Review: "Mending Fences" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

I am absolutely NOT a fan of Amish fiction ... except when it comes to Suzanne Woods Fisher's books! There's just something about her Stoney Ridge books that draws me in, and I want to read each and every one of them!

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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.

Genre: Christian fiction, Amish, Mennonite

Release Date: February 5, 2019

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I'm so happy to have another chance to return to the Stoney Ridge Amish community! Mending Fences is the first book in Fisher's new Deacon's Family series, and it could be read without knowledge of her prior series, but longtime readers will love checking back in with some beloved characters, including Amos & Fern Lapp, David & Birdie Stoltzfus, UNCLE HANK, and main character (and former hooligan) Luke Schrock.

Mending Fences is largely Luke's story. Fresh out of rehab, he returns to Stoney Ridge ... basically because he has nowhere else to go. But as he tries to make amends with the people he hurt, he begins to realize how far-reaching his thoughtless actions were.

Luke lives at Windmill Farm with Amos & Fern Lapp, as does Izzy Miller, a young woman taken in by the Lapps while she contemplates becoming Amish. A couple twists regarding Izzy's identity (that tie WAY back to some previous novels) were predictable, at least to someone who has read all the previous books set in Stoney Ridge 😉.

Mending Fences is (finally) the story of Luke's redemption and return to faith, and it's filled with Suzanne Woods Fisher's trademark humor and emotional depth. One change I would make, though, would be to make the book just one chapter longer. It ends rather abruptly, and, if the preview of the next novel is to be believed, there's a time jump between the novels that fast forwards past a few events I would've liked to see unfold. Even just an epilogue jumping ahead a year or so to fill the reader in on what comes next would've made the ending more satisfying.

Still, this was a wonderful return to Stoney Ridge, and I can't wait to see what comes next! 4 stars.

Buy the book.

Read my reviews of Fisher's The Bishop's Family series: The Imposter (5 stars), The Quieting (5 stars), and The Devoted (5 stars); Inn at Eagle Hill series: The Letters (3-1/2 stars), The Calling (5 stars), The Rescue (novella: 4-1/2 stars), The Revealing (5 stars); her Stoney Ridge Seasons series: The Haven (4-1/2 stars), The Lesson (4-1/2 stars); her Christmas books: A Lancaster County Christmas and Christmas at Rose Hill Farm (4-1/2 stars), and her Amish Beginnings novel: Anna's Crossing (4-1/2 stars).

Follow the blog tour:
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

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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.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."