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.
Review: Due to the overwhelming flood of Amish/Quaker novels in the last decade I have become decidedly burnt out reading this particular type of fiction. It's been a couple of years since I've picked up an Amish novel, but this story sounded sweet so I hesitantly decided to give it a go, and I will admit that I enjoyed it.
The faith element of this book was real, and I found myself encouraged by the steady Biblical presence within the pages and the constant faith-focused messages woven throughout.
I also found the story quiet sweet. I loved how Izzy truly can't stand Luke, and she made him work for her respect (Go girl!). The dynamic between the two of them is highly entertaining and really kept me turning the pages. Although I picked up this book with hesitation, I will certainly read the next installment of "The Deacon's Family" when it comes out.
The last thing I want to mention about this book is the humor. "Mending Fences" is based on a young man's journey to seek forgiveness from all the people he has wronged during his growing up years....and some of the examples of the emotional damage he caused from his pranks really made me giggle. They are a little - if not a lot - far fetched, but it just added to the charming appeal of the novel and drove home the faith message that we truly don't understand the impact our actions can cause on other people.
Overall, I will give this book a recommendation to read if you are in search for a wholesome, sweet, Christian novel to brighten your day and give you a faith message in addition to an entertaining read.
Thank-you to Graf Martin Communications and to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing House, for a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
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