The Keeper: A Novel
Written by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Narrated by Amy Rubinate
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
Julia Lapp has planned on marrying Paul Fisher since she was a girl. Now twenty-one, she looks forward to their wedding with giddy anticipation. When Paul tells her he wants to postpone the wedding—again—she knows who is to blame. Perpetual bachelor and spreader of cold feet, Roman Troyer, the Bee Man.
Roamin' Roman travels through the Amish communities of Ohio and Pennsylvania with his hives full of bees, renting them out to farmers in need of pollinators. He relishes his nomadic life, which keeps him from thinking about all he has lost. He especially enjoys bringing his bees to Stoney Ridge each year. But with Julia on a mission to punish him for inspiring Paul's cold feet, the Lapp farm is looking decidedly less pleasant.
Can Julia secure the future she's always dreamed of? Or does God have something else in mind?
Full of the plot twists and surprises her fans love, The Keeper is the first in a new series by bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher. Through touching family relationships and trials of the heart, Fisher's vivid characters grapple with yielding to God's will when it doesn't match their own.
Suzanne Woods Fisher
Suzanne Woods Fisher is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty books, including The Sweet Life, The Secret to Happiness, and Love on a Whim, as well as many beloved contemporary romance and Amish romance series. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She lives in California. Learn more at SuzanneWoodsFisher.com and follow Suzanne on Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and X @SuzanneWFisher.
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The Keeper: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Haven Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lesson: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
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Reviews for The Keeper
31 ratings11 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Suzanne Woods Fisher has always been my favorite Amish author. She totally hooked me with her Lancaster County series and I was hooked on her non-fiction books too. They're all filled with wonderful writing talent and amazing wisdom, both fiction and non-fiction. When I had the opportunity to read her newest book, the first in a new series, The Keeper, I was super excited. I was totally pleased with the results of this book! Ms. Fisher has hit it out of the ball park once again with this novel! Julia Lapp is a wonderful, yet a bit complex, character. She's engaged to Paul Fisher, helping to raise her younger siblings, and take care of her ailing father. Her mother passed on years ago, so the responsibility falls namely on her shoulders. But, it seems that something keeps triggering a reaction in Paul, for twice now, he's cancelled their wedding. He never gives a proper excuse and it's really starting to bother Julia. When her baby sister Mary Kate "M.K." Lapp breaks a certain news to Julia.....well, she's starting to realize the reasoning behind Paul's indecisiveness. Roman Troyer is a beekeeper. He travels from Amish farm to Amish Farm, helping the farmers with their farms by allowing his bees to help with the process, and making honey and candles. Circumstances from his past keep shelled inside himself. But, when he reaches Windmill Farm there's always just something that calls him to the home and to the family. When Amos Lapp has fallen ill this time that he comes around, he decides to lend a hand. But, he wishes that Julia Lapp wasn't so dead set on being cool towards him, though he knows he's to blame for her worrying and anger. I loved Roamin' Roman and sweet Jules. Their story really pulled me into the heart of the novel and had me walking along side both of them. With some secrets from the past, and God's guidance, these two characters are more than just characters....they become real. I loved M.K. and Fern too. M.K. is head strong and Stern Fern...well, she's just hurting inside and needs some love. Sweet Menno....a child in a man's body, bless his heart, he added a truly innocent charm to the story. And, poor Sadie! Bless her heart, she really added to the depth of the story. With romance, humor, Amish charm and wisdom, Ms. Fisher has created the start of a wonderful story. This start to a fantastic new series is a 5 Book worthy novel and will be sitting pretty on my Amish fiction bookshelf for years to come. I can't wait to read Sadie Lapp's story in book 2, The Haven, set to release in August of 2012.This review originated at Reviews By Molly in part with a blog tour.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Suzanne develops her characters so well!!! Such clever twists and turns in the story! I can hardly wait to read the next one!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This story in the series is heart wrenching as well as heartwarming. An excellent story!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is the 2nd book of Suzanne Woods Fisher that I have read so I was excited when I was offered a review of The Keeper during her Book Tour that starts up today. I'm not a big fan of Amish books but this one I found very enjoyable and I will definitely be first in line for the book tour.The Keeper is Book 1 in a new series called Stoney Ridge Seasons by Suzanne Woods Fisher. Opening with Julia dreaming about her fiance Paul and his telling her that he wants to postpone their wedding for the second time. Julia of course is devastated and feels like it is all her fault while Paul is immature and unable to commit to a marriage and the responsibility that comes with it. It doesn't help that Paul's mother is catty, sharp-tongued and let's Julia know that she isn't good enough for her "little boy". Then Roman arrives along with the rumors that he is the instigator of broken engagements and a ladies man.In the meantime the Lapp family lives with family troubles in the form of heart failure and losing their father. You'll find that Suzanne did a lot of medical research for heart disease, transplants and more along with the usual research into Amish living. The Keeper is fast moving, inspiring and filled with enough angst and emotion to keep you reading page after page and ending with probably the best ending I've read in a romance of any kind in a very long time.Be sure to watch for the next 2 books in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series: The Haven (book 2) coming in August 2012 and The Lesson (book 3) coming in January 2013. Suzanne Woods Fisher is very knowledgeable about Amish life and has written several books in series and a non-fiction book called Amish Values for Your Family.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5My reaction to this book was a mixture of opposites.On the one hand, I thought the majority of the book was rather enjoyable in a light, sweet, cotton candyish way. But then the end came, and our canoe trip down a peaceful, lazy river turned (rather unexpectedly) into a whitewater kayaking adventure with a strong storm thrown in for good measure. Add to that the fact that the narrative had more of a feeling of a series of vignettes strung together rather than one connected, smoothly-flowing narrative; and you have a book that I thought was more ok than lovable.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is a sweet tale of learning that what you think you want is not always what is best for you. Julia has been in love with Paul for as long as she can remember. She thought they were going to be married but Paul kept coming up with reasons to delay. She thought it was everyone's fault but his. When the Bee Man came back and Paul delayed the ceremony yet again she was, well madder than a bee. What she came to learn was that she and Roman, that same Bee Man that drove her to distraction had more in common than she wanted to believe. As their friendship deepened she learns that perhaps the path she was on had a fork in it for a very good reason.Ms. Woods Fisher writes a lovely story about learning to accept what is given to you and perhaps stretch your thinking to expand beliefs you might have had from birth. The strength of family is very very important in dealing with whatever is thrown your way and if you keep the faith things will work out...my mother always said that things will work out for the best and as I looked back she was right. This book proves her axiom. It's well written with well developed characters and the peak into the Amish way of life is always a delight.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I could not put this book down! It touched my heart and, at times, caused me to smile or chuckle. M.K.'s crush on the beekeeper, causing her to be totally tongue-tied, was always good for a laugh. It isn't always a "feel good" story so be prepared o she a tear or two. The sad is intermingled with the good and makes for great reading.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Suzanne Woods Fisher has written an absolutely delightful book, the first in the Stoney Ridge Seasons series. The amazing thing about this book is that the characters seem like perfectly normal folk, and one has stop and remind oneself that they are Amish. That is a major difference from this book and most other Amish novels on today's market. The book ranges from laugh-out-loud funny to tears-running-down-the-cheek sad. The basic story line runs along that line that Amos Lapp needs a heart transplant and is dying because of his refusal to consider it. Meanwhile, his oldest daughter's fiance has postponed their wedding, again. And, the Bee Man, Roman Troyer has shown up for summer pollination duties and found things at the Lapp farm in disarray. The family has a number of "characters" as members who are pretty eccentric. All in all, highly recommended. This is a wonderful read!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5When Julia Lapp's fiance, Paul Fisher, postpones their wedding again, Julia blames Roman Troyer, a wandering bee-keeper who isn't too fond of emotional attachments. Blaming Roman is easier than blaming Paul, after all. Julia keeps herself busy trying to regain Paul's attention and taking her frustrations out on Roman while at the same time holding together the crumbling pieces of her family's farm. Her father is having heart problems, and the family needs to stand strong in order to get through these difficult times. This is a sweet and simple romance, with a lot of emotional twists. The entire Lapp family (as well as Roman) are very lovable, and you can't help but root for them. I'm eager to read the second book, The Haven, which tells the story of Julia's younger sister.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved the easy story and easy listening. Im looking forward to the next one
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Well done. Great reading of the book too. It was a real delight to hear the story.