Tag Archives: Amish fiction

Tales From The TBR Pile — The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club

9 Apr

This month I am featuring a novel that I purchased at the local used bookstore — The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda Brunstetter. The cover first attracted my attention and then the blurb on the back cover hooked me. Brunstetter is a new author for me, though I know she is widely read and loved. Have you read this book or any others by Wanda Brunstetter? What did you think? Should this book be moved to the top of the pile?

608115Amish widow Emma Yoder’s first quilting class seems a mismatched group. There’s a troubled young woman, a struggling couple, a widower seeking solace, a rough and tough biker doing community service, and a preacher’s wife looking for relaxation. But as their problems begin to bind them together like the scraps in a quilt, each learns to open up and lend a helping hand. Is this what God had in mind — to heal hurting hearts and create beauty from fragments?

 

 

 

 

wanda_aboutWanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of nearly 70 books with more than 8 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today, CBA, ECPA, and CBD. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine and USA Today. Wanda’s books have been translated into four foreign languages.

Wanda’s fascination with the Amish culture developed when she met her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church, and whose family has a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Meeting her new Mennonite sister-in-laws caused Wanda to yearn for the simpler life. In their travels, she and her husband have become close friends with many Amish people across America. Wanda’s desire to explore their culture increased when she discovered that her great-great grandparents were part of the Anabaptist faith.

All of Wanda’s novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Many of her books are well-read and trusted by the Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

Wanda’s primary attraction to the Amish is their desire to live a devout Christian life that strives to honor God, work hard, and maintain close family ties. Whenever she visits her Amish friends, Wanda finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties, which is in stark contrast to the chaos and busyness that plagues so many modern “Englishers.” Time and time again, Wanda loses her heart in the Amish life, and she hopes her readers will, too.

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Tales From The TBR Pile: The Scent of Cherry Blossoms

12 Mar

With hints of spring all around — daffodils, crabapple, redbud and forsythia in bloom — it’s time to check out a book that has been on my shelf a long time! The Scent of Cherry Blossoms is a novella from one of my favorite Amish genre authors, Cindy Woodsmall. Definitely a book to read in March, here is some information about it and the author.

 

446558Annie Martin loves the Plain ways of her Old Order Mennonite people, like those revered by her beloved grandfather. Retreating from a contentious relationship with her mother, Annie goes to live with her Daadi Moses in Apple Ridge. But as spring moves into Pennsylvania and Annie spends time amongst the cherry trees with the handsome Aden Zook, she wishes she could forget how deeply the lines between the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite are drawn.

Can Annie and Aden find a place for their love to bloom in the midst of the brewing storm?

 

 

cw_bioCindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author who has written a dozen (and counting!) works of fiction and one of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud, coauthored the nonfiction, Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy’s been featured on ABC Nightline and the front page of the Wall Street Journal, and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life.

She is also a veteran homeschool mom who no longer holds that position. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.

She’s won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer’s Choice Awards, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings’ Best Books of the Year. She’s been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice Awards.

Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she didn’t realize it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began preparing Cindy to write these books. At the age of ten, while living in the dairy country of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a Plain Mennonite girl. Luann, like all the females in her family, wore the prayer Kapp and cape dresses. Her parents didn’t allow television or radios, and many other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During the numerous times Luann came to Cindy’s house to spend the night, her rules came with her and the two were careful to obey them—afraid that if they didn’t, the adults would end their friendship. Although the rules were much easier to keep when they spent the night at Luann’s because her family didn’t own any of the forbidden items, both sets of parents were uncomfortable with the relationship and a small infraction of any kind would have been enough reason for the parents to end the relationship. While navigating around the adults’ disapproval and the obstacles in each other’s lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true friendship that lasted into their teen years, until Cindy’s family moved to another region of the US.

As an adult, Cindy became friends with a wonderful Old Order Amish family who opened their home to her. Although the two women, Miriam and Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart geographically, and a century apart by customs, when they come together they never lack for commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God can accomplish through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued to make wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite communities—from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.

Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.

(Thanks to Waterbrook Publishing for a copy of this book.)

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Book Review: Anna’s Crossing

6 Mar

723190When Anna König first meets Bairn, the Scottish ship carpenter of the Charming Nancy, their encounter is anything but pleasant. Anna is on the ship only to ensure the safe arrival of her loved ones to the New World. Hardened by years of living at sea, Bairn resents toting these naïve farmers–dubbed “Peculiars” by deckhands–across the ocean. As delays, storms, illness, and diminishing provisions afflict crew and passengers alike, Bairn finds himself drawn to Anna’s serene nature. For her part, Anna can’t seem to stay below deck and far away from the aloof ship’s carpenter, despite warnings.

When an act of sacrifice leaves Anna in a perilous situation, Bairn discovers he may not have left his faith as firmly in the past as he thought. But has the revelation come too late?

Amish fiction favorite Suzanne Woods Fisher brings her fans back to the beginning of Amish life in America with this fascinating glimpse into the first ocean crossing as seen through the eyes of a devout young woman and an irreverent man. Blending the worlds of Amish and historical fiction, Fisher is sure to delight her longtime fans even as she attracts new ones with her superb and always surprise-filled writing.

swf-headshot2Suzanne Woods Fisher’s interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they can provide wonderful examples to the world. In both her fiction and non-fiction books, she has an underlying theme: You don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate many of their principles–simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily, trusting in God–into your life.

When Suzanne isn’t writing or playing tennis (badly!) or bragging to her friends about her grandbabies (so cute!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To her way of thinking, you just can’t take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone’s underwear in its mouth. Suzanne can be found on-line at: http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.

 

My Impressions:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of my go-to authors when it comes to Amish fiction. Her latest book, Anna’s Crossing, combines the Amish genre with historical fiction and reveals the roots of the Amish in America. This book is a fascinating look into the hardships the Amish faced in their quest for freedom. Filled with interesting details of the Atlantic crossing and endearing characters, Anna’s Crossing is a must-read for fans of Amish fiction.

Anna does not want to leave her home among the quiet pastures and hills of Germany and embark on a difficult voyage to the New World. But with her talent for languages, her church agrees she must accompany the families who are wishing to settle in Penn’s Woods to find land they can own and freedom to worship as they wish. Onboard the Charming Nancy Anna must face hardship with faith and in the process share a message of hope to the ship’s carpenter, Bairn. The voyage is not easy and neither is living out a faith that demands forgiveness and peace with all men.

Anna’s Crossing is a well-researched account of an Atlantic crossing in 1737. The sounds, sights and smells (an important, but an ew inducing element) are experienced by the reader. Fisher does not include all the deprivations real passengers faced, but does include a great deal of historical facts in her Afterword. The characters are real and relatable. Told in the third person, the perspectives of three characters are shown — Bairn, the ship’s carpenter, Anna, a young woman of great faith, and Felix, an incorrigible boy of ten. Through their eyes, the reader gets a complete look at what it must have been like to travel into an unknown and fear-filled future. There is a strong faith message of trust in God’s love, provision and providence throughout the novel. The leader of Anna’s church states during one difficult experience that Nothing good or bad happens to us but what first passes through the Father’s hand (p. 133). I especially liked that the roots of the Amish in America are explored — the how and why of them coming to settle in a new land. There is also a tie-in with Fisher’s last Christmas novella, Christmas at Rose Hill Farm; a treat for her long-time fans.

So if you are a fan of Amish fiction and want to delve a bit deeper into the origins of their community in America, Anna’s Crossing is definitely for you.

Recommended.

Audience: older teens to adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click HERE.

 

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Book Review: Christmas at Rose Hill Farm

26 Sep

721935Bess Riehl is preparing Rose Hill Farm for her Christmas wedding, but her groom isn’t who she thought it would be. Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge, his family, or Bess. And that suits Bess just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word, without any explanation? It’s time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes to Amos Lapp, Billy’s cousin and best friend. But as Bess and Amos’s wedding day draws near, her emotions tangle into a tight knot. She loves Amos. Yet she can’t forget Billy.

When a “lost” rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That’s his plan. The only catch is that he’s having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can’t get those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind.

As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy–and Amos, too–that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.

 

SFisher-245Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of an Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your mobile device! Download the Free App! http://bit.ly/10Tygyi.

 

My Impressions:

If you are a fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher, and I certainly am, you are in for a treat when you read Christmas at Rose Hill Farm. Filled with favorite and familiar characters, fun info on roses and a Christmas miracle, this novel is a quick and heartwarming read. And if you have never read anything by Fisher, her book will have you hooked. Another winner from one of my favorite Amish genre authors!

Bess Riehl and Amos Lapp have published their plans to marry. But Bess has never really gotten over her first love, Amos’ cousin, Billy. When a mysterious rose is discovered in the greenhouse at Rose Hill Farm, Billy, who is now a rose rustler, shows up to identify it. A series of coincidences and divine appointments change the plans of several characters.

Christmas at Rose Hill Farm takes place in the late 1970s. Characters from other of Fisher’s books show up — Amos Lapp from Stoney Ridge Seasons, Bess Riehl, Billy Lapp and Maggie Zook from Lancaster County Secrets, and even Edith Stoltzfus Fisher from The Inn at Eagle Hill. All are in their early 20s and ready for love and marriage. It was fun to see these characters either all grown up (Bess, Maggie, Billy) or in their youth (Amos and Edith). I would love a chart detailing the relationships and generations of the many characters from Fisher’s books! Christmas at Rose Hill Farm is also a novel about the love and care of God. Towards the end of the novel, Billy learns how much he matters to God, that he never was forgotten even when family and friends seemed to have abandoned him.

I highly recommend Christmas at Rose Hill Farm for all those who are fans of Amish novels as well as those looking for the perfect read for the Christmas season. It also gives a tantalizing taste of what is to come in Fisher’s upcoming historical novel, Anna’s Crossing, due out in February 2015.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Teens to Adults.

(Thanks to Revell and LitFuse for my review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: The Rescue

10 Jul

Fisher_TheRescue_EbooksmHe’s taking a chance on love . . . and there’s no plan B.

Will Stoltz has returned to Stoney Ridge with a clear plan. He’s opening a wild bird rescue center and is determined to rekindle his fizzled romance with Jackie Colombo, the veterinarian who stole his heart. But nothing is working out as Will planned. The leased building for the rescue center is a disaster, his funding is rapidly dwindling, and Jackie Colombo has disappeared without a trace.

When an injured eagle is found in a pasture near the Inn at Eagle Hill, Will is desperate to prove to himself, to his skeptical father, and to everyone else that his mission has not been in vain. But even the best laid plans are no match for fate.

 

 

sfisher-96Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California.

 

My Impressions:

Return to Stoney Ridge and the Inn at Eagle Hill in the ebook novella, The Rescue by Suzanne Woods Fisher. A sweet story set in Amish country, fans of Fisher’s books will recognize favorite characters, including Luke, Rose Schrock’s mischief-loving son. The story revolves around Englisher Will Stoltz, newly licensed veterinarian, who is stepping out of his comfort zone to start a non-profit wild bird rescue center. The community welcomes him with open arms, but the future he envisioned is just not working out. Low on funds and unable to find out just what happened to Jackie, another vet he is interested in, Will realizes through the wise words and loving actions of his Amish neighbors that surrender to God is best. Other themes touched on are the relationship between fathers and sons and the sovereignty of God. If you are looking for another sweet taste of the simple life in Stoney Ridge, then definitely check out The Rescue.

(Thanks to NetGalley and LitFuse for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this ebook, click on the image below. Right now it is only $1.99!

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Book Review: The Revealing

7 Jul

720951Naomi King, soft spoken, loyal, and easily overlooked, has a gift. She sees what others can’t see. Intuition, she calls it. Others in Stoney Ridge don’t know what to make of it and dismiss her hunches and inklings altogether.

When a young woman arrives at the Inn at Eagle Hill with a shocking secret about Tobe Schrock, Naomi fears the worst. She can’t ignore the feeling that something sinister is at work– something more than a threat to the tenuous love begun between her and Tobe.

As signs mount, they begin to point to Jake Hertzler, the elusive mastermind behind Schrock Investments’ downfall. Soon, events spiral hopelessly out of control and Naomi must decide whether to listen to her head or her heart.

 

 

sfisher-96Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California.

 

My Impressions:

The Revealing is the final book in Suzanne Woods Fisher’s The Inn at Eagle Hill series. Fans of this excellent series will be glad that many of the loose ends and tentative relationships are tied up in this novel. A good read for those who like Amish fiction, be sure to read book 1, The Letters, and book 2 The Calling, first.

Many of the members of the Stoney Ridge community have secrets — Naomi is keeping her relationship a secret, Mim is still writing the forbidden Mrs. Miracle column for the local paper and Tobe Shcrock has information that the SEC needs to catch a thief. But none are willing to tell their secrets, until circumstances force them to be truthful. Past decisions, many of them bad, are a determining factor in many of the characters’ futures.

The Revealing includes all your favorite characters from the previous two books —  the King and Shcrock families, as well as the charming Jimmy Fisher. There are new characters as well, including two English women who advance the action quite a bit. There is a lot of emphasis on honesty, and I liked how many of the characters had to confront their own sidestepping of the truth. A baby is born with Down’s Syndrome, and Fisher explores how the Amish treat a child that many in the English world would feel should never be born. The acceptance of this special child is beautifully depicted.

I enjoyed revisiting Stoney Ridge and the Inn at Eagle Hill and am hoping that Fisher will one day write another book or series set there.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Revell for my review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To order this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: Seasons of Tomorrow (+ Giveaway)

13 Jun

279989As love restores Rhoda, a sudden tragedy is the test of faith she never saw coming.

More settled in her heart than ever before, Rhoda Byler feels a newfound confidence living in the Old Order Amish settlement she helped establish in Orchard Bend, Maine. Time has helped to heal the wounds of Rhoda’s recent severed relationship, and she finds that even her unusual gift of profound intuition is less of a burden as she continues to seek God’s wisdom for her future. She is happy to be working alongside the King family and the love of her life as they tend and nurture the settlement’s orchard.

Yet when Leah King’s involvement with Englischer Landon Olson becomes known outside of the Maine community, her disregard of the Ordnung could threaten all the Orchard Bend Amish are building. In the midst of addressing the discord, a shocking tragedy challenges the young settlement like never before, threatening to uproot Rhoda’s peace and the future of everything she holds dear.

When several members of Orchard Bend Farms are displaced, the estranged King brother is called upon to return. Can those who founded the new Amish community in Maine unite Or will the lingering pain of past hurts and present struggles result in the end of their dreams?

 

cw_bioCindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author who has written a dozen (and counting!) works of fiction and one of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud, coauthored the nonfiction, Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy’s been featured on ABC Nightline and the front page of the Wall Street Journal, and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. In June of 2013, the Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as the second most popular author of Amish fiction, following Beverly Lewis.

She is also a veteran homeschool mom who no longer holds that position. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.

She’s won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer’s Choice Awards, Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings’ Best Books of the Year. She’s been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice Awards.

Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she didn’t realize it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began preparing Cindy to write these books. At the age of ten, while living in the dairy country of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a Plain Mennonite girl. Luann, like all the females in her family, wore the prayer Kapp and cape dresses. Her parents didn’t allow television or radios, and many other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During the numerous times Luann came to Cindy’s house to spend the night, her rules came with her and the two were careful to obey them—afraid that if they didn’t, the adults would end their friendship. Although the rules were much easier to keep when they spent the night at Luann’s because her family didn’t own any of the forbidden items, both sets of parents were uncomfortable with the relationship and a small infraction of any kind would have been enough reason for the parents to end the relationship. While navigating around the adults’ disapproval and the obstacles in each other’s lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true friendship that lasted into their teen years, until Cindy’s family moved to another region of the US.

As an adult, Cindy became friends with a wonderful Old Order Amish family who opened their home to her. Although the two women, Miriam and Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart geographically, and a century apart by customs, when they come together they never lack for commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God can accomplish through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued to make wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite communities—from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.

Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.

 

My Impressions:

My book club met last night to discuss the fourth and final book in the Amish Vines and Orchards series by Cindy Woodsmall. We have been anticipating Seasons of Tomorrow for months and were not disappointed in the conclusion of this great series. The novel got a unanimous thumbs-up and generated lots of good discussion. We highly recommend all the books in this series.

The King and Byler families have faced numerous hardships and heartbreaks since establishing an Amish community in Maine. Now with a good harvest finally in, perhaps they can relax a bit. But life proceeds and its physical and emotional struggles continue. But there is hope in the new love, new life and strengthened relationships for all the characters in Seasons of Tomorrow.

The characters are what my book club liked most about this series, and Seasons of Tomorrow continued to develop old and new favorites. We all loved the introduction of Esther. She was a breath of fresh air. We also were pleased with the tracks that Jacob, Landon and Leah took. As one of our members stated “it ended exactly the way I wanted it to”. Hope and freedom were expressed as the characters fought to break free from past regrets and guilt to step into futures that pointed towards God’s will for their lives.

Seasons of Tomorrow is set in an Old Amish Order and part of our discussion revolved around the restrictions that the man-made Ordnung placed on church members. That discussion led us into how our own denominations keep believers from the true freedom which is in Christ.

All in all, Seasons of Tomorrow was a sure winner for us. If you have not read any of the books in this series, make sure to start with book 1, A Season for Tending. The books build upon each other and are not intended for stand alone reading.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Waterbrook Press for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine and my book club’s.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

GIVEAWAY:

Would you like a copy of Seasons of Tomorrow? Leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway. The winner will be chosen by Random Number Generator no later than June 23.

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BTB’s June Selection

20 May

My book club has been impatiently waiting for the final book in Cindy Woodsmall’s Amish Vines and Orchards series. Finally we have the it! Our June selection is Seasons of Tomorrow. If you have read this book, we would love to hear your thoughts on it.

 

279989As love restores Rhoda, a sudden tragedy is the test of faith she never saw coming.

More settled in her heart than ever before, Rhoda Byler feels a newfound confidence living in the Old Order Amish settlement she helped establish in Orchard Bend, Maine. Time has helped to heal the wounds of Rhoda’s recent severed relationship, and she finds that even her unusual gift of profound intuition is less of a burden as she continues to seek God’s wisdom for her future. She is happy to be working alongside the King family and the love of her life as they tend and nurture the settlement’s orchard.

Yet when Leah King’s involvement with Englischer Landon Olson becomes known outside of the Maine community, her disregard of the Ordnung could threaten all the Orchard Bend Amish are building. In the midst of addressing the discord, a shocking tragedy challenges the young settlement like never before, threatening to uproot Rhoda’s peace and the future of everything she holds dear.

When several members of Orchard Bend Farms are displaced, the estranged King brother is called upon to return. Can those who founded the new Amish community in Maine unite Or will the lingering pain of past hurts and present struggles result in the end of their dreams?

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Book Review: The Calling

31 Jan

18096354Twenty-year-old Bethany Schrock is restless. Her love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending the incredibly hot summer days wading through a lifetime’s accumulation of junk at the home of five ancient Amish sisters. About the only thing that holds her interest is the spirited and dangerously handsome Jimmy Fisher–and he seems bent on irritating her to no end.

When the sly old sisters and a guest at the Inn get Bethany involved in running the local soup kitchen and starting a community garden, she suddenly finds herself wondering, Shootfire! How did that happen? Despite her newfound purposefulness, a gnawing emptiness about a childhood mystery continues to plague her. Encouraged by Jimmy Fisher, she will seek out the answers she craves–and uncover a shocking secret that will break her heart, heal it, and point her to love.

SFisher-96Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children’s series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. For more information, please visit suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your mobile device! Download the Free App! http://bit.ly/10Tygyi

My Impressions:

From the first book I read of Suzanne Woods Fisher, she became one of my favorite authors. I have loved meeting her characters and living (at least in my mind) in the Amish communities she has created. The Calling, book 2 in the Inn at Eagle Hill series, is another great addition to my library. Filled with both charming Amish and English characters, it also traces a mystery that keeps the pages turning. A must read for those who love Amish fiction.

Bethany Schrock seems to be surrounded by secrets and uncertainty. She has lots of questions about the long ago disappearance of her mother and the more recent disappearance of her brother. Her heart is torn as well — between the double-dealing Jake and the much sought after Jimmy Fisher. And then there are the really old and baffling sisters she works for with secrets of their own. But the biggest mystery of all is whether she can really hear God speak. The Calling answers a lot for Bethany, but there is more to come for fans of the Inn at Eagle Hill series.

Secrets are revealed, love blossoms and characters discover God’s purpose for their lives. I really like the way Suzanne weaves the Amish and English communities together. There is never an us versus them message, but instead mutual respect and acceptance. The English and Amish teach each other about peace, patience, prayer and waiting for God. And when they work together great things occur. While the Amish attempt to live simply and separately, it is also clear that sin and heartache still exist. But so does God’s grace.

So do you like Amish fiction or just a really well-told story? Then pick up The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Recommended.

More reviews HERE.

(Thanks to LitFuse for my review copy. All opinions are mine alone.)

To purchase a copy of this book, click on the image below.

1551584_639560352757037_814494985_nI caught up with Suzanne when she was on a promotional tour for The Calling. What a great treat to see her again. A great writer and encourager!

thecalling-400

Suzanne is celebrating the release of The Calling by giving away TWO iPads, TWO Kindles, and TWO Nooks! 

Two grand prize winners will receive:

  • An iPad
  • The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Four second place winners will receive:

  • A Kindle Fire HDX or a Nook HD—winner’s choice!
  • The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. All winners will be announced February 10th at Suzanne’s blog.

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN; ENTER TODAY AND BE SURE TO VISIT SUZANNE’S BLOG ON THE 10TH TO SEE IF YOU WON ONE OF THE GREAT PRIZES! (OR BETTER YET, SUBSCRIBE TO HER BLOGAND HAVE THE WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX!)

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Book Spotlight: A Miracle of Hope

7 Jan

Due to a mix-up in the mail room, I received a copy of Ruth Reid’s A Miracle of Hope, An Amish Wonders Novel. And while I have not read this book, I thought it was worth your consideration. Check out the synopsis and author info below and see what you think. Thanks to LitFuse for this surprise book!

18126903She’s heard about forgiveness all her life, but how far does God’s mercy truly reach?

Lindie Wyse thinks an arranged marriage is the only way to preserve a future for herself and her unborn child. Josiah Plank is certain he’ll never love again, but he needs someone to care for his deaf eight-year-old daughter, Hannah. The two take on their arrangement tentatively at first but soon realize they are each in for more than they imagined. After a short time, Lindie experiences a breakthrough with Hannah when she recognizes the child’s special gifts, but a risky pregnancy and serious health issues threaten to demolish the foundation Josiah and Lindie are building—and the love that is growing between them.

Will their marriage survive their struggles, or will their hearts become as cold as the northern winter?

ruthRuth Reid is a full-time pharmacist who lives in Florida with her husband and three children. When attending medical school in Stanwood, Michigan, she lived on the outskirts of an Amish community and had several occasions to visit the Amish farms. Her interest grew into love as she saw the beauty in living a simple life.

To purchase a copy of this book, click on the image below.

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