1. The Lesson, Stoney Ridge Seasons Series #3
    Suzanne Woods Fisher
    Revell / 2012 / Trade Paperback
    Our Price$17.81 Retail Price$19.00 Save 6% ($1.19)
    4.8 out of 5 stars for The Lesson, Stoney Ridge Seasons Series #3. View reviews of this product. 22 Reviews
    Availability: In Stock
    Stock No: WW719891
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  1. Shoopette
    Indiana
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    "The Lesson"
    January 9, 2013
    Shoopette
    Indiana
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 4
    Value: 4
    Meets Expectations: 3
    Since I was already familiar with the characters in this series, it was nice to be able to jump right into the story and reconnect with the folks in Stoney Ridge. And since I felt the previous book, The Haven, had a cliff-hanger ending, I was looking forward to seeing how Sadie's story would be resolved. But when we jump into this novel, everything with Sadie has been resolved without finding out how any of it happened!

    So, that was a bit frustrating, but I really like it when each book in a series tells a different person's story, and I was looking forward to see what Mary Kate would be up to in this one.

    From the beginning, the storylines were interesting, and Mary Kate was a fun character to read about, but I could not relate to her at all. That is fine, since I'm sure that other readers will be able to connect with her, but my personality is just so completely opposite from hers that she sometimes just got on my nerves. This annoying aspect was more towards the beginning of the book, though, since M.K. grew a lot throughout this novel, which is something that I really like.

    This book does a lot of head-hopping and has short scenes, which makes for a fun but sometimes a bit of a head-spinning read. I will say that I liked having the views and thoughts and feeling of all of the different characters right there in front of me. The plot in this novel moved along very well, and the twist was excellent! I didn't see it coming, and that is unusual for me. But this twist and how everything came around full circle really made this book for me and ultimately upped the rating for this book.

    The overall theme of forgiveness in this series, and especially in this novel, was also excellent. The kind of forgiveness that is portrayed can only be found through the power of Christ, and this was portrayed very well.

    I really enjoyed this novel, but I really would have liked for the ending to have been fleshed out a bit more. The major storylines were completed, but there were things here and there that would have been nice to know in an epilogue or something. (Like did Julia end up having a girl?!) Since this is the end of the series, I guess I will just have to make up my own 'down-the-road' happenings in Julia, Sadie, and Mary Kate's lives!
  2. A Simply Enchanted Life
    North Carolina
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    4 Stars Out Of 5
    A great book but overshadowed by book #2
    January 5, 2013
    A Simply Enchanted Life
    North Carolina
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 4
    Hrmm, what can I say about this book? I'm trying really hard to reflect on this book without taking book two into account as well but it is really hard as it is a three part series. I am so discontented with the cliffhanger in The Haven and the fact that we skip years ahead in The Lesson and see an outcome (in passing really) but no hints to how things came to be. As a matter of fact--this book is about an entirely different sister so of course everything truly is in passing. I have so many unanswered questions about Sadie and Will. Joe-Joe is mentioned in passing but it feels as if he is a disconnected part of the family which was very disappointing to me as well. I don't know--I just feel cheated I guess. I wanted to know how everything happened and I don't feel like that happened. It feels disjointed and I hate even admitting it because I really adore this author. I just--I'm having a hard time figuring out what to say. If I could read The Keeper and The Lesson and forget that I really got pulled into the story of The Haven--I wouldn't feel this way I think. It is definitely a very good book but I would have enjoyed it better if the book leading up to it had been concluded.

    About the Story:

    M.K. has grown up but in many ways she's still an unsettled little girl. At nineteen she has yet to commit to baptism into the church and her family is worried that she may leave the faith. When M.K. bumps into the hypochondriac school teacher with her scooter--Alice is convinced that she is injured and needs time away. The Bishops decide that M.K. is the only one for the job--much to her disdain. M.K. would much rather spend her time figuring out the mysteries of life and newcomer to the community, Chris Yoder is a mystery that M.K. is determined to crack!

    I really did enjoy M.K.'s story but for the reasons outlined above I simply cannot give a five-star rating. Rather, I have chosen four stars. The last part of the book was the redemption of this story as I was almost certain that I was going to give this book a three-star rating. So, my suggestion is--if you pick up this series, either skip the second book or be prepared to put aside your feelings and enjoy the third book for the story in which it is meant to be enjoyed for rather than carrying emotional baggage from the second book over into this one.

    I received this book free from the publisher through a fantastic program called Litfuse Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts and opinions
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