About the Book
Book: Mending Fences
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre: Christian fiction, Amish, Mennonite
Release Date: February 5, 2019
Every saint has a past. Every sinner has a future.
Luke Schrock is a new and improved man after a stint in rehab, though everyone in Stoney Ridge only remembers the old Luke. They might have forgiven him, but nobody trusts him. He has been allowed to live at Windmill Farm under two conditions. First, he must make a sincere apology to each person he’s hurt. Second, he must ask each victim of mischief to describe the damage he caused.
Simple, Luke thinks. Offering apologies is easy. But discovering the lasting effects his careless actions have caused isn’t so simple. It’s gut-wrenching.
And his list keeps growing. Izzy Miller, beautiful and frustratingly aloof, also boards at Windmill Farm, and Luke’s clumsy efforts to befriend her only insult and annoy her. Eager to impress, Luke sets out to prove himself to her by locating her mother. When he does, her identity sends shock waves through Stoney Ridge.
“A funny, heartwarming story of friendship, love, and the possibility of happily ever after.”—Amy Clipston, bestselling author of Seat by the Hearth
“Suzanne Woods Fisher has written a sweet and poignant story you won’t want put down. Definitely a must read!”—Kathleen Fuller, bestselling author of the Amish of Birch Creek series
"Mending Fences" is the first book in the series "The Deacon's Family", but almost all of the characters have appeared in other earlier books by Suzanne Woods Fisher. It is a little confusing to know who is who if you haven't read the other books and I have only read the books in her most recent Amish series (The Bishop's Family). I think that it would help to have at least read The Bishop's Family series as a lot of Luke's "pranks" that are mentioned in Mending Fences take place in that series, but it does give recaps of what happened so not totally necessary. It was nice to see Luke grow and change from the way he used to be. It was also good to see Izzy open up and learn to trust. I liked the biblical principles woven through the book along with the Amish proverbs. There were twists that surprised me and others that I had figured out. I look forward to reading the rest of the series to find out what else happens in Luke and Izzy's lives and in Stoney Ridge.
About the Author
Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including the Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop’s Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and Twitter @suzannewfisher.More from Suzanne
A Friend in Need
“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” –Walter Winchell
Luke Schrock was nearly friendless. He returned to Stoney Ridge in Mending Fences after a stint in rehab only because his bishop, David Stoltzfus, strongly encouraged him. And everybody knows you didn’t say no to your bishop.
But nobody else in town wanted anything to do with Luke. They forgave him for the trouble he’d caused in his last downward spiral, the one that went too far. The one that even scared Luke. Forgiving him was the easy part. The Amish of Stoney Ridge were intentional forgivers. It was their trust—that’s what he would have to earn. Trust was a fragile thing. Once broken, it wasn’t easily mended.
Somehow, David was still able to look past the behavior to see the best of Luke Schrock. He didn’t stop there. He found a family who was willing to take Luke in, and he spent hours with him—at times as a mentor, at times as a father figure, but mostly as a friend.
A loyal friend can have a powerful impact. Consider those friends in the town of Capernaum, who carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus for healing—so determined to get to Him that they dragged his stretcher up onto a roof, broke through the roof tiles, and lowered him down. Can you imagine being in the crowd, listening to Jesus, as straw and tile pieces and branches and bugs started to drop down from the ceiling? A shocking display…of devoted friendship. And what a miraculous outcome for that paralyzed man!*
I won’t tell you how Luke’s story ends—only that he works hard to find ways to make amends to those he hurt, to regain trust. Especially the hard-to-earn trust of a brown-eyed beauty named Izzy.
Do you have a real friend like David Stoltzfus, who walks in when the rest of the world has walked out? Or maybe the better question, for you, for me, is to ask ourselves if we are friends to others like David Stoltzfus was to Luke Schrock. I know I want to be.
*This miracle is reported in three gospels: Mark 2:1-12, Matthew 9:1-8, Luke 5:17-26.
Blog Stops
The Power of Words, March 4
The Avid Reader, March 4
Quiet Quilter, March 5
CarpeDiem, March 5
Among the Reads, March 6
Girls in White Dresses, March 6
A Reader’s Brain, March 6
Blossoms and Blessings, March 7
Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 7
Southern Gal Loves to Read, March 7
Bigreadersite, March 8
Blogging With Carol, March 8
Eat, Read, Teach, Blog, March 8
God’s Little Bookworm, March 9
Just the Write Escape, March 9
Splashes of Joy, March 10
EmpowerMoms, March 10
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, March 11
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 11
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 12
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 12
Vicky Sluiter, March 13
Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, March 13
Lighthouse Academy, March 14
Texas Book-aholic, March 14
For Him and My Family, March 15
Mary Hake, March 15
janicesbookreviews, March 15
Literary Reflections Book Blog, March 16
Pause for Tales, March 16
Inspiration Clothesline, March 16
Have A Wonderful Day, March 17
Hallie Reads, March 17
Inklings and notions, March 17
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, March 18
For The Love of Books, March 18
The Becca Files, March 18
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away a grand prize of an Amazon Kindle!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/de7d/mending-fences-celebration-tour-giveaway
"Mending Fences" is available in paperback:
- Series: The Deacon's Family (Book 1)
- Hardcover: 336 pages
- Publisher: Revell (February 5, 2019)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0800735595
- ISBN-13: 978-0800735593
- Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches
and in Kindle edition:
- File Size: 10516 KB
- Print Length: 330 pages
- Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800727517
- Publisher: Revell (February 5, 2019)
- Publication Date: February 5, 2019
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
- Language: English
- ASIN: B07FH6XVF8
I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.
3 comments:
Thank you for your review on "Mending Fences" by Suzanne Woods Fisher and for being part of the book tour.
Enjoyed reading Suzanne's A Friend in Need comments. Can't wait to read this book which is on my TBR list.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
This sounds interesting! A good friend is invaluable.
Loved this book. One of my favorite Amish books
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