Two Steps Forward

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre: Amish Fiction
Series: The Deacon's Family #3
Release Date: February 4, 2020

​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 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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Reviewer: Abigail Harris

For a while now, I haven't been able to read Amish fiction after reading several boring Amish novels. I was in an 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 the forgiveness of sins.

With subjects not usually shown in Amish fiction such as abortion, abandonment, foster care, and other topics 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.

This book was provided courtesy of Revell Publishing, through Interviews & Reviews, for an honest review.

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Reviewer: Connie Porter Saunders

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 few people in Stoney Ridge 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 Amish families will raise these babies! I also enjoyed the courtship that Jimmy chooses in his effort to 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. I highly recommend it.

This book was provided courtesy of Revell Publishing, through Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: Lori Parrish

​I enjoyed returning to Stoney Ridge. This is an excellent story, and I feel that is a wonderful conclusion to this series.

I was 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 the opening and keeps you glued to your seat until it's finished. She writes these stories that will make you believe the characters are realistic and believable, and for me, they are!  I feel that I'm really there in the story with them. Some you want to shout at and some you want to say yes because they've succeeded in what they set out to accomplish.

I enjoyed learning about how different 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 seem like a nice idea.

I received this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell through Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: Anna Bottoms

This is the first book about the Amish that, for me, clearly shows the Amish 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, 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 reread this book. 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.

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Reviewer: Melissa Glor

Two Steps Forward is a charming finale to the Deacon's Family Series. I have enjoyed my visits to Stoney Ridge with Luke, Izzie, and the rest of the characters that make up this lovely series. This book was a perfect finale to the set.

It was a little slow going for me at first, but once I got a little way in, the story absolutely hooked me. So much so, I read the last 200 pages in one setting! I loved Izzy's story in this book, and meeting Sylvie, Joey, and Jimmy was a pleasure. I am not usually a huge fan of Amish stories, but this series has been my favorite Amish series ever. 

I definitely plan to lookup more of Suzanne's earlier books. I am looking forward to reading more of Suzanne's books. 

I received this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell through Interviews & Reviews.

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Reviewer: Marta Aldrighetti

This is the 3rd book of the Deacon family series, after Stitches InTime, but you can easily read it as a stand-alone book.

Set in Stoney Ridge, Sylvie, a cousin of deacon Luke Schrock, became a widow. She has a child to raise and a big farm to take care of, so she needs help. 

Jimmy Fisher, her neighbour, is broke and back home living with his mother.  Hank Lapp, Jimmy's step-father, is a big man, so real and good. He speaks loud, often and always says what is on his mind. But his thoughts are sometimes profound thoughts and useful.  All the characters in the book are realistic and well developed.

There are hard topics in this book. The responsibility to care about unwanted children, the importance of having a father, the love of friends and family helping each other. It also covers the power of lies that make small things big and big things small and the real meaning of community and Easter and Communion.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell and NetGalley, through Interviews & Reviews.

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