| Title | : | The Choice (Lancaster County Secrets #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0800733851 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780800733858 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 312 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2010 |
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.
The Choice (Lancaster County Secrets #1) Reviews
-
I'm going to be honest with you - I read this because it was a free Kindle book. In the end, I loved it!
To give you a little background: I was raised in a mixed religion household (my father is Jewish, my mother is Catholic) and I do not consider myself a religious person. I expected this book to be too religious for me, but I was really surprised.
Carrie is an Amish girl, part of the "Plain Folks" society of Lancaster PA. I expected a sort of "Boy-Meets-Girl" storyline but WHEW, there are twists and turns left and right that keep you guessing almost to the very end. I won't give away too much, but there are definitely some surprises in store for the reader! I expected a little bit of ridiculous "peering at him longingly from behind bonnet strings" romance. Instead, I found a realistic and sweetly slow picture of love.
I found the overall story to be almost like the cup of coffee that keeps getting passed around and appreciated by various characters - it is a little bitter (as in sad) but warming to the soul at the same time. Sure there were some Bible quotes and morals stuck in, but they weren't suppresive or overly forced upon you. You ended up feeling a little more at peace after reading the book. This may be just me, but I appreciate a positive story that shares a little bit of good left in this world.
This book also helped me understand the Amish a little bit more. I don't live too far from Lancaster and Amish country, and like they say in the book, us Englisher's still manage to lack knowledge of their lifestyle and beliefs.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a wholesome, sort-of-educational, change of pace novel. -
This is the first book I've read from author Suzanne Woods Fisher and it certainly won't be my last. I enjoy how Suzanne writes, as her writing style was easy to read and the captivating story kept it hard to put down. I read The Choice in a day in a half and am so sad that the story is over. I'm really look forward to more books in the Lancaster County Secrets Series!
The Choice is a tale full of moral values, family, faith, and tragedy. I was quite intrigued learning about the Amish ways as I've always been very interested in their culture. At times, I wish life was more simple as keeping up with all the hustle and bustle in our current society can be overwhelming and very stressful. I long at times for the sense of family and friendship that the Amish community values so true, if only people would stop focusing on self and more on others. Though I know the Amish is a tight knit community and they don't think too much of those on the outside, I think I long for it to be like Christ intended much like the character Abel in this story. I guarantee reading this book will definitely put some new thoughts into your head and shine light on new to you revelation. I loved it and I sure others will too.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars! -
Too tragic. I hope the series improves after this.
-
Up until recently I have been wary of picking up Amish fiction simply because they seem to be so repetitive in themes and storyline. Over the past 2 years or so there has been an influx of new authors in the "bonnet" fiction genre that are really bringing a freshness to books focused around the Amish way of life. I am excited to say that Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of those great new authors.
Her first foray into Amish fiction, The Choice, deals with a young woman facing the difficulty of choosing between family or her own love. While this in itself is not really a different theme from a lot of the Amish fiction out there the twists and turns that the story takes are unique...at least to me. The story immediately gripped me and I had tears in my eyes only a few chapters in. It moved along really quickly...almost too fast at first, since there was so much tragedy in Carrie's life within the first half of the book but as it went along it all played out nicely. The romance that develops is tender and sweet.
I also enjoyed the story of the secondary character, Mattie Zook and cheered at the end when sweet, dependable Mattie got her heart's desire! This is definitely a book too pick up if you are a fan of the Amish fiction genre and even if you just enjoy a good Christian novel. I will be looking for Book 2 in the fall entitled, The Waiting. -
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!
-
Here's what I liked about the book:
■I learned some fascinating things about the Amish culture I wouldn’t have known otherwise
■While the book shared some positives and negatives about the Amish lifestyle, it didn’t seem like propaganda to convince the reader that the Amish are either all good or all bad.
■I couldn’t tell which way the story was going to go- and it was refreshing to not be able to predict the ending!
■There were several plot lines twisted together, not so much to complicate the book, but enough to keep it interesting and dynamic.
■Good use of dialogue. The book moves quickly with the help of character conversation.
■The book comes with several discussion questions at the end, so if you want to use it in a book club, it would be a snap.
What did I not like about it? I felt it ended abruptly, and I wished there was a little more development – maybe even just a few more pages or one more chapter to round it out. -
I think this book is a perfect example of why any one thought, religion, or practice can be too rigid.
There are times in the book when I wanted to strangle Carrie for being so thoughtless and unbending. Jesus gave us Grace to live under so that we aren't bound by strict rules and regimens that leave no gray areas. I cannot imagine telling my sister that even though we worship the same God, read the same Bible, and share the same feelings towards faith being a part of our daily lives, that I would have to shun her because she doesn't go to the same church or wear the same plain clothes. (just for example)
I came away from this well written book actually feeling a little sorry for those in the Amish faith. It is wonderful to live your life for your God and to practice humility, but it is another thing entirely to miss out of the wonder and glory of life because you are adhering to "rules" set by men who lived hundreds of years ago. -
I ultimately liked the resolution of this, but good lord, the number of deaths. I don't think I've read anything with that high a body count outside a book where there are actually battles taking place.
-
After the sudden death of her father, Carrie’s plans to run away with beau Sol are changed in favour of raising her younger brother Andy. Angry with her decision, Sol leaves her and their faith behind for a chance of becoming a baseball star. Meanwhile, Carrie concerned with the future and well-being of her brother decides to marry a young man named Daniel and become baptised into the Amish church. She and Andy move onto a new farm with Daniel, his father and Grandmother Yonnie. In a bid to get to know the man she married, Carrie learns of the past Daniel was trying to run away from back in Ohio. The Choice is the first book in Suzanne Woods Fisher’s Lancaster County Secrets trilogy. It is a fast moving story filled with romance and faith.
The author sure doesn’t waste any time getting into the plotline.Tragedy keeps occurring at every turn. I can see how this may seem like too much for some, but for me I was so lost in the story for this to bother me.
I would recommend this book to not only fans of Amish fiction, but to those readers who enjoy a story with meaning. Even a non-religious person like myself could see the hope and wisdom in this book. I am looking forward to reading the other two books in this trilogy: The Waiting and the Search.
For my full review on The Choice, check out my blog:
http://mlsmanyreads.blogspot.ca/2015/... -
A beautifully written book. Love the descriptions of Amish life -- they're woven into the story so naturally. The characters are alive in this book.
-
This is a beautiful story of faith, forgiveness, and finding love after tragedy. Fans of Amish fiction and readers who enjoy a great romance, will love this story and the series.
-
I thought this would be a very tame, very innocent story but this ended up being a rollercoaster ride with an important emotional journey for the main character. It's definitely not for everyone, since it places God and faith at the centre of everything (I mean it's an Amish-centric Christian romance... what else would you expect) and I found it thematically rich, with a strong focus on grief, community, purpose and honesty (or lack of thereof).
I mean at some point people kept dying and that was partly shocking and partly hilarious to me because I was starting to think this was a thriller and not a romance LMAO. Every time the plot needed to be steered in one direction it was like bam let's kill someone. I'm now convinced that Suzanne Woods Fisher is the GRR Martin of the Christian romance world. It got to the point where if someone got like a minor cut on their fingers I thought "here we go again this bitch is gonna DIE" but thankfully I ended up being wrong about it for the second half of the book lmao.
The romance part is also surprising because it didn't end up going where I thought it would. Things got so ridiculously dramatic at a point (around 100 pages into the book) that I thought the "villain" would end up kidnapping the heroine like in one of those Victorian romances but I was wrong again.
Anyways I have a lot of thoughts but honestly, if you don't mind a book that talks about religion a LOT and encourages people to find solace in "the mysterious ways of God" so to speak, I'd recommend it? It was fun! And I learned a lot about the Amish community, which was my primary purpose.
Also just in case anyone was wondering I'm a Muslim woman lmao. I found some similarities in how strong the bond inside of the community was, and how it was encouraged to trust God and destiny, which makes sense because Abrahamic religions and alla dat. Hennyways. I'll probably keep going with the series because it's a nice break from more out-of-pocket romances that I tend to read (for better or worse). -
I know, I know - another Amish book? I thought the same thing. Just how many haystack dinners, Sunday Singings, Shoo Fly pies and general gemutlichkeit can one person take, huh?
But, The Choice is different than many other Amish fiction books I've read. Here you'll find the typical gentle, slow-moving Amish life on steroids. There are deaths, multiple trips to the hospital, accidents, marriages, widowings (is that a word?) ... suffice it to say that you will not be bored with The Choice.
The book centers around sweet Amish Carrie (pictured on the cover) and the choices she has to make. She has several choices, from whom to marry to whether she should sell her farmland.
It's a book with so much adventure that you'll want to keep reading once you've picked it up. The characters, although many, are well-developed and believable (the one exception in my mind was the book's "villain" who I felt to be pretty caricatured), and by the end of the book you'll feel you really know them.
Suzanne Woods Fisher, the author, comes by her Amish interest honestly. Her grandfather was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Pennsylvania. She has also written the non-fiction Amish Peace.
Suzanne seems like a wonderful person in real life - I emailed her a few questions about the book, and she actually took the time to reply.
I asked, This was a complicated plot - lots of tragedies, characters, etc. What was your method in writing? Did you have the entire book outlined before you began writing, or did you just begin with a basic idea and see what the characters would "do" as you began to write?
Suzanne: I think of writing as painting an oil painting. First, you get the basics down, then you fill in with shadowing, color and light, etc. And I choose the metaphor of oil painting because you can make mistakes on oil! So I start with the basic outline in my mind of where the book is headed, and then fill in. It's surprising how some characters jump to the forefront, almost as if they take on a life of their own. Attitude, too!
Was it difficult to come up with the idea for this book? What things typically inspire you with ideas for your writing?
Suzanne: A few years ago, my niece gave me a book called "So You Want to Write" by Brenda Ueland (written in 1938!). There was a phrase, "Everyone is talented, interesting, and has something important to say." I loved that remark! I realized that I was the only one holding myself in a box...thinking I could only write non-fiction. So I quietly started a novel...didn't even tell my husband or kids! Four months later, I had the first draft done of "Copper Star." That book was published by a small press, won three literary awards, and it opened the door to a literary agent and contracts with Revell. So I encourage other writers to not limit themselves...not in any way. The ideas will come! God blesses our imaginations in amazing ways...but we have to ask, first! We have to start...and trust in the outcome. -
I can't say that this is the best Amish based romance novel I have ever read, but it was certainly the most unusual. While I was reading this I had to keep reminding myself that there are many different branches or sects or whatever they are called (sorry I can't think of the proper word) and each one keeps Plain a little differently from the others. However, the books I normally read all seem to follow the basic rules of the Plain People.
I liked this book for veering off of that beaten path. You may then ask why did I only give it three stars if I liked it...I did so because of the many deaths, the outrageous plot with the golf course, and nutty Veronica McCall. I won't say that it may not be believable or enjoyable to others-just not to me.
I liked the fact that everyone had been given choices and some of these choices were difficult to make and to stick to. I also liked the fact that the romance was not so cut and dried. I liked the storyline of the two men straddling the Amish/English line and how they turned out. I also liked that the secondary characters all ended up with their own particular happy endings -even if they had to make a difficult decision to get there.
What happened to Daniel shocked the heck out of me and I was thinking of giving up on the book when this happened, but I persevered and I am not altogether too unhappy for doing so.
I will read at least one more book by this author to see if it's her style I don't like or just this particular novel. -
One of the things I liked about Fisher's novel is that the characters seem believable - sometimes more so than other Amish novels on the market today.
Fisher said she is very deliberate about making her characters "realistic" for readers.
"Some of it comes from giving characters flaws, so that they become believable," Fisher explained. "Readers can identify with a character when he/she isn’t perfect."
One of those realistic characters is Steelhead, who unexpectedly appears in the novel and shows his faith in a non-conventional, raw and emotional way.
"I don’t know if there could really be a guy like Steelhead, swooping in and falling in love with an Amish spinster," Fisher said. "I guess that’s where fiction steps in! But the reason I wrote that sub-plot was for contrast and surprise. Emma seemed so boxed up, so attached to rules, yet she dearly wanted to love and be loved. Carrie was so on the fence about so many things in life, yet her greatest need wasn’t love, it was finding herself."
In all honesty, I really enjoyed this novel. I loved how this book captured my attention from the first chapter. (I can't always say that about a book.)
I also found that Fisher's background, gives her book an air of credibility. She's not just writing about a culture that is unfamiliar. She has lived and breathed this world - through her research and her family.
If you like Amish fiction, I believe you will love this novel. -
I wanted to give this book more than 3 stars because it was a good read but there is such a heavy, sad feel to the story that I couldn't do it. So much tragedy including a disappointing end to Carrie & Sol's relationship, numerous deaths, barn fires, trips to the hospital and people being forced to choose between religion and true love was just too much for me. I believe if there had been happy moments sprinkled throughout all the heaviness it would have lightened things up. I only remember Carrie smiling or laughing two or three times in the entire story. Also, I thought Sol's story felt out of place after he left Carrie and I ended up skimming through those parts. I would read another book by Suzanne Woods Fisher because it did keep my interest and I learned about the Amish community.
-
-
One moment Carrie Weaver was looking forward to running away with Lancaster Barnstormers pitcher Solomon Riehl—plans that included leaving the Amish community where they grew up. The next moment she was staring into a future as broken as her heart. Now, Carrie is faced with a choice. But will this opportunity be all she hoped? Or will this decision, this moment in time, change her life forever?
(back cover copy, “The Choice”)
For Carrie Weaver, it’s all about choices, tough ones. Deciding whether to follow the man she loves or follow the Amish faith is just the beginning. With a hemophiliac father and brother, life for Carrie is spent wondering when the next accident will return them to the emergency room. Will the next wound be the one that won’t stop bleeding? The one to take a precious life?
And what would happen if one of them was to die? How would it change life for her? What choices would she be forced to make then?
Solomon Riehl must also make a choice—pursue a dream career or the woman he loves. The complications? To choose the first, he’d have to renounce the Amish faith. For the second, his selfish nature.
And then there’s Mattie. Sweet Mattie who trusts God so implicitly she’s certain one day she’ll marry the only man she’s ever loved. When everyone else loses hope in him, Mattie’s still there, seeing beyond the flaws straight to his potential…if only he’d see it himself. But there’s another hurdle to jump. Her best friend, Carrie, loves him too.
True to form, author Suzanne W. Fisher has created an outstanding story. It took me several chapters to appreciate it, but once I did, I couldn’t put the book down.
The overriding theme in the novel is choices--little and big. What to do with the orchards this fall, how to meet the tax payment following tragedy. Love, marriage, and faith.
But there’s more.
The choice we all must make at different times in our lives is so subtly woven through the story, the reader isn’t aware of it until all the pieces fall into place. Each character in “The Choice” is struck by tragedy in some form. Each takes a different path in their attempt to cope. Some succeed in putting their lives back together. Others don’t. What’s the deciding factor between their victories and failures?
For those who’ve devotedly followed Ms. Fisher’s flourishing writing career, this latest work will confirm your loyalty. For everyone else, what are you waiting for?!
No matter your taste in fiction, this is a tale you shouldn’t miss. -
My Synopsis:
The Choice (Lancaster Country Secrets Series - Book 1) by Suzanne Woods Fisher
In The Choice, the first book in the Suzanne Woods Fisher's new Lancaster County Secrets series, Carrie Weaver is forced to decide between her life in the Amish community where she grew up and the unknown world outside.
When her father dies suddenly, Carrie enters into a marriage of convenience to provide a home for herself and her brother, Andy. But, her broken heart keeps her from becoming totally committed to her new husband. Will Carrie choose the simple Amish life or the man she loves?
This tender love story, is about simplicity, forgiveness, and faith. Carrie's choice will change her life forever, as she learns to follow her heart, all the way back to God.
My Thoughts:
Suzanne Woods Fisher, draws the reader into this story with very real and believable characters. Carrie Weaver is a young girl with a difficult choice. She is a strong character that is able to make the tough choices when tragedy enters her life. But, she still feels that sense of loss and pain even though she knows she has made the right decisions.
Daniel Miller's character is one of a tortured soul, stuck in the past and unable to move forward. I believe many people can identify with him. He is a quiet, loving man who can't seem to let go of something he cannot change.
Abel Miller's character is a breath of fresh air. You can feel the joy in him, the assurance that God is in control of his life, even though he chose to go to prison for a crime he didn't commit. Fisher is a master at conveying emotion and letting the reader get a sense of who these people are and what they are facing.
This book seemed very authentic. It was easy to see that the writer did a lot of research about the Amish community and their beliefs. From the use of language to the rituals like the barn raising and the sense of unity in the community, Fisher excels at bringing the Amish to life.
I truly enjoyed this book. Suzanne Woods Fisher did a wonderful job of meshing the Amish beliefs with what I consider my own faith to be. The themes of forgiveness and being able to move on even when you think you can't were very true to life. This book is certainly a great first book in the series and I look forward to learning more about the characters in future novels. -
The Choice is not your typical Amish novel. It's better.
A young Amish girl, Carrie Weaver, has a choice to make that will change her life: run away and become English or become a member of the Amish church. Among the twisting and turning story line are two steady characters who are firmly rooted in their relationship with God and shine brightly to those around them. Meanwhile, the lives of others are being tossed around as they search for purpose in the trials of life.
Suzanne Woods Fisher has authored a book that will draw you into the world of the Amish and the simple, yet hard life they live. The Choice is surprisingly filled with much humor and the ending is nothing like what you expect as you begin the chapters of the book. Yet despite the disappointment and grief, you witness through the pages of print the incredible plans of God and His overwhelming provision.
After living among the Amish just two counties away from Lancaster, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It was more than just nicely packaged fiction, the story seemed real and the characters came alive on the pages. It touched my heart and had me crying; but it also had me celebrating and laughing. The Choice was encouraging and in many ways a gave good reminders for my own life. I look forward to reading more in the Lancaster County Secrets series.
* * * * *
This review copy was provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. -
I feel biased. I admit I rate lighter on Amish fiction.
I LOVED how Fisher put in the cons of Amish life as well. All the Amish fiction I've read has a little bit of a "holier than thou", detached depiction of their lives. As if the Plain way is the only way that is right. I loved how Fisher brought in both. The peace of Amish life, but also the conflict.
What I didn't like was, I suppose, the redundance of Amish fiction. I can ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS predict what is going to happen. They all run on the same storyline. In this genre, SOMEHOW, someone dies. Someone falls ill. Someone's heart is broken. Someone goes English *gasp*. I guess, in their lives, they haven't really got any more drama than that. If the author wants to impart tears, someone needs to die. Their life struggles are epically simple, just as their lives are. There is not a lot of fluctuation of emotions, other than the ones that revolve around commitment to church, failure to meet righteousness, or, the classic death of a loved one.
In essence, if I were to be fair, 2.5 stars. But what the heck? I'll just rate it 4. -
This was a sweet story, full of faith, dedication to family/community, and forgiveness.
Carrie Weaver has many choices to make in this story, but the one that affects her life the most is whether to leave her Amish home and family to run away with the love of her life. That choice shapes the rest of her life, and takes her down a path that in the end, helps her find true, fulfilling happiness.
What I liked: The characters were likable, the plot was unexpected with a couple of twist and turns, and I liked the way the author portrayed God as a loving, forgiving God, ready and willing to enjoy a relationship with his children. I loved the way the characters grew from the beginning of the story to the end.
What I didn’t like: (spoiler alert) There were sad sections of the book, and those are emotionally stirring. Even though emotions push a story along and make it more interesting to read, when the main character loses so many close, loving family members, it tends to make the story darker and weighed down.
Overall, I give this book five stars, and would recommend it to anyone, even if they’re not of the Amish faith. -
Simply enjoyable. This is truly a story that shows how each choice you make carries a consequence. Sometimes those consequences are good and sometimes they are filled with sorrow and regret. While she loves her Amish world, Carrie's life hasn't been easy with a prickly step mother and a father and brother who suffer from hemophilia. But, when she falls in love with Sol, nothing else matters.
After heartbreak and disappointment, however, she chooses a different path; one that keeps her within the Amish community and her faith. Daniel is a good man and I found myself anxious for them to finally, honestly communicate. Several events in the book were unexpected and while filled with heartache, this isn't a sad story. It's a story of a woman's strength and faith in God.
An enjoyable, easy read. I liked these characters and can't wait for the next in the series. -
This was a wonderful story, captivating and gives a real understanding of being Amish. It was wrote well and a lot of detail. It was so good it was hard to put it down. Suzanne shows how things work out when we trust the Lord and learn to forgive and accept forgiveness from God and others. I would recommend this book and am so glad that I got it to read.
-
.
Reading this Amish romance was anengaging experience. Maybe it was not as compelling as some other Amish series that I've read, but still I liked it.
Getting to know the characters, you share the struggle, deciding between all you have ever known and the unknown.
The book is clean and wholesome, able to stand on its own, and provides an HEA. -
I'm a fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher. Why not start with her debut?
The Choice is an enlightening glimpse into the Amish life. Main character Carrie Weaver is in love with Sol Riehl, but when he leaves to play professional baseball she has difficult decisions to make. -
I really enjoyed this book ! i am not a religious person but was always intrigued by how the Amish live
Really love the 2 main characters Carrie and Abel! -
This book started with drama, it continued with drama, and it was the drama and unexpectedness that had me hooked.
Some of the time things happened just a little too quickly for my liking. Also, there were some things that bothered me, such as the occasional head hopping, some show-not-tell, and a few minor grammar errors.
All of this could be overlooked, though, since the more I read, the more I loved the characters. Their hurt made me hurt. If you read this, expect your heart to break.
There were also some funny moments throughout the novel, especially by Yonnie. “‘Why do you like the obituaries?’ Maddie asked, watching Yonnie scan the page. ‘Making sure I’m not dead yet.’”
There were also many statements that made the book both beautiful and powerful.
“Six feet under isn’t the end.”
“When you come to your wit’s end […] you’ll find God lives there.” -
4+ Stars
I will be honest, I am not a big Amish story reader; however, I decided to give this one a try. I am so glad that I did! While it took me a little over a chapter to get hooked in, from that point on I was immersed in the story.
Fisher writes honest, refreshingly real characters. I enjoyed seeing them work through life, learn, grow and find their place in God's story. A worthwhile read; with heart, faith, family and love all woven seamlessly together. -
This is the first Amish book I have finished reading from the beginning to the end. I tried an Amish novel a few years ago, but couldn't get passed chapter one. Therefore, my finishing it should say a lot about this novel. It grabbed my attention--the way it was written, the intriguing story plot, and the engaging characters. One of the things that surprised me about this book was the fact that it contained an element of suspense to a murder mystery. There was one plot twist I didn't see coming and I love it when a novel does that.
The heroine is Carrie Weaver, a grieving woman with a broken heart who is determined to care for her hemophiliac brother even if it means agreeing to an arranged marriage. The hero is released from prison, not a typical Amish hero either. There are a few criticisms on the number of deaths that took place in the first half of the book and Emma's decision at the end of the book, Carrie's step-sister. I think it is these unique circumstances that appealed to me as a reader. It's what kept me from laying this book down as I have other Amish fiction.
Deaths happen in real life, sometimes too many at once. Been there, experienced that. It changes you. It forces decisions--sometimes decisions we don't want to make. Carrie reacted no differently than she should have. I applaud her character. Also, I disagree with the reviewer who said Emma's decision wasn't realistic. Who are we to determine what is realistic in a person's life, especially a character of fiction? People we would never expect to marry certain individuals--do marry those we least expect. How many times have young couples chosen to go against their parents and their whole family to be with the one they love? It happens all the time. My parents did it. My mother didn't see her family for six years because of it--and it was completely out of my mother's character as she was always the responsible, level-headed one. Someone who believes Emma's decision is unrealistic--isn't being realistic.
The romance progresses at a steady pace. It's realistic and appropriate. I was invested in the characters and wanted to see them win. You see the characters struggle with their idea of faith--traditionalism versus a freedom available in Christ. The hero became a born again Christian while in prison, but he grew up Amish. He brings fresh ideas about faith to Carrie's life. If you enjoy Amish fiction with an element of suspense, I would encourage you to read The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher. It's a great book!
One thing I would like to say is this--even though I'm a fellow author, I do not know Suzanne Woods Fisher. We have never met nor conversed by email or on writing loops--that I can recall. I downloaded this novel on my Kindle and decided I wanted to give Amish fiction another try.
