~ MONDAY FICTION FEATURE ANYTHING BUT PLAIN ~

 

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 ~  MONDAY AMISH FICTION FEATURE  ~

 

--  'ANYTHING BUT PLAIN'  --

 

AUTHOR SUZANNE WOODS FISHER 

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

 

Leaving Stoney Ridge feels unbearable--but how can she stay?

Impulsive Lydie Stoltzfus has always felt like a disappointment--a square peg in a round hole in her quiet Amish community. Leaving her family and church seems like her best move, even though it would mean leaving Nathan Yoder behind. Nathan claims he's in love with her, but she knows she's not good enough for him. And if she is ever in doubt, Nathan's father reminds her frequently.

Knowing Lydie is "between" jobs again, the local doctor asks her to fill in at the front desk for a few months. This gives Lydie time to figure out how she's going to say goodbye to Nathan--and it gives Dok ample time to recognize the symptoms of a disorder rare among the Amish. She offers Lydie treatment that has the potential to change her life.

But will it be enough to make her stay? Or has help come too late?

 

LINK TO EXCERPT COURTESY OF THE PUBLISHER:

http://cdn.bakerpublishinggroup.com/processed/book-resources/files/Excerpt_9780800739515.pdf?1655414638

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than thirty books, including The Sweet Life, The Moonlight School, and A Season on the Wind, as well as the Three Sisters Island, Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop's Family, The Deacon's Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She lives in California.

 

Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and Twitter @suzannewfisher.

 

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MY REVIEW:

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

 

 

A thought-provoking story about a unique Amish woman . . .

 

Lydie Stoltzfus can't seem to hold down a job, and she feels as if she's a constant disappointment to her family, friends, and close Amish community. She flitters from one thing to the next without completing any one task, and she doesn't know how to stay focused. She considers herself a 'misfit.'

 

Her father, David, is the bishop of their community. His patience, kindness, and affection for his daughter are admirable; but he wonders if he is helping her to be the person she was created to be. Her paternal grandmother is extremely critical and harsh of just about everything about Lydie. Just being around her grandmother causes Lydie untold stress and anxiety which makes her inability to focus even greater.

 

Finally, someone close to Lydie who truly understands her strengths and weaknesses steps in to help the struggling young woman. She shares some sage advice and life skills with Lydie. The result of this woman's patience and guidance makes a world of difference for Lydie.

 

Nathan Yoder, a gifted gardener and farmer, is a longtime friend and neighbor of the Stoltzfus family. He is interested in Lydie, but his father has inexplicably warned his son away from their neighbor. In fact, Mr. Yoder goes out of his way to be unkind and obnoxious toward Lydie.

 

I enjoyed learning about Nathan's efforts to turn a portion of his family's farm into an organic garden filled with vegetables and fruits. The author shared a good deal of information about the issue of organic farming that I found interesting.

 

Although Lydie constantly feels overwhelmed, her positive impact on her family and on Nathan is evident. She is creative and clever when it comes to solving problems. She is goodhearted and generous with her time and energy.

 

The faith thread is woven throughout this story in subtle and overt ways. Readers are reminded through Lydie's experiences that we are all created in God's image.

 

I've read several of this author's Amish romances and other fiction genres in the past few years. One of my favorite things about Suzanne Woods Fisher's books is that they deal with tough issues in a straight forward, honest way. She obviously researches her topics thoroughly in preparation for writing the book. Themes from previous books include addiction, recovery, depression, and suicide.  

 

This book is completely clean in language and content.

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through their Revell Reads Blogger Program. All of my thoughts and opinions shared here are solely my own.

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