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lanehillhouse
, September 11, 2014
(view all comments by lanehillhouse)
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Christmas at Rose Hill Farm: An Amish Love Story by Suzanne Woods Fisher, © 2014
Billy Lapp's visitor's eyes were like that ~ Neither blue nor purple, they were a near-perfect match for the amethyst crystal interior of a geode he remembered that Dawdi Zook, his mother's father, had kept on his fireplace mantel back in Stoney Ridge....While the minerals on the exterior created a hard shell, the ones that seeped to the interior were transformed into beauty. An example from nature to show how God brings good out of bad.
--Christmas at Rose Hill Farm, 18
Billy's memories of Stoney Ridge came to the surface unbidden. He is a rose rustler for Penn State ~ identifying heirlooms long forgotten. Like his life it seems.
Bess Riehl goes to the bus stop to pick up the stranger coming to identify their "lost" potted rose she found beneath a workbench in the greenhouse at Rose Hill Farm. Growing heirloom roses, this one stood off by itself, hidden from view it seemed. Strong rootstock had been in the Riehl family for generations; sturdy, disease resistant, and able to survive even in neglected gardens.
Billy left four years ago, unknown to Bess of his whereabouts. Cousin and childhood friend of Amos Lapp, Bess's soon groom-to-be, Billy comes back to Stoney Ridge to identify the rose. Having to wait until the rosebud opened to complete his research, Billy commutes from Penn State to the Riehl's greenhouse frequently. Memories from his past with his family and with Bess define what he has left behind.
This story grows as forgiveness is paramount in going forward. Within heart-searching, Billy, Amos, and Bess find true meaning in where they are and where they can be with pride extinguished. The bright spot in their lives is the bishop's daughter, Maggie Zook. She lightens up the mood with her quirkiness.
I looked forward to and anticipated George coming on the scene to help Billy out, in his wise words and in covering Billy's work at the College Station greenhouse while Billy was away. He is Billy's comfortable visitor coming in out of the cold, sharing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and hot coffee. He was ready with what was needed by Billy specifically.
I am reminded of Psalm 139, how our loving Father is with us and never leaves us.
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.
***Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group for inviting me to be part of the blog tour for Suzanne Woods Fisher's novel ~ Christmas at Rose Hill Farm. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***
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