Scan barcode
sweetpea1992mee's review against another edition
5.0
this book was a page turner, and I couldn't wait to get to the end to see how everything worked it's way out. I was shocked at some of the things that were going on in the family....talk about secrets! I can't wait to read the others in this group. Thank you for allowing me to enter the give-away and win this book. I loved it!
misspippireads's review against another edition
4.0
Everyone believes Addie Cramer and Phillip Eicher will court and be married. Addie isn't so sure that she should be married to Phillip. When Jonathan arrives in town, he takes her breath away, but being a Mosier causes trouble.
Gould's second Amish tale with a Shakespearean twist is a great read! I loved that Addie gave all her brothers nicknames to describe her brothers. I was intrigued on how the death scene would play out and it was slightly cheesy, but appropriate for this story. Adoring Addie is book two in the The Courtships of Lancaster County series. Addie Cramer and Jonathan Mosier replay a new version of Romeo and Juliet with a family feud between the Cramers and the Mosiers. Adoring Addie can be read as a stand alone, but it's better after reading book one in the series, Courting Cate.
Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, Bethany House!
Gould's second Amish tale with a Shakespearean twist is a great read! I loved that Addie gave all her brothers nicknames to describe her brothers. I was intrigued on how the death scene would play out and it was slightly cheesy, but appropriate for this story. Adoring Addie is book two in the The Courtships of Lancaster County series. Addie Cramer and Jonathan Mosier replay a new version of Romeo and Juliet with a family feud between the Cramers and the Mosiers. Adoring Addie can be read as a stand alone, but it's better after reading book one in the series, Courting Cate.
Reviewed from a NetGalley copy. Thank you, Bethany House!
farmfreshlisa's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the book, but I didn't like it as much as I did the first in the series. I must say though the clever takes on big events in Romeo and Juliet were well done.
arjayebrewerforestfern's review against another edition
3.0
Addies parents seemed to want her to marry Phillip and thought they’d be a good match I’m sure they wanted what they thought was best. Most important though is does Addie love him and want to marry him?
Addie has older brothers but it seems like she takes on a role of doing most things around the house as her mother seems depressed. Addie seems to have little time for her friends and other things outside of going to church and household chores. Though Addie's aunt lives with them and also helped with the chores while her mum seems to always be writing lists and supervising people.
Johnathan came into the community and started paying attention to her Addie who liked him from the start because he is caring. But as he was a Moiser she was told to stay away form him. There was bitterness between the Cramers and Mosiers for as long as anyone remembered that no one would talk about and continued until Adalaide Cramer and Jonathan Mosier became friends and then wanted to court. The bitterness seems a bit childish that it would keep the two apart but I was glad when they decided to work through things.
I loved this story and felt the ending finished all too soon, it was a good read and I enjoyed hearing about Addie and her family. It is difficult when family members struggle with depression. I loved what a good loyal friend Addie was to Hannah.
Addie has older brothers but it seems like she takes on a role of doing most things around the house as her mother seems depressed. Addie seems to have little time for her friends and other things outside of going to church and household chores. Though Addie's aunt lives with them and also helped with the chores while her mum seems to always be writing lists and supervising people.
Johnathan came into the community and started paying attention to her Addie who liked him from the start because he is caring. But as he was a Moiser she was told to stay away form him. There was bitterness between the Cramers and Mosiers for as long as anyone remembered that no one would talk about and continued until Adalaide Cramer and Jonathan Mosier became friends and then wanted to court. The bitterness seems a bit childish that it would keep the two apart but I was glad when they decided to work through things.
I loved this story and felt the ending finished all too soon, it was a good read and I enjoyed hearing about Addie and her family. It is difficult when family members struggle with depression. I loved what a good loyal friend Addie was to Hannah.
xakyr's review against another edition
4.0
When I saw that this was going to be the Book of the Month for March in one of my reading groups, I got pretty excited about it, because the story line seemed really interesting. However, I hadn't read the preceding story in the series and worried I would miss some things, so when both of these came on sale on Amazon, I grabbed them both and figured I would read them eventually.
I was able to read [b:Courting Cate|13777891|Courting Cate (The Courtships of Lancaster County, #1)|Leslie Gould|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344557111s/13777891.jpg|19411666] for a challenge in another group, but I was quite surprised to find that I enjoyed it so much I read it in a day. After finishing Cate's story this morning, I immediately started Addie's, and I again could not put it down.
While reading the reviews for [b:Minding Molly|17934563|Minding Molly (The Courtships of Lancaster County, #3)|Leslie Gould|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371695246s/17934563.jpg|25142439], I was surprised to discover that these were an Amish take on some of Shakespeare's plays. I do enjoy retellings of fairy tales, and this series has been nothing short of a delight to me. The characters were easily identified with and connected to. Even though it is a Christian fiction story, I feel it is very relevant to a modern and contemporary audience. I'm looking forward to [b:Minding Molly|17934563|Minding Molly (The Courtships of Lancaster County, #3)|Leslie Gould|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371695246s/17934563.jpg|25142439]!
I was able to read [b:Courting Cate|13777891|Courting Cate (The Courtships of Lancaster County, #1)|Leslie Gould|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344557111s/13777891.jpg|19411666] for a challenge in another group, but I was quite surprised to find that I enjoyed it so much I read it in a day. After finishing Cate's story this morning, I immediately started Addie's, and I again could not put it down.
While reading the reviews for [b:Minding Molly|17934563|Minding Molly (The Courtships of Lancaster County, #3)|Leslie Gould|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371695246s/17934563.jpg|25142439], I was surprised to discover that these were an Amish take on some of Shakespeare's plays. I do enjoy retellings of fairy tales, and this series has been nothing short of a delight to me.
Spoiler
I loved how Addie and Jonathan decided to stand up for what they wanted and work for a peaceful solution to the problems between their families that were similar to the ones found in Romeo and Juliet. I also liked that, in this book, the subjects of clinical depression and addiction in the Amish community was introduced and discussed.pixieauthoress's review against another edition
5.0
The only girl in a family of boys, Addie Cramer has long been saddled with the brunt of the housework and childcare, due to her mother’s bad knee. But worse than continuous laundry and cooking are the expectations Addie’s parents have placed on her. Although her older brothers are having a wild running around time, driving cars and attending parties, Addie is expected to settle down and marry a good Amish man—and they have their heart set on Philip Eicher, the Bishop’s son. Addie will admit that Philip is a nice man, but despite all the time they spend together, she knows she could never love him. But Addie longs to escape her parents’ farm and have some independence. Is marrying Philip the only way to achieve this?
Before Addie is forced to settle for a marriage of convenience, she runs into a newcomer to Lancaster County—Jonathan Mosier. The Cramers and Mosiers have long had a family feud that has kept them from interacting with each other. Despite asking both her parents and her aunt, no one will explain what the original cause of the feud is. Addie isn’t going to let an unexplainable, twenty-five-year-old dispute stop her from enjoying life—especially when a chance encounter with Jonathan causes her to wonder if he might be her ticket off the farm, not Philip. But can they convince their families to set aside their differences and allow them to be happy together? Or will this feud be far harder to break than either of them expected?
As with the first book in the series, Courting Cate, the Shakespearean play upon which this plot is based isn’t one that I’m overly familiar with. Most people in the Western world will have heard of Romeo and Juliet, but I’m afraid my knowledge is limited to the 1996 film with Leonardo DiCaprio. I was intrigued to see how Leslie would manage to adapt the play into a romance novel with a happy ending, given that Romeo and Juliet end up dead by the end of the play. I’m not sure why people tote this play as being one of the best love stories of all time, to be entirely honest. But thankfully, the ending to this novel was not so tragic.
You don’t have to have read the original play in order to enjoy Adoring Addie, but I did enjoy some of the references—the balcony outside Addie’s bedroom and her father’s nickname of “Cap”. The ending (which I don’t want to spoil for any potential readers) impressed me, retaining some of the aspects of the conclusion to Romeo and Juliet without, obviously, both the hero and heroine ending up dead. The only aspect which I thought could have been improved upon was the way in which Addie and Jonathan fall in love. I know that the idea of love at first sight is in keeping with the original play, but I struggled to believe that Addie and Jonathan could feel so strong about each other after knowing each other for a few hours. I could overlook the improbability of a long-lasting family grudge or a balcony on an Amish house, but I’m afraid that I wasn’t convinced by the strength of Addie’s love for Jonathan after such a short period of time. I know that I’m not the only romance reader who isn’t a fan of love at first sight in any context. This didn’t completely spoil my enjoyment of this novel, but I did feel that this was one aspect of the story that could have been altered from the original text to better fit a modern context.
I initially struggled with how cruel Addie’s family members were towards her and the Mosiers, and I was worried that they might come across as caricatures with no real motivations. But as the story developed, I came to appreciate the truth in Leslie’s depiction of how a grudge can cause bitterness and resentment that breaks a family apart. I’ve never experienced a family feud, but I have witnessed the hurt that can result in a family when one member insists on fostering a grudge. Other members of the family are forced to either go along with it, so as not to be alienated, or try to ignore the situation as best they can, as Addie does. It’s not easy being in Addie’s position, when you disagree with a parent’s treatment of someone, and I hurt alongside her as she bore the brunt of her parents’ and siblings’ bitterness and resentment for daring to go against their wishes.
I was pleasantly surprised when the larger story about the Cramer family was expanded to examine some of the reasons behind certain characters’ behaviours and actions. Hannah’s melancholy, Timothy’s drinking and Addie’s mother’s selfishness were all explored as the story developed into a discussion about mental illness. Hannah’s—Addie’s cousin—story was the one that probably touched me the most, because I know first-hand how difficult it is for family members to acknowledge teenage depression. I commend Leslie for tackling a topic that is often overlooked or dismissed as simply teenage moodiness or rebellion. I hadn’t heard about having a genetic disposition towards depression before, so this was an interesting concept to learn about. I was also pleased with the way Timothy’s—Addie’s older brother—story evolved, regarding his drinking and rebellion. It’s very easy to look down on someone for getting drunk without wondering why they feel the need to drink that much.
I did wish that Addie’s mother’s story had been explored more. She was the cruelest character in the entire book, and although we later learn about the guilt that has caused her to act this way, it felt like this part of the story was wrapped up too easily. Her change of heart felt too swift and painless to be real. Courting Cate had a similar ending, with two characters who had teased Cate throughout her life apologising and changing their ways at the drop of a hat, and Cate forgiving them just as easily. I know that the Amish are famous for the way they embrace forgiveness, but given the context of this story, it felt like Addie’s mother’s change of heart happened a bit too quickly.
Despite the implausibility of a large part of this story, it did include a lot of realism. Some Amish novels present the lifestyle in a romanticised fashion, but Adoring Addie didn’t fall into that trap. It portrayed the Amish as flawed human beings who feel jealousy and argue with their relatives, who struggle with illness and get bored of housework. Having Addie’s older brothers drive cars, live in a run-down trailer and attend wild parties definitely helped with the realism, as well as the struggles of the parents to deal with their teenagers’ behaviour. Small details like Addie cooking spaghetti and taco salad, and her younger brothers playing with toy bows and arrows made her family feel just like any other—except for giant family feud, of course!
Although I struggled with a few aspects of this story, Adoring Addie was a thoroughly enjoyable novel and a great addition to Leslie’s Courtships of Lancaster County series. Even if you’re not a fan of Shakespeare or love at first sight romances, I encourage fans of Amish fiction to check out this series. Leslie Gould definitely brings something refreshing and new to the genre, and I hope she’s here to stay.
Review title provided by Bethany House.
Before Addie is forced to settle for a marriage of convenience, she runs into a newcomer to Lancaster County—Jonathan Mosier. The Cramers and Mosiers have long had a family feud that has kept them from interacting with each other. Despite asking both her parents and her aunt, no one will explain what the original cause of the feud is. Addie isn’t going to let an unexplainable, twenty-five-year-old dispute stop her from enjoying life—especially when a chance encounter with Jonathan causes her to wonder if he might be her ticket off the farm, not Philip. But can they convince their families to set aside their differences and allow them to be happy together? Or will this feud be far harder to break than either of them expected?
As with the first book in the series, Courting Cate, the Shakespearean play upon which this plot is based isn’t one that I’m overly familiar with. Most people in the Western world will have heard of Romeo and Juliet, but I’m afraid my knowledge is limited to the 1996 film with Leonardo DiCaprio. I was intrigued to see how Leslie would manage to adapt the play into a romance novel with a happy ending, given that Romeo and Juliet end up dead by the end of the play. I’m not sure why people tote this play as being one of the best love stories of all time, to be entirely honest. But thankfully, the ending to this novel was not so tragic.
You don’t have to have read the original play in order to enjoy Adoring Addie, but I did enjoy some of the references—the balcony outside Addie’s bedroom and her father’s nickname of “Cap”. The ending (which I don’t want to spoil for any potential readers) impressed me, retaining some of the aspects of the conclusion to Romeo and Juliet without, obviously, both the hero and heroine ending up dead. The only aspect which I thought could have been improved upon was the way in which Addie and Jonathan fall in love. I know that the idea of love at first sight is in keeping with the original play, but I struggled to believe that Addie and Jonathan could feel so strong about each other after knowing each other for a few hours. I could overlook the improbability of a long-lasting family grudge or a balcony on an Amish house, but I’m afraid that I wasn’t convinced by the strength of Addie’s love for Jonathan after such a short period of time. I know that I’m not the only romance reader who isn’t a fan of love at first sight in any context. This didn’t completely spoil my enjoyment of this novel, but I did feel that this was one aspect of the story that could have been altered from the original text to better fit a modern context.
I initially struggled with how cruel Addie’s family members were towards her and the Mosiers, and I was worried that they might come across as caricatures with no real motivations. But as the story developed, I came to appreciate the truth in Leslie’s depiction of how a grudge can cause bitterness and resentment that breaks a family apart. I’ve never experienced a family feud, but I have witnessed the hurt that can result in a family when one member insists on fostering a grudge. Other members of the family are forced to either go along with it, so as not to be alienated, or try to ignore the situation as best they can, as Addie does. It’s not easy being in Addie’s position, when you disagree with a parent’s treatment of someone, and I hurt alongside her as she bore the brunt of her parents’ and siblings’ bitterness and resentment for daring to go against their wishes.
I was pleasantly surprised when the larger story about the Cramer family was expanded to examine some of the reasons behind certain characters’ behaviours and actions. Hannah’s melancholy, Timothy’s drinking and Addie’s mother’s selfishness were all explored as the story developed into a discussion about mental illness. Hannah’s—Addie’s cousin—story was the one that probably touched me the most, because I know first-hand how difficult it is for family members to acknowledge teenage depression. I commend Leslie for tackling a topic that is often overlooked or dismissed as simply teenage moodiness or rebellion. I hadn’t heard about having a genetic disposition towards depression before, so this was an interesting concept to learn about. I was also pleased with the way Timothy’s—Addie’s older brother—story evolved, regarding his drinking and rebellion. It’s very easy to look down on someone for getting drunk without wondering why they feel the need to drink that much.
I did wish that Addie’s mother’s story had been explored more. She was the cruelest character in the entire book, and although we later learn about the guilt that has caused her to act this way, it felt like this part of the story was wrapped up too easily. Her change of heart felt too swift and painless to be real. Courting Cate had a similar ending, with two characters who had teased Cate throughout her life apologising and changing their ways at the drop of a hat, and Cate forgiving them just as easily. I know that the Amish are famous for the way they embrace forgiveness, but given the context of this story, it felt like Addie’s mother’s change of heart happened a bit too quickly.
Despite the implausibility of a large part of this story, it did include a lot of realism. Some Amish novels present the lifestyle in a romanticised fashion, but Adoring Addie didn’t fall into that trap. It portrayed the Amish as flawed human beings who feel jealousy and argue with their relatives, who struggle with illness and get bored of housework. Having Addie’s older brothers drive cars, live in a run-down trailer and attend wild parties definitely helped with the realism, as well as the struggles of the parents to deal with their teenagers’ behaviour. Small details like Addie cooking spaghetti and taco salad, and her younger brothers playing with toy bows and arrows made her family feel just like any other—except for giant family feud, of course!
Although I struggled with a few aspects of this story, Adoring Addie was a thoroughly enjoyable novel and a great addition to Leslie’s Courtships of Lancaster County series. Even if you’re not a fan of Shakespeare or love at first sight romances, I encourage fans of Amish fiction to check out this series. Leslie Gould definitely brings something refreshing and new to the genre, and I hope she’s here to stay.
Review title provided by Bethany House.
tchtramcd's review against another edition
5.0
Adoring Addie by Leslie Gould is the second book in The Courtships of Lancaster County. This book can be read without reading the first book in the series. Addie is the only daughter in the Cramer family. She has always had to be responsible for so much because her mother can't handle doing many of the daily chores of an Amish family.While her brothers are aloud to do whatever during their rumspringa period, Addie's parents expect her to be good and do everything they ask of her. Her parents have even picked out who they want her to marry which is the bishops son. Addie is not sure that she has feelings for him, and doubts it more when the Mosier family moves back and she meets Jonathon. The Cramer and Mosier families have had a falling out in the past and they still do not get along. Addie and Jonathon try to figure out what the caused the families to have dislike each other so they could fix it. When Addie's parents find out she has been seeing Jonathon they get upset and do everything they can to stop the relationship. Will she follow what her parents want her to do or will she stand up for herself and go after the one she truly loves?
I really enjoyed this book! It was interesting to see that Amish families don't always get along with other families like families outside of the Amish. From everything I have read it seems like they are such a tight community that things like this would not happen, but again they are human so it can happen to everyone. Addie was such a wonderful character, and I loved how she stood up for what she believed even though her parents tried to put a stop to it several times. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series that Leslie Gould writes.
I received this book free from Bethany House Publishing Company for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! It was interesting to see that Amish families don't always get along with other families like families outside of the Amish. From everything I have read it seems like they are such a tight community that things like this would not happen, but again they are human so it can happen to everyone. Addie was such a wonderful character, and I loved how she stood up for what she believed even though her parents tried to put a stop to it several times. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series that Leslie Gould writes.
I received this book free from Bethany House Publishing Company for my honest review.
More...