Now Available: Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Bess Riehl is preparing Rose Hill Farm for her Christmas wedding, but her groom isn't who she thought it would be. Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge, his family, or Bess. And that suits Bess just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word, without any explanation? It's time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes to Amos Lapp, Billy's cousin and best friend. But as Bess and Amos's wedding day draws near, her emotions tangle into a tight knot. She loves Amos. Yet she can't forget Billy.

When a "lost" rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That's his plan. The only catch is that he's having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can't get those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind.

As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy--and Amos, too--that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.

Join bestselling, award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher for an Amish Christmas to remember. Filled with heart-twisting moments amid the sweet anticipation of love, this story will charm readers into the holiday spirit.

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 2, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800721934
ISBN-13: 978-0800721930

Purchase here!

Enter to win a “Christmas Rose” iPad bundle and sign up to host a Christmas at Rose Hill Farm Book Club Brunch in November. Instructions on how to enter the giveaway or host a brunch can be found below.

TWO grand prize winners will receive:

• An iPad
• A Rose-patterned iPad case
• A Rose-patterned phone case (for any model phone)
• A Christmas wreath
• A set of Christmas hand-towels
• Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Five second place winners will receive:

• Christmas at Rose Hill Farm by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by visiting the author's website at http://suzannewoodsfisher.com/contest/. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 28th. All winners will be announced September 29th at the author's blog.

Grit for the Oyster by Suzanne Woods Fisher et al.--book review

Filled with helpful advice and inspiration, Grit for the Oyster 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers by Suzanne Woods Fisher, Debora M. Coty, Faith Tibbetts McDonald, and Joanna Bloss is a must read for all aspiring writers.

Broken down into four sections, not a single page in this book is wasted. Readers can expect to find motivational quotes from successful writers, Biblical Scriptures, anecdotes from the authors, prayers tied into each pearl of wisdom, and questions to reflect upon.

More than just a book that will help you move your writing career forward, Grit for the Oyster will change not only how you pursue your writing career, but also your perception of that career. A powerful motivator that will increase your self-confidence and draw you closer to the One who has called you to write, this book should stay close by your computer and lift you up when you need it most.

Grit for the Oyster will help the aspiring writer to get started, to find her voice, to handle interruptions, to deal with rejections, fear of failure, moments when she feels like giving up, and so much more.

An excellent daily devotional for every writer who seeks to glorify God with the written word.


Title: Grit for the Oyster
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher et al.
Publisher: Vintage Spirit
ISBN: 978-0-9815592-2-3
U.S. Price: $15.99

Grit for the Oyster 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers

Joanna Bloss, one of the co-authors of Grit for the Oyster 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Authors--which I will be reviewing soon--provided today's guest article about drawing near to God through our writing.

Whether or not I'm writing for publication, I've found writing to be an intensely personal process that allows me to work through feelings, analyze experiences and pour out my heart to God. Writing out prayers keeps me focused and brings clarity to my thoughts and feelings. I've kept prayer journals on and off for the past twenty years. Recently I dug those journals out and found an amazing chronicle of my spiritual journey. It's enormously helpful to see how I've grown and how faithful God has been through the hills and valleys of my life.

I feel the same when I look back over the things I've had published. I've grown a lot since those early days of publication, the writing is better now, but throughout my writing is that common thread of God's faithfulness and provision that definitely draws me closer to him. There are parallels in my writing journey and my spiritual journey--though the two are intertwined, my writing life has become a metaphor for my spiritual life.

My good friend and co-author Faith Tibbetts McDonald recently shared this reflection on our Grit for the Oyster blog (http://gritfortheoyster-book.blogspot.com). Her prayer captures the essence of what it means to draw near to God through writing. Blessings on your writing journey! ~Joanna Bloss

Lord,

I want to write, but first I come to you.
I grope my way through tangible surroundings to find You--
the essence of You--
and find that first, I must tap into the essence of me.

The essence of me hides in physical needs.
It gets layered in distractions.
Sometimes, I cover it on purpose because I can't stand how weak, how ugly how distorted it is.
Something in me despises that weakness. Something in me wants to cry out, "Ugly!" and place that ugliness on a billboard so passersby can join in the jeer.

Something in me wants to cloak the ugliness in status quo.
Or busyness.
And go about life with the ugliness, the lack, the weakness as the mobilizing force.

That is when I get in so much trouble.
I bluster about, clamoring: I am strong. I am beautiful. I am worthy.

You can get through a day doing that!
A trend, a culture can be mobilized when enough folks cry out: I am strong. I am beautiful--white strips have topped off my beauty. I am worthy--I wear designer jeans.

But for me, it works better to come before God--the essence of me meeting the Essence of Life--in quiet--and say, "Please fix me."

And sometimes, He gives me something to write.

~Faith Tibbetts McDonald


The GRIT FOR THE OYSTER VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on November 3 and end on November 26. You can visit the authors' blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in November to find out more about their latest book!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner will be announced on November 30!

Copper Fire by Suzanne Woods Fisher--Book Review

Entertaining, powerful, and filled with suspense, Copper Fire by Suzanne Woods Fisher is an outstanding read!

In the second book of the Copper Star series, heroine Louisa Gordon receives a telegram from the International Red Cross Training Service that her young cousin, Elizabeth has been released from a German concentration camp. As her only living relative, Louisa is determined to go to Germany--or whatever is left of it after WWII--to bring Elizabeth home to the States. Equally determined to discover the whereabouts of Friedrich Mueller, a Nazi sympathizer who fled Copper Springs, Arizona, Louisa doesn't find much help from her family or from the people she travels to Germany with. And little does she know, that her need to find Mueller will bring her face to face with a man from her past. A man she once loved, but now hated.

This book opens with Louisa telling the story of how the Gordon family's lives suddenly changed in July 1945. Written entirely from Louisa's point of view, the reader is instantly connected with all she experiences. You feel every emotion Louisa feels. Fisher paints such striking descriptions of war torn Germany, the camps, and Louisa's home life, that you swear you are right there with her in the Gordon's home, onboard the ship heading to Germany, and visting the concentration camp.

From first page to last, this story drew me in. Copper Fire explores the ridicule and prejudice Jews experienced during and after WWII, even in the States, and because this story is told from Louisa's point of view as a German Jew, you get to fully understand what impact this type of treatment had on Jewish people.

I fell in love with the Gordon family and their friends; not only because they were well-developed and complex, flawed people, but also because Fisher puts them in a position where they are forced to deal with so much change and so much adversity that you find yourself wanting them to succeed and be happy. Fisher provided just enough backstory that I could grasp how Louisa and the Gordons were brought together in Book 1, but not so much that anyone who read the first in this series would be skipping pages to get to the present day happenings. And the ending, is perfectly done. I had to read the last two chapters twice because I never wanted it to end.

I highly recommend Copper Fire to lovers of strong heroines, readers interested in historical fiction surrounding WWII, and anyone who enjoys a quick yet poignant novel.


Title: Cooper Fire
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Publisher: Vintage Inspirations
ISBN: 978-0-9815592-0-9
U.S. Price: $14.99