The Haven: Amish Christian Fiction book review

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, The Search, The Keeper and The Haven, 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. She lives in California.

Visit her website at SuzanneWoodsFisher.com and follow her on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Suzanne is giving away 4 eReaders:
2 Kindle Fires and 2 Nook Colors
AND hosting a Live Video Chat!
(All the details are below.)

The Haven, by Suzanne Woods Fisher ~ SUMMARY

    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.

Joy In Our Journey's review:

     The Haven is a sequel to The Keeper, which was a wonderful story of an Amish family living on Windmill Farm, near the small town of Stoney Ridge, Pennsylvania.  This story has many very surprising twists, even from the first page! 

    Sadie, the oldest daughter living in the home with her younger sister (Mary Kate), her widowed father, Amos, and their housekeeper, Fern, has just returned from staying with her older sister, Julia and Julia’s husband, Roman, at their home in Ohio.  Sadie has returned home with a secret, one not kept for long with a very curious little sister who somehow ferrets out secrets and answers very quickly!  It begins by affecting the whole family, then all their friends and neighbors, and all the members of the local Amish community.  Sadie feels completely misunderstood and is very sad that her friends have turned against her without even knowing the facts of the situation.

    Will Stoltz, a young intern to the local Game Warden, has been appointed to keep track of a falcon family which is laying eggs and apparently will raise their new family on the farm.  The falcons are an endangered species and have attracted huge public interest in their new habitat and activities.  Will, who has some secrets of his own, is invited to live in a small cottage on the farm and, of course, ends up becoming very attracted to Sadie, a girl unlike any other he has ever known in his “English” world.  In addition to his “falcon duties” he is ordered to be useful to Amos with the physical labor involved in keeping a farm up to snuff!  He has never done physical labor before and has a lot to learn!

    Gideon (Gid) Smucker is the schoolteacher at Twin Creeks Schoolhouse where Mary Kate (M.K.) is a student.  He has always intended to eventually court and marry Sadie and is extremely happy she has returned home from her stay in Ohio.  He, however, also turns against her as he believes the rumors and lies which have swirled about her since her return to her home.

    This is a fast-moving story with much serious discussion over thought-provoking situations, and much humor due to the many antics of the younger sister and her friends (and of some of the adults, like elderly Uncle Hank).  The secrets are slowly revealed and resolved in an amazing way.  A huge part of the story involves forgiveness on the part and hearts of many of the characters; seeking God’s forgiveness for wrongs committed and discovering how relationships can change drastically when this has been properly practiced from the heart.  A great read!  The Haven is book #2 in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series.

    The Haven is available beginning August 2012 at your favorite bookseller - from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

And now for the giveaway!

Here is the Giveaway and Party info for Suzanne Wood Fisher’s The Haven!

Win a Kindle Fire or Nook Color from Suzanne Woods Fisher.

RSVP for "The Haven" Video Chat on Thursday, August 30th, 2012!

Enter today ~ August 13 to August 30, 2012

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 29th. Winner will be announced at Suzanne's Live Author Chat Party on 8/30. Suzanne will be hosting an author chat (party will start on Facebook AND then be Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and several Burt's Bees® Nourishing Radiance Kits!!

So grab your copy of The Haven and join Suzanne on the evening of the August 30th for a fun chat (both on Facebook and via Live Video), trivia contest and lots of giveaways.

General Entry: http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/281849

Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/sweepstakeshq/contests/281849

Twitter: http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/twitter/233/contests/281849

Party chat: http://www.facebook.com/SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor/app_208195102528120 

Video Portion: http://www.facebook.com/SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor/app_208195102528120

Julieanne
Joy In Our Journey.com

I received one paperback copy of The Haven in exchange for my honest review of this book.  No other compensation was provided.

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