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Gideon Smucker, an awkward schoolteacher, has been in love with Sadie since childhood and eagerly awaits her return. But does Sadie feel the same about him?
Will Stoltz, a charming and impetuous college student, has been banished for a semester and sent to babysit endangered peregrine falcons nesting at the Lapp farm. He'd rather be anywhere else . . . until he befriends Sadie.
As the hopes and ambitions of these three young people converge, life in Stoney Ridge may never be the same.
Once again, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher intrigues and delights with a story that explores the bonds of friendship, family, and true love in this captivating series.
"A heartwarming story of faith, family, and renewal filled with characters that come alive on the page like old friends, The Haven will captivate fans of Amish fiction and readers who love an endearing romance."--Amy Clipston, bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series
"The Haven is a warm, touching novel about the power of familial bonds. Once you dip into this novel set in the charming town created by Suzanne Woods Fisher, you'll be hooked."--Beth Wiseman, bestselling author of the Daughters of the Promise series
"Suzanne Woods Fisher's novels are always such a joy to read! I found The Haven charming, humorous, and compelling--so much so that I had to remind myself to put the book down and get back to work! I'll be joining her many fans by the calendar, anxiously awaiting her next book to be released."--Shelley Shepard Gray, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, The Search, and The Keeper, 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. Suzanne is the host of internet radio show Amish Wisdom and a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California.
Birmingham_Mom
Posted September 14, 2012
I loved this series and highly recommend it. Hard to put down.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.While Amish fiction isn't my usual genre, I love Suzanne Woods Fisher's writing. Her humor and heart make every one of her novels a delight. In The Haven, Sadie, Will, and Gideon are interesting and complex characters--and Sadie's little sister MK steals every scene she's in. I also loved the thought-provoking message about gossip and passing judgment. This story is a treat.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 25, 2012
Suzanne Woods Fisher is an absolutely amazing author! Her writing reflects the ups and downs of living the simple Amish life. I highly recommend The Stoney Ridge Series to anyone that enjoys Christian books. The characters made me laugh and cry. I felt like I was reading letters from my own relatives. Thanks Suzanne for sharing your creativity and talent. Always a fan! DG
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Marilyn65
Posted February 15, 2013
Love the stories about the Amish and there ways. This was a little different but very interesting!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.sunshineJB
Posted February 12, 2013
A Story About Forgiveness!
I really enjoyed this book and picked it up as often as I could. It is one of those stories' that grabs you from the first page to the last page.
Sadie Lapp returns home after spending the winter in Ohio with her sister and brother-in-law. She brings a surprise with her that causes tongues to wag in the community. This causes much distress for Sadie to think that people could actually think the worst about her.
Mary Kate (MK) is up to being her same old self when it comes to spying on others and spreading gossip. I loved her in "The Keeper" and she is still one of my favorite characters.
This is a heart warming story about God's grace and forgiveness. It is always easy to see other's that need to forgive but how often do we see it in ourselves? It's about doing the right thing. We find that God's love comes through once again.
I can't wait to read book 3, The Lesson.
schoolmarmGG
Posted October 12, 2012
A nesting pair of Peregrine falcons is the reason Will is living at the Lapp farm. This complicates matters for Sadie who is trying to make s decision about her future. It also upsets Gideon, the school teacher,
who has loved Sadie since childhood. Add to the mix, misunderstanding, poor communication and deceit and trouble arises.
I love the lyrical way Suzanne Woods Fisher is able to put her words together. I read the first book in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, The Keeper, back in July in preparation for reading The Haven for this blog tour. It was the first book of the Amish genre I'd ever attempted reading, and I found out quickly enough that Suzanne's writing is so engaging that it didn't matter that I wouldn't generally seek out Amish fiction as my first preference. Her engaging writing and story-telling abilities make it worth the read.
I had actually hoped for a different ending, but that might be because I don't usually read stories about the Amish and should have known better. I did like The Keeper a little more than The Haven, but I think it had more to do with there being a clearly defined hero-character, and my having a little more in common with Julia Lapp than her younger, seventeen year old sister Sadie. I look forward to seeing what kind of mischief their little sister MK will get into in the next and final book in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, The Lesson.
I was given a paperback copy of this book by Revell in order to read it and give my honest review for this LitFuse Publicity Blog Tour. I give The Haven 4 stars.
Sadie Lapp returns home to Stoney Ridge after a long winter visit to Ohio. As she approaches her home there seems to be a large crowd on the road and property. What a wonderful surprise she is told there is a pair of peregrine falcons preparing to nest on their property. Her brother would have loved watching the falcons. As she greets her family it is very apparent she also has a little surprise for them. She isn't sure how they will react to her surprise, especially Gideon Smucker whom she has been in love with since childhood.
She also finds out there is a newcomer to her home. Will Stolz is a handsome Englischer and college student. He has been assigned by the Game Warden to log all the activity of the endangered peregrine falcons nesting. The best way for him to do that was to stay in the small cabin that is on their property so he would have easy access the the falcons.
As Sadie gets settled in she is surprised as to how easy it is to talk with Will. When I say with I mean he actually talks to her. Will has also proven to be a big help with her little surprise. She has never had this kind of friendship with Gideon. Now she is reevaluating her relationship with Gideon. It seems Sadie is not the only person in Stoney Ridge that is reevaluating their lives and the need of companionship with someone to share their lives with.
The author never fails to write from her heart and soul. She writes of the importance of prayer, faith and hope in God's Plan. She emphasizes self esteem in one's self, forgiveness and repentance. Then there is the big issue of gossiping and the the damage and pain it has on everyone. The author reveals a good approach to the sin of gossiping.
I really like this excerpt from the discussions questions:
What is the difference between sharing information and spreading gossip? The Amish proverb might help: "There is a vast difference between putting your nose in other people's business and putting your heart in other people's problems."
I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure
I received a copy of this book from Litfuse/Revell/Baker Publishing for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. It is my own opinion.
This book continues where The Keeper left off...I recommend you read that book...but you can read this one alone. Enough facts are given to make this a great read.
Sadie Lapp arrives home to see people all over her farm. She is a quiet soul and does not like attention. When Mary Kate sees her, the rest of the family do too. We find that Sadie is not alone, she has brought a basket with a baby in it??
M K does what Mary Kate does best and starts the Amish Grapevine going. Poor Sadie is beside herself, but she does not want to part with the baby.
Also new to the farm is Will Stolfz...he is there to help on the farm, and to watch the Falcons, which look like they are going to nest. Hence the many people on the farm...looking to see these rare birds.
Gid Smucker has loved Sadie forever, and is thrilled to have her home, but does Sadie still have the same feelings for him?
This one has a lot of questions being asked, and it finished with more questions.
Will Sadie be shunned? Does she choose Will or Gid, also will Amos declare his feelings for Fern? or will Ira win her heart?
Don't miss this book, you will wish it would never end..a real page turner. Enjoy....and then pray for the next book to be out soon!!
I received this book from Litfuse Publicity Tours, and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.
THESELF-TAUGHTCOOK
Posted August 18, 2012
Sadie Lapp returned home from her visit to Berlin, Ohio with a surprise. Not a large surprise in size, but huge in the effect it had on her, her family and the community. When she arrived with a baby in a basket, she never imagined the chaos and confusion that would ensue.
Gideon Smucker has been waiting for Sadie to return from her trip, but he never dreamed she would not be coming home empty handed. Gideon's assumptions and well-meaning attempts to help only hinder his pursuit of Sadie. Gideon has a rival in Englischer Will Stoltz, who is working for the Game Warden. As the three lives entangle, Sadie has to make a decision which will affect her entire future.
First, I would like to say that this is Book Two of the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, a fact of which I was unaware when I began reading the book. Therefore, for the first few chapters, I was "plumb ferhoodled". When I got the characters straightened out and understood the background a little better, I began to enjoy the story. There was a little more comic relief than I prefer in these series, but this is not a terrible problem. I enjoyed it enough to know that I have to look for Book One before Book Three becomes available.
3 stars
“Available August 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Welcome back to Stoney Ridge! Spring usually signals the rebirth of life and the end of a long winter. Hope returns and there is beauty to be found everywhere. Now that spring is here, I want to introduce you to a few new friends!
Sadie Lapp, she lives in Stoney Ridge on Windmill Farm and today is her first day back after being away in Berlin, Ohio, and helping her sister Julia, and her brother in law, Roman settle into Roman's childhood home. While she was there she spent every day learning from a healer, an elderly Old Order Amish women, Deborah Yoder, in hopes she can bring some of that back to her home and the people who live here. But Sadie shows up at her family's farm with an unexpected bundle in her basket, a baby. How will she ever explain this to her father?
Will Stoltz, has now been assigned a task to baby sit a family of Peregrine Falcons who have made their home on Windmill Farm. Being an endangered and rare species to bird lovers everywhere, game warden Mahlon Miller wants to endure they remain that way. Since Will was suspended from the university, his father has worked out an arrangement with Mahlon that Will be permitted to intern as a game warden and babysit the falcons until the babies have hatched and are ready to leave the nest. Will isn't exactly thrilled with this new assignment and makes arrangements to stay in a cottage on the Lapp's farm to avoid causing the family any undo hardship having him there in exchange for helping out around the farm. But Will always made it a point to dodge physical labor - academics were more to his liking. Oh, this wasn't good. not good at all. But will he be able to keep his mind on his work? Maybe this was a gift in disguise.
Gideon Smucker is the newest school teacher this year at Twin Creeks School house and can't wait to teach all the kids from town this year. However he has a school boy's crush on Sadie Lapp and has since they went to school together. Now if he can only keep his mind on school work in between writing letters and sharing books with Sadie when she was in Ohio. Seems like life is about to get very interesting this spring! Hope you'll decide to join us and pick up a copy of The Haven to find out just what is going to happen next!
I received The Haven by Suzanne Woods Fisher compliments of Litfuse Publicity for my honest review and since haven't read The Keeper, the first book in the Stoney Ridge Season Series, I couldn't wait to see where Suzanne would take some of her characters in this sequel. If you haven't had a chance to read The Keeper, Suzanne does a great job at catching you up in the first chapter with where the characters have come from before this story picks up, but trust me, this one is so good, you'll want to pick up The Keeper to get the back story on all the details! I have to say, I can't wait for the next one in this series and rate, The Haven a 5 out of 5 stars.
hannahetrotter
Posted August 13, 2012
The Haven is a story of love, friendship, and the many decisions that life brings along our way. Sadie Lapp lives a simple life filled with her family and her love for helping others with natural remedies. But things become much more complicated when Sadie dozes off at the train station, and awakens to find someone has left her a baby, with no explanation whatsoever. Things get even worse when Sadie brings home the baby, and nasty rumors start to swirl.
The Lapp family’s life wasn’t already without heartache though. About a year ago, Menno, the only son in the family was killed suddenly in an accident. Amos Lapp, a widower, was in grave need of a heart transplant, and doctors quickly worked to place in him the heart of his son. However, as Amos battles feelings of fatigue he fears his body may reject this precious gift.
We also meet Will Stoltz, who while trying to make something of his life, seems to be falling farther and farther away from his father’s high expectations. When he eventually gets suspended from law school, he ends up spending his summer on an Amish farm babysitting endangered falcons. While he anticipates his time there to be dreadful, he quickly finds himself falling in love with the lovely Sadie Lapp, and he discovers the love of his Heavenly Father as well.
This sweet, coming of age story will be sure to capture your heart, and the identity of Sadie’s mystery baby will surprise and touch you!
Suzanne Woods Fisher is also the author of other Amish fiction, including The Choice, The Waiting, The Search and The Keeper.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from a publicity agency. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts expressed above are entirely my own.
Icecream18JA
Posted July 30, 2012
Coming home to Windmill Farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Sadie Lapp is shocked to find her farm swarmed by people – even news crews. A rare American peregrine falcon pair has decided to nest on her farm; this means that Will Stoltz, an almost medical student with family and legal problems, will be staying on the farm to watch over the rare birds. However, this shock cannot outdo the surprise of finding a baby in a basket. The temporary teacher, Gideon Smucker - who’s loved Sadie for years, and everyone else in their church assumes the worst about the appearance of the baby after Sadie’s stay with her sister in Ohio.
Writing the summary above made me realize how much is going on in this book. This is book 2, and I didn’t read the first novel. However, it is easy to get into the story without having read the first. The first pages had me thinking – oops, this is a soap opera. There’s a brother who passed away and dad who now has his son’s heart; but once I began to know the characters, I really started to appreciate all the relationships and personalities. Seeing Sadie develop her healing skills and ability to speak out for herself and others was great; I felt so bad for her when her church came down so hard on her before hearing the whole story. Reading about Will’s problems and then seeing how life on the farm, hard work, nature, and an sympathetic wise girl could help him straighten out his life got me out of the house for a long walk to admire the trees. All of this goodness/forgiveness is, luckily, balanced with humor (that’s what Sadie’s sister M.K. is for) and no-nonsense action/advice (that’s what Fern is for.) M.K. and a friend blow up a stove pipe. Fern gets Will’s father off his high-horse with a story of a young boy who once tied an oily rag to a cat’s tail and set it on fire.
Four Stars
Anonymous
Posted April 18, 2013
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
On a warm spring day, Sadie Lapp returns home to her quiet, unassertive life in Stoney Ridge after spending the winter in Ohio.
Gideon Smucker, an awkward schoolteacher, has been in love with Sadie since childhood and eagerly awaits her return. But does Sadie feel the same about him?
Will Stoltz, a ...