Amazing characters and awesome story lines. A must read if you love Amish Fiction. You will fall in love with the story.

I enjoyed this Amish story and the story line, I was sucked in from the beginning. I didn't want it to end.

Sadie, a widow with a young son. finds a man from her past suddenly return and reconnect. I really enjoyed this book. I love Amish fiction and the simplicity of the Amish way of life.

It was a cute story about a couple who separated and then found each other again. About a young man who desperately wants to return to the English world but it pulled back by obligation to his family when his dad writes to him struggling.

The ending though really bugged me. I felt it was far too rough and very out of character for Absolom. While I understood Elijah's sudden decision, Absolom's just didn't fit. Nor did it really set anything up for long term.

Disappointing...

** ARC received from Netgalley **

I absolutely loved this book!
Poor Sadie wanted to marry Elijah, but couldn't because her father the bishop wouldn't; allow it -- making him feel as if he wasn't good enough.
I would recommend this book to everyone.

I read a lot of Amish stories and Patricia Johns has written a wonderful story in The Bishop's Daughter. It is not a typical Amish story, this books goes inside the family to show how it is when a member leaves the community. I liked this story, the characters are well developed and the story held my interest. I recommend this book. Thanks to netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the gift of the arc. The opinions are my own .

This is not only a great Amish story, it’s a great family drama. It’s not your typical “sweet” Amish story. It does not present the Amish in an idealistic way; but shows the heartbreak that arises when a family member decides to leave the church and join the “English” world. The author did a good job showing both sides of the conflict in a sympathetic manner. There are genuine, strong characters in this book and I ended up feeling compassion for all of them. I might disagree with some the decisions the Bishop made, but the author helped me see the dilemma he faced as he had to balance what was best for members of his district as opposed to his role as father to a dearly-loved wayward son. Sadie, a young Amish widow with a three year old son, realizes that she is expected to marry again. She wants to feel loved and valued in a marriage, rather than just filling in a needed role in an Amish household. Her role in life as the “Bishop’s daughter” adds to the pressure to remarry. As she and Elijah discover they still have strong feelings for each other, they realize their two worlds are very far apart. Their romance added interest to this story, and also kept to the theme of the book. I’m hoping there’s a sequel to this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed reading, The Bishops Daughter.
The Amish are very strict people, the have no choice but to participate in the Englisher world but yet they hold themselves apart from it lest they become tempted by our worldliness.
This story shows how the Amish and the Englishers expect a Bishops family to act, above mistakes and expected to lead his people the same way. What happens when some of the Bishops family turns out to be the ones making mistakes and showing they are just people who make mistakes and are not above reproach. What if some of the Bishop's family are the ones who have strayed? Is it ok if the Bishop makes allowances in the community just for his family?
Very different look at the Amish in the book.
I loved seeing the flawed characters in this book, as we all are.
I do believe with how this book ended there will be a continuation to it in another book and I look forward to reading it.

Published April 30th 2019 by Zebra.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

In this wonderful and incredibly sensitive story, Sadie Hochstetler is a widow. Sadie is also the daughter of the Bishop so much is required of her. As the mother of a young son, she works hard at teaching him to do his very best to please God. Sadie recognizes that in so doing, she may never find true happiness - she certainly never had it in her marriage, but at least she will be doing what is right.

Elijah Fisher was the boy she loved when she was a teenager. Her father highly disapproved at the time. At seventeen, Elijah left the Amish community for the Englisher world. He was gone for nine years, but now his father's business is suffering and he pleads with Elijah to help him. This puts a burden on both Sadie and Elijah. Their feelings are very strong with one another, but with Elijah no longer being Amish, and Sadie being a widow, there is no future for them.

Sadie's father is ill, and has hired Elijah to help care for his farm. This brings Sadie and Elijah around one another as they care for chores. One reason this is especially difficult for Sadie is that her brother Absolom left with Elijah all those years ago, and never returned to his family or his faith. So, Elijah becomes the tie between Sadie and her brother.

I am a woman of faith, albeit a different one, and I was very moved by the dynamics in this story. This was multi-layered as it not only dealt with the loss of faith Elijah experienced, and how the families were affected by such. The story also helped readers to see what Sadie went through during her marriage. She did all she could to be a good wife at the time, and must eventually come to terms with how this affected her and what the future could be like for her and her son. Then there is Absolom's girlfriend, Sharon, and what she was experiencing. Lastly, the way the families in the Amish faith are affected when members leave. This part of the story was handled in a responsible manner and made the story that much better.

This is the second book I have read by Patricia Johns and I truly enjoy her writing. I look forward to reading much more by this wonderful writer.

Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

This Amish story is different. To be honest I spent a lot of the time reading and trying to figure out where the plot in this book was going. Sadie is a special Amish woman. She is devout, a young widow and mother who is a bishop's daughter and living to fit the image of one. Elijah is the man who left when he was the boy she loved. The boy who convinced the bishop's son, Sadie's brother, Absolom, to go with him out into the world of the (evil) Englishers. He comes back to the community when his father writes and pleads with him to help their failing financial situation. He is willing to help his family because he loves them even if he is basically rejected by the bishop who he gets a job with.
This is in many ways one of the most realistic stories I've ever read in the Amish genre. Life isn't simple for anyone and love isn't simple either. Many of us know that it is impossible for religion to be simple when steeped in traditions. This isn't a feel good story for the major part of it. There are portions of hopelessness in my mind as I read of the clash between the Amish tradition world and the Englisch one that Elijah and Absolom chose. It's a hard read in many ways. (Don't we pick up an Amish tale to get away from the challenges in our world? The illusion of a simpler, uncomplicated life soothes the reader.)
This story is about unyielding tradition, heartbreak, and even misinformation, all handled tactfully, realistically. It's an excellent example of someone trying to run away from reality to find out that it travels with the runaway. It's easy for the Amish to condemn outsiders and those who leave to go to the 'outside' when they are immersed in tradition to the point that they can't even acknowledge their own breaking hearts or their ignorance to the reality of 'other faiths'. This book certainly made me think and see both sides of these breaks between children and parents in a deeper way.

This was a hard book to immerse myself in but it was a deeper look into the lives and hearts of families affected by those who leave the Amish faith. It was interesting to get a glimpse into the dynamic. I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy. This is my own opinion about this book. I'd find it interesting to see Absolom's story in the future.

The Bishop’s Daughter by Patricia Johns is moving Amish fiction. I’m a huge fan of this genre and was immensely pleased with this story.

While there are religious themes in this novel, that’s not really what it’s about. This is a story about love and second chances and not just in the romantic aspect. Ms. Johns has dared to show the difficulties with putting community before self. These characters are real people with failings and insecurities who must face the reality of their way of life and the misconceptions that come from a lack of understanding and acceptance. The Bishop’s Daughter is an eye-opener. Things aren’t always as they seem. This is a 5 star read and I highly recommend it.

My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Sadie is a grown Amish woman, widowed and with a young son, who has had to move back in with her parents. She had married a much older man who passed away shortly into their marriage. He died never knowing she was pregnant, and left her nothing. Sadie had not known love from Mervin. He always compared her to his late wife and insisted she do everything as she had done. Sadie's mamm had told her that sometimes couples 'grow into each other.' Sadie had hoped they would one day love each other as husband and wife should, but it was not meant to be. Her father is the bishop, which puts his family under close scrutiny by their community. Her family has suffered great heartbreak when her brother, Absolom, ran away to live among the Englishers. He has been gone for nine very long years. Along with him is his friend, and Sadie's teenage love, Elijah. According to the Amish way, the bishop wrote to his son, admonishing and reminding him of their laws. Absolom and Elijah both wished their fathers had cared enough to come find them. Elijah told his father that he wished his son was more important to him that the law of one man-the bishop.
Elijah comes back to the community when his father is no longer able to make a decent living at his job, due to restrictions put on him by the bishop. Could it be that the bishop blames Elijah for Absolom leaving and is punishing his daed? The bishop's heart is very bad and doctors have told him to take it easy, so Elijah is hired to work on the bishop's farm to provide extra income for his daed. Elijah's mamm questions why has no one in the community noticed their plight? Does not anyone notice she wears the same frayed, worn out three dresses? She has always helped others in need, and it seems the community is blind to their plight.
Sadie is also doing a lot of work on her daed's farm, which puts her in close quarters with Elijah frequently. Young passions are rekindled. Elijah says he will never move back permanently as he cannot put up with all the rules, rules, rules. He resents the bishop making all the rules, but says he will 'bend to the ground' for his own wayward son.
In this story, we see heartache, a willingness to abide by the strict ways and rules by some, but not all. We see a child able to follow the rules at a very young age. Too bad there's not more of that in the 'English' world.
Lovely, lovely story.
I was given a free copy of this to read by the publisher, Kensington and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Bishop’s Daughter is a debut Amish novel by author Patricia Johns. Sadie Hochstetler is a widow with a three year old son. She has returned to the family home to live with her parents and sister, Rosmanda. As a widow with a child, Sadie is expected to marry again and provide a father for her son. However, Sadie was not happy in her marriage to the older Mervin Hochstetler, but it is not something she can share with others. Sadie’s father, Bishop Benjamin Graber has developed a heart condition and his doctor has told him he needs to rest more which goes against the Amish work ethic. He hires the newly returned Elijah Fisher to help around the dairy farm. Elijah left their community nine years ago and took Absolom Graber with him. Elijah was Sadie’s best friend and first love. He broke her heart when he left, and Sadie was doubly hurt when Elijah encouraged her brother to leave with him. Elijah did not want to come back, but his parents are suffering financially and need his assistance. He chafes under the rigid restrictions of the community and the pressure to conform. Elijah’s time in the Englisher world has changed him. How he feels for Sadie, though, has not changed, but the Bishop does not feel that Elijah is worthy of his daughter which is why he left their community. Is it possible for Sadie and Elijah to get their happily-ever-after or are they destined to remain apart?

The Bishop’s Daughter shows readers various aspects of an Amish community. Sadie Hochstetler was married the much older Mervin for just a year when he passed away. He did not know she was pregnant at the time and he failed to provide for her in his will. She is now living at home with her rigid father trying to raise her son following the rules of their community. Sadie is being pressured to marry, but it is the last thing she wants after the experiences of her first marriage. She has never forgotten her first love, Elijah Fisher and how he left her with her brother. Elijah left after being told by Bishop Graber that he was not good enough for Sadie. While he does not like life in the English world, he is happy to be away from the rigid rules of the Amish community. With Bishop Graber unwell, Sadie steps up to handle his chores. Elijah and Sadie are put in daily contact with each other when he begins working on their dairy farm. The old spark is still there between them but is it enough to base a life on. I thought the story was nicely written, but the pace was a little slow. The story addresses various topics about Amish life. We get to see how hard it can be to follow the rules and how a Bishop can bend the rules to suit his purposes. I know I would chafe under the restrictions and the lack of individuality. I could not believe that Sadie could not even write to her brother unless her father approved. Appearances are very important in their community and gossip can ruin a woman’s reputation. We see the differences between the younger Rosmanda with her view of love and the more mature Sadie. I did feel that the first half of the book kept addressing the same issues (felt like the plot was going around in a circle). I could not wait for the story to move forward. My favorite sentence from The Bishop’s Daughter was “love . . . it could be the sweetest of experiences and the most painful.” I liked that the author provided an epilogue and I am curious to find out what will happen with Absolom.

This is a very heartwarming story. It is a very enjoyable read and holds your attention. This is not the typical Amish book, the author tells how the Amish feel toward people who go against their rules. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good Amish story. Thank you Kensington Books via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

The author has placed this story in an Amish community in Indiana, and we are dealing with a few members who have jumped the fence, or gone into the world.
We are also with a young woman who has returned to her family after her husband has passed away, she had married a much older man.
When one of the fence jumpers comes home, with the stipulation that he is going to leave again, sparks begin to fly again between these two individuals, and we know that nothing can come of it.
Our young woman is the daughter of the bishop, and he is a stern and strict person, and he is the main reason his son has also left.
There are lots of surprises that I never saw coming her, and it makes for a great page-turning read. One you don’t want to miss, and I could almost see another book coming here!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

5 stars
This is probably one of the most interesting and intriguing Amish books. I have read in a very long time if not ever. I enjoyed the real inside look of the struggles some Amish have trying to conform to their way of life. I truly appreciated the fact this book shows struggles with teenagers and adults that are very much like the "English" way of life and struggles everyone faces. I certainly didn't expect the book to end the way that it did. However, that being said. the ending was perfect. I really hope this is our the first book in a series! I want more from these characters and this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own. #TheSilverLadiesofPennyLane #NetGalley

Took me a bit to get into this one, as Sadie is not exactly a likeable character, at least in the beginning. She is so rigid and sees everything in black and white only, following the preaching of her father, the Bishop. So when Elijah comes back, her old teenage crush, to help his father and work on Sadie's farm helping her father, it is hard for her to get past her anger that he left the Amish as a teenager, leaving her behind. Now he is back, but doesn't plan on staying, so what is the point? Once the story got going, and the side stories of her sister and her brother add to the mix, I had a hard time putting this one down. Shows a bit more the harder part of the Amish life, but overall a good read. Would highly recommend.

Being the Bishops child is not easy . Sadie is a young widow with a young son who has to move back home . Her husband who was a good big older left her with a little money but his children from the first marriage received the farm. Her family has to hire someone to help with the farm since her dad has a heart condition. He hires Elijah . Elijah has not been in the Amish community for a few years. He left with Sadie's brother in the middle of the night. Being her first love she has several reasons to be upset with him. He only came back because he received a letter from his dad saying he needed help . Sadie finds out her brother will not come home because he is living with a girl and expecting a child. Elijah tries to explain to her the differences in what he and her brother believe and the tight beliefs of the Amish. They both still have very strong feelings for each other and don't know what to do with them. After she is allowed to go and see her brother and how he lives she realizes he cant and wont every come home. As much as it hurts her she has to let him go. A lot of things change with her fathers health. When the bishop comes home he lets Elijah go. But she her brother shows up and needs help. Elijah steps in and volunteers to help with his children. Sadie and Elijah talk and try to work things out for them both to be happy in the Amish church.

The Bishop's Daughter is a sweet and delightful read that I enjoyed. I give it four and a half stars.

The main theme of “The Bishop’s Daughter” by Patricia Johns appears to be “conflict.” There are several different threads to this story, and each of them deals with some type of conflict. The widow Sadie attempts to come to terms with her past marriage failures, as well as her undeniable attraction to her former sweetheart Elijah, who now works on her family’s farm. Elijah must make a decision about returning to the freedoms of the English world, or remaining in the Amish community to assist his struggling parents. Sadie’s father and mother try to reconcile themselves to the loss of their adult son Absolom to the English world. Absolom must make decisions about the care of his two children. Sadie’s young sister Rosamanda struggles with a romantic attachment to an older Amish boy.

All in all, this novel presented quite a dramatic and serious tone, as opposed to some of the other more lighthearted Amish novels I have read. This was not a negative thing, but underscored that all families have problems that cannot be quickly solved. The conflicts are wrapped up in the end, but the author leaves the door open to further developments with the Graber family.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.