The Revealing, Inn at Eagle Hill Series #3

I would have given this a 5 stars except I think there were a few too many story lines. I did love the stories and they really kept me on the edge of my seat because I wanted to know what each persons secrets were. I look forward to more of Suzanne's books. I received a free copy from bookfun.org for a fair and honest opinion.

The Revealing is the third book in the Inn of Eagle Hill series. The first two books in the group are The Letters and The Calling. Another novella, an ebook, that can fit into the series is called The Rescue. All throughout The Revealing , references are made of some past events that may have taken place in one of the earlier books. I haven't read any of the previous stories but the background information offered in this book seemed adequate to me to read this book alone.

The title provides a hint that this story will have some type of unexpected end to it. By the conclusion of the first paragraph, it's confirmed that one of the main characters, Naomi King is shouldering a massive secret almost too large for her to handle. Somehow shy, unassuming Naomi had gotten into a secret relationship with an Amish man whose early years were spent living with a Mennonite family; one who had become restless enough the previous year to disappear awhile before returning to his Amish roots. Naomi's brother Galen didn't approve of Tobe Schrock. In spite of Galen's dim view of Tobe, Naomi was drawn to Tobe, and it seemed Tobe felt the same way. But then, as if to prove Galen right, Tobe was sent to prison to take responsibility for his part in a financial scam involving his father's business.

Rose Schrock is Tobe's stepmother. When Tobe and Bethany Schrock were young, their mother divorced their dad and left the family behind. A few years later, Rose took them under her wing and tried to heal their shattered hearts. Their new family was happy until tragedy struck and Rose's husband died in a drowning accident. Rose has been trying to pick up the pieces since then. Her next door neighbor, Galen King, has done what he could to help Rose care for her farm in the absence of adult men. Now there would be another romance brewing if Rose were to allow it to continue to grow from their budding friendship. But Rose senses they are at different stages in their lives and she's not certain they could make a relationship work.

Another potential romance could be developing between Rose's stepdaughter, Bethany, and Jimmy Fisher. Bethany has been making her desires known to Jimmy lately, but when the topic comes up between them, Jimmy gets a look on his face akin to panic and uneasiness. Bethany has been trying to figure out what is making Jimmy hesitate for awhile now, but at the same time she's being distracted by a secret she is harboring about her sister, Mim.

Mim Schrock is not interested in romance. She has an unusual gift for writing, and it has caught the attention of school teacher Danny. He's been trying to encourage her to improve her writing, but his efforts have not been overly appreciated. Mim gets distracted when a new family moves to Stoney Ridge. The Stoltzfus family, including the mischievous Jesse, are the new owners of the local grocery store. They had lost their mother to cancer recently, and their father, a preacher, wanted to start afresh in a new community. Jesse and Mim quickly become antagonists and competitive. Their sharp-tongued quips add spice and comic relief to the mix.

The Revealing is one of the most light-hearted Amish tales I have ever read. There are some deep topics in the storyline, but they are well balanced with lighter moments. The humor is one of the things I like best about the book.

The basic gist of this character-driven story is about secrets...about twists and suddenly unexpected turn of events so common in life, and the hidden secrets we often hold close to our chests for a variety of reasons. Some secrets in this story are shared with the reader up front, some are only hinted at, which increases anticipation, while the most surprising ones are saved for the conclusion. In fact, there are more than a few revealings presented at the end. All these layers eventually come together to weave a beautiful tapestry about this small community. It's the anticipation which drives this story forward, keeping us on the edge of suspense until the resolution. Such artful writing makes this book a joy to read.

Now that I have read the final book in the series, I really want to read the first ones to fill in the gaps. The author has piqued my interest. If you enjoy Amish fiction with a touch of romance, and plenty of laughs, I'm sure you'll enjoy this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from The Book Club Network on behalf of Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. 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 Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Naomi King has had my thoughts on her for awhile what is really going on with Tobe Schrock? Her brother might want to marry Tobes stepmother, but he makes it plain that he doesnt care much for Tobe.

So what is going on between Tobe and Naomi? And how did Naomi get permission to visit him in prison every week? And what will Galen or the Bishop think if they find out?

Suzanne is amazing at filling in gaps throughout this final story in the series, The Inn at Eagle Hill, while creating a few new pitfalls for our favorite families of Lancaster. I love how Suzanne draws me into her stories, even making me feel depressed and wishing I had never begun reading but somehow I just cant put the book down and by the time its finished Im feeling better and cant seem to wait for the next one. Even this last book is filled with drama!

Just when we think it couldnt get much worse for Tobe and Naomi, is does I cant reveal much (I dont like spoilers) but suffice it to say that love does extraordinary things to people.

Book 3 of The Inn at Eagle Hill. I had not read the other two books but it seemed like it could be a stand alone story. There were a lot of different characters in the book, but Naomi and Tobe took center stage.

Tobe was serving a year in prison but Naomi slipped from her home and visited him often. She lived with her brother, Galen, who did not have a high opinion of Tobe. She would not tell him about her visits and that she was in love with Tobe.

Tobe's father, Dean, had remarried to Rose who had 3 children. Dean had died leaving Rose to manage the Inn and care for the children. Rose knew about Tobe and Naomi, but Galen always denied that the young people were in love.

Two strangers came into this Amish community. Brooke Snyder rented a room at the Inn and Rose was happy to have the additional money. While in the Bakery one day, Brooke met a guy named Jon Hoeffiner and was attracted to him. They seemed to run into each other frequently and both enjoyed each other's company.

Brooke began to wonder if she might have found love in this quiet community. Why did he not ask her out because she only saw him at the bakery. Both of them had some secrets of their own, but Brooke seemed to share more of her life than Jon shared. Why would he not talk with her because she was open with him?

Prior to Tobe's release form prison, a pregnant girl named Paisley showed up saying she was carrying Tobe's baby. Was this true? Rose felt that was something amiss in all of this. What would happen to Naomi since she was in love with Tobe? Would their love survive or was everything shattered?

Young people would really enjoy this book. It is a good, clean read. It is well written and a romance with a hint of mystery. I was given this book to review by bookfun.org for my honest opinion.

If you love stories of the Amish and like a romance with hints of mystery, buy the book?

The Revealing is Suzanne Woods Fishers exciting finale to The Inn at Eagle Hill series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel, but is much more enjoyable if The Letters and The Calling are read in sequence.

The Schrock family has been in turmoil for well over a year, yet Rose has been the voice of calm in the family through many challenges. The family farm, belonging to her late husbands mother, has been remodeled to include a guest suite, turning it into The Inn at Eagle Hill. The Inn has been almost as a retreat for some of the visitors as they spent time there to rest and restructure their lives; the current guest is no different. This time, however, the quiet, troubled woman will prove to be as much of a mystery as an unwitting ally to an adversary. There is also a new baby in the household contributing to the turmoil; it has been a very long while since Rose has been up through the night with an infant.

Naomi King, portrayed as fragile in the earlier books due to the debilitating headaches she endures, is a young woman who knows what she wants. Her confidence and health are stabilizing, bringing a challenge to the older brother who has kept her in his home since the death of their parents. She manages much of the home care for her brother, and is a very loving, giving family and church member. Naomi is a talented quilter, able to design and make a quilt in an amazingly short time frame. She now has a couple huge secrets from her family and her very closest friend yet the headaches are gone and in many ways she is happier and more grounded than ever. I grew to like Naomi as much as Rose; both are slow to judge and quick to care for others and lend a hand.

Suzanne Woods Fisher has, in The Revealing, successfully filled in all the blanks from earlier books in the series, yet leaves just enough open to invite the characters to be revisited at a later time. Each character is well-developed, with enough details to see each person as the author wanted us to at any given time. Rose is a favorite throughout the series, and Naomi is shown as a wise, God-sufficient young woman. Waiting for more and more information about her to be revealed through the book contributed to its being a breathtaking ride from chapter to chapter.

More so than in the earlier books, the underlying themes of the power of love and forgiveness are demonstrated. The plot is tightly woven leaving no loose ends, and the spiritual themes are clearly shown by those who continue to grow in Gods grace and love. The author shows how Gods world is appreciated through her beautiful descriptions of the aerie, sunrise, and surrounding land. I would highly recommend The Revealing not only to those who have read earlier books in the series, but to those who appreciate novels that demonstrate faith and life as practiced by the Amish as well as family dramas with a touch of romance. The Revealing, as well as the entire Inn at Eagle Hill series, is a must for your reading list!

I received a copy of this book through the For Readers Only group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.