down. Annie and Louisa have been penpals for quite a few years. They each have had bouts of broken relationships. They also have a love for art. Annie is Amish and can't seem to decide if she is ready to join the church or stick with her love for art. Louisa longs for a route away from the materialism of her family and the simplicity of what Annie has. She goes to meet her. They each long to find themselves. Also, there was a child that had gone missing 16 years earlier that seems to still be on the minds of many in the Amish village of Paradise. This book definitely is a good way to want me to read the rest of the series.
kitkat58 avatar reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Once again Beverly Lewis has done it. This book also as a little mystey to it. Annie trys so hard to fit in and give up her secret. Can't wait to get the second book started.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 39 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I loved reading about the Amish way of life and learning about their culture and religious practices.

The characters in this book are very well developed. It was a wonderful to contrast modern life with the simplicity of the Amish people.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was the first book I read by Beverly Lewis and I'm heading out to get the next in this series immediately. I'm dying to find out what happens to the characters in the sequel!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on
Helpful Score: 1
If you are yearning for a taste of the simple life this is the perfect trilogy for you! Beverly Lewis once again does a fantastic job of taking you into the heart of Amish Country. Not just from the point of view of a plain character, but also from the view of a fancy girl wanting to find inner peace. It isn't all just about tranquility as a mystery unwinds right before your reading mind!
pigletsfriend avatar reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 8 more book reviews
This is the first book in the Annie's People series and it keeps you wanting more! Can't wait to read on to the second book!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 82 more book reviews
How can Annie choose between her family and her desire to produce beautiful art? And how will she know if she is making the right choice?
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Four star rating
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 26 more book reviews
I can't imagine having to live in a world not being able to express myself the way Annie Zook has to live. Another wonderful story.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 64 more book reviews
Annie Zook wants to please her parents and her Plain community but she has a forbidden passion. When her English friend comes to visit she has to make some choices for her life.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 29 more book reviews
good book-easy reading
christianfiction4me avatar reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 28 more book reviews
Annie's People, my favorite series from Beverly Lewis.
jacquita avatar reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 16 more book reviews
I loved Annie's People Series. It was very hard to put down.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 21 more book reviews
Takes place in an Amish community in PA... a very good story that focuses on love, faith, and friendship.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 117 more book reviews
another great book by Beverly Lewis..this is a first in a series and I also have the second book posted.This is Annie's People book #1.
An old order Amish story with a very interesting plot.Annie loves to draw and loves art but she must choose between art and her way of life...
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 130 more book reviews
Great book! I can't wait to read the 2nd one.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
This is the first book in the "Annie's People" series. It is a book club edition.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 19 more book reviews
A heartfelt read by the great Beverly Lewis!!
aliennightbird avatar reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 40 more book reviews
At first, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I enjoyed the writing style. The i"creative lisence" nclusion of slang and somewhat poor grammar into the overall narrative (not just the dialog) gave the feel of the place and people of the story. Although many of the subjects and themes of the story were serious (wife and child abuse for one), the prose was warm and engaging. The characters were not to deep, but good and human. The conflicts faced by some of the characters seemed real.

The beginning page intregued me with an old mystery of a little boy who disappeared.

Then, years later, Annie, an Amish preacher's daughter with a talent for art begins a first-person account about her conflicts about wanting to paint, which was viewed as a sin in the conservative Amish community, causing her to hide her studio in a "English" friend's house, and wanting to please her family and her community. A visit by an "English" pen pal, an art instructor who is tired of her life that her wealthy family has arranged for her, including an arranged engagement and who wants some peace in her life, pushes the "art vs Amish rules" delima to a head.

Meanwhile, one of her best Amish girlfriends is finding out that her husband is a wife and child beater. (I could feel a bit of compassion for him occassionally. He was the older brother of the little boy who disappeared years ago, and his father blamed him for the tragedy. Unsolved issues and a need for healing...an understanding...but not an excuse!)

Everything pointed towards a decent, complex, perhaps thought-provoking story.

After the first chapter, the prose switched to third person.

But, towards the middle of the book, the homesy-folksy writing style was getting a bit tedious. The story itself seemed to be dragging.

But, the worse thing was that the major issue of the book was unsolved.

As a fine artist myself, I was drawn the the "art vs. sin" theme of the book. This issue was put on hold...or rather, "to be continued" in other books of this series. Annie promises her father to set aside her painting for six months in order not to be kicked out of her home and community. So, the art part of the story begins and ends with Annie's first-person struggles, which sandwiches the story with almost the same conflict beginning and end.

Oh, come on!

As for the old mystery of the missing child, well, the body was finally found, but, except for causing further problems for the disturbed husband/father mentioned earlier, causing his wife and children to flee, and Annie's father refusing to show him where they burried the remains (something I didn't understand at all. I cannot blame Zeke for being upset!), nothing was resolved (like, gee, who was the perprtrator?). There was no reason for the inclusion of this mystery.

Yes, I realize that this book is the beginning of a trilogy, by I hate it when authors do not finish the stories in their books. In other words, give me a stand-alone novel any day, whether or not it is part of a series. With unresolved issues and teasers, I, as a reader, feel cheated.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Wonderful new series! If you are a fan of Lewis you will love this new release!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
Beverly Lewis has done it again - you get sucked right into this family - English girl meets Amish world - it is a wonderful start to a new series - can't wait for the next book!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 103 more book reviews
The first in a new series Annies People and introduces an Amish community in Paradise,Pennsylvania-a heavenly sounding place,but one that has seen it's share of heartache and mysterty.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 50 more book reviews
Great story, can hardly wait for the next books!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 69 more book reviews
I've read a lot of series books and this time it is driving me nuts to wait for the next book in the line up. This is an awesome series!! You feel like a part of this family when you read this series.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 12 more book reviews
Good book!
Prov31lady avatar reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 56 more book reviews
Anne Zook, the only daughter of an old order amish preacher, wants to please her parents and her Plain community, but a hidden passion stands in the way. Creating fine art is strictly forbidden by Annie's church district, Her secret has already cost her the affection of handsome Rudy Esh. She must choose between her art and the people....the only life she knows..
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
Loved it.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 104 more book reviews
wonderful book
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 47 more book reviews
A great book!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 53 more book reviews
Annie Zook, the only daughter of an Old Order Amish preacher, wants to please her parents and her Plain community, but a hidden passion stands in the way. Creating fine art is strictly forbidden by Annie's church distrct. Her secret has already cost her the affection of handsome Rudy Esh. She must choose between her art and the People.....the only life she knows. Louisa Stratford, Annie's longtime pen pal, is a modern Denverite who shares Annie's love of art. When Louisa escapes her own problems to go to Paradise for a taste of the simple life, will she nudge Annie closer to all she has known and loved...or tempt Annie to pursue her own dreams?
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 108 more book reviews
Another great Beverly Lewis book - make sure you read these in order. This is the first in the Annie's People series.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 34 more book reviews
Great Amish prospective!!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 71 more book reviews
From the beloved author of the Amish series, comes this first in a new series called Annie's people. Annie Zook is an amish preachers daughter torn between her talent of creating fine art and the confines of her people's beliefs about what is proper.
fightpilotswife avatar reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 11 more book reviews
Perfect start to another wonderful series by Beverly Lewis! Quick read!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 94 more book reviews
My favorite of Beverly Lewis' Amish series. Make sure you get the following books in the series ASAP or the wait to see what happens will kill you!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 226 more book reviews
I truly enjoyed this book as I did the other Beverly Lewis books regarding the Amish community. It give you a wonderful look into their lifestyle and beliefs as well as a great storyline. I didn't want to put the book down until I was finished..great read!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 28 more book reviews
Great love story
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 154 more book reviews
loved it
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 15 more book reviews
I'm a church librarian and my ladies love this author. This is just an extra copy we were given. I have not read this series.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
Really good book, very fascinating. Couldn't put it down once I started reading.
sfc95 avatar reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 686 more book reviews
I am a huge fan of Beverly Lewis, but the first book in this series has so much abuse undertones that it wasn't as enjoyable as the others. I am sure it is a realistic Amish trend, but it did lessen its enjoyability. I will read on and hope for the best for the characters.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 10 more book reviews
Loved this book, finished in one night!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on
This was a very interesting and informative book. I have always been fasinated by the Amish and this has answered a lot of my questions
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 25 more book reviews
Wonderful reading. A "can't put it down book".
I would suggest having the 3-set on hand before starting the first one.
el-jay avatar reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
navywifereader avatar reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 17 more book reviews
My first read of Beverly Lewis. Oh so wonderful.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 67 more book reviews
Great read!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 8 more book reviews
Its about friendship and the Amish community.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 29 more book reviews
Anothere great book Beverly Lewis is my favorite book writer leaves you feeling good
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
I really liked this book.
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 24 more book reviews
I loved this book! Of course, I love all of Beverly Lewis' Amish books!
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Fun Read
reviewed The Preacher's Daughter (Annie's People, Bk 1) on + 354 more book reviews
I NEVER READ THIS AUTHOR TILL I GOT HOOKED ON THIS SWAP,NOW I'M HOOKED ON THIS AUTHOR,IF YOU HAVEN'T READ HER WORK,YOUR REALLY DOING YOURSELF A DISSERVICE.