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The Amish Blacksmith

(The Men of Lancaster County #2)

Mindy Starns Clark (Goodreads Author),

Susan Meissner (Goodreads Author)

4.23 · Rating details · 599 ratings · 86 reviews

New from bestselling authors Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner, The Amish Blacksmith (Book 2 in The Men of Lancaster County series) explores the men of an Amish community in Lancaster County, how their Amish beliefs play out in their unique roles, and the women who change their lives.

Apprenticed blacksmith Jake Miller is skeptical of Priscilla Kinsinger's innate abilit ...more

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Paperback, 334 pages

Published August 1st 2014 by Harvest House Publishers

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· 599 ratings · 86 reviews

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Aug 02, 2019 Jerry rated it really liked it

A touching story of love and triumph over tragedy.

This book is told from the perspective of Jake, the nephew/"brother" of Tyler, the first novel's protagonist/narrator. (If you read the previous volume, you know what I mean.)

Priscilla's life was rather tragic; I myself have been struggling with some issues lately, so, her story inspired me to be more respectful of others...even if I disagree with them.

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Jul 09, 2016 Ashley Daviau rated it really liked it

This book was given to me by my aunt and although it's really not something is typically pick up on my own, I did thoroughly enjoy it. I've always found the Amish way of life very interesting and it was fascinating to learn more about it albeit in a fictional setting. I also very much enjoyed that the story featured horses prominently and I loved learning more about them as well. The love story was really cute as well, even though I did predict it from the very beginning. All in all, a very inte ...more

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Jan 20, 2017 Wendy Hines rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The second book in the Men of Lancaster County is about Jake. Jake is Tyler's (Book 1) uncle, but they grew up as brothers. Jake left his father's buggy shop because he wanted to be a farrier. He has a kinship with horses and yearns to open his own blacksmith shop one day. He's been apprenticing as a blacksmith shop and things have been going well.

Then one day the family welcomes home Priscilla. Priscilla's mom died years ago and Priscilla couldn't handle the grief so she was sent to live with ...more

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Jul 28, 2014 Andrea Guy rated it really liked it

Shelves: christian, series, 2014-netgalley-reading-challenge, 2014-reviews, amish

This was a really unique bit of Amish fiction/romance.

Why, you ask?

Because the authors give you the story from the hero's perspective, and Jake Miller is such a wonderful Amish guy.

There are actually two aspects to this story; the relationship with Priscilla and his job with horses, he's a Blacksmith/Horse whisperer.

The dealings with the horses is actually the more enjoyable part of the story, as is getting Priscilla's back story.

Jake's romances were a little bit too predictable. You knew what w ...more

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Jul 29, 2015 Virginia rated it it was amazing

I really loved this book. The Amish setting gave a basis for the characters that I found believable and satisfying. I especially loved the characters interaction with th horses and how they learn about each other from the way they treat the horses. a well researched book with characters who resonated with me. if you have read Amish fiction before, this is one you will love. if you haven't read Amish fiction, this is the book you want to start with. it's good!

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Mar 23, 2017 Rachel rated it liked it

This is the second novel of the series: The Men of Lancaster County by Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner. It was a fairly well-written Amish novel with interesting characters, most of which were well drawn. I found the plot to be reasonably unique for its genre, but I liked the first book of the series, The Amish Groom, a lot better. I will likely finish the series at some point. ...more

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Aug 02, 2015 Loraine rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, challenges-2015

SUMMARY: Apprenticed blacksmith Jake Miller is skeptical of Priscilla Kinsinger's innate ability to soothe troubled horses, especially when he has own ideas on how to calm them. Six years earlier, Priscilla's mother died in an awful accident at home, and Priscilla's grief over losing her mother was so intense that she was sent to live with relatives in Indiana. She has just returned to Lancaster County.

Not that her homecoming matters to Jake, who is interested in courting lighthearted Amanda She SUMMARY: Apprenticed blacksmith Jake Miller is skeptical of Priscilla Kinsinger's innate ability to soothe troubled horses, especially when he has own ideas on how to calm them. Six years earlier, Priscilla's mother died in an awful accident at home, and Priscilla's grief over losing her mother was so intense that she was sent to live with relatives in Indiana. She has just returned to Lancaster County.

Not that her homecoming matters to Jake, who is interested in courting lighthearted Amanda Shetler. But Jake's boss is Priscilla's uncle, and when the man asks Jake to help his niece reconnect with community life, he has no choice but to do just that. Surprisingly, he finds himself slowly drawn to the beautiful but emotionally wounded Priscilla.

Jake then determines to prove to her that it's not her fault her mother died, but what he discovers will challenge everything they both believe about the depth of love and the breadth of forgiveness.

REVIEW: Having read so many Amish novels when I first began reading Christian fiction, I began to find them all somewhat formulaic. I must say that The Amish Blacksmith is quite different, and I really liked it. The storyline is very unusual and the characters are not your typical Amish. Both major characters have been affected emotionally by something in their past that has created the person they have become. I love how the characters in working with horses who had problems began to recognize in turn their own problems. The secondary characters, faith thread, and detail on the Amish lifestyle all lent good support to the overall story.

FAVORITE QUOTES: "But God didn't design us to be tied to those kinds of feelings forever. If we are living in His will, then we surrender the right to wallow in our misery or blame ourselves or refuse to move on."

"Every day, I don't want to ever forget that when you choose the way of self over others, terrible things can happen."

"Live your life insulated from passion, and you will have lived a life of pretense and shallowness." ...more

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Nov 29, 2014 Laura rated it it was amazing

Title: THE AMISH BLACKSMITH
Authors: Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner
Publisher: Harvest House
August 2014
ISBN: 978-0736957366
Genre: Amish

New from bestselling authors Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner, The Amish Blacksmith (Book 2 in The Men of Lancaster County series) explores the men of an Amish community in Lancaster County, how their Amish beliefs play out in their unique roles, and the women who change their lives.

Apprenticed blacksmith Jake Miller is skeptical of Priscilla Kinsinger ...more

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Jul 29, 2014 Amy rated it really liked it

The Amish Blacksmith is a different piece of Amish fiction to me because it tells the story through a male's eyes. I thought it was a pretty good story. There are times where my heart just ached for the characters but a wonderful way of learning of God's grace.
4 stars.

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Feb 05, 2015 Greg rated it did not like it

Shelves: not-my-choice-read-for-work

Good Christ, the shite I read for work.

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Jul 27, 2019 A.G. rated it liked it

Jake Miller practically has it all—a job he loves, a beautiful girlfriend, a promising future. After a little while longer as an apprentice blacksmith, he’ll finally be able to start working in his dream of owning a blacksmithing/horse-gentling business. But when his boss’s niece, Priscilla Kinsinger, arrives after a lengthy absence, she challenges his methods, and soon his character. Jake is confused by her accusations that he doesn’t “feel anything”, but he starts to wonder if she might be rig Jake Miller practically has it all—a job he loves, a beautiful girlfriend, a promising future. After a little while longer as an apprentice blacksmith, he’ll finally be able to start working in his dream of owning a blacksmithing/horse-gentling business. But when his boss’s niece, Priscilla Kinsinger, arrives after a lengthy absence, she challenges his methods, and soon his character. Jake is confused by her accusations that he doesn’t “feel anything”, but he starts to wonder if she might be right; and if she is, what that means for him...
This book started off well. I was very interested in all the details about horses and their behavior, and although some of the details about blacksmithing and shoeing horses felt like it was copied from Wikipedia, most of the descriptions about horses were very engaging and enlightening. It was also fun seeing how Jake and Priscilla interacted with the animals. I really liked Priscilla; I wasn’t sure I would at first, but once I got to know her a little better, she became a very enjoyable character.
The ending, however, got a little weird. The book is split into three parts, and the third part seemed almost detached from the rest of the story. It suddenly went from Jake trying to pursue his dream job to Jake trying to understand why he never has any feel emotions. It was a bit strange, and it all felt somewhat off. Also, some of the best parts of the book were Jake and Priscilla’s conversations; in the third part, the majority of their communication is done by letter. Which brings up another strange part: letters between the two of them were inserted at odd parts, making it a little hard to really get into the flow of the story.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. It was a fun, easy read, and I loved seeing Jake and Priscilla together. But I wish the ending could have been altered. What started out as an interesting premise ended up as a soap-operaish drama about how following your heart and experiencing emotions is important. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting, so it was a little disappointing. Still, though, it’s a book that fans of Amish fiction will probably enjoy. ...more

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Jun 03, 2017 Cherese Akhavein rated it it was amazing

This is book 2 in The Men of Lancaster County Series by Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner
"The Amish Blacksmith"
Jake Miller is a talented blacksmith and horse-gentler, he works for Kinsingers and within a year will be finished with his apprenticeship. Life is good. He has been courting the beautiful Amanda and his dream of owning his own business will happen soon.
Priscilla Kinsinger's life started to unravel the day her dad died, then her mother passed several years later and this young gi ...more

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Aug 25, 2017 Vera Wilson rated it it was amazing

Jake is a apprentice blacksmith, but also finds he enjoys working with helping to gentle troubled horses. Think he has his life pretty well planned out, work for awhile, and then open his own business. Even courting Amanda and thinks will marry and have a family.

But when Priscella back his boss ask him and Amanda to help her adjust back in to the community. Been away for 6 years, and just needs lots of help.

He loses his job due to the boss's family plans change and just can't afford to pay him. ...more

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Jul 25, 2020 Swati Pant rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.10 stars. This was a really nice read. I do really like romances involving Amish characters (from contemporary romances like Sunshine and Shadow to traditional Amish romances like Lilly's Wedding Quilt). The way Amish people deal with emotions and worldly equations is so guileless and without artifice, that it makes for a refreshing read from other romances where the lead characters are playing games of one-upmanship and putting on facades. ...more

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Feb 16, 2019 Cara Ross rated it it was amazing

Amish Blacksmith is a smashing book! and to say that I really enjoyed it might be an understatement. I love the cute romance that develops between Jake and Priscilla when she returns to Lancaster County. And while most Amish romances follow the same sort of trope, to which The Amish Blacksmith is no exception, it is written in such a way that the storyline seems fresh and new.

I have to say that if you haven't read an Amish Romance before, The Amish Blacksmith is a great introduction to the Amish ...more

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May 21, 2020 Ellen White rated it really liked it

A story told.by Jake, of finding the path he wanted for his life work. It was expected to follow his father in the making of buggies. His love was with horses and being a farrier, and a horse whisper. Priscilla comes back in the area after six years. She too has a gift with horses, and preferring the to people. His mother’s advice on who to marry, for God to chose, not him.
A good story of the young finding their place,in love and work

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Jun 09, 2020 Mrskron rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wonderful Read!

I am a fan of Mindy Starns Clark, butv am a bit leery of some Amish fiction. Sometimes I think the people don't have a relationship with God, but focus is on the Bishop and rules like shunning? I so appreciate the real life spiritual emphasis in these books. I finish being encouraged in my own Christian walk! Truly a gift of a good Christian writer. Can hardly put these books down!

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Jan 10, 2020 Nicole rated it liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed the first half of this book a lot. I got a little annoyed at all the accusations that the main character needed to look into himself and break down walls. Otherwise he wasn’t good enough. The last half of the book was annoying to me.

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Mar 14, 2018 Mrs. Doglvrs rated it really liked it

Shelves: amish, 2018

A lovely story that really gets to the heart of love - literally.

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Apr 25, 2019 Eleanor rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Enjoyable series. Amish life explained very well and good development of characters.

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Jun 26, 2019 Hope Garfield rated it liked it

A lot of the slang and verbiage used by the characters seemed pretty unrealistic.

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Sep 24, 2019 Melissa James rated it liked it

I would rate this a 3.5. This was a relaxing read with an interesting storyline. I found it also had a good amount of spiritual depth which gave me some things to ponder over.

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Feb 08, 2020 Kelly rated it really liked it

This book shows us how God can show us thinks and heal us. I can relate to what Jake told Priscilla, that she basically wasn’t allowing people to be her friends.

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Apr 26, 2020 Penny Clawson rated it really liked it

Even though this was a sequel it stood alone very well. Since Clark and Meissner are among my favorite authors, it was no surprise that I truly enjoyed this one. I just might go back to book 1. 😀

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Mar 22, 2020 Carlene rated it it was amazing

Shelves: an-interesting-story-about-one-mont

A good story following the first book. Telling about Jake and Priscilla, showing their love for horeses. And by following God, he blessed them with more then they thought possible.

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Mar 17, 2017 Debbie rated it it was amazing

Fast-paced; couldn't put it down. Thought-provoking, too!

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Jul 23, 2014 Lis K rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

This is the second book in the Men of Lancaster County series, with Jake Miller as the main character. I had not read the first book in the series, The Amish Groom, but I did not have any trouble following this story. (As a side note, the hero in book 1, Tyler, is Jake's nephew/best friend. Tyler makes brief appearances in this story and his backstory is summarized in this book.) Jake is in his last year of blacksmith apprenticeship although he also works as a horse gentler in his spare time. He This is the second book in the Men of Lancaster County series, with Jake Miller as the main character. I had not read the first book in the series, The Amish Groom, but I did not have any trouble following this story. (As a side note, the hero in book 1, Tyler, is Jake's nephew/best friend. Tyler makes brief appearances in this story and his backstory is summarized in this book.) Jake is in his last year of blacksmith apprenticeship although he also works as a horse gentler in his spare time. He is courting a young Amish woman, Amanda, and thinks he has everything planned out perfectly. Enter Priscilla, the niece of Jake's boss. Priscilla had left Lancaster County after the tragic death of her mother. Six years later, she has returned and Jake's boss asks him to help her assimilate back into their Amish community. However, this is not easy since Priscilla is a socially awkward, introverted girl who is considered "weird" by others. Jake's life slowly starts to fall apart because although he thinks Priscilla is the one who needs help and healing from tragedy, it turns out that Jake is the one who needs help. This story was different because the main character is a man and it uses a first-person viewpoint to tell the story. I liked this because the reader can tell what Jake is thinking and how hard it was to understand Priscilla. Her shyness and social difficulties are compounded for the reader because we don't get to read what's going through her mind. I liked their relationship because they pushed each other, got mad at each other, and helped each other grow. I learned a lot more about the Amish culture in this book, especially how they view death and tragedy, God's will/sovereignty, and even how it feels to be treated in certain ways by Englischers. I also learned about blacksmiths (farrier), horse shows/dressage, and even horse gentling. The story was not heavy on romance although there were romantic elements in there. However, the romance and Jake's self-transformation come together beautifully at the end. I thought this book was going to be about Priscilla but it was really about Jake so I think the first-person narrative was wise. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to more stories by these two authors.
* I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Sep 11, 2014 Lisa rated it liked it

I liked "The Amish Blacksmith". The book was interesting with lots of information about a culture that is intriguing and relatively unfamiliar to me. I enjoyed the world-building that occurred and getting to know the relatives and friends of the main characters.

The story is told from the perspective of Jake, a young man on the verge of starting his career and looking to get married. His girlfriend, Amanda, is a fun, vivacious girl with an easy-going personality that Jake admires. Jake is a nice I liked "The Amish Blacksmith". The book was interesting with lots of information about a culture that is intriguing and relatively unfamiliar to me. I enjoyed the world-building that occurred and getting to know the relatives and friends of the main characters.

The story is told from the perspective of Jake, a young man on the verge of starting his career and looking to get married. His girlfriend, Amanda, is a fun, vivacious girl with an easy-going personality that Jake admires. Jake is a nice person but he does come across as relatively "vanilla". He never strays too far from the middle of the road when it comes to his feelings. This slowly begins to change when he reconnects with Priscilla.

Priscilla grew up knowing Jake but left when she was in her early teens because of a tragic event in her life. She lived with relatives for six years before returning to her home town. Priscilla is rather aloof and seems to enjoy the company of horses more than people. Despite this, I found her to be very interesting and there was a lot more to her than met the eye. I think she saw things in ways others did not and challenged them to go beyond the obvious. She certainly had an influence on Jake, getting him to think outside of the straight, easy path he had set for himself.

When Jake experiences some hardships, he takes Priscilla's advice to heart and really starts to examine what he wants out of life and why he feels the way he feels about things. He grows a lot as a person during this rediscovering.

I can't rate this book higher because it generally seemed to lack any high emotion or real excitement. I felt like Amanda was wrong for Jake right from the beginning and when Priscilla and Jake started to interact and develop a friendship of sorts, I was glad. They seemed better suited anyways, but the authors didn't put enough behind this spark. I suppose I expected the book to focus more on a great love but it ended up being more about character growth, good but not what I had anticipated.

Overall, the book was interesting with lovely characters and a slowly building love story between two people with strikingly different, but complementary, views of their world. ...more

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Aug 27, 2014 Robin rated it really liked it

Amish Blacksmith
Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner
Book Summary: New from bestselling authors Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner, The Amish Blacksmith (Book 2 in The Men of Lancaster County series) explores the men of an Amish community in Lancaster County, how their Amish beliefs play out in their unique roles, and the women who change their lives. Apprenticed blacksmith Jake Miller is skeptical of Priscilla Kinsinger’s innate ability to soothe troubled horses, especially when he has own i Amish Blacksmith
Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner
Book Summary: New from bestselling authors Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner, The Amish Blacksmith (Book 2 in The Men of Lancaster County series) explores the men of an Amish community in Lancaster County, how their Amish beliefs play out in their unique roles, and the women who change their lives. Apprenticed blacksmith Jake Miller is skeptical of Priscilla Kinsinger’s innate ability to soothe troubled horses, especially when he has own ideas on how to calm them. Six years earlier, Priscilla’s mother died in an awful accident at home, and Priscilla’s grief over losing her mother was so intense that she was sent to live with relatives in Indiana. She has just returned to Lancaster County. Not that her homecoming matters to Jake, who is interested in courting lighthearted Amanda Shetler. But Jake’s boss is Priscilla’s uncle, and when the man asks Jake to help his niece reconnect with community life, he has no choice but to do just that. Surprisingly, he finds himself slowly drawn to the beautiful but emotionally wounded Priscilla. Jake then determines to prove to her that it’s not her fault her mother died, but what he discovers will challenge everything they both believe about the depth of love and the breadth of forgiveness.

Review: Enjoyed the majority of the book. I liked Jake and Priscilla, was never sold on Amanda. I did like all the secondary characters like Amos, Owen and the Kinsinger family along with the Miller family. Great sequel and yet a good stand alone book. The thing that I found slow was toward the end. A lot happened yet it seemed to move slower than the beginning and middle. Great ending with believable events throughout. Enjoyed the real faith that was included and scripture use. That was real nice to see slipped in the story with sincere warmth for the scripture picked and used.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Harvest House Publishers for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone. ...more

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Oct 06, 2014 Christian Fiction Addiction rated it it was amazing

I was completely blown away by how good "The Amish Blacksmith" was! It's not that I wasn't aware that Clark and Meissner make a powerful writing duo, for I thoroughly enjoyed their first book in this series (The Amish Groom). However, I certainly wasn't expecting to be so completely absorbed in the book that I ended up ignoring the world around me until I'd raced my way to the final page. And I absolutely was NOT expecting to be near the end of the book and find tears streaming down my face! The I was completely blown away by how good "The Amish Blacksmith" was! It's not that I wasn't aware that Clark and Meissner make a powerful writing duo, for I thoroughly enjoyed their first book in this series (The Amish Groom). However, I certainly wasn't expecting to be so completely absorbed in the book that I ended up ignoring the world around me until I'd raced my way to the final page. And I absolutely was NOT expecting to be near the end of the book and find tears streaming down my face! The writing is simply top-notch, and I was totally drawn into the world of Jake Miller and Priscilla Kingsinger and their unexpected relationship. Their interactions are humourous yet natural, and I could have kept reading their story for hours beyond the end of the last page of the book. And as I watched walls come down in both characters hearts, and as they received glimpses of who God had made them to be, I found myself grinning from ear to ear. I also really enjoyed the love that both Jake and Priscilla have for horses, and was especially intrigued by their skills in learning to gentle horses and discover what may have happened in their pasts to make them act unnaturally. There were many parallels to the human experience, and the need for God and his people to help us overcome the impact of challenges we've had in our lives.

The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, not only in the overall plot but in the friendships and relationships depicted in the story, and I simply couldn't get enough. The story flows with tender emotion and deep wisdom, balanced by a thread of mystery woven into the pages, and I guarantee I am not the only reader who is going to be hooked by this fabulous book!

One final note: fans of Amish fiction will absolutely devour this book. But for those readers who typically don't look for a book labelled "Amish" or as "romance", I encourage you to give it a try too. You will be glad you did. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Harvest House. Available at your favourite bookseller! ...more

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About Mindy Starns Clark

Mindy Starns Clark

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Mindy Starns Clark is the bestselling author of more than 30 books, both fiction and nonfiction, and has received numerous literary honors, including two Christy Awards and RT Book Review Magazine’s 2012 Career Achievement Award. Mindy and her husband, John, have two adult children and live near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.