There is nothing better than settling down in your
favorite chair to read an Amish romance novel by one of the best authors in the
Amish genre, Suzanne Woods Fisher. Her
Christmas themed novel, Christmas at Rose
Hill Farms (Revell) should top the charts with the enduring romance and
rare rose descriptions enclosed within its pages.
Bess Riehl, an Amish girl 20 years of age living in
Stoney Ridge, Pennsylvania, is about to get married to Amos Lapp, a sweet, kind,
young man who is perfect in every way except he isn’t his cousin Billy. Bess and Billy grew up together and fell in
love despite Billy’s dreadful family life.
Billy’s father liked to pit his sons against each other. Billy was the youngest of four brothers and
it always seemed like the older three ganged up against Billy. Billy’s Mom died when he was young, and everything
went from bad to worse. Billy found
solace by spending more time with Bess and her grandmother, Bertha, at Rose
Hill Farm until the day came that Billy couldn’t take his horrible family life
anymore and ran away, ending up as a rose rustler at Penn State University.
After Billy ran away, Bess spent years waiting for him to
return. Finally she had to admit he
wasn’t coming back and she started a friendship with Amos. Just before Christmas, they got engaged but
with just days to go before her marriage to Amos, Billy showed up at Rose Hill
Farm. All of the repressed romantic
feelings Bess had for Billy came rushing back but Billy was cold as ice towards
her.
The wedding day has arrived and the chickens are
roasting, carriages filled with family and friends are arriving, and Bess is
sick to her stomach wondering if she should go through with the marriage to
Amos. Billy has made it crystal clear
that he has no interest in her or staying in town. Everyone including Billy tells Bess that Amos
is as good a man as ever lived. Can Bess
and Amos find happiness?
Suzanne Woods Fisher inserts the prior history of Billy
and Bess during their younger years where appropriate so readers can figure out
the burdens that Billy carries and fully understand his character. The background of the story involves finding
an extinct rose at Rose Hill Farm that needs to be identified. Readers will find themselves captivated by
the history, beauty, and perfume of the roses talked of within the story. God’s faithfulness and forgiveness, the
necessity of talking to God and accepting God’s help are some of the beautifully
written themes throughout the book. Christmas at Rose Hill Farms will be
published September 2, 2014.
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