"The Keeper" Review

"The Keeper"
by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publisher: Revell
Release Date: Jan 1, 2012
Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:  

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, the Bee 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?
Full of the plot twists and surprises her fans love, The Keeper is the first in a new series by bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher. Through touching family relationships and trials of the heart, Fisher's vivid characters grapple with yielding to God's will when it doesn't match their own.

My Review:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of the best writers of Amish fiction today and this is the start to another great series. Her Amish community is a kinder, gentler type of setting but her writing shows us that members of the Amish community are just like the rest of us. Her characters are never perfect or condescending in their faith or how they treat others. They make mistakes just like everyone else.

Julia is the lead in this installment, but the story is just as much about Rome (the beekeeper), and Julia's family, including her sisters and father. And we can't forget the mysterious Fern, the housekeeper. All of the characters are so sweetly flawed, and thus, so real.

The characters do talk about faith, but never does it become overwhelming to the rest of the story. The story is more about how to live a good life than about rigid rules.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 5/5


Bottom Line: I can't wait to read the rest of this new series from one of my favorite authors of Amish fiction. Her books would be a great introduction to the Amish fiction genre.

"Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group"

It’s a “Honey of a Giveaway” from Suzanne Woods Fisher!  

Suzanne is hosting a "honey of a giveaway"during the blog tour for The Keeper! During 1/3-1/17 you can 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"!

RSVP early and tell your friends!