Drexler provided a great story line. The characters were engaging and likeable. A great read! Although this is book 2 in a series, it can be read as a stand alone book.

5⭐️
This is the second book in the Journey to Pleasant Prairie series, and can be read as a stand alone. I have not read the first book, Hannah's Choice, and had no difficulty with the storyline or characters.

I enjoyed this beautifully written novel with well developed characters, descriptive settings, several subplots intertwined within the major plot, drama, suspense and hints of romance.

The Amish characters were all likeable, but Mattie and Jacob were my favourites. Mattie was helpful, appreciative of nature, fun loving, adventurous, attractive and had wanderlust. Jacob was dependable, knowledgeable, trustworthy, mature, handsome and hard working.

I highly recommend this page turner book and give it 5 stars.

Thank you to Jan Drexler for researching and writing this authentic sounding novel about fictionalized Amish families moving by wagons westward from Pennsylvania to Indiana.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for an advanced readers copy of Mattie's Pledge in exchange for an honest review.

Amish Fiction is one of my all time favorite genres. Mattie's Pledge is a wonderful book that you will love. Ms. Drexler is a great author who really knows what she is writing.

Wonderful story line, characters and setting make this book a must read.

In a tender, poignant glimpse into the Amish Migration West from Pennsylvania, Jan Drexler presents the heartwarming story of Mattie's Pledge. When heart, home and horizon threaten to pull Mattie in opposite directions, which will she choose? Mattie Schrock is used to having her life uprooted. When her father relocated with his family from one Amish community to the next, Mattie always settled well into their new surroundings. Now as the Schrocks plan to move west, Mattie hopes to connect with old friends like Jacob Yoder, who always held a special place in her heart, although they had grown into different people with different dreams and visions. Jacob longs to settle down, while Mattie envisions life beyond the western horizon. When an Englisher tempts her to search for adventure in the West, will her pledge to Jacob anchor her to heart and home?

Jan Drexler weaves a unique understanding of Amish traditions and beliefs into her writing. Mattie's Pledge offers a revealing glimpse into Amish life in the 1840s, and into Mattie Schrock's heart. In April of 1843, Mattie must make a choice about her life. Will she settle down in the Amish church or take off on a new adventure? Mattie’s Pledge is a historical romance with well-crafted, appealing characters and a good Christian theme. Jan Drexler weaves a beautiful storyline in her well-researched work. A compelling family story about difficult, exciting choices in life, Jan Drexler's engaging Amish family share their joys and sorrows to embrace the adventure of life. Mattie's unique adventure to the West begins with awesome descriptions of the journey in a Conestoga Wagon, traveling along twisting paths to achieve her goals. Moving from one community to another, Mattie Schrock knows how to adjust to different circumstances and situations. Yearning for new adventures and the chance to travel, Mattie has to decide between a new adventure in the West or the comfort of her own community based on a certain pledge.

With ancestry dating to the Amish immigrants in the 1700s, Jan Drexler's special interest in this genre is well written and true to the Amish culture. Will the new land Mattie travels to give her a brand new beginning and a better life? Mattie struggles with her faith. The story deals with forgiveness in a very compassionate way. Mattie Schrock wants to move west to find her perfect destiny. She pledges not to leave her dearest friend, Jacob Yoder. But the pull is so strong to leave. Can Mattie keep her pledge? God is the main character. He alone knows the path to follow but Mattie ignores Him. The story was filled with hardship and adventure on their trek westward. MATTIE'S PLEDGE is a gripping story. Read it to find out why!

First, the disclaimer. "I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own." That done, MATTIE'S PLEDGE is a gripping story. Mattie is adverturous and anxious to see what is over the next hill. Behind each tree. And like most of us, disappointed when we see more of the same. More trees. More hills. More...whatever. Jacob has never noticed a girl until Mattie. He is calm, controlled, and collected and he is faithful to what he wants. His stability to Mattie's flightiness was refreshingly real.

I wanted to scream at Mattie for some of the decisions she was making even while I applauded Jacob for working behind the scenes to do what he believes was the right way.

The faith message wasn't really strong. It was more general, praying and live right this way, but not a whole lot more. The story itself was very well told, like I said, gripping. I *had* to keep reading to see what happens next. Had to find out -- does Jacob's mamm survive? What happens with Cole? Does Abraham ever settle down? And Naomi... my heart aches for her and I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

This book wasn't so depressing as the first book in this series, Hannah's Choice, it was more hopeful with plenty of tension mixed in. Ms. Drexler is a talented author I fell in love with from her biblical fiction and like even more with this book. If you like historicals, wagon train books, and Amish, you will love MATTIE'S PLEDGE. .Highly recommended.

Amish fiction isn’t a genre I read all that often, but I’ve enjoyed this series by Jan Drexler so far. I suspect the historical aspect has something to do with that, but I think it’s also because the ‘Amishness’ of the characters is woven seamlessly and unobtrusively into the story, rather than being the focus, as often seems to be the case with Amish fiction. Instead of being ‘Amish fiction’, it feels like these books are historical fiction with characters who happen to be Amish.

Does that make any sense?

Well, anyway, Mattie was a character I readily identified with, despite the fact she is a few (or so!) years younger than I am. She’s on the cusp of adulthood, and thinking about marriage; a prospect that becomes more real as she becomes reacquainted with Jacob Yoder on the journey west. But Jacob has made it clear that he will settle in Indiana permanently. He doesn’t share Mattie’s wanderlust, and his dream is to build a home – a place that will last – and share it with Mattie.

Sometimes Mattie longs to make that her dream, too. But she has an equally strong longing to explore the open prairies and vast mountains further west; to see the ocean. Hannah captures the essence of Mattie’s dilemma when she says, “Every decision one makes means denying something else.” But how do you know which decision is the right one? That’s the question Mattie grapples with as they travel west, a journey shadowed by Cole Bates, an Englisher who has his eye on their horseflesh - and Mattie.

Although Mattie’s story was the primary focus, there were some secondary storylines here too (including a secondary romance), and the beginnings of a storyline that will be continued in the next novel in the series, Naomi’s Hope. Those who have read the first novel in the series, Hannah’s Choice, will be pleased to ‘see’ some familiar faces return for the journey west. And on that note, I’ll warn you: If you plan on reading Hannah’s Choice, read it before Mattie’s Pledge, otherwise you will already know the outcome of some of its storylines. In all other ways, however, this novel would read quite well enough as a stand alone.

I'm tempted to say this is a gentle read, and yet it is not without tension or suspense. I found it an engaging read, and I'm looking forward to Naomi's story later this year.