Review: The Waiting

The Waiting (Lancaster County Secrets series - Book 2) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Publication Date: October 2010
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group/ Revell
Format: Paperback, 311 pp
Genre: Christian Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780800733865
ISBN: 0800073386X

(Received for review from Revell)

Synopsis (Courtesy of Barnes & Noble):

Jorie King as been waiting for Benjamin Zook to return home to Lancaster County so they can marry. When news arrives that Ben has been killed, Jorie finds comfort in the friendship of his brother Caleb. That friendship ripens into love, and it seems that they are meant to be together. But when the unexpected happens, their worlds are turned upside down once more. Will Jorie trust God to lead her into the arms of a new man?

A multifaceted story about complex people living the simple life. The Waiting is the second book in the Lancaster County Secrets series. Readers will find themselves transported into the world of the Amish and deeply invested in these wonderful characters.

Thoughts:

Suzanne Woods Fisher takes us back to Lancaster County in her new book, The Waiting. It is the second book in the Lancaster County Secrets series. Fisher is able to take the reader back in time to Lancaster during the Vietnam War and show us how the Amish lived and how they survived the depression of this time period.

Benjamin Zook has been in Vietnam for two years. Jorie King has waited patiently for his return, with plans for a wedding and a home together. When Ben is reported dead by the Army Jorie is devastated and buries herself in her work with the local school children. Trying desperately to help the older students pass an important exam that will decide the fate of the school.

In the meantime, Caleb Zook, Ben's older brother has been working diligently to provide a home for his two brothers as well as his wife, Mary Ann and their daughter when tragedy strikes, not only in Ben's death, but with Mary Ann's diagnosis of leukemia. She has only weeks to live and Caleb is left trying to decide what to do. He has just taken over as the minister of the church and his daughter is only young.

When Caleb and Jorie seek comfort in each other after the deaths of those they love. It seems only natural that they should be together. Caleb proposes but Jorie realizes it is only because he needs a wife and she wants his heart as well as his home.

This is soooo not your average Amish read. There are so many ups and downs in this one, you'll be riveted to your seat, flipping those pages. You'll feel Jorie's pain when she finds out about Ben as well as Caleb's pain at Mary Ann's death. You'll rejoice as love buds between Caleb and Jorie and then find yourself shocked when things are turned upside down once more. I just loved all the twists and turns in this one.

Jorie has to be strong character to deal with all this upheaval. I really liked her as a character. She had some spunk for an Amish gal and she wasn't afraid to untried methods in the classroom as well as in her life. Caleb is strong and loyal and very faithful. Both characters exhibited great understanding and chose to rely on God in the good times as well as the dark times.

I had the privilege to review the first book in this series, The Choice earlier in the year and I really liked it as well. The Waiting can easily stand on it's own. It isn't necessary to read The Choice first but you'll definitely want to pick it up after you devour this one.

Click here to view my review of the first book in the Lancaster County Secrets series, The Choice.

Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

The author Suzanne Fisher is having a giveaway for the latest generation KINDLE, preloaded with her bestselling books, click here for more information.

There is also a Lancaster County Secrets Facebook party scheduled for October 28th with lots of prizes. Click here for more information.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!




Suzanne Woods Fisher's interest in the Anabaptist culture 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 the author of The Choice, Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She hosts an internet radio show called Amish Wisdom and lives with her family in California.