38. The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher

#1 Inn at Eagle Hill

listened on Audible

narrated beautifully by Amy McFadden

Unabridged audio (8:55)
2013
316 pgs.
Adult Amish Romance
Finished 4/13/2021
Goodreads rating: 4.27 - 2420 ratings
My rating: 4
Setting: small town Amish community, PA

First line/s: "The air had the sweet burn of frost.  Long out of habit, even in the winter months, Rose Schrock woke before dawn to carve out a little time for herself before the day began."

My comments: Rose Schrok, the widowed mother of Bethany, Mim, Luke, and Sammy, lives with her crotchety mother-in-law, Vera, next door to a helpful, doting neighbor named Galen King and his sister Naomi.  When she decides to open up a large room in her basement as a bed and breakfast, a woman named Naomi becomes her first customer and stays for awhile. All of these characters live interesting, full lives in the Amish community.  Yes, there's a lot of talk about their relationships with God, but not a lot about the church or the bishop (who in this case seems to be a pretty decent guy) and the very clean love aspects are really quite sweet.  It's a good story with a whole lot more modernism attributed to the Amish community than I have read about before.  And it's supposed to be Old Order Amish, too.  Interesting.  Wonderful characterizations, I really felt I knew all these people quite well.  Beautifully read.

Goodreads synopsis:  Rose Schrock is a plain woman with a simple plan. Determined to find a way to support her family and pay off her late husband's debts, she sets to work to convert the basement of her Amish farmhouse into an inn. While her family, especially her cranky mother-in-law, is unhappy with Rose's big idea, her friend and neighbor, Galen King, supports the decision and he helps with the conversion. As Rose finalizes preparations for visitors, she prays. She asks God to bless each guest who stays at the Inn at Eagle Hill. As the first guest arrives and settles in, Rose is surprised to discover that her entire family is the one who receives the blessings, in the most unexpected ways. And she's even more surprised when that guest decides to play matchmaker for Galen King.
          With her signature plot twists combined with gentle Amish romance, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites readers back to Stoney Ridge for fresh stories of simple pleasures despite the complexity of life. Fisher's tale of God's providence and provision will delight her fans and create many new ones. Welcome to the Inn at Eagle Hill.