Mending Fences

Mending Fences (The Deacon's Family #1) by  Suzanne Woods Fisher  Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Revell  (February 5, 2019) ISBN-13: 978-0800727512 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. Amos and Fern Lapp allow Luke to live at Windmill Farm under two conditions. First, Luke must make a sincere apology to each person he's hurt--a four-page, single-spaced list. 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 . . . that isn't so simple. It's gut-wrenching. And his list keeps growing. Izzy Miller, beautiful and frustratingly aloof, also boards at Windmill Farm. Luke's clumsy efforts to befriend Izzy 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. Bestselling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher returns to her beloved Stoney Ridge for this brand-new series featuring some of her readers' favorite characters. My thoughts; MENDING FENCES is the first book in an outstanding new series by one of my favorite Amish authors Suzanne Woods Fisher. Those who've read her books know all -- or most of the characters in this new series and I quickly fell in love with bad boy Luke and hurting Izzy and was glad to reconnect with many old favorites.  Like Bishop David. Such a wise man. And Amos. I was praying for him in this book.  I couldn't keep from laughing out loud of some of Luke's mistakes. Drunk cats. A snake, lose in a woman's house. An escapee horse and oh, the elusive rattler. Luke certainly knew how to pick his challenges.  There were some twists in the story I never saw coming, but this is an awesome story of hope, of forgiveness, of facing your past and finding your future. And so much more.  Highly recommended. Must read. Book one in a series.  I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own. Click here to purchase your copy. 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 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