Back and broke in Stoney Ridge, Jimmy Fisher has coasted as long as he could through life on charm, good looks, and deep-set dimples. They always worked just fine for him–until they didn’t. His smile has no effect on the violet-eyed beauty he met at the Bent N’ Dent, the one with that stunning horse. She’s offered him a job, but nothing else.The last thing Sylvie Schrock King needs around Rising … around Rising Star Farm is a grown boy working for her, especially her neighbor Edith’s son. The woman holds a serious grudge against Sylvie and her son, and hiring Jimmy Fisher will only fan the flames of Edith’s rancor. But Sylvie is desperate for help on the farm, and Jimmy understands horses like no one else.
While Jimmy’s lazy smile and teasing ways steal Sylvie’s heart, Edith is working on a way to claim her land. Has Sylvie made another terrible mistake? Or is it too late to outfox the fox? More importantly . . . just who is the fox?
Writing with both wit and warmth, Fisher delivers a supremely satisfying conclusion to the popular Deacon’s Family series.
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Two Steps Forward by Suzanne Woods Fisher is the third (and final) book in The Deacon’s Family series. While Two Steps Forward can be read on its own, you will be missing out on two delightful books. Reading The Deacon’s Family series in order allows you to get to know Luke, Izzy, Bishop David, Hank, Edith and the other characters in Stoney Ridge. I have enjoyed following Luke’s journey and it is not over yet. Jimmy Fisher is returning to Stoney Ridge after the ranch he was working on in Colorado went belly up. He discovers that his mother, Edith has turned his bedroom into a scrapbooking room which has Jimmy sleeping on a lumpy sofa in the basement. Sylvie Schrock King is a widow raising four and a half year old, Joey on her own along with trying to take care of Rising Star Farm. Sylvie offers Jimmy a job which he accepts over his mother’s protests. Jimmy is eager to work with Prince the Arabian horse Sylvie uses to pull her buggy. When Izzy and Fern read about a second infant who died after being abandoned, they implore Luke to come up with an idea. Izzy is happily married to Luke and loves their adopted girl, but she feels a loss over never knowing her own father. She approaches her mother in hopes of learning more about her biological father. Two Steps Forward is a delightfully entertaining novel. There is humor, joy, love, frustration and despair. There is also faith in the Lord. They know that God is there watching over them and will take care of them. I liked getting to know Sylvie. She had a rough childhood in a conservative Amish group and frequently quotes phrases from the Bible. Sylvie is good with animals and strays have a way of finding their way to Rising Star Farm. Jimmy is an upbeat man who is a hard worker and a charmer. His dimples and charm help him with women, but Jimmy has trouble with making a permanent commitment. I like how the book brought attention to the issue of abandoned babies. While there are Safe Haven laws, there are still babies left in restrooms and dumpsters. Two Steps Forward is well-written with engaging characters set in a special Amish community. This is a book that had me smiling and laughing often while reading it with the occasional frown (thanks to Edith). I am going to miss Stoney Ridge and the people who reside there (even Hank Lapp). Two Steps Forward is a brilliant conclusion to The Deacon’s Family series. Two Steps Forward is a charming tale with baby boxes, a hen pen, a jumble of junk, a bright boy, a meddling mother and a benevolent bishop.
I am so sad this is the conclusion to the Deacon’s Family. I have become a fan of Luke Schrock and I’ll be the first to admit that I could not stand him when I first started reading about him. Self-centered little jerk is what he was but he is proof that people can change. I thought pretty much the same of Jimmy Fisher but he did have a grumpy mom and that would make anyone have a hard heart.
I found I was unable to put this book down as I have all the others. Once you delve into Stoney Ridge you don’t want to leave. The real world is put on hold and you are transported to a community with problems just like ours but you know things will eventually work out.
Each book in the series can be read as a standalone but I heavily suggest reading in order. Reading in order allows you to be more invested with the characters.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Revell, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Jimmy has been away for a long time he took off running instead of taking responsibility and marrying the girl her promised to…So when he comes back into town for his uncles funeral and finds he has a wife and child he is surprised. Uncle was a confirmed bachelor but how did Sylvia find a way to marry him. Sylvia mistakes Jimmy for a drifter and homeless and hires him to work on her farm. She has big dreams and they DON”T include a romance just someone who can help her put the ranch back together…..Over the next months many things happen between the two and they have lots of ups and downs causing Sylvia to leave and return back to her father’s house. In the meantime the congregation has to work toward a goal for Easter but Jimmy’s mom is holding everyone back. Can the community and the two friends who really are in love with each other find their way back together and live happily ever after????? A fantastic read that will keep you guessing throughout the story.
Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of my favorite Amish authors, and I have particularly loved the “The Deacon’s Family” series. It was fun to return to this community that I’ve come to love and learn more about the lives of the characters there. This story features the characters of Jimmy Fisher and Sylvie Schrock. Both seem somewhat “stuck” in their circumstances, and moving forward for both of them is a struggle. Edith Lapp, Jimmy’s mother, makes matters much worse than they need to be, and both Jimmy and Sylvie have to take some steps forward in faith to find the future that God has for them.
The storyline I enjoyed most in this book, however, was that of Luke and Izzy Schrock. Luke’s experiences as a deacon made me smile. Izzy’s struggle to have a baby and her longing to know her birth father touched my heart. The themes of this book are trusting God and His guidance even when you can’t see your next step; forgiving one another; and always finding ways to share God’s love with others. There’s a miracle or two that happen in this story that delighted me. I realize that this is the conclusion of this particular series, but I’m hoping there’s more stories coming from Stoney Ridge.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This book can stand alone but does continue the wonderful saga set in Stoney Ridge so the novels are best read in order. Jimmy Fisher has returned home after several years away. Now a widow, Sylvie, who has a young son, lives next-door. He starts working for her, and their precarious relationship begins. Jimmy’s mom is determined he should get married and she knows just the Amish wife for him—definitely not Sylvie. The endearing store with its quirky characters draws you in and entertains as well as prompts thoughts about relationships and forgiveness. I like the way the Amish community there works to promote family life and help foster needy kids. The novel incorporates modern news in the story line. Another great one, Suzanne Fisher. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Continuing the Deacon Family Series, Suzanne Woods Fisher gives readers the third book in the series. Sylvie run a horse breeding business, and sometimes it is a constant battle with her neighbor, Edith. And to make matters worse, she is not sure how Edith will react about Sylvie hiring Jimmy, Edith’s son. But Jimmy is just who Sylvie needs because of his knowledge of horses. But he doesn’t come with a very good reputation. It will be interesting to see how these two get along. 85
Suzanne Woods Fischer is an outstanding writer and I always enjoy her stories very much. This one was especially interesting to me because the horse breeding business added new light and live to the story. It’s not something that is usually the subject of an Amish story. I thoroughly enjoyed Jimmy and Sylvie taking care of the farm and horses, and Sykvie’s little boy is adorable, as Jimmy thinks so as well. There is a lot of heartache and confusion over the farm property. It seems Edith tries to be in control of something that doesn’t belong to her, and she treated her deceased son horrible as well as treating his widow Sylvie. Edith is a miserable person, and tries to make everyone else that way. Not my favorite character at all. But Ms. Fisher weaves all of this together and gives a sweet and likeable ending everyone will enjoy.
I want to thank the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I really liked the main character Sylvie as she struggles to raise her son as a single mom on a farm after the recent death of her husband. She offers Jimmy a job on her farm when he arrives in town, much to his mothers dismay. She was a wonderful, strong character who was not afraid of work or personal sacrifice.
I liked the funny interactions (and misunderstandings) between the two of them and the eye winking part throughout the book was hilarious!
I enjoyed reading about the farm, daily work, and the townspeople. Things are not always what they seem, as these characters find out during the book; and it took lots of forgiveness, understanding and faith to get them thru. I really enjoyed this story!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
In this heartwarming, soul-searching tale, Suzanne Woods Fisher invites us back to Stoney Ridge. In Two Steps Forward, we see Luke Schrock maturing as a deacon; Izzy still looking for her missing childhood, and Jimmy Fisher returning from Colorado. Unsure of his plans, Jimmy accepts an unexpected offer from widow Sylvie Schrock King to help with her horse and farm.
Sylvie is a very likable character. She is independent, a hard worker, and she will defend and protect those she loves. For her, the question seems to be, is Jimmy worth loving?
I really couldn’t decide how I felt about Jimmy. Fisher drew him in such a way that I liked him, felt sorry for him, but despised and wanted to be done with him.
The creek, which divides Sylvie’s property from Edith Fisher Lapp’s, is slowly meandering closer and closer to Edith’s house. Perhaps symbolic of the way Edith’s sphere of influence gets smaller and smaller the more in control of others she tries to be.
Edith is NOT a nice person, but Bishop David Stolzfus gives her lots of room (grace) to be herself. In our time in Stoney Ridge, I have enjoyed watching his people-handling skills, honed by hours of prayer. David is a very patient and wise bishop and is teaching Luke well by example.
While Luke has grown by leaps and bounds, Izzy is still chained to her unfulfilled childhood longings. Will she ever feel that she can move on without the ability to settle her past?
Themes include righting wrongs towards others (mending fences); forgiveness (can those already given grace pay it forward?); protecting those who can’t defend themselves (adoption or fostering). It’s important to take action, realizing by being part of the solution, we can help people, one by one.
Yet, a fourth theme was the importance of a loving father in the home.
I totally enjoyed this story and recommend it. That being said, I wish there had been one less twist at the end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and the author through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinions, for which I am solely responsible.
Able to be read as a standalone, Suzanne Woods Fisher’s “Two Steps Forward” is the third and final book in the Deacon’s Family series. Having read the previous book but not the first one, I was still able to follow along without any trouble. This is one aspect of Fisher’s writing that I appreciate the most, that the characters are fluid throughout the various series, yet the books can be read out of order. Appended to the front of this story is a cast of characters list, which I always find helpful, particularly in novels like this that do have repeating figures.
Horses are among my favorite animals, second only to dogs, and I loved their presence in “Two Steps Forward.” While it isn’t, of course, unusual to feature horses in some capacity in an Amish novel, this is the first book I’ve read that dealt with the Amish running a horse-breeding farm. Sylvie King makes for an interesting heroine, not because she rebels against her community’s rules or values, but for the fact that she has a way with animals. She is a horse whisperer of sorts. Furthermore, she is a single mother and widow who can manage the animals and her little boy with patience and gentleness. She makes an interesting contrast to Jimmy Fisher, who worked on a ranch yet doesn’t have the same instinctual aptitude that she does. Edith, Jimmy’s faultfinding mother, makes life harder for Sylvie as Sylvie works to clean up the outbuildings and property of Rising Star Farm.
Through Sylvie’s story and the related stories of other characters readers will recognize from prior books, Fisher demonstrates the self-sufficiency, determination, grace, and unwavering loyalty of the Amish. Discussion questions at the end of the book take readers deeper and are worthwhile whether reading in a group or individually.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
This book is the book 3 of the Deacon’s family. In Stitches In Time I got introduced to Luke and Izzy’s story and it got continued in Two Steps Forward with the introduction of Jimmy and Sylvie’s story.
I love the uniqueness of each character (except Edith). I can’t remember reading a book with such blends if unique characters.
It was the selflessness of Sylvie that endeared me to her. A Bishop’s daughter with a boatload of expectations on her and difficult choices to make. Even though difficult for her, she had the grace about her with the way she carried herself and went about her business. Even when victimised by the hard Edith she never spoke out of turn. Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy!!! Last child to Edith with his kind of upbringing did things to him and when he returned and once again became at the receiving end of his mother’s fury, I wondered how he was going to survive. I marvelled at his transformation and maturity.
Izzy and Luke’s story continued with twists and turns that will knock the air out of you and make your heart so glad that you’d cry. At last I was happy for Izzy, she could finish rest.
This theme ran through in the book especially through Izzy and Sylvie’s life; God is ever present, He listens and answers prayers and He is a father who never abandons His world. We just have to trust Him.
Delightful Amish story!!!
I received a copy of the book and this is my honest opinion.
For a while now I haven’t been able to read Amish fiction, after reading several boring Amish novels — I was in a Amish reading slump. Two Steps Forward brought back my enjoyment of Amish fiction. Fisher brings you an Amish book that is different from nearly all I have read, she wrote a series I have fallen in love with. Most times I come to lack any positive feelings towards the Amish characters because I dislike their beliefs.
In Two Steps Forward I found relatable characters, a beautiful setting, and forgiveness of sins.
With subjects that are not usually shown in Amish fiction such as abortion, abandonment, foster care, and other subjects of the like. This is something of a romance … And so much more.
I look forward to reading more from Suzanne Woods Fisher, and I need to read the first book in the series after reading the last two. For once I look forward to loving an Amish book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I enjoyed this Amish Romance.I received this copy for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I’ve given it a 4.5* rating only because their story doesn’t seem to be finished. I know this is part of a series and it addresses some heavy issues. One of the women is led to fight for the unborn lives. As someone who has worked to save the unborn, I understand the drive. As someone who has also lost three babies, I know how deep the sorrow goes from than. And from the healing of that, I understand that each human, from unborn to the elderly, must decide for themselves wheather to live or not. While in a woman’s body, that baby has a soul that answers to a higher power. I realize not all agree, I also know that some who choose abortion, have to deal with depression also. If you agree or not, I also have the right to say what I believe. Unless you are responding to this book, do not respond.
Two Steps Forward is proof once again that Suzanne Woods Fisher is a masterful storyteller and this time, she shares a romance between a young Amish widow and the ‘once rebel’ Amish cowboy Jimmy Fisher. Sylvie Schrock KIng has a young son and she is trying to raise him and a special breed of Arabian-Amish horses on her “desperately in need of a fixer-upper” farm. Jimmy becomes interested in Sylvie after he returns to Stoney Ridge but his very domineering mother seems determined to keep them apart. Edith Fisher Lapp may also be hiding a secret that could change many lives but there are few people in Stoney Ridge who are strong enough to stand up to her. Until…..
Two Steps Forward can be read alone but it is book three in The Deacon’s Family series so it was fun to catch up with so many familiar characters from previous books. I especially loved the growth of Luke Schrock, who was once considered a bad boy but is now a Deacon. It is his idea to place a Baby Box near the Stoney Ridge Fire Department so that babies can be left in a safe environment and not be abandoned; he also guarantees that these babies will be raised by Amish families! I also enjoyed the courtship that Jimmy chooses in his effort to really get to know Sylvie. He begins a letter writing campaign to woo the young widow and proves what David Stoltzfus, the very wise Bishop of Stoney Ridge, tells Edith as he counsels her about another matter. “Words are a funny thing. They can make big things little. And they can make little things big.”
Suzanne Woods Fischer has filled Two Steps Forward with the things readers have come to love in her books–romance, family love, Amish values, thought-provoking dialogue, and a reminder that everyone is capable of changing for the better.
This book was provided courtesy of Revell Publishing, through Interviews & Reviews.
A Ticklish Situation! A young widow, Sylvie Schrock King, with a small child finds herself with a broken-down farm, a horse she dearly loves, and the possibility she might lose it all—and she is Amish. Additionally, her neighbor, Edith, wants to do everything she can to get rid of her, including enlisting her husband to help her do it. Things seem to change for the better when she naively hires marriage shy Jimmy, until Sylvie discovers he is Edith’s son.
Be prepared for some funny situations that will have you grinning ear to ear. There are also very serious ones that include providing a place mothers can leave unwanted babies—no questions asked—along with homes for the infants. Subjects run the gamut from disagreeable people, unknown birth parents, and mysterious break-ins. There is even good marital advice along with a great way to get to know someone. It all blends into an amazing tale that I hated to see come to an end. I highly recommend this 5-plus star book to anyone who enjoys well-written, clean stories.
Revell Publishing has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of, Two Steps Forward, for the purpose of review.
Two Steps Forward is penned in Suzanne Woods Fisher’s style with dimensional characters with flaws, secrets, determination, flexibility and a love for God brought realistic issues to life. Jimmy was immediately attracted to a beautiful Arabian horse owned by widow Sylvie who lived on the farm next to his mother and step-father. He needed a job and she needed someone to clean up Rising Star Farm and all the junk Jake King had accumulated. The underlying attitude of his mother against Sylvie brought tense moments.
I appreciated how Fisher interwove the need for caring parents for children that were abandoned or in foster care and the way Izzy, Luke and Bishop Stoltzfus wanted Stoney Ridge to be a haven. Two Steps Forward is filled with multiple twists and turns as members of the community faced life’s challenges and wanting to make a difference along with what the leaders of the church wanted before their next communion service where wrongs were made right. This story had an element of surprise but I sorted thought the characters involved would find what they were looking for as God heard their prayers.
This book can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading Mending Fences and Stitches in Time to see the growth of the characters and the Stoney Ridge Community. Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of my favorite Amish authors, so I look forward to more books with some of these same characters.
What a Wonderful set of characters and I was happy to see some of the old ones too!!
I enjoyed retuning to Stoney Ridge again.
I’m wondering if anyone notices that there is a theme here? At least it seems to me it is.
The son returns home after being gone for years flat broke etc.
I thought it was interesting to read how Fisher puts these lovable characters through different paces in their lives and learning how to get along, forgive and accepting.
. This is an excellent story and I feel that is a wonderful conclusion to this series!!
I was so sad to see this book and the series end.
I love Suzanne! Her writing is just fabulous!
I love how she pulls you into the story from opening and just keeps you glued to your seat until it’s finished.
She writes these stories that will make you believe that the characters are realistic and believable and for me they are!
I feel that I’m really there in the story with them! Some u want to shout at and some you just want to say yes because they’ve succeeded in what they set out to accomplish.
I enjoyed learning about how different the Amish really are.
Fisher has done a fabulous job in this area as well along with the knowledge about RH blood. Even I’ve never heard of this before.
I thought the baby boxes were rather neat.
I don’t remember much about being that young or what I slept in.
Baby boxes seems like a nice idea.
This is a book that will make you want to eagerly turning the pages to see if Jimmy comes out on top in the end. Will he?
Ya’ll just have to pick this book up and read it. Guaranteed you’ll love it
This third installment of The Deacon’s Family series wrapped up many loose ends from books one and two. The disappointment, for me, was that Luke’s brother, Sam was only mentioned twice and his wife wasn’t mentioned at all. I think book two hinted at some concerns about Sam’s wife. Those concerns were never resolved. I was hoping to find closure on that subject in this third and final book of the series, but did not.
Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of my favorite Amish book authors. She is a true storyteller in that she draws you into a story and allows you to feel as if you are a member of a family or inside a circle of friends. In Two Steps Forward the Spiritual content is wonderful as well. There are examples of how some people confuse religion and Christianity. Being a Christian is having a relationship with Christ, not just going through motions and man made rules. Also, this story shares how the Amish and all Christians depend upon God in various situations. And shows that anything worth having is worth working for. God’s timing is always right and NOTHING is impossible with Him, our Heavenly Father.
I would like to thank Revell for gifting me a copy of this title. I was under no obligation to post a review and all opinions are my own.
This is the first book about the Amish that for me shows clearly although they choose to live differently, they are much like everyone else. They struggle with their daily challenges and relationships, relying on their faith, and community to lend a hand when needed, as well as celebrate their triumphs with them.
Two Steps Forward is well written and brings the Amish community to life. I was pulled right into Stoney Ridge, and the budding relationships between Jimmy, Sylvie, and Joey.
The protagonists and side characters had all the flaws we face in our own lives. Each one was an individual with their own unique experiences playing into their thoughts and actions. The development and growth, as well as failures of each character made it easy to step into a culture different than my own.
There was a thread of hope and faith throughout the story that felt genuine instead of preachy. Each story within the story had its own challenges to deal with—abortion, miscarriage, adoption, pride, abandonment, rejection, and drug use were touched on and overcome.
I will definitely read this book again. I loved every minute of it.
I was given a copy of this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group through Interviews and Reviews. This is my honest assessment.
This is the third book in the Deacons Family Series. I love that you continue to see old friends from the first two books. This book is about Jimmy Fisher he returns from Colorado after 4 years working with horses. Sylvie is a widow and hires Jimmy to help her on her farm. Jimmy is Edith’s son, a neighbor of Sylvie who holds a grudge against her and her son. Love the characters in the book. It was a book hard for me to put down. It is a book of forgiveness and the Amish ways of living it. Hate for the series to come to a end. Suzanne Woods Fisher really knows how to draw you into a book.
“Two Steps Forward” is Master Amish Storyteller, Suzanne Woods Fisher’s 3rd Novel in her “Deacon’s Family” series. It’s an Amazingingly Poignant, Inspirational Romance between widowed Sylvie Schrock King & Amish cowboy Jimmy Fisher. The Story’s theme is the Sanctity of Life, & that is Deeply Relevant today.
For those familiar with the Series, several of the Stoney Ridge characters play a part in this novel. But this can be read as a stand alone. You have: feuding neighbors ; a domineering Mother trying to arrange her adult son’s marriage ; a widow & her young son, living on a rundown farm , in need of TLC; the dream of an Arabian stallion being bred to Amish horses; a woman’s heart for desperate young pregnant women & their babies ; & the Deacon’s challenge to take action outside his Amish community, in this Outstanding Story.
I Highly Recommend you Get Lost in SWF’s Engrossing & Entertaining, Amish Romance today; to see how God brings Sylvie & Jimmy to their Forever !