About the book...
On a warm spring day, Sadie Lapp returns home to her quiet, unassertive life in Stoney Ridge after spending the winter in Ohio.
Gideon Smucker, an awkward schoolteacher, has been in love with Sadie since childhood and eagerly awaits her return. But does Sadie feel the same about him?
Will Stoltz, a charming and impetuous college student, has been banished for a semester and sent to babysit endangered peregrine falcons nesting at the Lapp farm. He'd rather be anywhere else...until he befriends Sadie.
As the hops and ambitions of these three young people converge, life in stoney Ridge many never be the same.
My thoughts...
I usually enjoy a good Amish Christian Romance, regardless of the storyline. This one, however, came up short. Maybe it was the book's synopsis...in my opinion, it didn't portray the story as well as it could have. Maybe it was the writing. Maybe I have read a bit too many of these type of books and my standards are higher than they should be.
Suzanne Woods Fisher is a talented writer, and I have come to anticipate the release of her novels. With that being said, I would direct new readers to some of her previous novels, The Haven would be my least favorite out of all she has written. Does that mean I didn't enjoy reading it? No, it was not a total loss. I did find my self skimming some of the pages trying to get ahead to see where the story was going.
While I liked the characters of Sadie, Will, and Gideon, I didn't feel they ever reached their full development. Just as a thought or plot was taking place, we were tossed in to another situation or scenario. Sometimes the original was revisited, other times I was just left wondering.
A truly great story will allow for a reviewer's words to flow freely...while a mediocre one will leave the blogger struggling, as this one did. If you're a fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher, you may want to read The Haven to continue on with your favorite characters from The Keeper (first book of this series). If you are newer to her books, I suggest starting with her Lancaster County Secrets series first!
This book earned 3.5 stars.
**I received this book free in exchange of my honest review**
Shondra, I want you to know that I am not critisizing you for you are only doing what you are suppose to do. But, I was thinking if you don't want to keep this book in your library, maybe you could do a contest with it. I for one would like to have it because I have the Keeper. Please think about it. I enjoy reading your reviews and am one of your followers. Maxie ( (mac262@me.com)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion Maxie! 98% of my books are either donated to my local library, passed on to friends, or used for aa online giveaway!
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