Suzanne Woods Fisher has a way of spinning a tale that never disappoints, and this book is no exception. I have read hundreds of Amish novelsâinspirational, romance, suspense, and historicalâand this book combines all these genres into a beautifully flowing and compelling read.
Normally, I like to read an Amish series by beginning with the first book, but in this case I jumped into the unfolding story with this book, the third in the series. Fisher has created a work which is so well developed within its covers that The Return functions perfectly on its own. A helpful List of Characters at the onset is included to acquaint the reader with enough of the backstory to allow for frustration-free enjoyment.
There are plenty of suspense, drama, romance, and unexpected plot twists to make this book very difficult to put down. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. May 17, 2017.
Normally, I like to read an Amish series by beginning with the first book, but in this case I jumped into the unfolding story with this book, the third in the series. Fisher has created a work which is so well developed within its covers that The Return functions perfectly on its own. A helpful List of Characters at the onset is included to acquaint the reader with enough of the backstory to allow for frustration-free enjoyment.
There are plenty of suspense, drama, romance, and unexpected plot twists to make this book very difficult to put down. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. May 17, 2017.
Life on the Pennsylvania frontier is not easy. It is even harder if you are ,like Tessa Bauer's family, Amish pacifists surrounded by Indian raids and hot-headed whites who would destroy all Indians.
When Betsy Zook's family is the victim of an Indian raid, Bairn Bauer,Tessa's father, and his brother Felix must lead the community through a tumultuous time,yet seek to safely recover the missing family members.
Jealousy, greed, prejudice and unforgiveness struggle mightily against love, peace, and forebearance. A much darker book than I had expected, but true to its time.
Helpful additions to the book were many. There was an index in the front of various characters and their relationships. At the back, the author sorts the fact from fiction in the book. Also included are discussion questions good for solo use or a book club.
Life on the frontier was very, very hard.
When Betsy Zook's family is the victim of an Indian raid, Bairn Bauer,Tessa's father, and his brother Felix must lead the community through a tumultuous time,yet seek to safely recover the missing family members.
Jealousy, greed, prejudice and unforgiveness struggle mightily against love, peace, and forebearance. A much darker book than I had expected, but true to its time.
Helpful additions to the book were many. There was an index in the front of various characters and their relationships. At the back, the author sorts the fact from fiction in the book. Also included are discussion questions good for solo use or a book club.
Life on the frontier was very, very hard.
The Return by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the third book in An Amish Beginnings series. Readers are taken to Stoney Ridge in April 1763. Betsy Zook is in love with Hans Bauer and looks forward to his proposal of marriage. Then one night her life is changed when the Indians attack, kill her parents and take her hostage along with her brother, Johnny. Willie Zook hid in a hollow log and after the Indians depart, he runs to the nearest town. Hans wants to immediately set out to find Betsy, and it takes some work to convince him that would not be the best idea (due to the number of Indians and they have no idea where the hostages were taken). Betsy and the other hostages are taken into the mountains where they are given to various Indian tribes (in tribute). Hans rails against the Indians much to his families' consternation. Tessa Bauer has cared for Hans for some time and is happy when he starts to pay attention to her. Hans is ready to move on with his life, but then Betsy is returned to them. Caleb, half Indian and half Mennonite, engineers Betsy's escape and returns her to the Bauer family. Hans is thrilled to have Betsy back, but his quest for vengeance has not been extinguished. Betsy, Caleb, Hans, and Tessa have choices in front of them. Will they make the right decisions? What does the future hold for them? Join them on their journey in The Return.
The Return is well-researched and contains good writing. I thought the characters were well-developed (thought out). The Return is an emotional novel (great sadness and loss). I have to say that The Return is my least favorite novel in An Amish Beginnings series. There is extreme violence and cruelty in the story that was disturbing to me. I am fully aware it is based on true events, but I do not like to read about the violence in such detail (one scene near the end was extremely off putting). I did find the information about Conestoga wagons (the creation, design) to be fascinating. My rating for The Return is 4 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend reading Anna's Crossing and The Newcomer prior to The Return. Otherwise, it can be confusing with the various characters, their relationships, and how they came to America. Some of the themes or life lessons in the story are prejudice, revenge, racism, tolerance, jealousy, faith, love, and trusting God. I liked the phrases âtriumph of human spiritâ and âsovereignty of God in all thingsâ. I was disappointed with the ending. It was unsatisfying and odd. It felt incomplete. The Christian element was handled beautifully.
The Return is well-researched and contains good writing. I thought the characters were well-developed (thought out). The Return is an emotional novel (great sadness and loss). I have to say that The Return is my least favorite novel in An Amish Beginnings series. There is extreme violence and cruelty in the story that was disturbing to me. I am fully aware it is based on true events, but I do not like to read about the violence in such detail (one scene near the end was extremely off putting). I did find the information about Conestoga wagons (the creation, design) to be fascinating. My rating for The Return is 4 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend reading Anna's Crossing and The Newcomer prior to The Return. Otherwise, it can be confusing with the various characters, their relationships, and how they came to America. Some of the themes or life lessons in the story are prejudice, revenge, racism, tolerance, jealousy, faith, love, and trusting God. I liked the phrases âtriumph of human spiritâ and âsovereignty of God in all thingsâ. I was disappointed with the ending. It was unsatisfying and odd. It felt incomplete. The Christian element was handled beautifully.
