My Thoughts:

I love Amish Fiction and Suzanne Woods Fisher is a favorite author of mine.  This latest release was definitely one of my to be read books.  I was so excited to be granted a copy so that I could review the book.

Back story:  I’ve read all of the Stoney Ridge books.  Luke Schrock is an insecure, insensitive, addicted, monster of a boy.  And that’s just it.  He’s still a boy.  He has not made that mental progression from boy to adult.  I would say it’s because his father died young and he doesn’t have a good role model, but that’s not really the case.  You see, he does have a good role model in his life and his mother remarried.

So why is Luke Schrock such a pest?  Why does he play mean practical jokes on people?  And does he even know?

No.  Luke doesn’t really understand why he’s doing the things he’s doing.  He also doesn’t accept responsibility for his actions. . . yet.  It takes coming home to his Amish community after several rehab stints and beginning to be held accountable.  Sure he’s been forgiven, but he hasn’t been forgotten.  In fact, his acts are now larger and bigger than life.  He has quite the reputation.  

Luke is assigned to stay with a couple and help on their farm.  He can’t go home just now and truly it’s in his best interests to not be at home.  His mother is gone with her husband and he’s all alone with no family.  As he works the farm at Windmill Farm and makes changes to both the farm and himself he has many challenges to overcome.

First Luke has a list.  All the names on the list contain people he wronged with his practical jokes.  He must go to each and tell them he’s truly sorry but also ask them how his actions affected them.  What was the outcome?  He’s shocked and not prepared for this part.  Because little did he know how his seemingly harmless actions could affect others.

The woman who he threw a harmless snake in her buggy?  She hasn’t left her house since that day.  Not for church or doctors or groceries.  Fear is controlling her life.  Luke decides he’s going to help her overcome her fears and phobias.  But does he make it better or worse?

And then of course there’s the rattlesnake. No way, no how would I take that one on.  I would never agree to catch a rattlesnake. But you see Luke does.  Because he crushed one man’s rattlesnake egg.  Oh guys.  So much in this story.

Wait.  I haven’t even mentioned Izzy.  Izzy is another person living on Windmill Farm.  She also has fought addiction and won.  But she’s not Amish yet.  She want’s to be.  Because it’s the security and routine and safety she craves.  But what about her past?  What about the woman she’s been searching for for years?  Her mother.  She’s on a quest to find her mother and Luke decides to help.  But what happens when they find her and a whole slew of other secrets?

I honestly could not put this book down.  I had a kindle copy and my kindle died in the middle!  Ugh.  Definitely not the best spot.  So now my kindle stays plugged in always when I’m not reading.  Can’t let that happen again.  

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.  I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations. 

About the Book Mending Fences

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

Click here to purchase your copy of Mending Fences.

About the Author of Mending Fences

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

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, 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

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 12

Vicky Sluiter, March 13

Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, March 13

Caffeinated Christian Raves – N – Reviews, March 14

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