Review - Anna's Crossing by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 

Anna's Crossing
An Amish Beginnings Novel
by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher: Revell
Pub. Date: March 3, 2015
ISBN: 978-0800723194
Pages: 336
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

While I was recovering from the cold virus that hit me over the weekend, I found time to read Anna's Crossing by Suzanne Woods Fisher yesterday afternoon, which is arriving in bookstores today. I'm a fan of the author's other novels (Stoney Ridge Seasons and The Inn at Eagle Hill), so naturally I was looking forward to reading her newest novel.

Most Amish historical novels that I have read are set in either the 1800s or the early 1900s, but Anna's Crossing is set in 1737, where a group of Amish and Mennonites from Germany are leaving their country for the New World aboard the "Charming Nancy" ship.

The main character of the story is Anna Konig, a young woman who is traveling with her Amish community on the merchant ship to start a new life in Pennsylvania. Her father is already settled there and he's awaiting her arrival. She has brought along one of her grandmother's rose bushes, which she has stored in a basket, so she can always remember where she came from.

For 83 hard days, Anna and her fellow community discover that traveling across the sea isn't that easy. Along the way, there is sickness and even death, but Anna's strong faith in the Lord will help her arrive safely in the New World.

Typically, an Amish novel's main focus is romance, but that isn't the case with this one as the main plot of the story is about the Amish & Mennonites traveling across the seas to the New World to start a new beginning for their families. The author did a wonderful job making me feel like I was right there beside Anna on the "Charming Nancy." From the descriptions of the ship to the depth of the characters, the book is perfectly written. My original intent was to only read a few chapters of the book yesterday afternoon, but I got hooked into the story and I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. Overall, Anna's Crossing is a wonderfully enriched story.

*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.



About the Author:

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Lancaster County Secrets series, the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of an Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner for The Search, a Carol Award finalist for The Choice, and a Christy Award finalist for The Waiting. She is also a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.