Old Amarillo

by Sara Barnard

Upon returning from her Rumspringa in New York City, Katie Knepp is certain of her need to remain Amish. However, the memories of her newfound independence have left her thirsting for more adventure than can be found on her family's farm in Gasthof Village, Indiana. After praying for guidance she remembers a conversation about a bee-keeping Mennonite settlement in the wilds of west Texas and the tugging of her heartstrings almost makes the decision for her. Leaving her parents proved hard enough, but leaving her twin sister Annie and hopeful fiance Peter Wagler made getting out of Indiana almost impossible. Katie learns all too early in her journey that the trail to Texas is a rough one, laced with barbed wire fences that stretch for miles, railroads that attract would-be could-be bandits, and a drought so severe that even turning back isn't an option"

188 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2015

About the author

Sara Harris has authored close to thirty books for both children and grown ups. She and her family – plus their menagerie of rescue pets – make their home in Katy, Texas where the ice cream is perfection and the ocean is close enough to visit every weekend. Sara has her BA in History and wishes that someone who majored in Engineering would hurry and invent a time machine.

Visit Sara online at https://saraharrisbooks.com/

Reviews

[Heather Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old Amarillo is the first book in the Amish Journeys series coming from Sara Barnard and tells the story of Katie Knepp and Peter Wagler a young Amish girl and her beau. I wasn't sure about this book when I was given the opportunity to read and review it. An Amish historical romance isn't on my normal TBR give me a swashbuckling pirate a handsome Scottish laird or even a cowboy and I am right there book purchased downloaded and read but an Amish novel well it wouldn't be my first choice.

However as I read the story I was hooked by Katie's adventurous spirit untamed by the restrictions of her Amish community that made her want to travel to Texas. It's a sweet love story and one that everyone should read the adventurous wild Amish girl and the stoic English who captured her heart. This book had it all Cowboys, Indians, train robbers and bandits it gives a snapshot into the lives of those pioneers who tamed the Wild West and all they experienced to do it. 4*s Old Amarillo is out soon so pick up your copy and live Katie and Peter's adventure through the west I hope you fall in love with Peter and Katie's love story just like I did.
#abfabheather

[Ani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old Amarillo is the first book in the Amish Journeys series coming from Sara Barnard and tells the story of Katie Knepp and Peter Wagler a young Amish girl and her beau. I wasn't sure about this book when I was given the opportunity to read and review it. An Amish historical romance isn't on my normal TBR give me a swashbuckling pirate a handsome Scottish laird or even a cowboy and I am right there book purchased downloaded and read but an Amish novel well it wouldn't be my first choice.

However as I read the story I was hooked by Katie's adventurous spirit untamed by the restrictions of her Amish community that made her want to travel to Texas. It's a sweet love story and one that everyone should read the adventurous wild Amish girl and the stoic English who captured her heart. This book had it all Cowboys, Indians, train robbers and bandits it gives a snapshot into the lives of those pioneers who tamed the Wild West and all they experienced to do it. 4*s Old Amarillo is out soon so pick up your copy and live Katie and Peter's adventure through the west I hope you fall in love with Peter and Katie's love story just like I did.

#abfabheather

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful quick read is both adventurous and entertaining. A member of the Amish Gasthof Village in Indiana, Katie dreams for a greater adventure in Texas. Old Amarillo is full of different adventures, including being robbed, held at gun point, and stuck in a fire as the main characters cross the plains to Texas. Author Sara Barnard has written a story that will cause readers to anticipate what will happen next in this novel, as well as the next novel in the series, Old Santa Fe. I would recommend this novel to readers that like a western historical fiction, romance-adventure story.

Series: Amish Journeys
Genre: historical fiction
Publisher: 5 Prince Publishing
Publication date: September 4, 1015
Number of pages: 159

Other books in the series:
2-Old Santa Fe

A review copy of this novel was provided by Loving the Book.

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story, Great Characters Katie Knepp is leaving her home in Gasthof Village to go to the wilds of Texas. Katie was Amish but she wanted to avoid the monotony of Old Amish ways.
Katie may be Amish but she has the heart of an adventurer and leaves to follow her heart. Katie is God-fearing, loyal, kind, a bit stubborn and so much more. She was a very good character as were all. I loved how Katie went from one thing to the next and kept going, never forgetting to thank God. 
Altogether a good plot, story and characters. I highly recommend.
**I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review**

[Robyn Echols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging story

Thoroughly enjoyed this lighthearted romance. With its adventures and trials. Katie was a character in every sense of the word, but entirely lovable. The book offered a feel for the Amish traditions and a glimpse of early Amarillo.

[Gena DeBardelaben · Rating 2 out of 5]

eARC: Netgalley

This book is a little short on reality. A little research would have helped immensely.

Keep in mind it's 1890, but Katie Knepp goes alone to New York for Rumspringa then heads out cross country by herself...on foot no less. Within a short time (minutes...hours?) she meets strangers on the road who pay for a train ticket for her to Texas and hire someone to watch over her until she gets on the train. Everything I've ever read indicated that money was hard to come by in the 1890's and people didn't have money to throw around like that. And that's just the beginning...She reached a small town, walked into a dress shop, and was immediately trusted to take home a pile of dresses for mending overnight. Upon returning the dresses the next morning she was paid the princely sum of $10. $10?! At a time when a man working ten hours a day six days a week would be lucky to make $10 a week! It took me a grand total of less than two minutes to find the average wage in 1890. Why didn't the author invest a measly two minutes to find the same information? That's just a tiny sample of what made this book so unrealistic. I couldn't make it past these blundering errors, but maybe others will.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5.0

An Amish adventure story is unique enough in itself, but Katie Knepp has enough adventures to last through several stories!

Read full review in the 2016 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.