Lancaster County Christmas by Suzanne Woods Fisher

TAKE TIME TO SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE




From the Publisher

Jaime and C. J. Fitzpatrick began their married life as most couples do--in love and looking forward to a bright future together. But four years later they've drifted apart and are almost ready to call it quits.

Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband Sol the Christmas gift they have both longed for--news that a baby was on the way. But as usual, she is disappointed. The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big family isn't likely to become a reality.

Then a winter storm raging outside blows the Fitzpatricks into the Riehl home--and into a much slower pace of life. Can these two couples from different worlds help each other understand the true meaning of love this Christmas?

 

My Take

Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of my favorite Amish novel authors—I’ve read so many of her books and I’m always impressed with her writing and story-telling. Each book has a deeper meaning without being “preachy”. Lancaster County Christmas is no exception.

Almost all of us can relate to the “wordly”, fast paced life of the “Englisch” like Jaime and C.J. It seems like there’s never enough time for everything and we rush from place to place while thinking about a dozen things at a time. Do we ever take time to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life? Do we take the time to talk to God and really listen to him?

The idea of the Amish lifestyle (sans the woodstove & washing clothes by hand!) has always intrigued me. What would it be like not to have the daily rush, all our electronic interruptions, and not to “keep up with the Jones’?  And the conviction the Amish have is the essence of faith. Or as they say, “Emmanuel, God is with us.” Their belief in forgiveness and ultimate love is envious.

Lancaster County Christmas would make a great read for the book club set. It comes with study questions and they will definitely make you think.  Overall, the book is a nice feel-good read and you get a sense of calm and peace while reading it. I felt a sense of connection with the characters and was cheering for them at the end. 

Overall I give Lancaster County Christmas 5 stars. If you are looking for an easy, holiday book, this is the one.

Available June 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I received this book free from Revell as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

About the Author

Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they 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-- into your life.

When Suzanne isn't writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne's 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: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.   

Don't miss a merry moment during the "Christmas in September" promotion. Be sure to enter the iPad giveaway (9/7-9/26) and save the date for A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27! Hope to see you there.

Suzanne and Revell will be presenting one merry winner with a Christmas Prize Pack (valued at over $600):

• A Brand New iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift certificate to iTunes
• A copy of A Lancaster County Christmas

To enter, click one of the icons below. But, hurry the giveaway ends on 9/26.

Winner will be announced at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27 at Suzanne's author page. During the party she'll be revealing something BIG - you won't want to miss it. She'll also be hosting a book chat, trivia contest and giving away a few early Christmas presents! 

Treasuring Emma by Kathleen Fuller

From the Publisher


Emma has put everyone else first in her life. Now at nearly 25, has she missed her chance at marriage?

Emma was Adam's first love but circumstances made them both choosedifferent paths in life. Emma's heart breaks all over again when Adamreturns to the Amish community of Middlefield, Ohio, years later.
For the past ten years, Emma has been raising her siblings aftertheir parents' untimely death. She's put their needs above her own andnow, with them grown, she can focus on herself and her dream of openinga yarn store in the vacant cider house on her land.

With Adam's return come feelings Emma's long buried. They're olderand life hasn't turned out the way they thought it would. Adam'sfeelings for Emma are stronger than ever, but will he be able toconvince her to put others aside and give their love a chance?



My Take

I love books about the Amish. For some reason, their lifestyle & faith are very interesting to me. I imagine what it would be like to live that life but then realize it would be impossible after growing up Englisch.

Treasuring Emma adds a twist to the usual Amish book. It's not the straight-forward young Amish girl looking to find a husband and how they make their romantic journey together. The "bann" has always intrigued me and how the Amish people can disown their own family. And if they have "banned" that person, how they can take them back into the fold and not cause disharmony among them. I believe in forgiveness and that people can change but treating them as if nothing happened is hard for me to comprehend.

As with non-Amish, Emma grows through turmoil and seeks God's help in her life's plan. We think that Amish families are perfect and don't know heartache and family issues, but we see in Treasuring Emma that it's just not true. Emma's faith will help her through these issues and she realizes it's HIS plan and he will reveal it to her eventually.

While the story line was good, there were a couple disconnects with a couple characters. I think the author could have done more with with a couple story lines about Emma's sister's relationship as well as Adam's mother. Maybe they are left open for a second book in the series? But like many Amish novels, the ending seems to get all wrapped up in a bow and is over in an instant. Life doesn't always happen that way but then again it may be that another book may be coming to clear it up.


I'd like to thank BookSneeze for making a review copy available via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and unbiased. A positive review was not required. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Promise of an Angel by Ruth Reid

Surprising and Fascinating—not your traditional Amish tale

From the Publisher

In Mescota County, Michigan, an angelic visitor's words inspire Judith to a future she never imagined. After a barn raising accident, Judith Fischer's convinced she's met an angel. However, her attempts to convince others end up frustrating her Old-Order Amish community. Only Andrew Lapp believes her, but the rest, including Levi Plank, the man's she's waited to marry, demand she forget the nonsense.  Meanwhile, her younger sister Martha has taken a fancy to Levi and sees her sister's controversy as a perfect distraction for turning Levi's head.

In a dream, the angel tells Judith she must choose her path. As her faith continues to grow, so do her feelings for Andrew. Will she continue to place her hope in the angel's message, even if it means losing all she knows and loves?

My Take

I’m a junkie for Amish fiction—let’s just get that out there.  So when the opportunity came up to read The Promise of an Angel, I was excited to read a new perspective on the Amish.  At first I was a little surprised with the addition of the angel Tobias, especially when Judith began having real conversations with him. Amish beliefs are so strict that it was hard for me to imagine how talking to an angel was going to fit in with those beliefs. After getting more and more into the book, I realized Tobias represented Judith’s deep faithfulness in God. Why couldn’t the “elders” in the community see that?

Family and community is the most important concept in the Amish lifestyle. So when Judith’s stories of the angel began to spread, the community banded together against Judith—just because the elders said they should. It surprised me the community would do that when she was only expressing her belief that God was speaking to her.

Another surprise to me was the relationship between Judith’s sister, Martha, and Judith’s beau, Levi. I guess there are many sects of Amish but normally these teenage relationships are pretty hush-hush. Through the entire book, the boy-girl interactions were completely public.  In addition, the way Martha was visibly treating Judith was a little startling to me—the envy, rudeness, and disrespect is so out of the ordinary for the Amish. 

Overall, The Promise of an Angel was a good summer read (I had the e-book version)—a story of faith, acceptance, and love with a couple twists and turns. I’m not sure if I’m going to read the next book in the series—guess we’ll have to wait & see what Ms Reid comes up with! I give The Promise of an Angel a 3 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

About the Author

Ruth 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.

The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher

From the Publisher:

Fifteen years ago, Lainey O'Toole made a split-second decision. She couldn't have known that her choice would impact so many. Now in her mid-twenties, she is poised to go to culinary school when her car breaks down in Stoney Ridge, the very Amish town in which her long-reaching decision was made, forcing her to face the shadowed past.  

Bess Reihl is less than thrilled to be spending the summer at Rose Hill Farm with her large and intimidating grandmother, Bertha. It quickly becomes clear that she is there to work the farm--and work hard. The labor is made slightly more tolerable by the time it affords Bess to spend with the handsome hired hand, Billy Lapp. But he only has eyes for a flirty and curvaceous older girl.
Lainey's and Bess's worlds are about to collide and the secrets that come to light will shock them both.
 
Beautifully written, The Search is a skillfully woven story that takes readers through unexpected twists and turns on the long country road toward truth. Fans both old and new will find themselves immersed in this heartwarming--and surprising--tale of young love, forgiveness, and coming to grips with the past.

My Take

This has to be one of Suzanne Woods Fisher's best novels. Usually you get the typical Amish story--boy meets girl, boy/girl begin a relationship, challenges develop, boy/girl overcome & marry. However, in The Search there are a couple interesting sub-plots; sub-plots that I haven't seen before in Amish literature.

I found it compelling to read how decisions made a long time ago affect the lives of so many people. When only a couple people know the truth behind a secret, can they change the future? Can they push their loved ones toward a certain destiny? Or do they let life play out on its own and see what happens?

The main characters of Bess and Lainey aren't your typical Amish literature characters. They both have a mind of their own and aren't nearly as submissive as the typical Amish woman. I like that they aren't as passive as most characters and that they stand up for what they want. Is that typical in the Amish community? From what I've read, no it's not. But as a non-Amish individual, I like their personalities.

The Seach touched me with its subtle faith excerpts and discssions. There was nothing "preachy" about it at all in my opinion. The main story was entertaining and a nice, easy read. As always, I enjoyed Fisher's writing and The Search certainly kept my attention. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to curl up with a good story and interesting plot.

Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
   

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, offers practical books that bring the Christian faith to everyday life.  They publish resources from a variety of well-known brands and authors, including their partnership with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and Hungry Planet.

For more information, visit www.RevellBooks.com.