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    Paradise Valley
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    Paradise Valley
    Unavailable
    Paradise Valley
    Audiobook10 hours

    Paradise Valley

    Written by W. Dale Cramer

    Narrated by Robin Miles

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Multiple Christy Award winner Dale Cramer launches a compelling trilogy with Paradise Valley. When Amish fathers are imprisoned in 1920s Ohio for failing to send their children to public school, their kids are snatched from the family, herded into group homes, and trained in “worldly ways.” Such outrages prompt Caleb Bender to move his family to Paradise Valley, Mexico.

    “Cramer’s ability … sets this Amish novel apart from the rest …”—Booklist
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books Audio
    Release dateMay 27, 2011
    ISBN9781461804802
    Unavailable
    Paradise Valley

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    Reviews for Paradise Valley

    4/5

    161 ratings18 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I liked this book because I like to read about Amish people to learn about their culture, to see life through their eyes. It was good, not great, but still a nice read for when your locked in the house on a boring day.
    • 4/5
      Amish fiction set in Mexico? What will they think of next? That's exactly what the premise of this story is as a sect of Amish in the 1920s left their home in Ohio to start their own community in Paradise Valley, Mexico. I don't know if I necessarily agreed with the Amish community's decision to keep their children home from school. I could understand why they felt that way but I didn't necessarily like their disregard for government. It's stated throughout the book that they felt that they didn't have to follow the law or the government because of their religion and how they were not of this world. The irony though is that when they got to Mexico, they wanted rules and laws to be followed so that thieves would not steal their belongings! Maybe it was just me but it seemed that they only wanted the government's input when it suited them.The thing that interested me was how the Amish community viewed Mexicans. Even though they pride themselves on being non judgmental, they viewed many of the Mexicans as savages. The Benders seemed extremely surprised to learn that Domingo could learn languages very well and kept referring to him as an ignorant savage. I can understand their surprise and interest at different cultures but at times it felt as if they were acted like their were superior to the natives of the country.This is the first book in the Daughters of Caleb Bender series and it shows. By that I mean a lot of this book is just preparing the story for future books. There's not really much action or drama in this story. There is the whole reason for the move and the actual move itself but once the Benders and their party get down to Mexico they spend most of their time just getting settled. There's nothing wrong with this but I just feel that this first book was just setting up the story for the future. Still, I enjoyed it. I've never read Cramer's books in the past but I do like his style of writing even if I don't agree with everything in the book. I'll go back and read his backlist (which I heard has some really good books) and look forward to reading more of this series in the future.
    • 5/5
      Finally, an Amish book with a difference. I love that the setting takes place in Mexico instead of the typical midwest/eastern states. As usual, Dale writes with a style that holds the reader's attention right to the end.
    • 5/5
      I have been facinated with the Amish and their way of life for many years now, so I was delighted to win an advance copy of this book. I was pleasantly surprised that it was based on the author's own family history. The change of location, from the typical Pennsylvania or Ohio setting to Mexico, was very welcome and it opened my eyes to a piece of Amish history that I had never learned much about. The book drew me in from page one; Dale Cramer writes very successfully from the female point of view. The relationships that are developed, both between family members and potential future partners are true, genuine and intriguing. The only downside to having received the book as an Early Reviewer is that there will be a wait for the next book in the series!
    • 4/5
      Caleb Bender, an amishman, is hauled off to jail in 1922 for keeping his children out of school. A few months later Caleb sees an ad in the paper for farm land in Mexico. He makes the decision to move their with his family and this book is the story of the move from Ohio to Paradise Valley. Dale Cramer caught my attention throughout the entire book and was based on his own family history.
    • 4/5
      I just recently received this book thru the Early Reviewer's Program. Paradise Valley is the first book in the Daughters of Caleb Bender Series. Even though I love Amish fiction, I wasn't sure that I would really find this book interesting as it relates how Amish families decide to move to Mexico to get a fresh start after several members are arrested after refusing to send their children to public school. To me this seemed like a rather dry topic.....at first. I must say that I am glad that I gave this book a chance, as once I started reading I was surprised to find that it was actually a great book! I love Dale Cramer's writing style, characters, and vivid details. I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
    • 5/5
      I must admit that I was skeptical about this book that is until I started to read it. I soon fell head over heels into the story, something that can only happen with a truly great book. I love nothing more than reading a great historical fiction book, learning about history, and gaining new friends at the same time. I have become invested in Rachel and Miriam's lives and I cannot wait to read what happens to them and their sisters next. I believe the greatest part of this book is that it is not even a little "preachy". It is about devout Amish, but this family lives their faith but shows everyone around them kindness and respect, no matter their own beliefs. This message is just so great, to live by your own rules and to not judge others by them. Paradise Valley has quickly made its way to the top of my list of recommendations and I cannot wait to find more books by Dale Cramer, who is truly a great storyteller.
    • 3/5
      Paradise Valley by Dale Cramer was a pretty decent book. It had an interesting story, and it kept me reading. It was about an amish family who after battling their state education laws decide to relocate to paradise valley. It was a very light read, and did not really delve into the tougher issues, but it's an altogether good book.
    • 5/5
      In 1922 Caleb Bender and four other Amish fathers are arrested for refusing to send their children to the consolidated school. Rachel Bender is one of the children taken away from their parents, placed in a children's home, and forced to dress as an Englisher until her father gives in to the pressure to enroll her in school. As a result, the Bender family decides to leave their home in Ohio and start over in a strange land--Mexico. Here they must build a new home, learn a new language, and adjust to a new culture. Rachel must also leave her newfound love, Jake Weaver, just as she is old enough to start courting. This is a story of love, faith, and courage as the Benders face bandits terrorizing the Mexican countryside. learn how to relate to the Mexican people, and face medical emergencies without the help of a doctor. For those who enjoy historical fiction or Amish fiction.
    • 5/5
      Dale Cramer is a fantastic author! I read a book by him in the past called Levi's Will, and fell in love with not only his book but also his writing style. He has the skilled ability to create a novel that instantly captures the reader's mind and soul. He takes them on a twister of emotions and sets them down in the midst of friends and love. Paradise Valley is phenomenally written. It's a novel for all Amish lovers, yes, but it's also a novel for those who are looking to strengthen their relationship with God. Because, in this novel, that's exactly what this sweet, simple characters do: trust in God completely and strengthen their bond with Him. It's a strong spiritual message among a book that is meant to entertain the reader with wonderful characters and a fantastic plot. Caleb Bender, Rachel Bender, Jake Weaver....all of these amazing characters are a perfect fit for this awesome based on actual events plot line. It's set in the 1920's and reading about how the Amish were treated in that time period, was both heart wrenching and enlightening. The simplicity of the Amish mixed with the complexity of the world really made this unique and beautiful story stand out. This is going to the top of my recommendations list. It's worthy of 5 stars, two thumbs up and highest of praises. This book holds true to it's title and is a valley of paradise for book lovers everywhere. This is book 1 in Cramer's Daughters of Caleb Bender series and the ending has left me hungry for the next awesome installment!
    • 3/5
      I loved Liz and Rick's story but I felt that the book should have focused on them more. I don't understand why the description on the back of the book has Dan Brady as a lead because he was really in the background and I hope we get to read about him in the future. Then there was Cam and Abby that I did not like. Abby was annoying. I wished they would have scrapped them and gave them their own book because they took up to much space.
    • 4/5
      Rick's part of the story wasn't that great at all, he was a jerk almost 98% of the time and it just wasn't that good, Liz's part in it though was amazing. Never thought that girl had so much of a backbone like she showed us. Loved, loved Cameron and Abby and all the subplots in the book, like Dan and Cheryl. Very, very good.
    • 3/5
      Rick is injured on the battlefield & loses his leg. Pushing away Jack & his girlfriend Liz, he comes back to Virgin River despondent. Abby, pregnant with Cam's twins after the one-night stand, finally agrees to move in with him, but the fact that he's the father is guessed by quite a few folks. Muriel, the movie star, and Walt, the retired general's romance is almost on the skids when she goes on location for a movie and Walt doesn't rearrange his life to see her at all. Recurring minor character, Dan Brady, now a former grower, settles in town and starts working for Paul at his construction company. Dan is also a vet that lost his leg, although that comes out late in the novel when he's the one that knocks some sense into Rick. And Dan is also renting and renovating former town drunk Cheryl's childhood home, and slowly starting a friendship with her.
    • 5/5
      The beauty of these books is that everything isn't good or beautiful, sometimes, like in real life, bad things happens and change everything and you need to learn how to do things the right way...This is one of these books, when things get ugly and bad, when there is no hope or light, you just need to let it go and grab the good things you have in life. Like Rick did or Dan and Cheryl did.Virgin River is definitely a place to learn and enjoy life and its blessings. Five stars for Robyn Carr
    • 4/5
      Feeling very annoyed that this book ended. Feel there are still too many loose ends. We ARE going to see more VR book in the future, aren't we?
    • 3/5
      Abby and Cameron find each other and twins, Dan comes back and meets Cheryl, and the General and Muriel romance
    • 5/5
      Love, Loved this book. Loved Ricky from earlier books wanted to find out how he and Liz have grown and how they would get through this. I was so mad at him by the end, until he realized that he was treating her so bad and HE needed HER. I surprised that it took Dan to make him realize how he was treating all his loved ones. I was personally not that interested in Walt/Muriel's relationship, but was glad to see Abby and Cameron progress a little. Great book!
    • 4/5
      I downloaded this for free so wasn't sure how good it would be but it exceeded my expectations.

      Based on a true story it tells about the Bender family who are Amish and fall foul of the law requiring children to be sent to school. Initially the fathers are sent to jail but when the children are taken away something drastic needs to be done.

      The answer seems to lie in Mexico, a long way from their Ohio home and the book follows them as they try to build a new life.

      A very easy read which is also informative historically and makes you wonder how far literally and metaphorically would you go to follow your faith?