Just Plain Sadie

Just plain Sadie, I know the Amish are not supposed to be vain, but to think that others are attractive, but your not. How sad! Our Sadie feels this way, but friends and family surround her, and all she really wants is to become an Amish wife and mother. When her life long friend Chris, whom she has expected to marry, drops a bombshell that in a few months he will be leaving to travel Europe. This is a secret that he is keeping for the time being, and he has assured her that he will return, and will she wait for him. Sadie knows at this point that he will never return. Enter a chance meeting with that Mennonite man, as her community refers to him, Ezra is smitten with Sadie. He has his own problems, and resentment of his father, and totally takes care of his mother. Funny Sadie in his community is referred to as that Amish girl. Two religions from the same roots, and yet broken apart so many years ago but their own people, this is now affecting the love of these two. Sadie's mom has already lost one of her daughters to the English, and you can read that amazing story in the first book in this series Caroline's Secret. Will Sadie decide not to leave her faith and not cause her mom additional pain, or will Chris change is mind and be the man she has always thought him to be. For sure God has his hand in here and what we want to happen isn't always his plan. This is a quick and good read that keeps you wondering from the first page. I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zebra, and was not required to give a positive review.

Just Plain Sadie by Amy Lillard is the fourth book in A Wells Landing Romance series. Sadie Kauffman lives with her family in Wells Landing, Oklahoma. Sadie has not had a date in years. Everyone believes that Sadie is dating her friend, Chris Flaud. Sadie is tired of waiting (she is only twenty-two) and wants to get married (she decides to be practical). She believes that Chris would make a good husband (since they are such good friends). Chris, though, has other plans. Chris has yet to join the Amish Church because he has plans to travel. He wants to visit Europe. Sadie is shocked. Chris asks Sadie to wait for him (who knows if he will return). Then Sadie meets Ezra Hein. Ezra runs Hein Ranch that raises exotic animals (for meat). Ezra is a Mennonite (not as strict as Amish). Ezra and Sadie are attracted to each other, but Sadie's family is not happy with her spending time with someone who is not Amish. Then plans change for Chris. Now Chris is ready to settle down with Sadie, but is Sadie still willing to settle now that she has experienced real love. Join us in Wells Landing to see how things turn out for Sadie and check in on the Kauffman family. Just Plain Sadie was not my favorite book in A Wells Landing Romance series. It was a little slower pace and there was a lot of time devoted to Sadie thinking. The same issue kept getting talked about throughout the book (over and over). Mennonite versus Amish! There is a little kissing in the book, but that is it (it is a Christian novel). Just Plain Sadie is easy to read and enjoyable. I just did not like it as much as the other book in this series. I felt that not as much effort was put into this book. There are some questions about God in the book that makes a person think (I liked this part). Does He punish and can you bargain with God? They are both good questions. I give Just Plain Sadie 3.5 out of 5 stars (it was okay). I just expected more. I will definitely be reading Amy Lillard's books in the future (this has not deterred me). Everyone is entitled to an off book. I received a complimentary copy of Just Plain Sadie from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.