To date, Leslie Gould has not written a book that I haven’t absolutely loved. When I received a copy of her latest release, A Plain Leaving (first in her Sisters of Lancaster County series), I wondered if she could keep up the momentum. Well, about five pages into the novel I was completely hooked! I lost sleep staying awake reading this one!

Here’s the skinny: Jessica Bachmann left her Amish life behind. She was not your cookie cutter type of Amish woman, even if she did get baptized. But when her father dies, she heads back home – and causes a ruckus in her former community. She’s just a woman that wants to grieve for her father – even if she is shunned. When her aunt tells her the story of one of her ancestors, it hits a resonating chord.

Ruby Bachmann is one of Jessica’s ancestors who lived during the Revolutionary War-era. Ruby has struggles of her own. She too doesn’t easily conform to her Amish Community’s ways, which creates tension for all involved.

How will Ruby’s life affect Jessica’s? Will Jessica finally leave her community for good? What happened to Ruby? Read and find out!

I was given A Plain Leaving in exchange for my honest review. It was a real page-turner! Gould takes the reader effortlessly between the two time periods. I appreciated her taking her time, giving a few chapters per time period (instead of the whiplash effect that other novels often tend to do.) The result is a well-told ,well though-out, heartwarming, nail-biting novel. Brava to Leslie Gould. I can’t wait for Book Two! Don’t miss out on this one!

I can say that "Revolutionary War" and "Amish" were never two words that I put in the same sentence until reading A Plain Leaving by Leslie Gould. I really didn't think about Amish being in that part of American history. In A Plain Leaving, Leslie has woven together the ups and downs, and not so different lives of Amish family members from two eras. Jessica Baughman is from the present time and Ruby Baughman is from the Revolutionary War period. I found myself, like Jessica, waiting to find out more about Ruby's life from the storytelling of Aenti Suz. I had no problem going between the two time periods, even with Jessica's part being told in the first person, which the author does well. I like that readers of A Plain Leaving will find themselves learning about life in 1777 and also about how the Amish live now. Leslie does this in a way that is more showing than telling. A Plain Leaving is book 1 in The Sisters of Lancaster County series and a great read!. I can't wait to start A Simple Singing, book 2 of the trilogy. I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

"A Plain Leaving" by Leslie Gould is the first book in the Sisters of Lancaster County book series. It involves Jessica Bachman who left the Amish life and now has to come back to deal with her father's death. Most of her family is not happy to see her but some are and she learns of interesting plus important things of her families past and present. This was an interesting story as it wasn't the normal former Amish woman comes back and everyone welcomes her with open arms. No, it was the opposite most were I would say hateful to her. It was interest book that combined a story of the present with a family story from the 1700's. It did not have the normal Amish fiction style romance it was mainly just about a good old fashioned story. I highly recommend it and can't wait for the next one.



I was given this book from Net Galley for free and was not required to give a positive review.

Leslie's telling of this story is beyond what I had anticipated when starting this book. The story line weaves two different eras into the book. I loved reading Jessica and Ruby's story lines. Both women are women of faith and learn some things about themselves that they would not have if they hadn't ventured out of the their comfort zones of home. I was encouraged by the way Duncan looked after Ruby and was there to help. Jessica finding out some secrets from the past causes a change of heart in her but will it cause a change of heart in the members of her family.

A must read for any one who likes Amish fiction and historical fiction.

Fans of Beverly Lewis, long time writer of Amish stories who was born in the heart of Lancaster County, should enjoy what Gould offers as it has a very similar feel.

I was easily able to blow through this in a couple of hours thanks to the easy pace and intriguing characters. Being very familiar with the practice of shunning thanks to the plethora of Lewis’ works it was easy to follow along with this story which is centered on a woman who is being shunned for leaving her family a few years ago but has returned due to the death of a parent.

Unlike though in Lewis’ works when it came to someone being shunned, Gould has allowed her characters A LOT more interaction to the point you kind of need her many reminders that Jessica is supposed to be shunned. Lewis has always made it abundantly clear who was being shunned, by characters having no communication whatsoever, whereas Gould just has her character eat at a different table, be on the receiving end of tons of anger and some extreme un-Christian like behavior on the part of her siblings. That took some getting used to because Lewis has me trained to believe certain things about the Amish faith. I know the practice of shunning was supposed to be a huge plot point but it didn’t really feel like there was much shunning going on.

The issue of fracking is a central point as well and it’s very obvious what the author thinks about that divisive issue.

Overall if you’re a Lewis fan, the differences aside, I think you’d like this. It’s supposed to be the first in a new series which I’m assuming from the series title means the following books will follow the lives of Jessica’s 2 living sisters. It should be interesting to see how the author will handle those as they couldn’t be more different. One is more modern with an easygoing personality so it’s easy to like her and the other has a stick so far up her rear I’d be surprised she could sit in the pew for church service and she is completely NOT likeable.

A fresh new approach to Amish fiction. Leslie Gould has taken Amish fiction to a new level and has excelled.

Jessica left her family for the English world three years ago and family tragedy has brought her back. Her older brother, Arden, is dead set against her returning to the farm. The brother and sister have never agreed on how the farm should run. Arden wants to allow fracking and Jessica is against as she knows the dangers. Will Arden be able to see past Jessica's shunning to listen to her or will Jessica need to convince her Mamm that Arden is going against their Dat's wishes?

Yes, this novel has the common themes of Amish novels such as shunnings, farming, distrust of the English world but it tackles new subjects of fracking and wanting to get the law involved to help others.

If you like a little more to your stories than just a complicated romance this is a book for you. You will be left hungering for more. I know I was. I am anxious to learn what the second book tackles and which characters will become the main characters. I am also interested to go back and look at her other works and start reading.

A refreshing, new approach to one of my favorite genres. I hope you take a chance and read A Plain Leaving by Leslie Gould.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House for a copy of the book to read and review in exchange for a review based on my own honest opinion and in my own words.

I could not put this book down! I read the entire thing in one day. It was such an interesting book that didn’t follow the typical Amish fiction outline. It was so unique in its plot. It included ex-Amish, death, mystery, women in roles they don’t normally have within the Amish community, regret, love, lost love, history, and a ton of other topics. There is a bit of dual time period going on in the middle of the book when the aunt tells the story of a long ago family member. It was so interesting reading about battle of pigeon forge and the way things were in that time. There must have been a lot of research necessary for this book. It was great. Loved the redemption and forgiveness witnessed. I did feel a little like the ending was a tad rushed. I would have loved for that part to have been doubly as long as it was but nonetheless, It’s a great book. One of tHe Best Amish books I’ve ever read. I would love a sequel!!!
I received a copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

A Plain Leaving

Leslie Gould




A PLAIN LEAVING is the first book in the Sisters of Lancaster County. It is not your usual Amish story and it held my interest from the very first page until the last. A PLAIN LEAVING is all about the Bachman family and the story spans centuries. The family farm has been in Lancaster County for hundreds of years and the history of it will take your breath away.


Jessica left her Amish roots three years ago, is completely shunned by her family and is returning home because her father has just passed away. She knows her family will not be happy to see her but she owes it to her Dat to go. While she is there, she hopes to convince her older brother not to go ahead with the fracking company that he wants to sell the family farm to. She stays at her Aunt Suz's house and while there, Suz tells her the story of Ruby Bachman.


Ruby's story takes place during the Revolutionary War and it shows that even though Ruby and Jessica lived over one hundred years apart, they face some of the same challenges. All of the characters have flaws and I really like how Leslie Gould shows the reader that The Amish, while living plain lives, still have problems and drama. A PLAIN LEAVING is filled with twists and turns and had me totally invested in all of the characters and their troubles.


A PLAIN LEAVING is filled with love, family, forgiveness, history, hope, and faith. Ruby and Jessica both have some by choices and hard decisions to make and they will break the reader's hearts. Even though Jessica now has an Englisch boyfriend, she still feels a strong pull towards Silas, the Amish man she left behind. Will Jessica stay in her childhood home or will she go back to her Englisch life? You have to give A PLAIN LEAVING a try to find out! My emotions were all over the place while reading about the tough choices Jessica and Ruby had to make and I found myself cheering both of them on, hoping they would find their happy places. Leslie Gould truly knows how to pull her readers in and never lets them go! I can not wait to continue with this series.

A Plain Leaving is a twisty turny, exciting, romantic, reuniting story phew that was a mouthful.. Jessica just left the Amish community, and hasn't come back or contacted anyone until now , you see her father was promoted to glory ' for those who don't know what that is he has passed on ' so she decides to go and find out the family is in trouble with a major problem, which you have to read for yourself to find out what it is she is told a story about the past and the present and why you may ask? well you have to read it to find out. This story has most of all faith, restoration, forgiveness, decisiveness, abandonment, callousness, condemnation, courageouseness, encouragement, familiarity, and most of all GODly direction .

A Plain Leaving takes us to Lancaster County where the Bachman Farm has been in existence since the Revolutionary period. Jessica Bachman had left her Amish family three years prior due to a dispute with her eldest brother over the land. Jessica has farming in her blood and wants to keep the land in her family but brother Arden isn't interested and wants to sell the land for profit. Jessica leaves the family and the man she loves because she is viewed as stepping out of her place as a woman and being a trouble maker. She starts a new life in Harrisburg, only to be called home due to her fathers death.
Thus begins the story of the family drama taking place. Jessica is shunned by some of her family and community. Her aunt, younger sister and another older brother as well as her former love, all stand up for her. Jessica does her best to help out when the home situation goes from bad to worse. Her aunt begins to tell her a Revolutionary War story of how the Bachman homestead came to be and how Jessica's life reflects one of her ancestors. Conflicts arise on the farm and truth is revealed which can change the course of lives. Jessica finds herself with major decisions to make and leans on her faith to help her to make the right choices.

Leslie Gould has written a compelling story of a family in crisis. The revolutionary tie in anchors the past to the present as well as showcases historical facts about the Revolutionary War. It is an outstanding novel. one that deserves to be read.
I received an ebook copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A Plain Leaving by Leslie Gould is the first book in The Sisters of Lancaster County series. Jessica Bachman is at work when she receives a call from her sister, Leisel that their father has passed away. Jessica left their Amish community three years prior and is shunned (she was baptized when she left). She returns for the funeral and receives a less than warm welcome from her relatives. Jessica is filled with mixed feelings upon her return. She misses her home and family, but Jessica still remembers why she left. Silas Kemp (courted Jessica for two years) works on the farm and Jessica realizes that her feelings for him have not faded. At their father’s funeral, Arden (her older brother) has a heart attack. Jessica is the one person who can keep the farm running while he recovers (and he really does not want to ask for her help). While on the farm, Jessica spends time with her Aenti Suzanne who shares a special story with her about their ancestor, Ruby Bachman. When the time comes for Jessica to return to her home, will she want to leave or return to her roots?

A Plain Leaving was such a lovely story. I was drawn into the book from the very beginning. The characters are nicely developed. There are characters that readers will love and there are ones that you will love to hate (Arden, Marie, Bethel). In the face of such dislike and contempt, it can be hard to turn the other cheek. A Plain Leaving has a good pace, beautiful setting, and good writing. Leslie Gould managed to combine the two storylines (Jessica and Ruby’s) into one pleasing book. Some of the themes in A Plain Leaving are love, hope, forgiveness, foolishness, choices, history, trusting in God and having faith. I appreciated the growth of the characters in the story. I am rating A Plain Leaving 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it). I did not want A Plain Leaving to end. It is an inspiring story. I am eager to read the next book in The Sisters of Lancaster County series.

This was definitely not the usual Amish novel. Jessica was not the typical Amish woman, meek and submissive. I loved her spirit and standing up for herself. Her family's hostility really surprised me and made me more sympathetic toward her. This novel was gave me a totally different glimpse into the Amish life. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. Highly recommended!

The first book in The Sisters of Lancaster County series already has me wanting to read more. Leslie Gould masterfully shares a story of a young Amish woman who enjoys outdoor chores far more than the typical inside chores of other Amish women. Her half-brother who does not like farm work and would rather sell off the farm or lease the land to someone for other uses stirs up trouble for her to the point she feels she must leave. After three years away, she gets word that her father has died and returns for his funeral. How can she survive even a few days in a house where she is no longer wanted? Even though she has a new boyfriend where she works, why is it so difficult to see her former Amish boyfriend with another young woman? How can she make it through the funeral when family and others will not allow her the opportunity to grieve her loss? What is she supposed to do when her half-brother who caused so much trouble for her and seems to hate everything about her has a serious heart attack before they can finish burying her father? The bright spot in her life through all of this is when she visits her Aunt Suzanne and is told a cautionary tale about an early ancestor who lived during the Revolutionary War and faces some circumstances that are vaguely similar to her own. Jessica has some major decisions to make as her heart and soul are so unsettled about every aspect of her life. Will the cautionary tale give her any guidance? That is for you to decide. I received a copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

What a great story. It is engaging and well written. I was drawn in right away and I just kept reading. I will post my complete review soon. If you love Amish novels, you need to read A Plain Leaving!

I have a guilty pleasure.

It is reading books about Amish living. I love them. I also love movies about the Amish (remember Witness and Plain Truth?) and can hardly wait for the next one.



A Plain Leaving by Leslie Gould is the first in a series about a set of sisters who are Amish. Jessica left her church three years ago and hasn't had contact with her family because she had been shunned, one of the harshest punishments the church can place on its members. However, her dad did come to visit her, unbeknownst to the family. So when he unexpectedly passes away, it is a shock to the family to see that he has requested that she comes to his funeral, complete with her address and cell phone number.

Coming home is the most difficult thing Jessica has done. She knows what to expect but the reality is brutal. To make it even more difficult, Jessica realizes that she still has feelings for Silas, the man she left behind. Seeing Silas was more difficult that she realized it would be.

Through the trials of being home and seeing Silex, one aunt extend her welcoming hand to Jessica and begins to tell her of the history of the farm that Jessica holds so dear. It is through this story that Jessica learns the meaning of home.

I enjoyed the story very much, although I found myself more interested in the historical story and its surprise ending than the modern day story. It may be because I am very fond of historical fiction, or it could be that the writing was richer and more detailed in the historical portion. I really loved Silex and his consistent personality and wanted him to prevail over his circumstances.

If you like Amish literature as much as I do, then you will enjoy this heartwarming story about the Bachman sisters.