The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 

Title: The Choice

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher: Revell (January 10, 2010)
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3385-8
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
About the book: from Goodreads

With a vibrant, fresh style Suzanne Woods Fisher brings readers into the world of a young Amish woman torn between following the man she loves--or joining the community of faith that sustains her, even as she questions some of the decisions of her elders. Her choice begins a torrent of change for her and her family, including a marriage of convenience to silent Daniel Miller. Both bring broken hearts into their arrangement--and secrets that have been held too long. Filled with gentle romance, The Choice opens the world of the Amish--their strong communities, their simple life, and their willingness to put each other first. Combined with Fisher's exceptional gift for character development, this novel, the first in a series, is a welcome reminder that it is never too late to find your way back to God.

My thoughts:
In this overscheduled, chaotic world we live in, it's such a breath of fresh air to read this book where the characters are rooted in what ultimately is important to survive in this world: family, faith and a community who anticipates your needs before you can articulate your needs. The characters are so precious. I found myself sad at each loss and triumphant at each success. The Choice is just a feel-good book that allowed me to slow down a little and be immersed in a different world. This wasn't a fantasy world, but the way things are in some places, and perhaps the way things could be again.

We have specials on people who live "green," or the newest "green house" in the neighborhood, but I'm fascinated by the Amish lifestyle from this book and eager to learn more about their ways. As a self-proclaimed techie, and gadget hoarder, I was fascinated when Carrie and her new husband Daniel move into their new house and the community comes to work on the house to get it ready for them. Working on the house for them meant undoing all the modern conveniences to make it suitable. They disconnected the electricity, unhooked the telephone jacks, hauled away the washing machine, electric dryer, air conditioning, and even pulled screens off windows. I understand about the washing machine, but I don't get how the screens on the windows are a modern convenience. What could I live without? It really wouldn't be that hard to live in Hawaii without electricity, county water and telephones. It's even possible to live without dryers and stoves. The fishing village of Milolii is totally off grid, but I think the faith and the support of the community would need to be strong in order to live like this.

I think we need more innocent books like this and I can't wait for more books to come out in the Lancaster County Secrets series. 

Review and Blog Tour for The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Title: The Choice
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher: Revell (January 10, 2010)
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3385-8

Description from the publisher :
Lancaster County has always been her home--but where does her heart belong?
One moment Carrie Weaver was looking forward to running away with Lancaster Barnstormers pitcher Solomon Riehl--plans that included leaving the Amish community where they grew up. The next moment she was staring into a future as broken as her heart. Now, Carrie is faced with a choice. But will this opportunity be all she hoped? Or will this decision, this moment in time, change her life forever?
A tender story of love, forgiveness, and looking below the surface, The Choice uncovers the sweet simplicity of the Amish world--and shows that it's never too late to find your way back to God.

About the author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher, unlike the Amish she writes about, is very much "online." She is a  wife and mom, raiser of puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and an author of Christian books, both non-fiction and fiction.

Her relatives on her mother's side are Old Order German Baptist Brethren, also known as Dunkards. That's where her interest in Anabaptist traditions began. Her grandfather, a former teacher in a one-room school in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and a publisher of Christianity Today, inspired Ms. Fisher to write.

Interested yet?

I personally do not have a copy of The Choice, but I will purchase one on February 15th, the official kickoff date. I read many blogs about this book and I'm eager to start reading. If you want to get involved too, here's some contests and events:

Live Chat with Suzanne Woods Fisher  - join Ms. Fisher for a live author chat on Monday, 2/15 at 8 pm EST at the link above. Purchase a copy of The Choice on the 15th and send in your receipt to amy@litfusegroup.com to be entered for a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com. There'll also be great prizes during the live chat.  (Check out Suzanne's blog for the answers to the trivia questions during the chat).

Contest - Enter to win a signed copy of the book! Tweet this:

Psst... pass it on! Join @suzannewfisher for a Book Bomb & Author Talk! Details here http://ow.ly/W84r #thechoice 

Please make sure to use the hashtag #thechoice to be entered. BONUS: Every blogger on the tour who tweets this will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to Amazon. There is no limit on the times you tweet it.