The Search

Title: THE SEARCH
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher: Revell
January 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3387-2
Genre: Inspirational/Amish

Lainey O’Toole had to make a split second decision with far-reaching effects. Now, fifteen years later, she’s on the way to New York to go to culinary school, but her car breaks down in the same town where it all began. Going into a bakery to make a phone call, Lainey instead ends up with a job.

Bertha Reihl wants her granddaughter and her son to come visit, and the only way she can think of to get Bess to Pennsylvania is to claim women’s surgery. Bess is less than thrilled with the idea of spending the summer picking roses, but it beats having to go to summer school to retake algebra. Especially since her grandmother keeps coming up with these odd schemes.

Lainey and Bess’s worlds are about to collide – and the secrets that are exposed will shock them both.

THE SEARCH is the third book in Ms. Fisher’s Lancaster County Secrets series, but it easily stands alone. I enjoyed getting to know Bess and Lainey as well as some of the other characters, like Bertha’s hired hand, Billy, Bess’s father, Jonah, and Bertha. I especially loved Bertha and her wacky sense of humor and mischievous streak.

If you are looking for a great Amish story, then THE SEARCH is a book you’ll want to consider. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. I highly recommend THE SEARCH as well as Ms. Fisher’s previous books (both fiction and nonfiction). $14.99. 300 pages.