MY REVIEW:
I have enjoyed all the Stoney Ridge Season books thus far, especially “The Keeper”. “The Haven” features Sadie Lapp and takes place several months following the end of “The Keeper”. Although not the first book in the series, “The Haven” can stand quite well on its own as far as the story goes. Your reading pleasure would however be greatly enhanced by reading the series in order.
Sadie’s surprise return home turned out to be a bit more of a surprise than she had planned. Her innocent surprise and her family’s decision to keep it caused Sadie all kinds of problems, especially to her reputation as the tongues of Stoney Ridge began to wag. Even Gideon, the young man she expected to possibly marry questioned her innocence. The only person outside her family who didn’t treat her with disdain was the Englisher who was staying on the Lapp farm to watch over the pair of Peregrine falcons nesting there. As the friendship between Sadie and Will grew, so did Gideon’s jealousy. It is anyone’s guess how this romantic triangle will be resolved.
It was great to return to Stoney Ridge and renew my acquaintance with some of its residents. As always, each of the characters was well developed and could easily be someone you would like to know. Filled with a few surprises, plenty of chuckles, and a little romance, “The Haven” is a fun read. Fisher has woven more than one lesson into this wonderful novel with a primary one about judging others without having all the facts. A story of faith and reconciliation, the novel was satisfactory in every way.
If you enjoy Amish fiction (and even if you don’t) I would highly recommend anything by Suzanne Woods Fisher. If you haven’t read any of her novels yet, “The Haven” and the previous installments of the Stoney Ridge Season series would be a good place to begin.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Sadie Lapp steps off the bus in Stoney Ridge after being in Ohio for the winter, she is faced with a decision–one that goes against her very essence. Yet it’s the only way she can think of to protect a loved one.
Schoolteacher Gideon Smucker has been crazy about Sadie since boyhood. But his response to her surprising decision undermines his own reputation–and his relationship with Sadie.
College student Will Stoltz is spending the spring at the Lapp farm as a guard for a pair of nesting Peregrine Falcons–courtesy of the Lancaster County Game Warden. Will needs to get his life back on track, but his growing friendship with Sadie threatens his plans.
The lives of these three individuals intertwine, and then unravel as unexpected twists create ripples through the town of Stoney Ridge . . . and through Sadie’s heart.
Once again, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher intrigues and delights with a story that explores the bonds of friendship, family, and true love. Readers will enjoy every surprise in Sadie’s story as they search for the truth hidden within these pages.
Read an excerpt HERE!
Read what other bloggers are saying about “The Haven” HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzanne Woods Fisher’s 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.
