Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me. 

The weather here has been a little cooler than normal for this time of year, but when I picked up Christmas at Rose Hill Farm and started to read it, it felt a little strange to think about reading a Christmas story in September. I was glad as I started to read to learn that Christmas was part of the setting, and not part of the story.

Christmas at Rose Hill Farm was the first book that I read by Suzanne Woods Fisher and I found it very enjoyable. She does a good job of developing the lead characters, providing some other characters to provide some additional color on why the lead characters are who they are. I liked how she pulled in the back story in bits to help the reader understand some of the motives and actions and allowing the story to continue to advance in an uninterrupted style.

As with many of the Amish books that I have read, I really felt like the fact that the characters were Amish was just a part of the setting and that the story itself was very universal and could happen with any community. The characters faced many of the dilemmas that we all face - drawing conclusions from incomplete information, running from rather than facing your fears, finding it in your heart to forgive those you love most, and recognizing the guidance and protection your faith can provide if you turn to it in times of need.

She has a few series already published and based on this book, I would love to read a few of her other works.

About the book:

Bess Riehl is preparing Rose Hill Farm for her Christmas wedding, but her groom isn't who she thought it would be. Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge, his family, or Bess. And that suits Bess just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word, without any explanation? It's time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes to Amos Lapp, Billy's cousin and best friend. But as Bess and Amos's wedding day draws near, her emotions tangle into a tight knot. She loves Amos. Yet she can't forget Billy.

When a "lost" rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That's his plan. The only catch is that he's having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can't get those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind.

As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy---and Amos, too---that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.

"Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, this story will charm readers into the holiday spirit."

Purchase a copy of the book here.

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.

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No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.