Lancaster County Secrets: The Choice – Review

I may be a ‘city girl’ now, but it wasn’t long ago that I lived in a town where buggies and horses were not uncommon. Road signs graced the streets warning non-local drivers to share the roads with the occasional buggy. When I received the email from LitFuse Publicity Group asking if I’d be interested in reviewing The Choice by Suzzanne Woods Fisher I jumped on it.

I’ve always been interested in my neighbors lifestyle. When I was young I’d look at them in judgment. Why would anyone want a life like that? Don’t the kids want to play with flashy toys and watch television? Now that I’m older I look at them with envy. To have a simple life and to care about two things: Faith & Family. I long for that now. When I was younger nothing affected me. I had no responsibilities, no cares in the world. Now, life is filled with bumps, bruises, emails, electric bills, car maintenance, IEP’s, and well just life in general. All going by too quickly too. Thinking today on how my youngest is only three days away from his second birthday. Where has the time gone, when did I miss life?

I really wanted to read The Choice. This simpler life. Life that was slow and relished on things that truly matter. That’s what I was expecting to read. About a woman’s choice between the world of love and her Amish life. What I got was not that. It was so much more. I’ll be honest the story started out slow but by the third chapter I was hooked. I wanted to know what path each character took. I had to know – so much so I read the whole book in one day!

Yonnie, the grandmother we all wish we had, was by far my favorite character. The way she saw life was refreshing and when she spoke it was either down right hilarious or one of those mind blowing comments that really got you thinking.

“Mother, you ought not to be eating dessert for breakfast,” Eli said quietly when he came inside from the barn one morning.
Yonnie was seated at the kitchen table having a slice of pie. “The way I see it, just in case the day doesn’t turn out well, at least I’ve had my dessert.”
“I like that way of thinking!” Andy said, bouncing down the stairs.

(passage from The Choice)

I like that way of thinking too! I’ll try my best not to spoil anything but this book was awesome. Just the right mix of faith, romance, hardship, and life. I’m looking forward to the next installment. I want to know if it ended happy or perhaps there were other twists and turns on the road. Carrie learned a lot in a few years – more then some learn in a lifetime. Like I said it started out slow but soon I was rooting for each character. Feeling their sorrow, their pain, and their happiness with them.

If you are looking for a great book to read next weekend, or perhaps in the evenings to wind down from a long hectic day- The Choice is a perfect, well, choice! I love the reminder it gave me to thank God daily for the wonderful blessings in my life.

About the Book

Lancaster County has always been her home–but where does her heart belong?

One moment Carrie Weaver was looking forward to running away with Lancaster Barnstormers pitcher Solomon Riehl–plans that included leaving the Amish community where they grew up. The next moment she was staring into a future as broken as her heart. Now, Carrie is faced with a choice. But will this opportunity be all she hoped? Or will this decision, this moment in time, change her life forever?

A tender story of love, forgiveness, and looking below the surface, The Choice uncovers the sweet simplicity of the Amish world–and shows that it’s never too late to find your way back to God.

Read about what others have to say about The Choice and check out the upcoming Book Bomb & Author Talk on February 15th.

What about you? Have you wondered about the Amish life? Have you read The Choice yet?

FTC Disclosure
Litfuse Publicity Group sponsored this post by providing me a free copy of The Choice to read. I provided the time, cozy blanket, and cup of tea.