Book Review: The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher

(Be sure to read to the end of this post to see how you can have a chance to win some great prizes in The Search iPad Giveaway!)

I have friends who read Amish books a lot. Although I understand the fascination with the Amish way of life, I don't think I could read as many books about the Amish as they do. I have read many Amish books, however, and I believe that Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of the best authors of Amish fiction. I hope to read many more by this author.

Since the day I read The Waiting by Ms. Fisher, I knew I wanted to read the next book in this series. I became captivated by the story of Ben and Jorie and longed for more. When Revell offered this book for review, I jumped at the chance.

The Search is the story of Lainey O'Toole, Bess Reihl, and their families. When Lainey's car breaks down in the Amish town of Stoney Ridge, she decides to spend the summer there. Days turn into months as she meets and is befriended by Bess, who is spending her summer with her grandmother, Bertha, at her rose farm. Bess is not enjoying her time there until she meets Billy Lapp, Bertha's hired hand. This changes her mind about her situation. Bess is soon smitten and is determined to win Billy from the clutches of the girl he thinks he loves.

However, there are details about Bess' and Lainey's past that neither one of them know about. When the secrets are revealed, both girls are left reeling.

The only thing I did not like about this book was the fact that the characters and their relationships to each other were hard to keep straight. I had to draw a family tree for myself so that I could understand better what was going on. But I consider that a minor irritation and one that I don't think detracted too much from the enjoyment of the book.

There are many twists in this book that will keep you wanting to read late into the night. I was thrilled to read an Amish tale that was not so utopian as most other books like this that make the characters' lives seem so perfect. As I heard just a few days ago, you need conflict in a book in order to make it interesting. And The Search is interesting as well as satisfying. I recommend it to all who like a clean, yet not boring, read.

I give The Search 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

(I received this book from Revell for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Suzanne Woods Fisher's latest installment of the Lancaster County Secrets, The Search,  is just out and to celebrate Suzanne is hosting The Search iPad Giveaway!

One Grand Prize winner will receive an iPad Prize Package worth over $500 and includes:

          A brand new iPad (16KB with Wi-Fi)

          Signed copies of all three Lancaster Country Secrets books (The Choice, The Waiting, & The Search)

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form/s, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest. Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on February 3rd at Suzanne's Everything is Coming Up Roses Facebook Party. (Did you know The Search takes place on a rose farm?)

 

Facebook Party:

Join Suzanne for the Everything is Coming Up Roses Facebook Party on February 3rd! She’ll be announcing the winner of the The Search iPad Giveaway, hosting a book club discussion of The Search, giving away copies of all three books and HEAPS of other readerly prizes! Including roses delivered to your door for three months for you AND a friend! Be sure to join us on Thursday, February 3rd at 5:00 PM PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST & 8 EST) at Suzanne’s Author Page.