Definitely another winner: "Anna's Crossing" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

about the book....

On a hot day in 1737 in Rotterdam, Anna König reluctantly sets foot on the Charming Nancy, a merchant ship that will carry her and her fellow Amish believers across the Atlantic to start a new life. As the only one in her community who can speak English, she feels compelled to go. But Anna is determined to complete this journey and return home--assuming she survives. She's heard horrific tales of ocean crossings and worse ones of what lay ahead in the New World. But fearfulness is something Anna has never known. 

Ship's carpenter Bairn resents the somber people--dubbed Peculiars by the deckhands--who fill the lower deck of the Charming Nancy. All Bairn wants to do is to put his lonely past behind him, but that irksome and lovely lass Anna and her people keep intruding on him.

Delays, storms, illness, and diminishing provisions test the mettle and patience of everyone on board. When Anna is caught in a life-threatening situation, Bairn makes a discovery that shakes his entire foundation. But has the revelation come too late?

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the beginning of Amish life in America with this fascinating glimpse into the first ocean crossing--and the lives of two intrepid people who braved it.

my review....

Suzanne Woods Fisher has long been one of my favourite authors for her contemporary Amish novels, and this historical fiction tale is certainly another winner! The plot moves along at a brisk pace, and I quickly found myself immersed in Anna's world and in the the perils she encountered aboard the ship Charming Nancy. Fisher brings the historical setting of the 1700s to vivid life, capturing the desperation of people in Europe to move to a new land where anything seems possible, even at risk of losing their lives during the ocean crossings. I shuddered to imagine myself spending months holed up in the bowels of a ship, and yet that is exactly what many passengers experienced! I have never before read about some of the first Amish settlers to come to America, and I found the story of their crossing to be a fascinating one that made me all the more amazed to see what they endured to find a land where they could live in peace. I think my favourite scene in the book is when the ship comes across a slave trader's ship and the slave trader's ship has run out of water. The choice that Anna and her people make is astounding and this was such a beautiful scene to encounter! I continue to be so encouraged by the ability of the Amish people to show grace, and forgiveness, and this book provides some powerful examples of both.

"Anna's Crossing" is filled with many moving moments, well-formed characters, and some unexpected twists thrown in as well. Readers who have enjoyed Fisher's prior books will absolutely love this one. And I have no doubt that this novel will attract some new fans as well, because this is one of Fisher's best books yet!

I highly recommend this novel and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

 about the author....

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Letters, The Calling, the Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, includingAmish 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 andCooking & Such magazines. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and connect with Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Buy now from Amazon.com:

Anna's Crossing: An Amish Beginnings Novel