Stitches in Time by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the second novel in The Deacon’s Family series. I recommend reading Mending Fences before embarking on Stitches in Time, so you fully understand what is happening. However, there is a cast of characters to help new readers to the series and some backstory is provided. I found Stitches in Time to be well-written with developed characters going through realistic situations. When Luke Schrock draws the lot for deacon, he knows his life will forever be changed and so does his wife, Izzy. Luke has troubling following through on projects which will not fly as deacon. He started the expansion of their small home by demoing some walls and then he became deacon (project is at a standstill). Izzy is struggling to connect with her mother, Grace, but they are still two distant strangers. Izzy is also upset because she has yet to become pregnant and Luke does not understand her concern. Izzy is grateful for her sheep who provide comfort and a listening ear along with the sanctuary of her yarn shop. Mollie Graber is the new schoolteacher and she is happy to be out from under her mother’s thumb. She wants to live life to the fullest and when Luke asks for volunteers to become foster parents, Mollie is quick to raise her hand. She wants two young girls but gets two eleven year old sisters who have been in the foster system since they were small. They delight in skipping school and shooting off firecrackers to scare horses (and so much more). Mollie and Sam were getting to know each other when she took in the girls. Sam then became distant and Mollie does not understand why. There are dropped stitches in Sam’s heart that need mending and God has a plan. There is love, sadness, hope, faith, dismay, confusion and frustration in Stitches in Time (all of life’s normal emotions). We watch as Izzy and Luke navigate married life with the added complication of his new job as deacon. The importance of having strong faith and praying to God. We forget to pray when faced with troubling situations and that should be the first step. God can work wonders if we just let Him. One of the phrases from Stitches in Time stuck with me and it is “The more I pray the more things happen.” Hank Lapp provided amusement as he always does with his loud voice and directness. I like that we get to see that the Amish suffer from the same afflictions that the English do. Stitches in Time is a thoughtful story that will linger in your mind with you long after you finish it. I found Stitches in Time to be an inspiring story with troubled tweens, scared sheep, deacon duties, a half-done house, and startling surprises.

Sheep weren't meant to rely on other sheep, only on their shepherd. She felt as if she was discovering God again, for the first time. As if she had to keep going back to the basics. Back to picking up dropped stitches. Maybe it was a good thing to never graduate beyond basic trust, to have simple faith in God to provide, the same way sheep depend on their shepherd.

This lovely novel of Amish faith brought together a few things near and dear to my heart. Psalm 23 and foster children.

Focused on Luke and Izzy, a young married couple with plenty of baggage. Easy to relate in a the Christian walk where we think we make a few steps in a Godly direction only to be set back 4 steps. Luke by one single vote and the "roll of the dice" has been selected deacon for his Amish community. Nobody saw this coming and especially him. His first business and a promise he made to his mentor is help the foster care center in his Amish community. Foster care is near and dear to his heart as well his wife Izzy came from a foster care family. She has a tumultuous relationship with her mother because of it. She is a product of her up bringing with all the insecurities that come with it. She has a hobby that has touched her heart in many ways and that is raising sheep and spinning their own wool. Not knowing the biblical significance of sheep in the bible, she begins to heal from her past.

When Luke approaches his community on his foster care plan, he has a taker in Molly. Molly is young and the teacher of her community. In her zeal, she takes two young girls that are trouble. With the help of Luke's brother, she learns first hand the roller coaster ride of foster care and begins to doubt her calling.

I loved how this community came together studying Psalm 23 and what it means to love the unlovable. Each character has their weakness that anyone can relate to and how their weakness are turned into God's strength. A great book of faith! Loved it.

A Special Thank you to Revell and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Tending and Training. The Power of Love. Those are the things that stood out for me the most in Stitches in Time.


Technical Details:


The book started with a decent list of who's who, and where to find the rest of their story among the author's other books. I found this both helpful and intimidating, honestly. I was glad it was there, and yet, I was afraid I would be lost, not having any prior experience with the Stoney Ridge community.


This was not a problem at all, though. I was impressed by the way everything ye needed to know was present in the story, without any awkward info dumping. I am curious about several backstories, but I didn't feel lost at all.


Plot:


The tending and training of horses and sheep was fun. And I felt like the many biblical parallels were well done. Especially when an experienced shepherddess gets to discover the Good Shepherd!!


The way they ended up getting involved with the foster care system was very cool. I won't spoil it for you but I will say that I believe God works that way in real life.


But the best part was watching Luke, Izzy, Mollie and Sam, 20-something Amish Millennials growing in maturity and understanding. Discovering how to balance their differences and responsibilities, trust each other, and trust themselves too. Lessons we all need to learn and remember!


🍁 I received a copy of the book from @NetGalley. I chose to review it here and all thoughts are my own.

I love this thoughtful, outstanding Amish novel! I enjoyed it as much as Mending Fences and was happy to see Izzy and Luke again. We see new people, interesting surprises, and a new calling for Luke. The characters are so captivating that I was sad to see the last page, and the plot captured and held my attention from the beginning. Two of the most compelling things, aside from the characters, are the foster teens and the magnificent spiritual lessons that are not just for the teens.

Luke and Izzy did not expect marriage to be easy, especially with their backgrounds, but they didn’t think it would be quite so hard! Izzy is grieved that she is not yet pregnant and that her mother, after many years in prison, doesn’t seem to want a relationship with her. Stitches in Time is the name of Izzy’s yarn shop and has a greater meaning about her life and the lives of many in this compelling read. Izzy loves her woollies (lambs), spinning yarn, and running the shop. Luke’s hands are full, taking care of the orchard, fixit shop, and other parts of the Lapp farm, and is building an addition to the two rooms they live in behind the fixit shop.

Amos Lapp and his wife Fern had taken Izzy and Luke in when they were released, separately, from a drug and alcohol rehab. Amos passed away, and his role as deacon in their Amish community is vacant. It is a lifetime mantle of leadership, and Luke can’t imagine why someone nominated him after the troublemaker he had been. Out of five men, the lot fell to him to be the new deacon! There must be some mistake. After all, he has a huge promise to Amos to fulfill…to empty the foster care system in Lancaster County. Izzy wants nothing to do with it. Her years in foster care are not soon forgotten.

Molly wants to care for foster children and make a difference. A teacher at the Amish school, Mollie had been overprotected by her mother and left Ohio when Fern told her about the position. She loves her new church district and is interested in Sam, whose farm is near the schoolhouse.

Sam, Luke’s brother, grew up in the shadow of the practical joker and troublemaker. He gets horses from his stepfather who raises Thoroughbreds for racing. Most are no longer racing or aren’t suited for racing; he trains them to be buggy horses. His reputation is stellar; people love the horses he trains. He is startled when he realizes that Mollie, who he is interested in, seems interested in him. Until he learns about her desire to foster.

Mollie has the wildest of the teens when emergency, short term fostering is needed for the girls at the group home. She tries to give them all the love she has until she is almost convinced she is a failure at being a foster parent. Fern, who still lives in the Lapp farmhouse, has a foster daughter who is interested in Izzy’s life. Cassidy follows Izzy around, watching her with the woollies, spinning, and knitting.

The spiritual lessons have great depth, including prayer and ruminating on scripture, especially Psalm 23. This novel filled my heart with wonder at times, sadness at others, and empathy for the characters. It is full of surprises, and like the first in series, is a keeper to read again and again. I highly recommend it to fans of the author, of Amish Christian fiction with depth and relatable characters who demonstrate living out God’s love.

From a thankful heart: I received an arc of this novel from the author and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I enjoyed a chance to meet up with Luke again. After reading Mending Fences I knew I would want to continue the story. Although Stitches in Time is considered to be more Sam and Millie’s story, Luke plays a big role and continues to grow in his faith and in the church.

Mollie is such a lighthearted and joyful woman. She is the light to Sam’s dark and a challenge he must figure out if he wants to mend the pain of his own past.

While Stitches in Time can be read as a stand-alone, I do recommend you read Mending Fences as it will give you deeper insight into Luke, Sam, Mollie, Izzy.

Luke’s challenge of being deacon and the added conflict of all the foster girls keeps the plot and the characters moving. The twins add tons of humor and some seriousness that offer lessons on love and overcoming past fears.

I’m a great fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher’s work and this book has exceeded my expectations. Amish Fiction has never been such a favorite of mine as it is since picking up this series.

Since it is Amish Fiction, the spiritual stitch is strong and binding. God can be found in each characters lives and through their troubles.

Stitches in Time is my first read by Suzanne Woods Fisher and it won’t be my last. Reading this book made me wish I had (at least) read Mending Fences, book one in The Deacon’s Family series. I say at least because many of these characters are featured in other of Mrs. Fisher’s books and it would have been fun to follow them all the way from the beginning. Stitches in Time can be read as a stand-alone, and I wasn’t confused or disoriented by not having the others, I just felt like I would have gotten more from the story if I’d already known the characters from the other books. I do recommend reading Mending Fencing before reading Stitches in Time. It’s important to note that while the description is about Mollie and Sam, the book is just as much a continuation of the story of Luke and Izzy.
Now that I’ve said that, let me talk about this book. First, the cover is beautiful. I love the purple on the spine and back. And it’s about horses! I was sucked into the story immediately and I loved the opening!
The story itself is just as beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes. I liked the fact that Mrs. Fisher shows how that just because the characters are Amish (religious) doesn’t mean they have it all together or their lives are perfect. She shows how people of all walks of life face difficulties, doubt God when it seems he’s not listening, and struggle to forgive those who’ve done us wrong.
I could relate to both Mollie and Izzy. The heartache that these women bear is so sad, so be prepared if you are a crier! This book does talk about cancer as well, so if you are sensitive to this topic, you should know that it’s a major part of the story.
One of my favorite parts is Izzy and her sheep. I love the relationship she shares with her “woolies” and I loved the spiritual applications she learns along the way. Especially, as she discovered how much God has to say about sheep in his Word.
I recommend this book for lovers of Amish fiction and those looking for Amish romance with depth.

I loved being back with these characters, I’ve watched them grow up and some had a hard time doing that, but they have become like family!
The struggles here are the same for these folks as others, but sometimes I feel they are held to a higher standard. With the Bishop having everyone focus on the 23 Psalm, we see a shepherdess and her sheep following her, how appropriate!
Life struggles here, and some are tested to the breaking point, foster children, health scares, church leadership, families, they all meld together for a great read, with a teaser at the end for a new book! I need answers and can’t wait for the next in this series!
I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.

Following the shepherd is really what this book is all about. I love how Suzanne Woods Fisher weaves Psalm 23 into the plot of Stitches in Time. There are constant subtle reminders to be like sheep and follow our shepherd. Reminders we all need no matter our place in life.

Foster care plays a big role in Stitches in Time. The Amish families Stoney Ridge have big hearts and open them to children in need. I love the surprise ending to the book and had wondered if it was coming due to a couple of hints dropped earlier in the story. An author’s note at the end looks more closely at foster care.

Fisher also includes some of the inner workings of the Amish church and the sacrifice made by the wives of the leaders – much the same as the wives of pastors.

Many of the characters in Stitches in Time were introduced in previous books by Fisher, but not having read any of those titles I did not feel as though I was missing any information. I really think Stitches in Time can be read as a stand-alone although I would now like to read other books about these characters.

If you enjoy Amish fiction I think you will enjoy Stitches in Time. I would not hesitate to add Stitches in Time to my K-12 Christian school library.

I want to thank Celebrate Lit for the complimentary e-copy of Stitches in Time. This is my honest review.

Some lines in this book resonated with me. Messages we received as children can have a lasting affect on how we look at ourselves. I always saw myself as the smart one. I didn't feel pretty. I felt like the fat one. No one told me I was but I compared myself to my peers. But when I see pictures of my young self, it wasn't the case. Because of the message I received, I was self-conscious....quiet.

It took me years to free myself from these negative messages. The messages I gave myself. Izzy, Luke, Sam and Mollie lived their lives listening to those negative messages. What would it take for them to shake off these thoughts?

This book reminds you that you are capable of reprogramming your thoughts with GOD's help. God is there to listen. He is there to comfort you. He is always there to heal and lead you in the right direction.

Great story. Suzanne Woods Fisher brings the characters alive to me. I found myself reaching for a kleenex. I loved the book and I loved the ending.

I received this book for free from Celebrate Lit to review.

About the Book
Book: Stitches in Time
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre: Contemporary Amish fiction
Release Date: October 1, 2019

Detachment had worked well as a life strategy for horse trainer Sam Schrock. Until he met Mollie Graber . . .
New to Stoney Ridge, schoolteacher Mollie has come to town for a fresh start. Aware of how fleeting and fragile life is, she wants to live it boldly and bravely. When Luke Schrock, new to his role as deacon, asks the church to take in foster girls from a group home, she’s the first to raise her hand. The power of love, she believes, can pick up the dropped stitches in a child’s heart and knit them back together.
Mollie envisions sleepovers and pillow fights. What the 11-year-old twins bring to her home is anything but. Visits from the sheriff at midnight. Phone calls from the school truancy officer. And then the most humiliating moment of all: the girls accuse Mollie of drug addiction.
There’s only one thing that breaks through the girls’ hard shell–an interest in horses. Reluctantly and skeptically, Sam Schrock gets drawn into Mollie’s chaotic life. What he didn’t expect was for love to knit together the dropped stitches in his own heart . . . just in time.
Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to the little Amish church of Stoney Ridge for a touching story of the power of love.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Carol-award winner Suzanne Woods Fisher writes untold stories about inspiring people. With over one million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction, ranging from Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World to the historical novel Anna’s Crossing.

More from Suzanne
Have you ever felt the tug to become a foster parent?
On any given day, there are nearly 438,000 children in foster care in the United States. Most states have a critical need for more foster parents, and the number of children placed in foster care increases yearly.
There are plenty of assumptions about having foster children, but most are incorrect. The media has a tendency to focus on the negative, but from all the research I conducted to write this book, for every bad news story, there were two good ones. Good stories just don’t make the news.
Below are some of the most common assumptions about foster care, with corrected information that is applicable across the United States (but keep in mind that each state has their own requirements).

Myth: Kids in foster care are bad or troubled.
Truth: Children in foster care are good kids taken out of a troubled situation. They need a caring foster parent who is patient and understanding. When given the opportunity, most of these children begin to thrive.

Myth: To be a foster parent, you need to be married and own a home and be a college graduate.
Truth: You don’t need to be married or to own a home or even be a college graduate. That means if you’re single or renting, you can be a foster parent.

Myth: I can’t afford to be a foster parent.
Truth: There are monthly reimbursement rates for children in foster care based on the level of care you provide. Medical and dental care is paid through state Medicaid programs.

Myth: Most kids in foster care are teenagers.
Truth: The average age of a child entering foster care is seven years old.

Myth: Most kids are in foster care because their parents have abused drugs.
Truth: Now, this one is not a myth. It’s true. There are fifteen categories that can be responsible for a child’s removal from a home. Drug abuse from a parent has had the largest percentage increase.

Myth: Fostering could require a commitment until the child turns eighteen.
Truth: Generally, children remain in state care for less than two years. Only six percent spend five or more years in foster care.

Myth: It’s too hard to give a child up to his biological family.
Truth: Most children are in foster care for a short time, returning to their biological families. Reuniting a child to his family is the ideal situation. Foster families provide a safe haven for a child. Healthy grieving is to be expected, but it’s for the right reasons. It’s healthy.

Myth: You can’t adopt foster children.
Truth: In 2016, more than 65,000 children—whose mothers and fathers parental rights were legally terminated—waiting to be adopted. Also in 2016, more than 20,000 children “aged out” of foster care without permanent families. Research has shown that those who leave care without being linked to a “forever family” have a higher likelihood than the general youth population to experience homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration as adults.

Is there room in your heart and family for a child in need? There are many ways to get involved, some that do not even require foster care. One recommendation: volunteer with The National CASA Association (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children. You can find out more information here: www.casaforchildren.org.
Or consider small ways to connect to children in need—after school tutoring at your public library. Volunteering at a community center. Buy Christmas gifts for a family in need through an Adopt-a-Family program with a local church. Support a family who does provide foster care with respites—babysitting or meals. There’s many ways to get involved to care for children in need. And every little bit makes a difference.

Warning!!!! Before reading this book you will need several boxes of tissues. This has been an emotional journey for me. The writing is so empowering with how much God loves us. There is a lot of references to sheep in the story which I thought was visually perfect to illustrate how much God loves us. I am reminded of one story in the Bible where Jesus leaves ninety-nine sheep to go after the lost one. I feel lost sometimes and wonder what my purpose is. What keeps me going is knowing that no matter what, God is there to comfort me.

Izzy so desperately wants a child. Her desire is very strong but it did hinder her in areas that slowly come to the surface. When you have been abandoned as a child it is hard to realize that there are people who love you. The author gracefully lets us witness a young woman who is having trouble waiting on God, find her way from feeling unwanted as a child to what God's purpose for her is. There are others things blocking Izzy's happiness like her husband becoming a deacon. It was interesting to read about an Amish marriage and how they have problems like everyone else. This part of the story opened my eyes to some things I thought about Amish but were unfounded. They are not perfect, but strive to live unashamed lives. Yes they stumble, but they seek counsel and and ask forgiveness. We all try to hide our sins, but God has a way to bring them to surface.

The meat of the story for me was how the author gives readers insight into Foster Care. There are so many children waiting for their forever home. When there is talk that the community will take in foster care children for a period of time, Mollie jumps at the chance to take in two young sisters. Little did she know that she would have her hands full. What the girls need most is love, direction and acceptance. I loved how we see Mollie examine herself and see where her insecurities are. My heart went out to the children in the story. The perception that foster kids are troubled kids is not always true. Most of them have come from abusive homes where they witnessed how insignificant they are. Mollie's journey was very emotional as her desire to make an impact on these children will also teach her about love and asking for help.

The story is a wonderful journey of unconditional love and how important it is to give children guidance and a feeling of belonging. The author's eloquent story about foster care is one we all need to be aware of. I have always had a desire to adopt a child but always found excuses not to. I wonder what opportunity did I pass up to make a difference in a child's life? I loved the way a community comes together in this story to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

STITCHES..IN..TIME....Suzanne.Wood.Fisher
A long time fan of her books, will say this was another interesting story.
Sam and Mollie and foster children in Stoney Ridge. Other homes were given to these young girls, that came from difficult, and different homes, needing shelter. With a new Bishop that is insecure. An Amish school teacher that brings in humor, wisdom and love. Makes this an ideal book to read and enjoy. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by Net Galley and Revell.

STITCHES IN TIME is the second book in The Deacon's Family series. I did not read the first book and had no problem following along with this second book. While reading STITCHES IN TIME I became emotionally invested in all of the characters. They are all flawed, real and lovable! Once I started reading, I was instantly hooked. I devoured every page and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. This not so typical Amish story is filled with a health crisis, fostering children, marital issues, but also love, family, and second chances.


I quickly flew through STITCHES IN TIME and when I finished I found myself wanting more. I loved all of the characters and found myself wanting to travel to Stoney Ridge. The tender moments in the story really pull at the readers heart strings. Molly is so excited to foster children and has dreams of pillow fights, sleepovers, and constant giggling. Instead she find the local sheriff knocking at her door at midnight on top of the phone calls from the truancy officer. How did she get it so wrong?


In STITCHES IN TIME I loved Sam and Molly, the primary characters, but also fell in love with all of the secondary characters as well. Every one of them has an important part to play in this heart warming story and even though I wanted to reach in and smack one or two of them every now and then, they all weaseled their way into my heart. My emotions were all over the place and I was even reaching for the tissues quite a few times. Molly and Sam are both hiding from something in the past and are afraid of being exposed at any moment. Will they learn to forgive themselves and begin to live again?


I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

I absolutely loved this book! Suzanne Woods Fisher is a new to me author and I was excited to read her new book. The characters were all unique and personable, I laughed and was sad with them. I felt like the characters were friends whom I knew by the end of the book. Not many authors I’ve read can do that for me. There were several different sets of characters that I got to meet in this book; after finishing I found out that several of the characters are in other books that Suzanne Woods Fisher has written, but I would definitely say you could read this one as a standalone.
Other interesting things about this book were the topics; The Amish taking in kids from foster care, struggles between newlyweds, dealing with Gods calling on your life… So many great topics and Suzanne Woods Fisher did a great job in my opinion of weaving them all together in a believable way. I loved her use of something unexpected coming up in life that you are totally unprepared for and God showing you how to use it for His good. I needed that reminder!
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for originality, the great sets of characters, and making me interested enough to get the rest of the series! I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Stitches in Time was a very well written and complex story about Sam and Mollie, and the foster children Mollie and others in Stoney Ridge took in to help the local shelters. While it was admittedly difficult to get in to at first, I kept reading on, as I am a longtime fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher. Additionally, I really took an interest in the storyline in which the residents of Stoney Ridge all pitched in to give homes to the foster children, all girls from troubled backgrounds. The other storyline was of newly ordained minister Luke, who is the last person in the community anyone expected to have the lot fall to for an Amish minister. A reformed troublemaker, he is now Stoney Ridge's newest deacon. He deals with great insecurity about how best to serve his community and seeks frequent guidance from David, the bishop, who has long been a father figure to him. I was touched by Mollie's struggles with the twin girls placed in her care, who presented huge challenges to her idolized view of being a foster parent.
Stitches in Time is, as previously mentioned, a complex story with multiple interwoven storylines. Fans of Fisher will appreciate the return to Stoney Ridge and the re-introduction to many favorite characters such as Carrie, Caleb, David and Fern. I am pleased to be able to recommend this novel!

Although the second in the series, this is the first one I read. Was not lost. Luke and Sam are brothers, and the book covers both of them. Luke was a troubled teen, and is now married to Izzy. He, along with the church group is surprised when he was voted to become the next Amish Deacon. Caused quite a stir when he gets chosen, but he does try and do a good job and does well. Sam is very shy, and has a crush on the new school teacher Mollie, although he gets tongue tied and struggles to talk with her. When a local house for delinquents has mold, the leader ends up working with the Amish to find homes for 13 foster girls. Of course things don't go the way they should, and life in general is something each character must face. I like the views of the struggles each go through, and that there are many layers to each character too. Highly recommend this book, as I found it hard to put down.

Loved this touching story, so full of wisdom, humor, and faith. Continuing about a year later from the end of book one, Mending Fences, Izzy and Luke are featured again, alongside Luke's quiet younger brother, Sam, and Fern's cousin Mollie, the new school teacher.

Married life with its ups and downs, plus a budding romance between the younger couple, add a tender side to the story. There are some lovely moments between each pair, as both face some difficult issues. The inclusion of foster care and the needs of troubled children are center to the story, plus the effects of alcoholism, childhood abandonment, and infertility.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
Love how the metaphor of sheep and their care opens Izzy's eyes to the truth found in Scripture about the Good Shepherd, especially as in Psalm 23. Their lives offer perfect examples of the truths found there. She is still my favorite character, so it was nice to watch her faith grow along with Luke's as they take on new challenges. Luke grows and matures, still with his sense of humor and humility.

Recommend to readers looking for touching contemporary stories with flawed characters, faith, and family. This series is best enjoyed if read in order.

Stitches in time is a beautifully written inspirational romance. Throughly enjoyed the plot and the characters, especially the trouble making twins. If you enjoy a good Amish book I recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

This is the second book in the series, The Deacon’s Family. We continue to learn how life is progressing for those we’ve met in Stoney Ridge. We find that Luke Schrock, former “bad boy” of the community is chosen to become a Deacon in the church. Even Izzy, his wife, is shocked at this news. Luke doesn’t want this position at all, but in the Amish church, once you are selected as a Deacon, you are one for life. He knows everyone has misgivings about him being chosen, particularly with his background. Even though the Amish are known for their forgiving attitudes, that forgiveness has not been fully extended to Luke.

Psalm 23 takes on new meaning to the reader as verses are explained as Izzy cares for her sheep. The Bible takes on a whole new meaning to her and others as the congregation works to memorize this scripture.

This book covers so many aspects of life, love, forgiveness, surprise, and unexpected blessings. The subject of foster care also plays a huge part in the book. It is very interesting to see how the cultures mesh as the foster children take on life with the Amish community during an emergency.

I loved this book and highly recommend it. I was given a copy of this book by Revell publishers, through Netgalley. I was not required to give a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Stitches in Time is another great read by one of my favorite authors. Suzanne Woods Fisher has created wonderful characters that are likable and relatable. Luke, formerly a troubled young man, is now married and beginning to allay the distrust of others in the community. Then very unexpectedly, he is chosen for a leadership role--and the story begins! There are struggles with a member who drinks too much, the promises to keep regarding emptying the foster care system, the strain on his marriage. The author, with humor and beautiful word pictures, does a fantastic job bringing these scenes to life. Some of the characters are from previous books and it is pleasant to see them again, especially Bishop David and Aunt Fern, both such wise and kind people who speak life into others' lives. I loved how the 23rd Psalm is used throughout the book to illustrate different scenarios as Izzy shepherds her flock of sheep. Another theme throughout the story is related to knitting. Being a person who knits, I liked her allegorical references to dropped stitches and the need to catch those stitches in time. The book focuses on foster care and Fisher realistically portrays some of the problems related to this societal issue. At the end of the book, the author has discussion questions and a brief history of foster care. She also dispels myths that people have regarding foster care and gives suggestions as to how readers can volunteer to help children in need. Readers who like Amish fiction and stories full of family, friends, and faith will not want to miss Stitches in Time. I received a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

This was my first book by the author Suzanne Woods Fisher and it will not be my last. I must start by saying that this a sort of part of series all about Stoney Ridge Amish Community but it is also a stand alone easy read as the characters are introduced at the start and their character so beautifully developed throughout. The book carries strong spiritual messages but this does not in any way detract from the developing story. I loved the embroiling of the Amish faith with the very distinct characters and village type life.
I cannot give enough praise for such a wonderful book that I did not want to end.
Thank you Netgalley and also the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to discover such a great and prolific author.