"The Letters" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Rose Schrock is a plain woman with a simple plan. Determined to find a way to support her family and pay off her late husband's debts, she sets to work to convert the basement of her Amish farmhouse into an inn. While her family, especially her cranky mother-in-law, is unhappy with Rose's big idea, her friend and neighbor, Galen King, supports the decision and he helps with the conversion. As Rose finalizes preparations for visitors, she prays. She asks God to bless each guest who stays at the Inn at Eagle Hill. As the first guest arrives and settles in, Rose is surprised to discover that her entire family is the one who receives the blessings, in the most unexpected ways. And she's even more surprised when that guest decides to play matchmaker for Galen King.

With her signature plot twists combined with gentle Amish romance, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites readers back to Stoney Ridge for fresh stories of simple pleasures despite the complexity of life. Fisher's tale of God's providence and provision will delight her fans and create many new ones. Welcome to the Inn at Eagle Hill.

I couldn't put The Letters down.  I love the story that Fisher has crafted.  It's full of love, loss, and new beginnings.  I've never heard of an Amish family running a bed-and-breakfast, but the premise of what might cause this type of intense interaction with the outside world is fascinating.  

I appreciated Rose's positive outlook in the face of extreme disappointment.  That is a true gift, and she shared it - not only with her family, but with others that she encountered.  Her wish to have her inn be a blessing to guests instead of merely saving her family financially is amazing.  

Rose is not the only interesting character in the story.  Lydia also faces major problems, and with Roses's help, she climbs out of bed to face another day.  In her situation, I'm not sure that retaliation, or at least some shouting, wouldn't be on my list of immediate reactions, but Lydia remains a lady throughout her ordeal.  Her resilience teaches a wonderful lesson.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the Inn at Eagle Hill series.  I can't wait to find out what sort of new mischief Mim finds herself in or to read the next part of Galen's story.  These characters were loveable and real - and their situations, while maybe not loveable, were certainly realistic.  

My favorite type of story is one in which the main characters get knocked down and figure out how to get back up.  The lessons those characters learn are often ones that we all  need to learn - well, me, anyway.  Everyone in this story - except perhaps notably Anna - grow and do so with grace.  

This is another Fisher winner - but then again, is there any other kind?

You can read other reviews on this bloggy hop here or purchase your own copy here.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Lancaster County Secrets series and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, includingAmish 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. For more information, please visit suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher. Get Amish proverbs delivered right to your iPhone or iPad! Download the Free App! http://bit.ly/134r55G

Learn more about Lily at http://adventuresoflilylapp.com/

I received a free copy of the Letters from LitFuse publicity in exchange for an honest review.