Book Review: The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher

If you have been following along with my reviews of the Lancaster County Secrets series by Suzanne Woods Fisher, you know that I am a huge fan.  I absolutely adore her writing and these books are wonderful.

When I was given the chance to read the The Search (the 3rd book in the series) I was thrilled.  I am not just saying that either.  I was so excited to get the book and see what is happening in the lives of the characters that I have grown to know thanks to the writing of Suzanne Woods Fisher.  She is an amazing writer with such a gift.  If you haven’t started this series yet, I highly recommend it.  Just don’t ask me to share my books because I am reading them again (and again)!

Okay, now more info about The Search.

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.”

What I love about Suzanne’s writing is that you have a very interesting story but also a message.  This book took several turns… ones that I was sitting on the edge of my seat to get the conclusions to.  To explain how engrossed I was in this story, I read the entire book in about 5 hours.  It is really that good.  As far as the message, it is one that is good for anyone… forgiveness and learning to live through life’s challenges.  Jonah, Bess, and Lainey are all learning to live with what God has given them.  They all have reasons to offer forgiveness and deal with that battle of putting God first and in control of their lives.  One quote in the book really stood out to me:  “… we fail in the work of grace and love when there is too much of us and not enough of God”.  What a fantastic lesson to be learned… not only by those in the book, but everyone that reads it as well.

Would I recommend this book?  Oh yeah.  I loved it as much (or more) than the other two.  I can’t find where I saw that this was the last in the series and I am hoping beyond all hope that it is not the case.  I want to know what happened to Bess.  I want to know how Lainey and Jonah got along.  Heck, I even want to know what comes of Simon!  You can be sure that if there is another book in the Lancaster County Secrets, I will be reading it!

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?)

Disclosure: I received the book reviewed from Litfuse Publicity Group and no compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.