Stitches in Time (The Deacon's Family Book #2)

Suzanne Woods Fisher

Oct 2019 · The Deacon's Family Book 2 · Revell

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

Stitches in Time The Deacon's Family #2 By Suzanne Woods Fisher Luke Schrock is about to have the worst possible thing happen to him - he is about to become Stoney Ridge's newest deacon. Yup, super scary thought at least in Luke's mind and in at least half the community's too. But Luke has grown up from the troubled prankster who tormented all who had the misfortune to know him. And as his first project as a deacon, he urges members of the church to open their homes to children within Lancaster's foster system. Mollie Graber is simply beside herself when Luke makes known his promise to Amos Lapp - she would simply LOVE to open her home to a pair of sisters in need of a loving home. And she's determined to make sure this dream becomes a possibility even if she has to bug Luke every day about it. Sam Schrock is the brother most people don't notice, not after all of Luke's antics and he likes it that way. The one person he wants to notice him is Mollie, Stoney Ridge's newest teacher doesn't associate him with Luke's troubled years and that suits him just fine. Sam spends most of his time retraining and calming the young Thoroughbreds that he and his stepfather Galen King bring home. He just can't understand why Mollie is willing to set herself up for a world of hurt by opening her small home to foster children. He knows her heart is behind it but he knows she doesn't realize the potential trouble she is inviting in. This is another lovely visit to Stoney Ridge that those familiar with Suzanne Woods Fisher's work will enjoy. If you are unfamiliar with her work this would be an okay book to read even though it is the second book in the series one can easily follow along (you can go back and read all the other Stoney Ridge books later). This book was particularly interesting as homes are opened to young girls who are need of temporary homes. These girls aren't Amish so it makes for a few interesting interactions between the characters. It's hard to believe that a previously almost unlikeable character can become a favorite but Luke is definitely one of those characters (I've known a few people who are like this so I know this is possible and not just a bit of fiction on the author's part). This book definitely gives one a sense of home and comfort throughout.making for a pleasurable experience. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed 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.

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.

About the author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than thirty books, including Mending Fences, as well as the Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop's Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, among other novels. 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 ww.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Facebook @SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor and Twitter @suzannewfisher.