The Amish Beginnings series has been one of my favorite series since the first book. I’ve looked forward to reading each one because of the author’s ability to create characters that I truly care about. In The Return, I was drawn to Caleb. I didn’t expect to be under the circumstances since I loved Betsy and was sad when she’s taken in an Indian raid. I found his kindness to her endearing.
The events in this book are part of our history, so it was upsetting to read about one of the things that happened to Betsy, even though it’s brief and not greatly detailed, it’s pretty horrifying. To her credit, she remains strong and with help, she returns to her community.
There are plenty of light-hearted moments with characters that I’ve come to know and love in the previous books, so please don’t think this a dark story that you won’t enjoy. I recommend reading this series in order so that you’ll get a full appreciation for the wonderful style writing of Suzanne Woods Fisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and have given my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this story even though I haven’t read the other two books in the series.

It was hard to read about the Indian attacks and the hatred that both the Indians and settlers had for each other. Some Amish settlers felt strongly that all Indians were bad, and some like the Bauer family, decided to leave things in God’s hands and have faith and not hatred towards their fellow men. Some parts were a little graphic but most of the story would be fine for young adults and adult readers.

I did feel a little lost in the beginning of the book because I didn’t know who the different families were but quickly figured it out and enjoyed reading about them and the time period. Benjamin Franklin even made an appearance! Very well written, historical fiction christian book!

Complex story line with deeply developed characters make this book a great read. Love how the author tied historical fiction with Amish fiction. You can tell she did loads of research to make the historical components as accurate as possible. The story did get quite graphic so be prepared for that. I'm glad it didn't make historical happenings something they were not. Language was beautiful and matched the time period the story was set in. This was the first time I have read an Amish story set in early America. I feel like this type of mixture of historical and Amish fiction isn't done very often. It's a great change up from the often love and happy quilting and baking Amish stories.
This is the 3rd story in the series and I feel like I would have liked the story a whole lot more had I read those other 2 books. I plan to go back and read them.
I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I have completely enjoyed this series! I've been reading Suzanne's books for quite some time so I am familiar with the Stoney Ridge community. It has been interesting to go back to the beginning and see how the community was established and meet the people who through faith and endurance brought it about.

The Return is the third and final book in this series. I think it can be read as a stand alone novel but of course you'll miss out on all the tidbits of what has gone on before to bring them to this point. Of the three books I felt like this one was the most dramatic and compelling. I hope that Ms. Fisher writes a follow-up series that continues on from here. While the story itself is complete there are still threads that I would like to follow and see where they lead.

One of the most interesting aspects of this novel was that it was based on factual happenings. The author's note at the end explains what parts of the story were true. In my opinion that is what gave this story and series such an intriguing sense of authenticity.

If you are a fan of historical fiction then I think you will like this book. The triumphs and pitfalls of our forefathers are presented in a compelling way and should make for a very compelling read.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

The complex dynamics of the characters in this book were so compelling amidst the trials they faced. There are multiple perspectives the story is told from which made it so interesting and the pace moved swiftly forward. Anna and Bairn from the first two books were influential as Tessa's parents and Bairn as the spiritual leader of the group, and I *loved* how their personalities shone through without the author retelling what happened in the previous books. Because of that, this book can definitely stand on its own and I think it will only make readers want to read the first book as well to discover how Anna and Bairn's romance began (The first book is my favorite- it's SO. GOOD.) Felix also plays an important role and I loved his rambunctious little family and the surprises that come out of his story.

I felt like we got to know Tessa the most, it showed her strong personality and also how vulnerable her unrequited love for Hans made her. Her fascination with a wild stallion she regularly seeks out shows her compassion and patience as she befriends it but never captures it. She stubbornly rebuffs "Rumpled Martin" over a grudge from long ago, and I admired his perseverance in earning her friendship and respect over time. Her not-so-secret habit of eavesdropping on her parents made me chuckle ;)

Betsy's story is heartbreaking and the realistic historical details of the raid and her captivity made me so sad for the real-life settlers who endured such traumatic experiences. I felt like the author did an excellent job representing both sides of the grievances the Indians and settlers had against each other and the humanity of the choices they made- good and bad. Because of the kindness and respect of her new Indian family, Betsy is able to differentiate between individuals and the choices they make. It was interesting and sad to see how fear and anger led many of the settlements to instead group all Indians together in their minds as the villains, leading to tragic results.

Overall I was completely satisfied with this book on its own and as an addition to the Amish Beginnings series. The rich history and the journey of the characters was forefront, and the romance sprinkled throughout created the perfect balance. Highly recommend!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

In the third installment in the series called An Amish Beginning the author takes us back to the late 1700s. I was so fascinated by the history in this book that I couldn't put it down. It is obvious that the author has done great in -depth research about this time period. I learned about the Amish during this time. They were God fearing people who believed that a woman should be seen and not heard. I was astounded at that. In those days the women' s duties were to cook , clean and take care of the family. The men were the only ones to have any significant place as leader in the church. In contrast the women are revered in Native American culture. I didn't know that and was quite surprised to learn how important they were to the tribe.

Each character was written with clarity and I loved how the author gave us details about their daily life's. It was interesting to read about Benjamin Franklin and other well known men that became a big part of our history. I was captivated by the Native Americans and how they survived off the land. When a young woman is captured by a tribe I found their compassion for the girl to be genuine. Betsy at first was frightened but as the days and weeks came and went, the author showed us how Betsy had matured and began to love the people she was with.

There was lots of danger surrounding the towns as rumors of vicious attacks were imminent. The times were heard for the town and I loved how they protected each other. I was completely engrossed in this book because it was so well written with historical events and how people survived during attacks on their families. There is so much to this story that had me on pins and needles.

I have to mention Caleb because he was my favorite character. He was called a half breed and not really accepted anywhere. His heart was full of God and he never forget his mother bringing him up as a Christian. He will be a very important part of the story but I won't give it away. One thing that someone said in the book really stuck with me. One of the characters said," The worst thing to do is to assume all people belong under a defining label." That one statement really sums up the story for me. There was much prejudice in the story as people assumed since you were a Native American you were a savage. It struck me as what we do today. We label people because we think because of their color, religion or their ancestors make them something that is perceived and not always true. In the story people would say that all Native Americans were savage and needed to be killed. There were some bloody scenes but I thought the author did an amazing job of describing them in a delicate way.
I found this story to be very powerful and true to the time period. I look forward to the next book in the series. It promises to be just as powerful and filled with historical facts that define our nation.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing Group. The review is my own opinion.

Amish and Savages and More, Oh My!

It was with great delight and sadness that I received my copy of Suzanne Woods Fisher’s newest release, The Return... Delight because I knew I would love another Fisher novel – I’ve been waiting for this one! Sadness because this meant the end of her Amish Beginnings series! I guarantee you’ll love this one!

The Return is set 25 years since the last in the series, The Newcomer, and it’s full of suspense and good old fashioned adventure. What a cast of characters! Of course Bairn, Anna, and Felix and the gang are all back. But there’s also beautiful Betsy, taken captive after an Indian raid on her Amish farm. Little Hans has grown up to be handsome Hans who adores Betsy, but not Indians. And don’t overlook troubled Tessa who has an adventurous spirit…and loves Hans. How will this all resolve? I bet you can’t figure out the ending…read and find out!

I was given The Return in exchange for my honest review. While it can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the series in chronological order. No only will the storylines flow better, but the series is THAT good. The characters are engaging and enjoyable. Fisher does a tremendous job of pulling readers in and transporting them to 1760s Pennsylvania. What a wonderful ending to a phenomenal series! Five stars, hands down!

If you like Historical Fiction, you will enjoy this. Set in Pennsylvania near Philadelphia and Lancaster in 1763, it’s the third in a series about Amish settlers who emigrated from Germany. There is turmoil in the area after a group of Indians massacres northernmost settler and children are kidnapped. A daughter, Betsy, who is betrothed to Hans from Stoney Ridge Amish church, taken as a “tribute” replacement for one in their village who had been killed. She is treated well after she arrives at the village and is befriended by Caleb, who is the son of a Mennonite girl who had been kidnapped years back and was taken as a Shawnee bride. He can speak her language and takes time to help her acclimate. Even though Betsy doesn’t forget her home and people, she learns to endure the hardships and becomes close to the female leaders of the tribe, and Caleb. Tessa, the Preacher’s daughter, has always loved Hans and was very jealous of Betsy. The tragedy becomes a good thing for her since Hans draws close and proposes marriage. That is until Caleb brings Betsy back.

This story is woven with jealousy, prejudice, racism and selfishness, also kindness, forgiveness, tolerance and strength of faith and spirit. Colonial settlers mostly left their country because of great difficulties, only to arrive in America and face some of the same as well as new challenges. Different ways of life, and the settlers’ greed for the land that was set aside for the Indians by treaty strongly influenced this time. This is about one part of that history and peaceful immigrants who are making a great contribution (like the Conestoga wagon) yet are torn apart by violence from within and without.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from the Revell Publishing Group - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I have loved every installment of the Amish Beginnings series and have been impatiently waiting for The Return to release. I’ll say it before, and I’ll say it again, how wonderful that Suzanne Woods Fisher has combined my love for Amish fiction and historical fiction. Not only combined them, but wove the genres together like a perfectly sewn blanket. I wonder if perhaps more Amish fiction writers may decide to go in this direction because it appears to be gaining in popularity.

Here’s the thing about this book. It has parts that will make you weep; parts that will make you laugh; parts that will make you gasp; and even parts that will make you mad. It is quite clear that the author took her time in researching this time period, and way the Indians and English interacted with each other, and even some of the legends from this time period. I really felt as if I had climbed aboard a time machine and woke up in the 1700’s. It was certainly scary, and I found myself thankful to be living here and now.

Although the book blurb points to Betsy’s story, I really felt it was a story about Tessa. She had a lot of growing up to do, and her love for Hans seemed to affect her more than I would have liked. However, I can certainly understand how a young woman can be overcome with emotion for a boy that does not return the feelings. I would have liked to see more discussion about her friendship with Martin. Perhaps that is for another installment.

Betsy’s story however, really captured my heart. Although facing a scary situation, and not knowing if she would live or die, Betsy seemed so brave and determined to make it. There is one scene in particular that gave me goosebumps. I won’t give away any spoilers, except to say that she was being mocked by an Indian who was holding something quite grotesque in his hand. I’m glad there wasn’t great detail provided about it, but at that very moment I didn’t just see Betsy’s pain. I saw something change in her character and it was so intriguing that I kept turning the pages to see how she’d make out.

There is an underlying love story here that doesn’t get confirmation until near the end. But if you look for clues you will probably discover it about half way through. I am glad that Suzanne chose to include this in the story. It was something different, something a little unexpected, and something that left possibilities for the future. I do hope to see something happen for this couple in the next installment!

Overall this is a wonderful read that will appease historic and amish fiction fans. I felt right at home reading about these characters and their surroundings. Now if only there wasn’t so much time in between book releases 😉 I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fabulous last book in the Amish Beginnings series!
Fisher brings her characters alive and stays true to their character traits even when they have grown older; like it is the case in The Return. I am sad to say goodbye to these beloved characters.
In The Return, I loved how we got a glimpse of life with the Indians. Sad how two different cultures would try to finish each other off.
Fisher’s writing is exceptional and draws the reader in. Even if you do not care much for Amish fiction but you enjoy historical fiction, I think you might truly enjoy this series.

It starts simple enough. This book is set in a historical time frame, and in the wilds of a young country, the beginnings of the Amish and Mennonite cultures. Betsy's hope is pinned on Hans. Her family is rather poor. Her father is on a trip, unless he is missing. The area they have moved to, her brothers are sure Indians are around. They say they see them, but they are boys, and brothers, and brothers are prone to being a tease. Meanwhile, tall and intelligent Tessa has always had her heart drawn to Hans. Then things go from peaceful and ordinary to wow! Betsy is kidnapped by Indians.

Now I have to tell you, I absolutely love how Woods-Fisher did this! I am very fond of the Native American people, and Caleb is not an exception. He's half Indian, and his character is amazing in every way. He's uplifting, Christ centered, and works to point Betsy in all the ways that would help her. Things aren't that simple, because there are other people interested in Betsy and Tessa and all Betsy wants is to return to what's left of her "home."

This is an emotional read, and a very strong one. I was near tears, and that takes some doing. Anger, hate, loss, forgiveness, trust, are just a few of the topics that are embedded in this book. A five star read, this is the best book in this series, but I have enjoyed them all.

My copy came from Celebrate Lit. I wasn't required to leave a positive review, my thoughts and opinions are my own. I have left this review of my own free volition.

The Return is so enormously intriguing, abundantly absolutely adventurous, yet blissfully romantic and complicated yet contemplative. It's about poor Betsy taken by the Pennsylvanian Indians and taken in a very brutal harmful way. She was taken by and Indian and he kept her alive - but GOD is the one who actually kept her alive and her faith and trust in HIM is what kept her continually surviving while being held captive - but will she stay alive? On the other hand you have Hans who wants revenge very badly for what happened. He wants Betsy back but in her abs cense he turns to someone else - does he betray the love they had? Does he get his revenge? if he does and he gets Betsy back what happens with Hans and the other girl? That is - if Betsy is still alive. This book is so true to life and guys will love it just as much as girls - not all mushy - not all men and Indians - This is one of the best.

The Return by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the third book in An Amish Beginnings series. Readers are taken to Stoney Ridge in April 1763. Betsy Zook is in love with Hans Bauer and looks forward to his proposal of marriage. Then one night her life is changed when the Indians attack, kill her parents and take her hostage along with her brother, Johnny. Willie Zook hid in a hollow log and after the Indians depart, he runs to the nearest town. Hans wants to immediately set out to find Betsy, and it takes some work to convince him that would not be the best idea (due to the number of Indians and they have no idea where the hostages were taken). Betsy and the other hostages are taken into the mountains where they are given to various Indian tribes (in tribute). Hans rails against the Indians much to his families’ consternation. Tessa Bauer has cared for Hans for some time and is happy when he starts to pay attention to her. Hans is ready to move on with his life, but then Betsy is returned to them. Caleb, half Indian and half Mennonite, engineers Betsy’s escape and returns her to the Bauer family. Hans is thrilled to have Betsy back, but his quest for vengeance has not been extinguished. Betsy, Caleb, Hans, and Tessa have choices in front of them. Will they make the right decisions? What does the future hold for them? Join them on their journey in The Return.

The Return is well-researched and contains good writing. I thought the characters were well-developed (thought out). The Return is an emotional novel (great sadness and loss). I have to say that The Return is my least favorite novel in An Amish Beginnings series. There is extreme violence and cruelty in the story that was disturbing to me. I am fully aware it is based on true events, but I do not like to read about the violence in such detail (one scene near the end was extremely off putting). I did find the information about Conestoga wagons (the creation, design) to be fascinating. My rating for The Return is 4 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend reading Anna’s Crossing and The Newcomer prior to The Return. Otherwise, it can be confusing with the various characters, their relationships, and how they came to America. Some of the themes or life lessons in the story are prejudice, revenge, racism, tolerance, jealousy, faith, love, and trusting God. I liked the phrases “triumph of human spirit” and “sovereignty of God in all things”. I was disappointed with the ending. It was unsatisfying and odd. It felt incomplete. The Christian element was handled beautifully.

The Return by Suzanne Wood Fisher is the third book in the Amish Beginning series. Currently, this is considered to be the conclusion to the series. When I asked the author, she did say a continuation is possible; if enough interest is expressed. So, let’s hope that happens because this series is amazing!

In The Return, we are once again immersed in the lives of the first Amish settlers. Frontier life is never easy and even harder for the Amish pacifists.

The natives distrust the Amish and the Amish distrust the natives. Good relations between the two groups crumbles as racial intolerance finds a foothold. Innocent people, both the natives and Amish alike suffer the consequences.

This book picks up fifteen years after The Newcomer ends. Bairn’s father has passed away and Bairn has taken over as bishop of the fledgling community. He and Anna have one child together, Tessa. They also and act as mentors to Bairn’s adopted brother, Hans.

Every single character in this book is so well-developed. I appreciated that Suzanne didn’t make the “Indians” out to be the monsters of the story. She showed that evil can exist in all cultures as well as good.

I couldn’t put this book down and I would love to know more about Tessa, Caleb, Martin, and Betsy. I would like to see this series continued as I’m invested in the lives of the early settlers.

This book has humor, the horrors of humanity and the unfailing love of God within its pages. Suzanne brings to life the struggles of the early Anabaptist settlers. Though she explores topics of racism and uses the word “Indian,” she does so in a historically accurate way. I had great respect that she did not demonize the Native Americans.

For the record: I am not a fan of Amish fiction. I rarely read a book in that genre, because the ones I have read have mostly irritated me. However, I recently read a review of The Return which quite intrigued me and made me want to read it, so when I noticed it on NetGalley, available in hopes of getting a review, I requested it. Even so, I probably wouldn't have read it very soon, but a few days later found myself in hospital with nothing to occupy myself with except reading. I decided to give The Return a try and see if it was as annoying as most other Amish fiction I've tried. To my surprise and delight, it was not! I truly enjoyed this book.
I liked the way the author portrayed the early Amish settlers in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as real people. They were far from perfect, struggling with the same human tendencies we all battle. As a reader, I felt the fear people in that place at that time felt, at the close of the French and Indian War, as the Indians fought for the land they saw slipping away from them. At the same time, I really appreciated the way the Indians were also portrayed as real people, very loving and kind in most instances. I also appreciated the fact that, although there were at least three romance stories woven together in the story there was no kissing, apart from a quick peck on the cheek or top of the head twice.
One thing I really appreciated about the book was that the people spoke normally. My biggest gripe with most Amish fiction is the constant use of Dutchy words. There was none of that in this book. I also enjoyed some of the wording. I found myself laughing out loud at times, prompting my daughter who was keeping me company in hospital to ask what was so funny. One of my favorites was when the smithy saw someone bringing a horse to him—her meanest, ugliest pony, the one that was known for biting and kicking. “It was missing a shoe on its back leg. Its kicking leg.” I also appreciated the sentence, “The boys could run to the henhouse and fetch some eggs, hopefully fresh.” I could relate quite well to the sentiment in that last phrase!
If you want a light read, or are a fan of Amish stories, give this one a try. You may find a winner, as I did! In fact, I may be interested in reading more of Suzanne Woods Fisher's books, if this is a fair representation of her writing. It sure made a hospital stay more enjoyable for me, anyway!
WARNING: A number of times, violence is described. Sometimes it is the Indians massacring the white settlers, and twice the settlers killed a number of Indians in horrible ways.

That moment when you are reading a book but you can't read fast enough (an it's way past bedtime so you are fighting burn-y eyes as well) but at the same time you need the book to last forever. I just survived that moment and am trying to decide how to convince Goodreads and Amazon to make a 5+ stars rating option. Perhaps I'm getting too ahead of myself, or yourself as the case may be. 'The Return' came up for tour with CelebrateLit and I KNEW I had to read it. I've yet to meet a book by Suzanne Woods Fisher that I didn't adore. The problem? You know there's always a problem. I'd not read the first two books in the series. The almighty Ma to the rescue with a couple of well placed library books, and the reminder that I had the first book 'Anna's Crossing' in my Kindle library. You don't have to read the first two books in this series to appreciate this story, it could be read as standalone. I don't recommend it since the series is amazing, but well ya know.

Anna and Bairn and even Felix are all grown up with families of their own now. There's another family, the Zook's, who don't live nearby but play heavily into this story. Hans, remember the adopted child of Dorothea and Jacob, has fallen in love with their daughter Betsy and makes regular trips to visit them. However, the natives of the area massacre the family, steal two of their children (including Betsy) while one escapes unknown to the others and ends up with Bairn and Anna at their home. Fisher does this amazing job of telling multiple stories within the timeline at different locations that blend so seamlessly and perfectly and 'right'. Betsy's story of her capture. Tessa (Bairn and Anna's daughter) and her life and unrequited love for Hans. Felix and his intellectual laziness. (It has to be true since Catrina said it right?) Even some stories from 'Anna's Crossing' that come full circle.

This cannot be the end of the series. It can't. I need to know what happens with Caleb (read the book already - I can't give everything away!). I need to know what Betsy decides for her future. What about the boys as they grow up? 'The Return' brings the story of this small church from Germany by ship to the new world and the next generation. But it's not over yet, I refuse to believe it's over yet.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

The Return is book 3 in the Amish Beginnings series. This book is not a stand alone and the series must be read in order to fully understand the story. It starts with Anna's Crossing,continues with The Newcomer and continues with this book. I read the author said she may continue the series if there is enough interest. I sure hope she does. I have a lot of unanswered questions about the characters. Suzanne's books I have read many of them over the years and enjoyed them all. She is one of those authors that can seamlessly add historical fiction to her Amish books without it seeming like it's any effort at all. This book was inspired by true events and a very emotional book unlike any I have read by her and I look forward to reading her next book when it releases.
Pub Date 01 Aug 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Return is packed with powerful drama that sweeps readers into the developing saga of this unforgettable tale. Whether or not you have read the first two books in the early Amish settlers’ series set in colonial Pennsylvania, you will be captivated by the struggles between peace-loving Amish and the Indians who may attack, and by the two young women who care for the same adventurous young man. The talented author develops the characters extremely well and makes you care about their lives and future. Insights into Native American life offer another viewpoint and add weight to the scales that cannot balance between the First People and the encroaching pioneers. This novel deftly demonstrates that not all Indians nor all European immigrants are either good or bad. I stayed up late to finish the gripping story. One potent quote that stood out summarizes how the book may affect readers: “A sea captain once told me something very wise, something I’ve never forgotten. ‘What life does t’ you depends on what life finds in you.’” So also how a touching story resonates within. I received this book from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

A touching story including history, family devotion, cultural divides, and so much more. The author tells a powerful story of families, friends and their differences. Danger and worry flow throughout the story due to circumstances Trusting God for His guidance and provision helps the characters deal with emotional situations. This is a story I will read again. I enjoyed this one very much. I received a copy of this story from the author and Net Galley and this is my honest personal opinion.

A young Amish girl captured by Indians, the first Conestoga wagon, Benjamin Franklin helping restore peace with the Indians and the massacre of both Whites and Indians. Inspired by true events, I found this story an enjoyable history lesson.