Thursday, October 15, 2015

The Imposter (The Bishop's Family #1) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Title: The Imposter (The Bishop's Family #1)
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Published: October 2015
Published by: Fleming H. Revell Company
Format Read: Trade Paperback
Genre: Amish Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance
Date Read: October 11 2015
Rating: 5/5



I was sent a copy of The Imposter by Suzanne Woods Fisher from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Suzanne Wood Fisher’s The Imposter is the first book in a new Amish fiction series called The Bishops Family. It follows David Stoltzfus a widower who owns his own store while raising his 5 children. Also a minister in the small town of Stoney Ridge, he befriends a local spinster named Birdy, who just happens to be the sister of the Bishop Freeman Glick, a man who David is forever at odds with.   Meanwhile David’s sixteen year old son Jesse returns home with some news that breaks his sister’s heart. 19 year old Katrina learns that her former love is engaged to another. 

Earlier this year I read Suzanne Woods Fisher’s novel The Choice and couldn’t put it down. So when I saw that she was releasing a new series I jumped at the chance to read and review it. I went into The Imposter with high expectations and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. 


More than the cover
As I began to read The Imposter I was surprised that there was more to this book than the back synopsis mentions. Katrina moves in with an injured widow to help her keep house and run her growing moss business, but what of the other characters? Personally I think that David, Jesse and Birdy’s storylines are all just as important as Katrina’s. These multiple perspectives gave a lot of depth and excitement to the book. Aside from the lacking description, the fall leaves and basket of apples on the cover perfectly suit an October release. Another smart addition to The Imposter was a character list at the beginning. This made for a great reference as more characters were introduced. I wish more books would include a page like this. 

Then there was David..
Speaking of the cast of characters; they were just wonderful! I found the two female leads to be quite relatable. Birdy and I are both tall and awkward and I share the same temperament and lack of confidence as Katrina. Despite Jesse’s knack for getting himself into less than proper situations, his storyline was very entertaining. Then there was David. I am not normally one to crush on book characters, but I certainly did in this case. Not only was he was he a good father, but the strength he had in his faith and convictions never wavered. 

Growth
Unlike other books I have read, The Imposter showed a lot of growth in its characters and their relationships. My favourite perspectives varied from Birdy and David. I loved how her mindful observations of the nature around her positively influenced David and his sermons.


Recommendations
As a new reader of Amish fiction, I believe that it is starting to become one of my favourite genres. Reading about the Stoltzfus family was an enjoyable cozy experience and I can’t wait for the release of the second book in this series. I would recommend The Imposter to fans of the genre who are looking for a warm curl-up-by-the-fire type novel. 

Notable Quotes:
I don’t think I have ever read a book where I have flagged more passages than I have with The Imposter. Suzanne Woods Fisher is a beautiful writer and I lost count of how many times I stopped to re-read parts again and again. Here are some more of my favourite quotes from this book:

“It was as if her heart were a teacup that fell to the floor and shattered.” 

“Something incredible happened. He suddenly became relaxed. His soul settled, as if it had found a still point.” 

“His eyes lifted to the sky, the blue, blue sky, and he took a deep breath of crisp morning air, a symbol that every day is a new chance to begin again.”

No comments:

Post a Comment