The Search By Suzane Woods Fisher - REVIEWED

Love in Amish Country

A touching tale of secrets and young love in the Amish community,

from the series that Romantic Times has called “refreshing.”

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher has written extensively about the Amish, releasing both fiction and non-fiction books that have won the hearts of reviewers in both in and out of the Amish community. Now comes The Search, Fisher’s latest fiction novel in the Lancaster County Secrets series.

Fifteen years ago, Lainey O'Toole made a split-second decision. She couldn't have known that her choice would impact so many. Now in her mid-twenties, she is poised to go to culinary school when her car breaks down in Stoney Ridge, the very Amish town in which her long-reaching decision was made, forcing her to face the shadowed past.

Bess Reihl is less than thrilled to be spending the summer at Rose Hill Farm with her large and intimidating grandmother, Bertha. It quickly becomes clear that she is there to work the farm—and work hard. The labor is made slightly more tolerable by the time it affords Bess to spend with the handsome hired hand, Billy Lapp. But he only has eyes for a flirty and curvaceous older girl.

Lainey's and Bess's worlds are about to collide and the secrets that come to light will shock them both.

Beautifully written, The Search is a skillfully woven story that takes readers through unexpected twists and turns on the long country road toward truth. Fans both old and new will find themselves immersed in this heartwarming—and surprising—tale of young love, forgiveness, and coming to grips with the past.

My Thoughts:

“A single decision, a moment in time, and the ground could shift beneath your feet.” (p. 69)

Suzanne Fisher knows how to seamlessly portray human nature and all of its frailties within the framework of the Amish lifestyle and create multi-layered stories that deeply satisfy readers. In the third book of her Lancaster Secrets series, The Search, readers might think they are in for a simple love story. However, what you find within the covers of the book are a host of people searching for resolution, reconciliation, and reassurance that God still wants the best for them all. Lives are intertwined seamlessly over a myriad of circumstances and years to create a story that will remind readers that all of us make choices every single day that have the potential to change many lives forever.

I dearly loved the character of Bertha Riehl! I loved the fact that she loved her family enough to push them in a right direction after years of tragedy. However, the end result was not what she imagined it would be. Lainey and Jonah are two more characters reeling from loss and lives devoid of meaningful relationship, and both of them discover a treasure – old and new – in Bess. Bess on the other hand, finds herself in a whirlwind summer of new discoveries, new friendships and new knowledge about her family that takes her on a very unexpected journey.

All in all, this was a very satisfying read on many levels. The young-adult perspective was a nice change of pace from all of the adults trying to find their way, and the combination really worked for this story. I am happy to recommend it to you!

About the Author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the CBA bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, Amish Peace, and Amish Proverbs. 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. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California.