You probably know by now that I am no fan of Amish fiction. The instant I see a cover with a bonnet on it, I know that's a book I don't want to read.However, there's one notable exception: I read everything Suzanne Woods Fisher writes. I don't know what it is about her writing—maybe it's the fact that most of her books at least loosely tie together, kind of like Karen Kingsbury's Baxter series did—but I cannot get enough of it! I love the people of Stoney Ridge, and I'm always eager to check back in with them.
It was a well-laid plan--but it wasn't her plan . . .
It's all her grandmother's fault. For the last few months, Abigail Stoltzfus has helped her father with his genealogical research, hoping that breaking through a client's brick wall would also break his melancholy. But now her intrusive grandmother has set her sights on marrying off Abigail and insists she come to Stoney Ridge, where there is a plethora of eligible bachelors.
Except that Mammi is mistaken. There are no eligible bachelors in Stoney Ridge, barring one, and he's all wrong. Dane Glick has the wrong last name and the wrong relatives—including the bishop who is at odds over a church matter with Abigail's uncle, minister David Stoltzfus.
As the conflict grows, setting family against family, it's becoming clear that the path to a solution may lead to a Quieting--a removal of a church leader. But for which one? And when Abigail stumbles onto a curious connection during her genealogical research, it could help David solve one problem—but will it create another?
The Quieting, book two in Fisher's The Bishop's Family series, picks up right where The Imposter (book one) left off (so yes, you really should read The Imposter first). Widowed minister David Stoltzfus knows that Stoney Ridge's bishop, Freeman Glick, rigged things so that he would become bishop, but David isn't sure what steps to take next. Complicating matters is the arrival of unexpected guests—David's mother and his nieces—whose goal is to "help" David with his children and business.
The Quieting focuses on three people: David, his son Jesse, and his niece Abigail. Of the three stories, I especially enjoyed Abigail's. She is an unusual candidate for a love story, with her tendency toward bluntness and her obliviousness to social cues. (She actually reminded me of a college friend who, like Abigail, did find her "happily ever after." Maybe I should try being more blunt!) I thought her romance with Dane was quite sweet, and it was also comical.
Besides the romance, The Quieting also provides a fascinating look into the way Amish churches deal with ministerial problems—of course those problems exist, but they're not something usually spotlighted in Amish fiction.
Now that I've finished The Quieting, I'm very eager to continue the series, which is shaping up to be my favorite of Fisher's so far! 5 stars.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Fisher's The Bishop's Family series: The Imposter (5 stars); Inn at Eagle Hill series: The Letters (3-1/2 stars), The Calling (5 stars), The Rescue (novella: 4-1/2 stars), The Revealing (5 stars); her Stoney Ridge Seasons series: The Haven (4-1/2 stars), The Lesson (4-1/2 stars); her Christmas books: A Lancaster County Christmas and Christmas at Rose Hill Farm (4-1/2 stars), and her Amish Beginnings novel: Anna's Crossing (4-1/2 stars).
Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author whose most recent novels include Anna's Crossing and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.
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