"the calling" by suzanne woods fisher

About the book (from Litfuse): Book Two in the Inn at Eagle Hill series.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the deceptively quiet community of Stoney Ridge.

Twenty-year-old Bethany Schrock is restless. Her love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending the incredibly hot summer days wading through a lifetime's accumulation of junk at the home of five ancient Amish sisters. About the only thing that holds her interest is the spirited and dangerously handsome Jimmy Fisher—and he seems bent on irritating her to no end.

When the sly old sisters and a guest at the Inn get Bethany involved in running the local soup kitchen and starting a community garden, she suddenly finds herself wondering, Shootfire! How did that happen? Despite her newfound purposefulness, a gnawing emptiness about a childhood mystery continues to plague her. Encouraged by Jimmy Fisher, she will seek out the answers she craves—and uncover a shocking secret that will break her heart, heal it, and point her to love.

My take: The Calling is a wonderful continuation of Suzanne Woods Fisher's "The Inn at Eagle Hill" series. The first book (The Letters) focused on Rose Schrock, a widow who turns her home into an inn to support her family. The Calling is about Rose's grown step-daughter Bethany, who is reeling from the discovery that her ex-boyfriend is far from the man she thought he was.

When I read The Letters, I basically skimmed through anything concerning Bethany. I thought she was a self-centered brat who seriously lacked judgement ... and she was. But in The Calling, Bethany grows up, and I greatly enjoyed watching her transform from that reckless girl into a faith-filled, responsible woman.

The other characters were just as fun to read about: Bethany's younger sister Mim, who masquerades as the columnist "Mrs. Miracle"; Geena, the youth pastor who retreats to the inn only to find her true calling; Jimmy Fisher, a favorite character from Fisher's previous Stoney Ridge series who has finally (finally!) grown up; and, of course, UNCLE HANK, the sweet, near-deaf man who is hopelessly in love with Jimmy's mother.

One thing I love about Fisher's writing is the connections she makes between characters—connections that I never anticipate but that seem to make perfect sense. I also enjoy getting to read about Englisch characters, as they are the ones who stay at the inn.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is my favorite Amish fiction writer because of the humor, twists, and "realness" she inserts into each novel. While I only liked The Letters, I completely fell in love with The Calling, and now I can't wait to read The Revealing, which releases in July.

My rating: 5 stars

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read an excerpt.
Read my reviews of Fisher's The Letters, The Haven and The Lesson (Stoney Ridge Seasons #2 & 3), and A Lancaster County Christmas.

About the author: Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California.

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Learn more about Suzanne at http://suzannewoodsfisher.com

About the giveaway: Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher is celebrating her newest book, The Calling, by giving away TWO iPads, TWO Kindles, and TWO Nooks!
 

Two grand prize winners will receive:

• An iPad
• The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Four second place winners will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX or a Nook HD—winner's choice!
• The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. All winners will be announced February 10th at Suzanne's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 10th to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."