Julia Lapp has planned on marrying Paul Fisher since she was a girl. Now twenty-one, she looks forward to their wedding with giddy anticipation. When Paul tells her he wants to postpone the wedding--again--she knows who is to blame. Perpetual bachelor and spreader of cold feet, Roman Troyer, theBee Man.
Roamin' Roman travels through the Amish communities of Ohio and Pennsylvania with his hives full of bees, renting them out to farmers in need of pollinators. He relishes his nomadic life, which keeps him from thinking about all he has lost. He especially enjoys bringing his bees to Stoney Ridge each year. But with Julia on a mission to punish him for inspiring Paul's cold feet, the Lapp farm is looking decidedly less pleasant.
Can Julia secure the future she's always dreamed of? Or does God have something else in mind?
My Thoughts:
Suzanne Woods Fisher writes far more than Amish fiction in The Keeper. Within the context of an Amish community, Fisher presents a love story full of doubt, confusion and the chance of discovery. Fisher creates a story true to life, where the characters are not certain which path to take, which choice is right or what life holds for them in the future. Quite often they find themselves unsure, when things don't fall in the confines of black and white, the gray areas dominate and the characters are left to decipher their path given the events and circumstances of their lives.
One of the things I enjoy most about Suzanne Fisher's writing is her ability to keep Amish and English equal. More often than not, Amish fiction depicts Amish as good and English as the evil, when in reality we are all equal and no one is perfect. I appreciate that even though the beliefs are different Fisher brings out the best in her Amish and English characters, giving them human qualities of friendship, acceptance and understanding. I enjoy the drama brought by the struggle between ones self and their beliefs without the put down of one side over another.
Inside this story is a tender, clean romance full of family, friends and relate able characters. The novel which is the first in its series leaves you anticipating the release of book two. The book is well written, integrating faith, personal conflict and uncertainty together with hope and faith in each character, giving the reader an intimate look at each character, their personality and their thoughts. The story is engaging, humorous and heartwarming. I enjoyed her fast paced, witty writing style. Before I knew it, I'd finished the book. it's a great contemporary Amish romance for those who prefer clean, dramatic love stories or for those who want a break from their normal reading. It's a mini vacation for your taking, as you find yourself transplanted from the living room to an Amish farm.
Highly Recommended
About the Author:
Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. She has many, many Plain relatives living in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and travels back to Pennsylvania, as well as to Ohio, a couple of times each year for research.
Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. In both her fiction and non-fiction books, she has an underlying theme: You don't have to "go Amish" to incorporate many of their principles--simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily-- into your life.
When Suzanne isn't writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne's way of thinking, you just can't take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth.
Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.
About the Giveaway
It's a "honey of a giveaway"!
Enter to win an iPad2 from Suzanne and connect with her on January 17th at The Keeper Facebook Party!
During the giveaway one Grand Prize winner will receive a Prize Pack valued at $600:
- A brand new 16 KB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
- A $25 gift certificate to iTunes
- A copy of The Keeper
But wait there's more! Just click one of the icons below to enter, then on 1/17 join Suzanne for The Keeper Facebook Party! During the party Suzanne will announce the winner of the "Honey" of an iPad Giveaway and host a fun book chat and give away some fun "honey" inspired prizes - It'll be 'sweet"!
Tell your friends on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Good luck and we hope to see you on the 17th at 5:00 PM PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST, 8:00 EST)!
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