When you pick up a novel from Suzanne Woods Fisher you know you are going to be taken to a place that is going to leave an impact on you. A place where you will meet new friends and think of them as family. She has a gift of opening up your heart and allowing the words penned before you to touch you with each page.
We go to Stoney Ridge and meet up with the Lapp family and their friends. Each character is vibrant and in this novel, they all carry great burdens. I love seeing them come to a place where honesty kicks in and they are able to breathe in joy once again. I fell in love with Julia Lapp and the character that I really enjoyed was the Bee man, Roman Troyer. Now, you all will find a farm in need of repair. I love how Suzanne writes! The lady knows how to connect the reader to the story! You too will find folks in need of some repair and that is where you see faith and growth come in and touch these characters. In fact, aren't we all in need of some repairing? Only one Carpenter that can do the repairs we need! Oh, and the Bee man, Roman, also another great analogy of how we too can spread the love and seed of faith to all we meet!
As you meet these characters you can be very quick to make assumptions about them. Maybe that is a great lesson this book carried for me. Don't be so quick to do so because we all come with a story. We call carry parts of the past with us. It has a way of making us who we are. In order for these characters to really find themselves and a joy they never knew before they must realize that trusting God is the only way to live and letting go of fear is part of seeing your faith grow.
I loved these characters and there are valuable lessons to be carried away from this novel. We learn of loss and moving on with a heart filled with memories and love. What really grabs me is the way forgiveness is portrayed in this novel. Oh, how I want to have a heart that is so forgiving. We see that forgiveness is a release and also carries with it much hope for the future. I am excited to see how the story continues with book 2.
This book was a gift from Revell for it's review.
Revell is having a few contests you can partake in today. Check out these links to the contest and face book party! Don't miss out!!
http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/183799 This contest is running through to Jan. 17
http://www.facebook.com/events/209723589116292 The facebook party will take place on Jan. 17
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, The Search, and The Keeper, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Christy Award nominee and is the host of an Internet radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California.
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