The Quieting

Suzanne Woods Fisher writes some of the best Amish fiction I've read. Her books are so compelling and engrossing, they are hard to put down (and I should have been doing other things today with my time, I promise you).

Ever since David Stoltzfus has found out that Freeman Glick rigged the Bishop's lot, he's been disturbed by Bishop Glick's behavior. He spends much time in deliberation on how to deal with the situation. It's giving him an ulcer. Then his mother shows up with two of his nieces and turns his life upside down. His mother has an opinion for everything and tries to inject herself into every part of his life and his daughters' lives. One of his nieces, Abigail, is also outspoken, gruff, and knows the right way to do everything. She corrects the others without thinking how her words may injure those she cares about. It's a tough world, and it's getting tougher. On the other side of the community, David's son, Jesse, is having tools stolen while he tries to fix buggies and wagons for his neighbors. Even though David is at odds with Freeman Glick, he's falling in love with Birdy--Freeman's sister, and his mother doesn't approve. Abigail is also involved in gathering genealogical information and trades a case of bubblegum for it.

Suzanne's book reads like "A Day in the Life" type book. Lancaster County is turning itself inside out and upside down with all of the goings on. Most of the characters are familiar because they've starred in Suzanne's novels before. It feels like the reader is getting a newsy letter from a relative to keep up with all the goings on.

Five stars, two thumbs up, and a big bubble of gum!

My thanks to Revell Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.