If you wanted to write a modern version of the Cinderella
story from medieval Europe, where would you set it? What
kind of girl could possibly put up with the bossy, skiving
antics of the sisters and the dismissive, insulting manner
of the stepmother. They would try the patience of a saint.
Maybe this is why the Amish community is the background for
this clever version, ELLA: AN AMISH RETELLING OF
CINDERELLA.
Since we know the setup so well, no time is wasted in
arranging a quick marriage between widow and widower,
virtual strangers, each with a daughter or two. Ella Troyer
lives in Echo Creek and bears rather more of her share of
chores than she should, especially after her father dies.
Her stepmother Linda and sisters take over running the
general store, and Ella does cooking, washing, cleaning;
the home skivvy work. This has an unexpected detrimental
effect for the girls in the shop though; Drusilla and Anna
can't sew or cook, so what good Amish man would be
interested? Of course, the last thing they want is
for Ella to wed. Then who would do the work? The tale is
sweetly and smartly pieced together for us.
Of course, the Amish would not hold with princes and
princely living. But nevertheless, the metaphorical clock
is going to strike midnight... I had a good laugh.
I am delighted to see that author Sarah Price is next
creating SADIE: AN AMISH RETELLING OF SNOW WHITE and has
already written BELLE: AN AMISH RETELLING OF BEAUTY AND THE
BEAST, all set around the same community. Sometimes
the old stories really are the best. Grab a copy of ELLA,
which is suitable for any age of romance reader, sit back
and enjoy.
In Sarah Price’s heartwarming Amish version of this
best-loved fairytale, a hardworking, overlooked young woman
is rewarded in unexpected ways . . .
“Be kind and have faith.” Ella Troyer strives to abide by
her mother’s final words, although life in the small Amish
town of Echo Creek isn’t always easy. Her new stepmother,
Linda, treats her coldly, and her two stepsisters, Drusilla
and Anna, delight in gossip and laziness. After her father’s
death, Ella’s stepsisters are free to attend youth singings
while Ella stays at home to manage the household chores,
rarely seeing another soul. Until one day, while running an
errand, she has a chance meeting with a young Amish man from
a nearby town.
Drusilla and Anna are full of admiration for charming,
affluent newcomer Johannes Wagler, and Linda hopes to
ensnare him as a husband for one of her girls—while keeping
Ella out of the way. As for Hannes, he longs to catch
another glimpse of the mysterious young woman who can sing
so sweetly and bake the most delicious pie he’s ever
sampled. Now, with a little help from some unlikely sources,
Ella dares to hope she might find her heart’s dearest
wishes—for love, family, and a home of her own—coming true
at last . . .
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy