TITLE:  Mending Fences
AUTHOR:  Suzanne Woods Fisher
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ***

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. 

Mending Fences is a pleasant story with interesting characters. However, the plot pace reminded me of a slow-walking horse pulling an Amish buggy.

My favorite characters were Amos and Fern, along with Bishop David. The way their lives expressed grace touched my heart and made me want to follow their examples. Luke’s grudging realization of his harmful attitude and actions kept me reading, and Izzy’s lostness rang true.

Some surprises were sweet, but others seemed like a stretch to me. This is obviously the beginning of a series, but I expected more threads would be tied off by the end of the book.
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher; all opinions are my own. Mending Fences receives three stars.

TITLE:  Never Let Go
AUTHOR:  Elizabeth Goddard
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Revell
STARS: ****1/2

As a forensic genealogist, Willow Anderson is following in her late grandfather's footsteps in her quest for answers about a baby abducted from the hospital more than twenty years ago. The case may be cold, but things are about to heat up when someone makes an attempt on her life to keep her from discovering the truth.

Ex-FBI agent--and Willow's ex-flame--Austin McKade readily offers his help to protect the woman he never should have let get away. Together they'll follow where the clues lead them, even if it means Austin must face the past he's spent much of his life trying to forget. And even if it puts Willow's tender heart at risk.

Never Let Go lives up to its name, starting with a mysterious kidnapping and pushing through murders, arson, and multiple suspects. After Willow’s beloved grandfather and mentor dies, Austin cannot stay away. His protective instincts and training tell him there’s more to the story, and he’s right. But the secrets he tried to hide from Willow in their earlier relationship still haunt him and threaten to tear them apart once again.

I enjoyed this story, the mystery, the hesitant but undeniable attraction between Austin and Willow, and the complicated relationships. The plot seemed a little too cluttered at times, leaving me confused, and not in a good way. Other than that minor drawback, Never Let Go held me captive from the beginning to the end, pulse racing and pages flipping. I give this story four and a half stars and recommend it to anyone who likes romantic suspense.
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Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

TITLE:  A Tumbled Stone
AUTHOR:  Marcia Lee Laycock
DATE:  2012
PUBLISHER: Word Alive Press
STARS: *****

In A Tumbled Stone, author Marcia Lee Laycock placed me solidly into the shoes of young Andrea Calvert, whose dysfunctional foster parents barely acknowledge her existence. When Andrea’s unplanned pregnancy becomes obvious, her foster mother decides to send her away from their prairie farm to give birth and relinquish the child for adoption, all to prevent gossip and judgement from neighbors and the local church, where the pastor lives up to his name, Castor. Unable to deal with the pervading sadness and a loveless future, Andrea flees to Regina, determined to end her pregnancy.

Evie, owner of the Regina diner where Andrea gets a job waitressing, creates stone jewelry as a hobby. I love her remarks to Andrea as she offers a stone pendant to the desperate young woman. “God is always doing things in our lives, but it takes time. He knows exactly when to take the pressure off or increase it. He knows just how much tumbling we need.”

But how can Andrea trust a God who allowed so much pain and loneliness? How could she believe in His love when no one else had ever loved her? Wouldn’t it be better to end the pregnancy than give birth to another unloved child?

A Tumbled Stone is a tale of deep sorrows, hidden pasts, and fear-filled future, but through the “tumbling” of God, it is also a story of redeeming love and bright hope.
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I love this novel and award it five stars. I bought A Tumbled Stone from the author; all opinions are my own.

TITLE:  One Smooth Stone
AUTHOR:  Marcia Lee Laycock
DATE:  2007
PUBLISHER: Castle Quay Books
STARS: *****

This novel tells the story of Alex Donnelly who is running and trying to hide from nearly everyone. He has picked a good place to do it - the Yukon - but is pursued by friends, enemies, and most effectively, by God. Burning with the need to know about his parents, Alex returns to his birth-city, Seattle, where he discovers that his mother tried to abort him. The trauma sends him on the run again only to find out God has orchestrated a divine appointment for him back in the Yukon. The story is filled with miraculous healing, struggles with rage, and an obsession with revenge for a childhood abuser. It shows that God never gives up on those whom He has chosen. His mercy and grace extend to those who consider themselves unworthy, and even more so, to those who are considered unworthy in the eyes of the world.

Winner of the 2006 Best New Canadian Author award, One Smooth Stone grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I was hooked on the first page by the author’s vivid descriptions of the Yukon wilderness and the lead character’s powerful secrets. Marcia Lee Laycock layers compelling personalities, intense drama, and harrowing revelations purposefully, to show God’s love and care through the worst circumstances.

I could not put this book down until the very end, which added yet another twist. This is not an easy read, though. Its gritty realism hurts the soul, but its message of hope and redemption brings joy. One Smooth Stone will stay with me for a long, long time. It easily earns five stars. Highly recommended.
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Disclaimer: I purchased this book directly from the author.

TITLE:  The Amish Baker
AUTHOR:  Marie E. Bast
DATE:  2019
PUBLISHER: Love Inspired
STARS: ****

When his son breaks one of baker Sarah Gingerich’s prized possessions, widower Caleb Brenneman insists the boy make amends by doing odd jobs in her bake shop. A childless widow, Sarah can’t help falling for the boy…or his farmer father. But Caleb is progressive New Order Amish while Sarah holds traditional beliefs. Though they’re worlds apart, are they a perfect match?

The Amish Baker is more than a romance as it contrasts Old and New Order Amish cultures. I enjoyed learning about the differences and similarities. Both put high value on family ties and traditions, and that’s where Sarah and Caleb’s troubles begin, as they try to ignore the romantic sparks but cannot help dreaming of a future together. Meanwhile, Sarah’s bishop shows his determination to marry her off to a widower—any widower, it seems—since it has been three years since her husband died. Her feelings don’t matter, making her feel as though she herself doesn’t matter. Independent and hard-working, she resists in spite of warnings of discipline.

Sweet and easy to read, The Amish Baker earns four stars. One warning: the descriptions of her delicious baking may cause compulsive snacking! It’s worth the risk, though, as Sarah and Caleb bravely work their various roadblocks to love.
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Disclaimer: I was given an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.