The Calling (Inn at Eagle Hill Series #2)

The Calling, book two in the Inn at Eagle Hill series, reunites

The Calling, book two in the Inn at Eagle Hill series, reunites us with the Schrock and King families, introducing some new characters as well. When it comes to Amish fiction, Suzanne's writing stands out because of its authenticity, flowing prose, spiritual depth, rich characterization, and multilayered storylines. Book one, The Letters, was inspired by an actual event in the Amish community, and this theme continues to cast its long shadow. Suzanne is also very effective at bringing non-Amish characters into the story, which expands this book's appeal beyond Amish fiction fans.

A major strength of The Calling is its outstanding ensemble cast, and I'm amazed at how they all connect and interact. The five elderly sisters captured my heart, for they understood what it meant to be the hands of Christ to their world and they worked tirelessly. Bethany struggles with her job of cleaning their messy house, but "the more time Bethany spent around the sisters, the more amazed she was at their quiet and purposeful lives . . . they had better things to do with their time than clean and tidy and iron and dust." One of the things I love about the Amish is the way they quickly rise to meet a need, making work fun - and this is beautifully shown in the way everyone comes together to create and sustain a community garden.

One of my favorite characters is Geena, a youth pastor who is passionate about helping teens, but was fired from her church because of her weak preaching skills. Using her stay at Rose Schrock's bed & breakfast to find another church position, God uses her passion and gifts to minister to those around her. Geena discovers an important spiritual truth that should speak to all of us: "She had been asking the wrong question: Which church should I serve in? Surely the answer was to look around and see the church was everywhere."

Galen's sister, Naomi, is another strong character that I loved - a young girl extremely talented at quilting, and with an unusual ability to see or feel strange things. Suzanne is really gifted at creating characters you'll love and a storyline that entertains, with spiritual insights a natural part of the narrative. In Naomi's words:

"Piecing a quilt top seems to be evidence of how God works in this world. . . . I take all these scraps and leftovers and odds and ends, and turn them into something beautiful. Something useful and purposeful. It just seems like that's what God is always doing, all around us. Taking our jumble of mess and transforming it into something wondrous."

Book three, The Revealing, will be released in July 2014. I highly recommend The Calling to all readers.

Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Revell for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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More Adventures at The Inn at Eagle Hill! Once again we are ba

More Adventures at The Inn at Eagle Hill!

Once again we are back with the characters from the first book of this series,
The Letters.  We also have the pleasure of meeting a few new ones.  
Life at The Inn at Eagle Hill is never boring.

I was more than thrilled with the twists and turns that this book took me through.  
A secret is revealed for one of the characters in this book.  One that causes great
concern and rightfully so.  Evil also rears its ugly head.  A certain person is
targeted with revenge and their very life could be changed if evil wins.  I found this
part very chilling.

When a young woman arrives for a stay at The Inn at Eagle Hill will her faith in
herself be shaken?  With a time of rest will she find where God is leading her?  
Will she have an open heart and mind to listen and to follow Him?

I must not forget to add that a Prodigal has come home; thinking all is well and
finding that isn’t the case.  What will be the consequences of past decisions and
actions?

I highly recommend this book but be sure to read the first book in this series,
The Letters.

I can’t wait to read The Revealing, the conclusion to this series.  I must find out
what happens to my beloved characters!

Strong Plot Bethany is working to clean out the house of the fi

Strong Plot

Bethany is working to clean out the house of the five sisters home so they can host church. She thought the group of sisters where just old and liked to collects things but she soon finds out there is more to them then that. She is also still getting over the man she had seen, has up and disappeared and likely helped to ruin her father’s business. Jimmy is someone she thought was immature and not worth her notice but as she gets to know him she finds herself attracted to him. While she is working to clean out the sisters home she learns they run a soup kitchen once a month and as she and more and more of her community help out each week they find themselves learning to see their neighbors in a new light.




     This is book two in the series. I have not read the first book yet this book can be read as a stand alone though you will have a better idea who people are if you read the first one as this is a continuing story. The author does a decent job bring the readers up to speed from the first book.




What I liked: The author is well-known for her deeper plots and this book and series is no exception. The family is dealing with the backlash of a failed business. The father is dead and the brother has run off. There are a few characters telling this story. I like the complexity and how well the story comes together as the book progresses. I found all the characters quite likable.




What I did not like: This book is good but the plot was a little slow at times. Fishers books always have a lot going on in them and it can take a little time to get all the subplots figured out and with a few characters telling the story I don’t always feel like I get to know the main characters as well as I would like.




     Overall this was a good book and I am looking forward to the third book in the series to see how it all plays out. Towards the end I found myself more interested in the next book than how this book was going to finish up. If you’re looking for a light quick read this book is not for you but if you like books with a strong story and some twists and turns than this is a good series for you. I would highly recommend going back and reading the first book though. You don’t have to but it’s the back story and I wonder had I read it first maybe this book would have been more enjoyable to me.

Suzanne Woods Fisher in her new book, ¿The Calling¿ Book Two in

Suzanne Woods Fisher in her new book, “The Calling” Book Two in The Inn At Eagle Hall series published by Revell introduces us to Bethany Schrock.




From the back cover:  Bethany’s restless heart is searching for answers–in life and in love




Bethany Schrock’s love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending hot summer days wading through a lifetime of accumulation at the home of five elderly Amish sisters. She’s not sure what she wants out of life, but she knows that she’s not finding it in Stoney Ridge.




Then a new guest at the Inn at Eagle Hill ropes her into volunteering in a community project for down-and-outers. Reluctant at first, Bethany starts to feel a bit of joy and satisfaction again. But not so much that Jimmy Fisher, adorable and impossible, can woo her affections with his winks and tricks. Well, maybe a little.




When a figure from her past reenters her life, Bethany must decide: What does the past mean to her future?




Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the quiet community of Stoney Ridge.




Welcome back to Stoney Ridge this time the focus is on Bethany.  When you find yourself adrift without purpose sometimes it takes family to get you back on course again.  As Bethany finds out the things she is really good at she needs to come to terms with her past otherwise she is not able to see the future.  Plus there is a new romance for her to deal with.  Suzanne Woods Fisher writes an interesting story that moves along at a remarkably brisk pace.  Ms. Fisher has a lot of characters to work with and she provides an excellent story for them to grow in.




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group.   I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Excellent if you like Amish novels

First time I have read novels by this author and I immediately ordered 4 more of her books. Very Good, lots of secondary charachers who were interesting.

Despite her ¿simple¿ life in the Amish community, Bethany has so

Despite her “simple” life in the Amish community, Bethany has some very modern problems. A former boyfriend turns out to be a real threat to her family, her brother is tangled up in a criminal investigation, and reuniting with her mother, who disappeared without a word many years ago, is at the forefront of Bethany’s mind. With all these thoughts troubling her, she just doesn’t have time to heed the attentions of flirtatious Jimmy Fisher, a favorite among Amish young ladies, who has an impossible mother. Fisher realistically portrays the turmoil affecting Bethany. She feels overwhelmed by her circumstances and has a hard time trusting anyone after her failed romance. Meanwhile, Geena, a female youth pastor staying at the inn, is facing her own life and career crises. I loved how the two women were able to become friends despite their different backgrounds and help each other find the path that God intends for each of them. I look forward to reading more of the books in Suzanne Woods Fisher’s The Inn at Eagle Hill series!

Spellbinding book!

An awesome book! It keeps you wanting more and more. I didn't want the story to end! Highly recomnend this book.

It took me a little bit to get back in this story, but as I cont

It took me a little bit to get back in this story, but as I continued I was happy to be reunited with some dear friends. We are reunited with the Schrock family, among others. There is still the romance of Rose and Galen, but they are not primary this time.
We find with Bethany that some bad decisions, keep coming back to haunt her. Will she ever be free of Jake Hertzler? Some of the things that happen made me gasp...."No". We find that Jimmy Fisher is still working for Galen, but his mother wants him to take over the chicken business. Can he give up his dream of being a horse trainer. Does he have a chance with Bethany, she has sworn off men.
Then there is sweet Mem, she is still trying to be Mrs Miracle. How will that work out? These and more questions are answered in this book, but we are really left with a lot of unanswered. I can't wait for the next book, I want to know what happens.

I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

Expect The Unexpected! This sequel to The Letters from The I

Expect The Unexpected!




This sequel to The Letters from The Inn at Eagle Hill series surpassed my expectations. A guest at Eagle Hill teaches Bethany how to seek direction through patience, as she waits for a call to action in her own life. Through the help of this guest Bethany finds the answer to her mother's sudden disappearance many years ago, and she grows beyond being a heartbroken young woman into one of strength as she uses opportunities to help others bring out the best in herself. 




Five elderly sisters play a key role in this story. Colorful and somewhat eccentric, their actions teach Bethany much about what is important in life. Romance is knocking at Bethany's door, but a recent painful experience has left her raw and skeptical of flirtatious young men.




The Calling moves along at a fast clip leaving no room for boredom. The author is well seasoned in creating believable characters and realistic events that make this book of Amish fiction hard to put down. Mental illness is broached in this book, which is not a common topic in Amish fiction. Ghosts from the past wreak havoc when least expected, and at times I was brought to tears. 




Suzanne Woods Fisher is a master at creating authentic and inspiring Amish fiction. The Amish lifestyle is well defined and substantive to their way of life. I highly recommend The Calling, and can hardly wait for the sequel. This is a bit of a cliffhanger, so prepare yourselves to be begging for more! This book can be read as a stand alone, but I suggest reading the entire series. 




Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK In The Calling, Bethany has a job of c

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

In The Calling, Bethany has a job of cleaning out the house of five sisters. It is long past time for these sisters to have church services at their place, but with all of the mess they have hoarded for so long, there is no room for all of the people. While spending time with the sisters, Bethany finds out interesting things they did with their time, helping her to understand why they didn’t take the time to clean their house.

There is a lot going on with the family Schrock family in this book. Rose the mom is still running the Inn, and still seeing Galen King, Mim the young sister is acting as Mrs. Miracle and answering letters for the newspaper, Bethany is helping the sisters, with cleaning and their other activities. And there is the Englisch friend staying at the Inn trying to find her way in life, Jimmy Fisher who is hot on Bethany, Jake Hertzler who broke Bethany’s heart and ended up being a fake, Bethany’s mom in which finally Bethany and her brother found closure because they were able to see first hand at what happened to her.

Suzanne Woods Fisher does an amazing job weaving life and its good and bad times of these characters, bringing them altogether in a story And I really enjoyed this story, and was happy to revisit the Schrock family and their friends and neighbors in this Amish community in Stoney Ridge. To find out what happened to all of the characters, I encourage you to pick up a copy of The Calling, and before you read this book, it would help to read The Letters, the first book in this series, first.

I received this book from the publisher Revell Publishers to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

3.5 stars This is actually only the second book I've read with

3.5 stars

This is actually only the second book I've read with an Amish setting. The first one was vastly different and so I would say that this is really the first. I started it with no real expectations except hoping for a good story.

I really, really loved the characters! I loved Bethany and Jimmy, Galen and Rose, Naomi and Mim, and then all the other side characters. Bethany and Jimmy were my favorites and I loved their story the most. This was probably due to the way they interacted with each other. It did take me a few chapters before I could keep everyone straight. I would have liked to have had a few chapters of just one or two characters before I was introduced to the others, but in the end it still worked out.

The plot kind of meandered along with a few climatic moments here and there. I didn't necessarily feel a driving force in the story until about a third of the way through, but I don't know that it was really that type of story anyway. Overall it was well paced and enjoyable. There were some tough decisions that the characters needed to make.

I would recommend The Calling to those who enjoy Amish and Christian Romance with a (non-pushy) religious aspect.

Content: Clean
Source: I want to thank LitFuse Publicity Group and the publisher, Fleming H. Revell Company, for my free review copy, which did not affect my opinion in any way.

Bethany Shrock still suffers from the betrayal of a man she thou

Bethany Shrock still suffers from the betrayal of a man she thought was meant to become her intended.  So she keeps herself busy helping at home which is also the Inn at Eagle Hill.  Her family is trying to put their lives back together after the unexpected death of her father and the disappearance of her brother.

Bethany is been offered a job which becomes a task much bigger than she could ever have imaged. She has agreed to clear the clutter from the  home of the elderly Amish Sisters so they can take their turn in having church in their home. But that many take a very long time.

Jimmy Fisher has been coming around to visit Bethany trying to draw her into conversation.  She has no use for any man. The last man in her life broke her heart.  Besides she has always found Jimmy very annoying even if he was handsome.  She had other things to do like help with the guest at the Inn and helping the elder sisters with all of their projects which includes a soup kitchen.

I have been anxious to read book two of this series.You see, I became very attached to this family and their community.  The author's Shrock family characters, were held together by together by four determined women, each withholding secrets. This made for a suspenseful story and more than one blooming romance.

God must have been guiding the author's heart as she wrote this book. I actually read this book in one day. Now I am ready to read her next book.

I highly recommend this book.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Revell/Litfuse Group Tours for an honest review.

THE CALLING by Suzanne Woods Fisher is another exciting inspirat

THE CALLING by Suzanne Woods Fisher is another exciting inspirational Contemporary Amish Romance set in Eagle Hill, Stoney Ridge. #2 in "The Inn at Eagle Hill" series, and I must say, I believe you should read book 1 first, "The Letter" just to understand the characters, and storyline a bit better. Whose who better! With this said, "The Calling" touches on a very difficult topic mental Illness and how the Amish deals with this issue. Bethany is one of five sisters, she is searching for answers and looking for love. What she finds is a mystery, a secret that is shocking to say the least, scandal, healing and forgiveness. A must read for anyone who enjoys tender romances, twists and turns and the simple life of the Amish people. Who has the same hurts, and difficulties as the rest of the world. They just deal with things differently. "The Calling" will steal your heart, as the characters come to life. I love this phrase
" A girl must never chase after a boy"! A great read! Ms. Fisher is a wonderful storyteller, who describes today's issues with grace and wonder. Well done! Received for an honest review from the publisher.

*Coming from Revell Books January 2014*

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: SWEET

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

This book addresses mental illness among the Amish communities a

This book addresses mental illness among the Amish communities and I loved this book.  It was a very moving and touching look at secrets and the pain they cost, and yet there is forgiveness.   Some characters will even be able to pray for their enemies. I fell in love with The Inn at Eagle Hill and wish it were a real bed and breakfast that I could go and get away from life for a respite.  The Inn did indeed create a respite and healing for those who came to stay.   Mim and Bethany both truly stole my heart.   I also adored Jimmy Fisher, who is perceived to be a big flirt, but I can see so much tenderness and compassion in him.   The next book in this series can not come too soon!  I am ready to read it now!    
I received a pdf version of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.  

The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the second book in The In

The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the second book in The Inn at Eagle Hill series. As it opens, Bethany Schrock finds her life unsettled and troubled.  Her father has recently died following the scandalous demise of his investment business, her brother has disappeared, and she has ended a romance with Jake Hertzler, fearing he was somehow involved in the failure of her father's business.  As her step-mother tries to build a new livelihood for the family as innkeepers, Bethany has consented to help five elderly Amish sisters clear decades of clutter of their home. While Bethany's heart may not be truly into her work, she can't imagine what else she should do with her time.  She certainly isn't interested in courting and she certainly doesn't want anything to do with Jimmy Fischer despite his adorable smile and his obvious interest in her.




When Geena, an "Englisher" youth pastor without a church shows up at the inn for a much needed vacation and retreat, Bethany finds someone she can confide in.  Together, the women learn more about the elderly Amish sisters and their quiet ways of helping others.  However, when Bethnay's brother comes home, it appears that danger is not far behind.  




The Calling ranks a five star among Amish novels.  Too often I find the characters in Amish fiction are mere paper doll cut-outs, near duplicates of characters in other books.  Not so in this book.
Bethany, her half-sister Mim, Jimmy Fischer, his mother Edith, and even the elderly clutter-loving sisters are all unique and memorable.  In many other novels, the Englishers are portrayed as villainous characters destined to lead the innocent Amish astray or they are naive admirers of the Plain lifestyle, serving as mere witnesses to the true action.  Not so Geena, lawyer Allen Turner, and troubled teen Rusty -- all are depicted realistically and their interactions add much to the book.  I hope that their stories, as well as Bethany's and Mim's will continue in the third book of the series, The Revealing.
Suzanne Woods Fisher has earned a spot as a favorite author of the Amish tales.  

I want to thank Revell Publishing for a review copy of this title.  All opinions expressed are mine.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of the premiere writers in Amish fic

Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of the premiere writers in Amish fiction. Her latest book in the Inn at Eagle Hill series, The Calling takes on some weighty issues and how the Amish community deals with them. Readers will find Woods Fisher's writing to be much like the Amish, simple and full of faith and love. She brings a voice full of clarity and wisdom to this series. However, this is not your average Amish story and will appeal to readers of other genre's, as well as, those who love Christian and Inspirational writing. A great addition to the series.

What I liked:

The Inn at Eagle Hill series started with the first book, The Letters. Rose Schrock starts her own bed and breakfast and we start to learn about the Amish community of Stoney Ridge and it's inhabitants. Suzanne Woods Fisher's latest book, The Calling picks up the story with Rose's grand-daughter, Bethany. 

This book has a lot to do with Bethany's struggle to figure out what God wants her to do with her life. She is a bit at loose ends, having had a failed relationship and not many prospects for the future. I thought the author did such a good job of letting the reader feel Bethany's emotions in this book and how she was dealing with the separation from her parents and all of things happening in her life. If was definitely an emotional journey and I Bethany grew by leaps and bounds throughout the book. It was a great adventure watching her grow.

Mental health is an issue that is rarely touched on in a book like this and I was surprised and happy to see that Suzanne Woods Fisher didn't shy away from it. She showed great sensitivity to the topic and was able to enlighten readers about how the Amish deal with this kind of thing in their communities. I think we can all take lessons from the Amish in many avenues of our lives, but seeing the way they handled this situation gave me an even greater respect for how the Amish allow God to rule in their lives.

Bethany's relationship with Jimmy Fisher was a joy to read about in this book. Jimmy is brash and has a bit of devilry about him and he was very appealing to Bethany and she to him. I thought that aspect of the book was poignant and full of surprises. It gave the book some much needed tender moments and a touch of romance. 

I also enjoyed Bethany's relationship with the five sisters, whose house she was cleaning. I thought the sisters were such interesting characters. Their home was practically running over with things they had kept from years gone by and some of those things were a bit on the eerie side, including a trunk full of bones an skulls. Suzanne Woods Fisher did a great job of interjecting all kinds of mysterious happenings and clues to what is really going on in Stoney Ridge.

What I didn't Like:

Not much to report here. The pacing could have been a bit faster, but that tends to be the case with most Amish fiction. Not only do the Amish have a slower pace of life, so do books about them. LOL. Not a deal breaker to be sure. Excellent Amish fiction!

Bottom Line:

Most Amish fiction tends to be very repetitive and lends to the idea that you've read one Amish book, you've read them all. I was glad to see that as usual Suzanne Woods Fisher takes readers outside box and deals with topics and ideas that you don't find in too many Amish books. The mystery angle is interesting as well, and that touch of romance is very endearing. You gotta read this one.... it's that good!

The Calling, Book 2 of The Inn of Eagle Hill series by Suzanne W

The Calling, Book 2 of The Inn of Eagle Hill series by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Calling was a remarkable Amish book. Bethany Schrock a young Amish woman is living on edge after a bad break up. She is being harassed by Jake Hertzler. And has just discovered her mother she thought abandoned her is really living in a home for the mental ill. Her days and nights are lived in fear of becoming mentally ill. Jimmy Fisher has his eyes on Bethany. She has doubts about his sincerity and does not trust her own feelings. She is able to find guidance and relief with the antics of the 5 sisters of the Sisters House and out of work English pastor Geena Spencer.
I loved the dynamics of the characters. The author Suzanne Woods Fisher handled the arduous subject of mental illness with integrity and respect. I found her facts to be right on. This book had a little of everything, mystery, romance, humor and to top it off was full of a strong faith. I give The Calling 4 stars.
I want to give a high-five to the author and publisher for bringing compelling Christian books that are entertaining and give hope to the reader with stories of faith. Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group provided me with this book in exchange for my honest review and I am so grateful for their, the authors and publishers generosity.

I am not a fan of Amish fiction. I feel that if you read one, yo

I am not a fan of Amish fiction. I feel that if you read one, you’ve read them all.  However, I became a fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher, and her newest book, The Calling, didn’t disappoint me.  This book is the second in the Inn at Eagle Hill series.  I didn’t read the first book in this series, but I didn’t feel lost at all when I read this book, even though there is a bit of a mystery taking place in the series.  In fact, I felt like I was among friends since there were appearances in the book from characters from Fisher’s other books.

The Calling centers around the life of Bethany Schrock, stepdaughter of Rose who runs the Inn at Eagle Hill.  Bethany is having a hard time at this point in her life, she can’t seem to get over her past mistakes and has trouble figuring out what she wants in the future.  Thankfully, she has a job helping five eccentric and adorable Amish sisters clean their house, she has a loveable and precocious younger sister, and pesky little brothers to fill her hours.  On top of that Jimmy Fisher, a charming character returning from previous novels, finds his way into Bethany’s life and everyone’s hearts.  

I give this book five stars and recommend it not only for Amish fiction fans but also for anyone who loves good quality Christian fiction.  I read the book in a couple days, and was disappointed when it ended.  Only because I have to wait for the sequel to come out later this year.  In the meantime, I plan on reading the first book in the series and to reread a couple of Suzanne Woods Fisher’s books because I believe Rose and Grandma Vera, Bethany’s stepmother and grandmother, made a previous appearance in a novel.  

I received this book from Revell for me to give an honest review.  I was not required to give an positive review.  

With this second installment of The Inn at Eagle Hill series we

With this second installment of The Inn at Eagle Hill series we shift the focus from Rose to Bethany. The Calling takes up a couple of months after The Letters leaves off. Bethany has begun her job at the adorable Sister's House. She's trying to make a dent in the clutter but progress is very slow. In the midst of doing her job she makes a few startling discoveries. The sisters are hiding some secrets that turn Bethany's world upside down.




Then there are the issues with the two men in her life. First there is Jake Hertzler,  he's her intended but there's something not quite adding up. Then there is the charming Jimmy Fisher. Bethany is definitely drawn to him, but he seems to be drawn to anything in a skirt!




With this book the author delves into a rarely seen topic in Amish fiction; mental illness. The way it is addressed is done with honesty and candor. I was pleased to read about it and thought it honored the topic.




One of my favorite scenes involved Bethany and Rusty and making bread. I can't wait for you to read it. I actually teared up because the dialog was so moving. Bethany comes a long way in this book and it is easy to relate to the struggles that she faces. Some things are universal and we see that in the contrasts between the Amish and the English in this series.




Shootfire! you're just going to love this series and especially this book. I received a copy of this book to facilitate mt review.

No text was provided for this review.