The Waiting

For anyone interested, here is Johnny's obituary. It's going to be a rough couple of days.

The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the second book in the Lancaster County Secrets series, but you don't need to have read it to enjoy this novel. The Zook family has a long history in Amish community of Lancaster County. Eldest son Caleb took over the family farm after the death of their parents in a tragic accident. Next brother Benjamin is in Vietnam as a conscientious objector. Matthew, the third son, is eighteen and starting to wonder if there's more to the world, and youngest Ephraim is just thirteen with a stuttering problem and a deep love for animals. After Caleb is elected minister of the small church, his wife Mary Ann is unsure how she feels about his new responsibilities, but those worries quickly fade into the background when she is given a terrible diagnosis. The family's trouble increases when they receive word that Matthew has been drafted and Benjamin has been killed while trying to help a wounded soldier. School teacher Jorie King has been waiting for Benjamin to come home and grow up for years so the news of his death is devastating. She is also fighting with the deacons who don't appreciate her teaching methods of keeping the children outside and giving them a love a nature. She and Caleb come together in their shared grief, but their wounds may be too much for either to overcome. I love Fisher's writing. It's always filled with realistic characters and moving plots. This book is no exception with intelligent and fiery heroine Jorie. I look forward to seeing what happens next in the series.

Thank you to Revell for providing me with a copy of this book for review. Available in October 2010 from Revell, a division of the Baker Publishing Group at your favorite bookseller.