The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Published: 2010

Publisher: Revell

Series: Lancaster County Secrets

Goodreads Summery:

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.

Lainey finds herself once again in Stoney Ridge. She still harbors a secret that could tear a family apart. She soon finds herself friends again with Bertha who unknown to Lainey has a plan of her own as well. Bertha’s granddaughter Bess comes to spend the summer and before long her father Jonah comes as well due to Bertha’s medaling.

Will the secret destroy this family or will the truth set them free?

I will be honest this book is deep. There are so many characters I am not sure where to start. Lainey’s choice when she was but a child holds many challenges. With in a few chapters you soon learn that Lainey’s secret has many branches. I don’t want to give away any  of this book so I feel limited in how much to tell.

I loved the idea of an Englisher becoming Amish I always wondered how that might work and how the community would except it. Bess is a teenager who is at first scared of her grandma but soon finds herself loving her. She get s crush on the local boy Billy who works for her grandma. I will be honest that this part of the story could almost have been left out. I felt the ending for these two left you going Wait what?? I thought at first maybe there would be another book to properly close that story but from what I have researched that is not the case.

Bertha is so much fun she seems scary at first but you soon find yourself loving her and laughing at some of her ideas to get things done her way. The love story between Lainey and Jonah was sweet and they had a lot of challenges and you wonder up to the end if they will over come them to be together(I will let you find that out for yourself!).

The downside to this book for me was how many characters there where. I know this is the writers style and she does it very well but this book had a lot of twists and turns and with so many angles at times it just felt a little to much at times.

Over all it was a great book and the series as a whole is wonderful and I would highly recommend these books to others!

Book Rating

Steamy Rating

Over all Series Rating

Source: I bought this book from Amazon.com 

The Waiting (Lancaster County Secrets #2) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Goodreads Summery:

Jorie King's life is on hold. She has been waiting for Ben Zook to return to Lancaster County. Waiting for him to settle down and join the church. Waiting to marry him.
But when news arrives that Ben has been killed, Jorie is devastated. She finds unlikely comfort in the friendship of his brother Caleb. Friendship ripens into love, and two broken hearts plan for a life filled with the promise of a fresh beginning--until their worlds are turned upside down.
With her realistic characters whose weaknesses develop into strengths, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers a reading experience that rises above the others. You will love growing in spirit with these complex people living the simple life as The Waiting transports you into a world where things aren't as simple as they seem.

Jorie is next door neighbors to the Zook’s and is living with her grandparents and helping to run the horse farm. Ben Zook went off to the Vietnam War and Jorie is waiting on him to come home. Caleb is the oldest of the Zooks and has been running the farm since his parents died. Matthew is another brother and he ends up being called to work (Military service)at a hospital a few hours away. The youngest brother is Ephraim and he is finishing his 8th grade year. Caleb also has a daughter named Maggie. In the beginning of the book you also get to know Caleb’s first wife Mary Ann. Yeah there are a LOT of characters in this book!

I struggled to get into this book at first. I found it hard to get to know all the characters. I also disliked getting to know Caleb’s first wife and then being with her as she deals with a life changing illness. Once I got into it though I really enjoyed it. I did enjoy reading the story from so many different characters. Though I sometimes felt there could have easily been another book written just about Matthew himself!

As is in Suzanne’s style there where quite a few surprises which makes her books quite fun. I would highly recommend the 2nd book in this series.
I give it 4 stars.

I am looking forward to the 3rd book The Search due out January 1st 2011!

The Choice (Lancaster County Secrets, Book 1) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Goodreads Summery:
With a vibrant, fresh style Suzanne Woods Fisher brings readers into the world of a young Amish woman torn between following the man she loves--or joining the community of faith that sustains her, even as she questions some of the decisions of her elders. Her choice begins a torrent of change for her and her family, including a marriage of convenience to silent Daniel Miller. Both bring broken hearts into their arrangement--and secrets that have been held too long. Filled with gentle romance, The Choice opens the world of the Amish--their strong communities, their simple life, and their willingness to put each other first. Combined with Fisher's exceptional gift for character development, this novel, the first in a series, is a welcome reminder that it is never too late to find your way back to God.


My first response to this book after I finished was WOW! This book had more twists and turns then I ever expected! The book starts out with Carrie in love with Solomon. He is Amish but loves baseball and has been playing behind the back of his community. He gets drafted to play as a pitcher and wants Carrie to come with him. She wants to but days before they are set to leave a tragic even changes everything and she remains behind heartbroken. She ends up marring Daniel to get her and her brother out of the house because her stepmom treats them so badly. At this point you think the book is going to be about these two falling in love. Guess again .What happened next left me shocked. This book was truly a wonderful read. I was a little sad how many people died so early in this book. I kept fearing more where going to be killed! The characters in this book are so alive you really feel like your getting to know them.  I would highly recommend this book!
I give it 4.5 stars

The only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars was a little disappointment in the change of love interests but it was a wonderful book. The next book in the series is The Waiting which I have read and will soon review as well.
The Steamy rating(1-5) is a 1.