"Two Steps Forward" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Two Steps Forward (Feb. 4, 2020) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

While sounding like a place that shines, Rising Star Farm (in fictional Stoney Ridge, Pennsylvania) is a junkyard, and widow Sylvie Schrock King desperately needs help on the farm, as it’s too much for her and four-year-old son, Joey, to handle. Providence returns Jimmy Fisher to Stoney Ridge after four years away in Colorado. Homeless and penniless, Sylvie’s stunning Arabian horse, Prince, grabs his attention outside the Bent ‘n Dent, and he’s eager to accept her job offer to help on the farm (both with chores and cleaning the place up). Unfortunately for Sylvie, Jimmy is the second son of her across-the-creek neighbor-nemesis Edith Fisher Lapp. Edith is, by her seeming nature, judgmental and condescending, and she’s hardest on Sylvie, for reasons unknown to Sylvie. Fortunately, Jimmy is everything Edith is not, showing her kindness and humor (and perhaps love?), challenging her to read the Bible, winning Joey over and all the while being a hard worker. Could Sylvie love a man with a mom like that? Will she be able to make her dreams for Rising Star Farm a reality? Or will Edith get in the way?

            Threaded into this tale is the current state of Isabella “Izzy” Schrock (married to Luke, the deacon). Luke asks her, “Aren’t we enough for you, Izzy? … Will happiness always be around the corner?” She’s got a loving, though sometimes clueless, husband, and an adopted daughter to love as her own, but the thought that she grew up “fatherless” pops up often in her mind. This eventually inspires her to help orphaned babies in the area, those who are also fatherless, and there may just be a surprise or two in store for her.

            I enjoyed the previous story and was pleased to receive this final story in The Deacon’s Family trilogy from Revell. With topics at the forefront such as abandonment or commitment issues, the importance of forgiveness, showing compassion for the fatherless, consideration for differences amongst all people regardless of background and “putting feet to a prayer,” this story doesn’t stray from weighty issues. But it is all supported with wit and warmth. “Two Steps Forward” is a heartening tale that fills readers with feels that are sugar-sweet and the occasional bitter-tasting moments borne of unwarranted judgment. I highly recommend this story for fans of Amish fiction. For newcomers, I’d start at the beginning of the trilogy … or even the first series featuring the Stoney Ridge Amish.

            Book One: Mending Fences (have not read)

            Book Two: Stitches in Time

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. 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.”