The Quieting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Quieting
The Bishop's Family (Book 2)
Publication date:05/03/2016
ISBN-13: 9780800723217
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

The Stoltzfus family faces serious problems, both in the church and at home. Everyone in the community expects minister David Stoltzfus to fix things--fast. But David doesn't work fast. He prefers to wait for God to work in individual hearts. However, even he is left wondering if the solution to their most pressing problem might be a Quieting.

When David's mother arrives, uninvited, more upheaval is in store. She has matchmaking plans for everyone in the family, including David and her eligible granddaughters--and especially for David's niece Abigail. When Abigail stumbles onto a curious connection during her genealogical research, it could help David solve one problem--but will it create another?

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The Imposter, The Bishop's Family (Book 1)

My Review: I was so excited to get this book! I loved the first book in the Bishop Family series, The Imposter, so I jumped at the chance to review The Quieting. I was not disappointed. I was so excited to return to Stoney Ridge and the Stoltzfus family.

Their family dynamic is very interesting for an Amish family, and became even more interesting with the addition of David's nieces and mother. I loved picking up with David where we left off. He is a prime example of a man and a pastor who makes mistakes and learns and grows from them. He embraces the challenges God gives him, and handles them with as much grace and mercy as God gives him. His treatment of Birdy in this story tore at my heart, but of course, the end result is what matters! Abigail was an interesting character. Her outlook on life was clearly black and white. I loved watching her change and grow throughout the story with the help of Dane. Catching up with Katrina, Ruthie, Jesse and all of the other Stoney Ridge characters was an added bonus!

As with The Imposter, there are many lessons to be learned from this story. The main points, I think, are learning to let go of the past and taking the time to listen, REALLY listen for God's guidance. Abigail's work on genealogy is important, but it kept her focus on the past. Dane, through God's guidance, helped her see what was right in front of her! David and the little church of Stoney Ridge were facing what seemed to be an insurmountable problem. He had to learn to listen for God's prompting as to how to handle the situation.

Overall, I loved this book. It's an excellent addition to the Bishop Family series and I can't wait to read The Devoted, book three (coming Fall 2016!!).

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Revell Reads blogging program in exchange for my honest review.*

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author of Amish fiction and non-fiction. Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, who was raised Plain in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She travels back east a couple of times each year for research. For fun, too.

Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. She has an underlying belief in her books–you don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate many of their principles into your life: simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily, trusting in God.

When Suzanne isn’t writing, playing tennis, 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.

Keep up on Suzanne’s latest news by receiving her e-newsletter, as well as connecting on Facebook, Twitter and her blog!

The Imposter by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Imposter
The Bishop's Family (Book 1)
October 2015
ISBN: 978-0800723200

About This Book: Katrina Stoltzfus thought she had life and love all figured out: she was going to marry John and live happily ever after. Those plans started to crumble when her father moved the family to Stoney Ridge, then completely collapsed when John decided to marry someone else. Katrina is devastated. How could she have felt so loved, yet been so deceived?

As she struggles to face a future without him, a widow asks for her help to start a new business and Katrina quickly agrees. She needs time to heal her broken heart, to untangle her messy life, to find a purpose. What she doesn’t need is attention from Andy Miller, a farm hand who arrives at the widow’s farm just when help is most needed–and who always seems to say the right thing, and be in the right place, at the right time. Is Andy for real, or too good to be true? Deceived once before, Katrina is determined to keep her feelings in check.

When a cascade of events is set in motion by some surprising information, the little Amish church is turned upside down. Soon, everyone has a stake in the outcome, and the community struggles to find the best response to an imposter in their midst. Can they forgive even the most deceitful deeds?

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My Review: Wow! What a book! I don't know why it took me so long to pick it up and read it. With a refreshing view of the Amish life, and specifically of an Amish's minister's family, this book is filled with depth and feeling. Suzanne Woods Fisher is a masterful storyteller, and The Imposter is a superb example of that.

To me, it seemed the side story of David (Katrina's dad) was more prominent than Katrina's, but that's ok. I still got the connection I craved with Katrina. A woman scorned always makes for an interesting story. Reading the story was like being in Katrina's mind. I could feel Katrina's angst and struggle, her fear and joy. David Stolzfus is a strong example of a Christian man. His life is not perfect, his family is not perfect, but he handles what life throws at him with a heaping of grace and God's love. The side characters, Thelma, Andy, Jesse, and especially Birdy added a depth to the story and perfect little nuggets of God's mercy and love.

Suzanne has a masterful way of weaving in a message that not only touches the characters at just the right time, but also digs itself into the heart of the reader (at least is seems that way to me). The Imposter delivers a strong message of redemption and what it means to be in the midst of a storm. As David is fond of saying, "everybody begins somewhere." I believe the little Amish community of Stoney Ridge is getting ready to find out just how true that is.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Revell Reads Blogging program in exchange for my honest review.*

About the Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author of Amish fiction and non-fiction. Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, who was raised Plain in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She travels back east a couple of times each year for research. For fun, too.

Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. She has an underlying belief in her books–you don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate many of their principles into your life: simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily, trusting in God.

When Suzanne isn’t writing, playing tennis, 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.

Keep up on Suzanne’s latest news by receiving her e-newsletter, as well as connecting on Facebook, Twitter and her blog!

Anna's Crossing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Overview: When 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.

ISBN-13: 9780800723194
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Publication date: 3/3/2015
Pages: 336

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My Review: "Their survival was a testament to her people's story: roots that adapted to whatever soil they were transplanted into, thorns that bespoke of the pain they bore, blossoms each spring that declared God's power to bring new life from death... The roses were a living witness to survival."

Not having ever read a books by Suzanne Woods Fisher before, I really enjoyed this story. The ebb and flow of the plot kept me engaged. The description of life for the German "Peculiars" on the boat fascinated me. I cannot imagine being jammed into the lower hold of a ship for 83 days. The stench alone would have drowned me.

Anna is such a strong, gentle woman. Her quiet, yet fiercely protective nature is what draws the reader to her. The way in which she views life holds me in awe. In fact, the way the Amish view life in general awes me. I know they are human just like us, but their humble spirits teach me a lot. Bairn, at first, seemed like a cold, scary kind of man. As the story progressed, though, we see a different side of him come out, one that I liked very much.

The message of the story was the best part. As you can see from the quotes I've pulled, Suzanne is trying to get across the point of God's sustaining grace. No matter what the situation is, God can bring you through it if you just ask.

"Even in the midst of great gales, they could know peace."

"Broken expectations aren't meant to crush our hopes, but to free us to put our confidence in God alone. They aren't meant to make us give up, but look up." 

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and look forward to the next one in this series!
 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Revell Reads blogging program in exchange for my honest review.*

About the Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has one husband, four children, one son-in-law, a two-year old grandson who makes everybody laugh, another little grandbaby on the way (due on Christmas eve!) and raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Suzanne graduated from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, and was a free-lancer writer for magazines while her children were growing up. A former contributing editor to Christian Parenting Today, Suzanne’s work has appeared in many magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman, Worldwide Challenge, and Marriage Partnership.

Her first novel, Copper Star, a World War II love story, was published by a small press (Vintage Inspirations) and received three literary awards. It opened the door to a literary agent, Joyce Hart. The agent knew of Suzanne’s connection to the Plain People—her grandfather was raised Plain—and introduced her to an editor at Revell, a division of Baker Books.

Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World was Suzanne’s first book release with Revell. It’s a non-fiction book of true stories about the Old Order Amish and was a finalist for the 2010 ECPA Book of the Year Award. There are two spin-offs from Amish Peace: one is Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life  and Amish Values for Your Family: What We Can Learn from the Simple Life. Amish Proverbs was also a finalist for the ECPA Book of the Year Award and will be re-released in an expanded edition.

All three books in the ‘Lancaster County Secret’ series (The Choice, The Waiting, and The Search) hit the bestseller lists for ECPA and CBA. The Waiting was a finalist for a 2011 Christy Award. The Choice was a finalist for the 2011 Carol Award and The Search won the 2012 Long Contemporary Carol Award. A Lancaster County Christmas, a novella set in Stoney Ridge, PA released in September 2011 and stayed on the CBA and ECPA fiction bestseller lists for four months. The Keeper and The Haven, book 1 and 2 in the ‘Stoney Ridge Seasons’ series, hit the ECPA bestseller lists. Want to hear more? A children’s series, ‘The Adventures of Lily Lapp,’ co-written with Mary Ann Kinsinger of the wildly popular A Joyful Chaos blog, releases with the first book, Life with Lily, on October 1st. Still more? Suzanne is writing a 3-book historical fiction series about the early Quakers of Nantucket, called “Petticoat Row.”

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