Diana Flowers Reviews First Impressions by Sarah Price

First Impressions

First Impressions by Sarah Price

Realms, 2014

Reviewed by Diana Flowers

5 stars *****

A Fascinating Tale of Pride and Prejudice

In her own eloquent, exquisite style, author Sarah Price has penned a delightful Amish tale — reminiscent of the timeless classic by the memorable Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice.

Lizzie Blank lives a contented life on a modest farm with her parents and four sisters, in a close knit Amish community in Pennsylvania. The Blank household – especially Lizzie's mother – is abuzz with excitement upon learning that the rental farm next door would soon be occupied with three marriageable young Amish men from Ohio! The matriarch of the Blank family had spent many a sleepless night wondering who might take over the farm someday; having five daughters, no sons, and not many single men in the community.

When Charles Beachey arrives with his cousin, George Wickey, and a friend, Frederick Detweiler, it is not long before the sparks begin to fly. Handsome, godly Charles Beachey is immediately drawn to Lizzie's older sister, Jane, who is as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside. His cousin, George Wickey, is dashing, mysterious, and full of charm, and Lizzie's first impressions of Frederick are not favorable at all. She finds him puffed up with pride, prejudice, and arrogance — and overhears him telling Charles that she is just "tolerable." When Charles returns to Ohio leaving Jane heartbroken, Lizzie deems the insufferable Frederick responsible, and neither does she understand the distasteful attitude he takes towards the charming, handsome George Wickey. As Lizzie seeks to draw closer to God, will she realize that first impressions aren't always as they seem…but are they destined to be lasting impressions?

Although this novel is an Amish contemporary, I just loved the old fashioned Jane Austen-ish feel to it! I could actually envision the characters from the movie, Pride and Prejudice, in my mind's eye (especially Mr. Darcy, er, uh, Frederick that is)…so accurately were they portrayed by the author…and I fell in love with every one of them! Except for…well, I best not say! Sarah Price is extremely talented, and I highly applaud her for this wonderful book that made me laugh, smile, cry, and think about how easily we prejudge people based on appearances or what someone else has told us about them. This is easily one of the best novels I have read this year, and one of my fave Amish books ever!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book may be purchased through Amazon, CBD, Barnes & Noble, and BAM.

GIVEAWAY: Sarah is generously giving away a paperback copy of First Impressions to one blessed commenter! US residents only. Please leave email address using (at) and (dot) to prevent spam.