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The Lancaster County series just keeps getting better with each book. The Search is a story of secrets long kept, of trust now broken, of hope still sought. In a complicated world, it’s not just the Amish who long for a simple life. Life is a struggle, and a split-moment decision can affect the lives of others for years to come. Well developed and interesting characters along with a compelling storyline will keep you turning pages until the very end. ( )

Lainey finds herself once again in Stoney Ridge. She still harbors a secret that could tear a family apart. She soon finds herself friends again with Bertha who unknown to Lainey has a plan of her own as well. Bertha’s granddaughter Bess comes to spend the summer and before long her father Jonah comes as well due to Bertha’s medaling.Will the secret destroy this family or will the truth set them free?I will be honest this book is deep. There are so many characters I am not sure where to start. Lainey’s choice when she was but a child holds many challenges. With in a few chapters you soon learn that Lainey’s secret has many branches. I don’t want to give away any of this book so I feel limited in how much to tell. I loved the idea of an Englisher becoming Amish I always wondered how that might work and how the community would except it. Bess is a teenager who is at first scared of her grandma but soon finds herself loving her. She get s crush on the local boy Billy who works for her grandma. I will be honest that this part of the story could almost have been left out. I felt the ending for these two left you going Wait what?? I thought at first maybe there would be another book to properly close that story but from what I have researched that is not the case.Bertha is so much fun she seems scary at first but you soon find yourself loving her and laughing at some of her ideas to get things done her way. The love story between Lainey and Jonah was sweet and they had a lot of challenges and you wonder up to the end if they will over come them to be together(I will let you find that out for yourself!). The downside to this book for me was how many characters there where. I know this is the writers style and she does it very well but this book had a lot of twists and turns and with so many angles at times it just felt a little to much at times.Over all it was a great book and the series as a whole is wonderful and I would highly recommend these books to others!http://abbiesreadingcorner.blogspot.com/ ( )

This is one of the best "Amish" books that I have read. Suzanne Woods Fisher has written a humorous book that brings the Amish to life. Her characterization of Bertha Reihl is hilarious. The rest of the world needs to know that Amish people have personalities and are not just look-alike clones. The year is 1971, and Lainey O-Toole ends up in Stoney Ridge, PA, where she lived until she was ten-years-old. The next several months unfold in the book, and it's a great read with some surprising twists along the way. Highly recommended. ( )

This has to be one of Suzanne Woods Fisher's best novels. Usually you get the typical Amish story--boy meets girl, boy/girl begin a relationship, challenges develop, boy/girl overcome & marry. However, in The Search there are a couple interesting sub-plots; sub-plots that I haven't seen before in Amish literature.

I found it compelling to read how decisions made a long time ago affect the lives of so many people. When only a couple people know the truth behind a secret, can they change the future? Can they push their loved ones toward a certain destiny? Or do they let life play out on its own and see what happens?

The main characters of Bess and Lainey aren't your typical Amish literature characters. They both have a mind of their own and aren't nearly as submissive as the typical Amish woman. I like that they aren't as passive as most characters and that they stand up for what they want. Is that typical in the Amish community? From what I've read, no it's not. But as a non-Amish individual, I like their personalities.

The Seach touched me with its subtle faith excerpts and discssions. There was nothing "preachy" about it at all in my opinion. The main story was entertaining and a nice, easy read. As always, I enjoyed Fisher's writing and The Search certainly kept my attention. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to curl up with a good story and interesting plot. ( )