The HavenWhen 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.
Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
About the Author: 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.
My Take:
After reading and enjoying The Keeper, the first in the Stoney Ridge series, I was looking forward to reading this next book. Since I was already familiar with the characters, I was able to jump right into the story and reconnect with the folks in Stoney Ridge. I really like it when each book in a series tells a different person's story, so I was excited to read about Sadie this time.
Again, the story is told from the point of view of each of the many characters in this book, but it was fairly easy to keep everything straight. I enjoy getting to know what's going on from everyone's point of view. This was especially important in this book because it felt like more of a character-driven novel rather than a story-driven novel. The plots were there, but since it seemed a bit unbalanced (quick beginning and then a slower middle that then raced to the end), then I found myself focusing more on the characters rather than the story as a whole.
I really enjoyed Will in this novel. I loved experiencing his growth in his fledgling relationship with God and also just his zest for life. The theme of forgiveness like Christ forgave us comes through loud and clear. I liked Sadie, but not as much as I did Will. I also thought that Gideon was an unsympathetic character - I'm not sure how I felt about him - and that a lot of the issues in the novel would have never occured if people had just talked to each other! (Kind of a pet peeve of mine in novels...)
*****Possible SPOILER Alert*****
I do have to say that I wasn't too happy with the question mark at the end of this book. Maybe this was why I felt that the novel raced at the very end .... because it didn't feel like it went anywhere. I know I have just gotten used to the normal Christian Fiction style of boy meets girl, then there is a crisis, then the crisis is resolved, and everyone lives happily ever after - but I still felt a bit let down not knowing.
*****OK, Spoiler Over*****
All that being said, I did enjoy this novel. It didn't quite have the same zing that the first one did (I think I was just more interested in the beekeeping aspect of the last one than the falcon aspect of this one), but I still want to continue to read this series. I am excited to see what kind of things Mary Kate will get into in her story! :)
I will give The Haven ... 3 ½ BookWorms.
Celebrate the newest book in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series with Suzanne by
entering her 4 eReader Giveaway and Facebook Party and RSVPing for the Live Video
Chat on 8/30!
See what folks are saying about The Haven!
- A Brand new Kindle Fire or Nook Color
- $25 Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble.com Gift certificate
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.
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a>Don't miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 30th!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell/Baker Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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