Litfuse Publicity Blog Tour: The Letters

Here's a description of the book:

"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."

My Rating

Spring

My Review

The Letters took me longer to get into than some of Fisher's other books - and the "feel" of it was different than her other series, at least in my mind. It's kind of a quiet story about especially quirky characters...but even though they took longer to win me over than I expected, win me over they did.

When I started the book, I was less than impressed. I honestly don't know how much of it was my mood and how much of it was a change in Fisher's writing style (or, more likely, a view of it I just hadn't seen before). The writing seemed choppy and slightly juvenile. While I felt bad for what the characters were going through, I didn't feel overly invested in their lives. Some were sweet, but they either came across as unoriginal or overly quirky.

I kept reading. Little moments elicited chuckles from me. Scenes started to weave together into a bigger picture. Familiar faces dawned on me far later than they did for many other fans, I'm sure, but it was kind of fun to be surprised! And, while the story didn't turn out to be a complete favorite for me, I found myself touched by the gentle lessons and the bonds these characters forged.

The title is a bit misleading, as letters don't play as prominent a role as it might suggest (although that doesn't mean their role isn't important). But if you're looking for a getaway to find some perspective, consider taking a visit to The Inn at Eagle House. You'll be reminded of the joys of love and family, and the peace that comes in knowing you're not alone. And for those who like interconnected books, Fisher just keeps adding layers to the stories and characters she's written, with the promise of more to come!

*With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion, to be shared during the Litfuse Publicity blog tour.*

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. For more information, please visit suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with her on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

To Buy the Book: click HERE

Blog Tour: Check out the reviews from other blog tour participants HERE.

My Reviews of Other Fisher Books: The Waiting, The Search, The Keeper, The Haven, A Lancaster County Christmas

Litfuse Contest

Suzanne Woods Fisher is celebrating the release of the first book, The Letters, in her new series by giving away 2 iPads, 2 Kindle Fires and 2 Nook HDs! Wow!

Two grand prize winners will receive:

• An iPad
• The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Four second place winners will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD or a Nook HD - winner's choice!
• The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 17th. All winners will be announced August 19th at Suzanne's blog.
 

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 19th to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)