Mattie's Pledge

Written by Jan Drexler

Narrated by C. S. E. Cooney

A tender, poignant, and heartwarming glimpse into the Amish migration west from Pennsylvania.

Mattie Schrock is no stranger to uprooting her life. Even as her father relocated her family from one Amish community to the next, she always managed to find a footing in their new homes. Now as the Schrock family plans to move west from Somerset County to a fledgling Amish settlement in Indiana, she looks forward to connecting with old friends who will be joining them from another Pennsylvania community-friends like Jacob Yoder, who has always held a special place in her heart.

Since Mattie last saw Jacob, they've both grown into different people with different dreams. Jacob yearns to settle down, but Mattie can't help but dream of what may lie over the western horizon. When a handsome Englisher tempts her to leave the Amish behind to search for adventure in the West, will her pledge to Jacob be the anchor that holds her secure?

Tender, poignant, and gentle, Mattie's Pledge offers readers a glimpse into Amish life in the 1840s-and into the yearning heart of a character they'll not soon forget.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Dec 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781977333803

Jan Drexler

Jan was raised in Michigan, and since her marriage more than thirty years ago has lived throughout the Midwest. Her first love was homeschooling, but when her youngest son graduated she asked God to give her something useful to do for the next phase of her life. The answer was a computer and the deep well of family stories handed down from her parents and grandparents. A lover of history and the outdoors, Jan spends her spare time hiking in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her family.

Reviews for Mattie's Pledge

[lindz2012 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I read this it about Mattie and her family getting ready to journey west. We follow Mattie and her family. Not all are going West for more land and affordable prices. We learn that another family is going to join them to go west.Mattie has her dreams of see the Western horizon. Will she go and see the country or will she keep her pledge. Jacob see her and see Mattie after few years. It been a while. Is there love between Jacob and Maddie?There are some surprises along the way. Will happen with Schrock family and will they be happy. Mattie got her dreams and Jacob has his. What will happen. This is the story of Mattie. Will she be tempted to follow as Englisher or will she keep her pledge?

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love reading books set in the 1800s. You can get a sense of how tough it was to survive during this time period by the great description the author provides. I can't imagine traveling for days in a wagon filled with all your belongings. The terrain is rough in areas and dust blowing around certainly didn't add any comfort to the trip. The story is well written and I felt like I was sitting in the wagon with Mattie and her family. It will be a new adventure for Mattie as her family decides to move from Pennsylvania to Indiana. Have you ever moved to a different state? For Mattie she is looking forward to the move but saddened that her sister Annie will not be going with the family. Annie and her husband Christopher have decided to stay in Pennsylvania. I could feel the sadness that swept over the family as they soon would be leaving without their sweet Annie. It is always hard on parents to see one of their children start a new life. I could sense that Christopher was determined that he would not move his family. I really liked his character and thought he was a good family man. Mattie will learn along the way that there are many choices to be made. As the wagon train grows, Mattie is reunited with an old friend. Jacob and his family have joined the group in hopes of a better life. Does Jacob know that Mattie has always been smitten with him? I found Mattie's character to be a dreamer and looking ahead for something better. She is smart and wants to get out of her rut of day to day routines. Will the new land they are traveling to be just what she is looking for? i can't imagine what it was like to be stuck on the road for days with no real place to sleep comfortably at night. When we go camping I usually stay awake all night. I hear strange sounds and always think some big animal is going to attack us. The story is very interesting and takes you on a journey with families loking for new beginnings and a better life. I loved how the author portrayed Mattie struggling with her faith. Is she mad at God because she doesn't think He is listening to her? Sometimes we find out that the things we thought we really wanted, wasn't what we needed to be happy. The story also deals with forgiveness in a very compassionate way. Do you find it hard to forgive someone who has hurt you? I loved the story and found myself so caught up in Mattie's story that I didn't put the book down till I finished it. I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Program. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it.

[mizroady · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This Amish novel was very different to me. I always pictured the Amish as staying in one place for their entire lives, never making a harrowing journey by wagon train to start a new life. Very thought-provoking!The Schrock family has decided to move to Indiana from Pennsylvania. The promise of more and better farmland at good prices is the lure. Plus an Amish community has already been started there. It is courageous not only because of the dangers of the journey but they will be starting from scratch, nothing but land.Friends, family, and some friends from the past come to join them. Mattie is excited to go. She has had a wanderlust for long time, to see the world and have adventure. Not the norm for a young Amish girl. Jacob Yoder and his family come to be a part of the wagon train. He knew Mattie from when they lived in the same community. She has always had a part of his heart. Mattie finds herself drawn to Jacob too, but struggles with becoming the typical Amish wife and staying in one place forever or fulfilling her dream of travel. Faith, family, and the simple lifestyle are ingrained in her, but her youthfulness finds many temptations. One such temptation is a dark haired, wicked thief, one of three brothers that continue to follow them to steal their horses. She finds herself dangerously enticed by him.The story gives explicit details of the life and hardships of wagon travel in the 1840’s. I learned so much!! I was awed by how they took the difficulties in stride. The travel was hard by itself, but caring for children, cooking, unexpected illness, and hazards were dealt with matter-of-factly. I found it heartwarming how everyone helped each other and if you were lacking another shared what they had.Their strong faith was their driving force and they never questioned or wavered. This would explain their success against some insurmountable odds.The novel brought to light spiritual struggles we face today. One was Mattie’s discontentment with what they Lord had provided. Her unhappiness had nothing to do with her situation or others, but within herself. It took some very hard lessons and a lot of prayer for Mattie to see she had all she needed.A major highlight for me was seeing true forgiveness. This is something people battle every day. The entire Amish group not only forgave them men that tried to harm with and steal, but helped them when they were in need. What a sterling example that forgiveness is a choice. Life in the trail was hard and fraught with numerous unexpected problems and hazards. The people did not shrink back or complain. Without questioning, the people dealt with each one trusting wholly in God. This book was exciting, historically educational, and very entertaining!I received this book free from Revell Publishing..

[becky_l-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mattie and Jacob have a sparking attraction developing,but are they too dissimilar in what they want from life? Jacob is ready to move and put down permanent roots. Mattie wants to know what is beyond the western horizon...and the horizon beyond that...and the horizon beyond that... I found myself fighting for self-control to keep from looking at the back of the book and relieve the tension. Such sweet torture this story by Jan Drexler is! Great book about two young Amish adults who are attracted to each other,yet may not be able to move forward together in the same direction, even as they physically move with their families to Indiana from Pennsylvania.I greatly enjoyed this introspective and adventuresome tale. A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher. The opinions in this review are solely my own and freely offered.

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Author, Jan Drexler paints a nice story of Amish life with this book. I was transported to the Amish community and what life was like for Mattie and her family. For this reason alone is why I kept reading this book until about the mid-way point. What I did not understand is why Mattie had to have so many guys interested in her. I mean I can understand have two guys fighting for Mattie's affection but three when I already know that the other two guys are just thrown in the story to complicate things felt like filler to me. Although, I grew weary of Jacob not speaking his mind regarding his feelings towards Mattie. I knew how much he cared for her and I found myself screaming for him to profess his love to her. In addition, due to his experience with outsider's I felt that he did have a place to speak his mind regarding his concerns about Cole to Mattie. While I found Mattie to be sweet and kind, her naïve attitude wore on me as well. Between the combination of all of these things is the reason why I could not continue with reading this book. Yet, if you took away these issues then this book is a good read. I would read another book by this author featuring her Amish characters.

[lamb521 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Title: Mattie’s Pledge (Journey to Pleasant Valley #2)Author: Jan DrexlerPages: 384Year: 2016Publisher: RevellMy rating is 5 stars.The Journey to Pleasant Valley series begins with Hannah’s Choice and coming in summer 2017 will continue; there is a sneak peek at the end of this novel. The title for the third novel hasn’t been revealed, but I guarantee you don’t want to pass up reading such intriguing books! In Hannah’s Choice, we meet the Yoder family and watch as they endure family tragedy along with Hannah courting and the father’s decision to travel west to Indiana.Here the main focus is Mattie Shrock and the intense internal war waging within between the pull to go to the Pacific Coast for adventure or being content with what Jacob Yoder is offering. Mattie places her heart and eventually her life in danger when the various wagon trains traveling west run afoul of the nefarious intensions of the Bates brothers.While the Amish are pacifists in their views, a couple of the young men are sorely tried to maintain their beliefs when danger dogs their journey constantly. Unlike other Amish stories I have read these characters want to be in a community without influence by Mennonites, Brethren or the Englishers.I enjoyed the books because of the strong family base of the community. The family works together, eats together, prays together and for the most part stays together during various trials. The author allows her characters to examine their beliefs without making simple answers out of complex issues. Whether it is the community or individual, readers will see both sides of Amish life, even when a character chooses not to become part of the community.I enjoy reading good stories that allow for a shade of reality to touch the fictional story. There aren’t platitudes given where complex struggles are occurring and time is given for the struggle to come to a conclusion. Mattie is such an example of that. No matter how much other characters wanted to help her come to what they considered the right decision, they had to give her freedom to explore and reach a place of peace in her heat in her own timeframe. I wait with excitement book three, and I hope you read the first two if you haven’t already before then!Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As this story begins we are back in the Lancaster Pennsylvania area and with the Schrock family, and we are with another daughter Mattie and her desire to see this country.As the story opens the family is busy getting ready for their journey to the new Amish settlement in Indiana, and the hopes of abundant farm land at affordable prices. We are with the family and friends when the old friends from another community arrive to go with them to their new homes.Jacob Yoder remembers Mattie from their old settlement and is so fond of her, you can see the sparks fly, but Mattie isn’t sure she wants to end her journey at Indiana, the mountains and ocean lay ahead and she wants to see it all. Will Mattie ever get over her restless wandering desire or will she leave with a handsome stranger that seems to pose danger.This is a glimpse into Amish life in our country back in the 1840’s, and life is a bit rough traveling in wagons across our States. I will tell you once you open the cover of this book, you will be quickly turning the pages to find answers.I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mattie’s Pledge by Jan Drexler is the second book in Journey to Pleasant Prairie series. Mattie Schrock lives with her family in Brothers Valley, Pennsylvania. It is April of 1843 and the family is getting ready to move again. Mattie’s father wishes to move further west and has decided upon Indiana (near a new Amish settlement). Mattie is excited about the move. She wants to keep going further west to see what it out there. She would really love to see the mountains. Mattie is also looking forward to seeing Jacob Yoder again. The Yoder family is joining them on the trip to Indiana. Andrew Bontrager (twenty-four) is relocating with his family to Indiana (the more the merrier on this type of trip, plus it is safer for all involved). Andrew is not ready to join the church or settle down. He flirts with all the girls. The families start out on their trip to their new home. Things go well until one night Jacob spots someone trying to steal a horse. They guy takes off, but they will need to be very vigilant. They soon notice three men following them. It is the Bates Brothers—Cole, Hiram, and Darrell. Cole is in charge and is determined to get the quality Amish horses (they will fetch more money). Cole has also taken a fancy to Mattie. Cole is planning on going further west which intrigues Mattie. Mattie will need to make a choice about her life. Will Mattie join the Amish church and settle down with Jacob or take off with Cole on a new adventure? What will Mattie decide? Will the families make it to Indiana unscathed? You will have to read Mattie’s Pledge to find out what happens!Mattie’s Pledge starts off slowly (the snails were passing me by). I liked the addition of the Bates Brothers. It added a little excitement to the story. In was interesting to read about the families’ attitude towards the thieves. Mattie’s Pledge is basically a romance story with a Christian theme. While it is the second book in the series, it can be read alone (the reader is updated on what happened in Hannah’s Choice, and we get to revisit the characters from it as well). The book has good descriptive writing, but it needed something more to make it more interesting/entertaining. I just did not find it engaging (it was predictable). I give Mattie’s Pledge 3.5 out of 5 stars. One thing that I found difficult was keeping all the characters straight. I have given you just an overview. There are more characters that are mentioned in the book (I just starting keeping track of only the main characters to make it easier).I received a complimentary copy of Mattie’s Pledge from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.