Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Lost and Found by Suzanne Woods Fisher

LOST AND FOUND by Suzanne Woods Fisher
SERIES: part of the Stoney Ridge universe
GENRE: Contemporary/Amish Romantic Fiction (Christian)
PUBLISHER: Revell
RELEASE DATE: September 26, 2023
PAGES: 307

Trudy Yoder shares a passion for birding with Micah Weaver–and she has an even greater passion for Micah. Their friendship is finally turning romantic when Micah abruptly grows cold. Worse still, he wants to leave Stoney Ridge.

Micah Weaver thought he was over Trudy’s older sister. A year and a half ago, Shelley had broken his heart when she ran away from Stoney Ridge to pursue a singing career in Nashville. Then, out of the blue, she’s started to leave distressing phone messages for him.

When the bishop asks for volunteers to scout out a possible church relocation in Tennessee, Micah is the first to raise his hand. Despite scant details, he’s confident he can find Shelley. After all, his reputation as a field guide is based on finding birds that don’t want to be found.

What Micah doesn’t know is that what you’re looking for isn’t always what you find.

More Books In This Universe

Any book that features the inimitable Hank Lapp (Suzanne Woods Fisher’s ECCENTRIC Amish BUSYBODY – some words shouted because if you know, you know) promises to be a delightful read that will bring a smile to my face and to my heart, and Lost and Found did exactly that.

The community of Stoney Ridge is a special place, and I enjoy every visit via the talented pen of this author. The characters are relatable and layered … and yes, some are quite entertaining (looking at you, Hank Lapp). I always appreciate the variety of ages, personalities, and interests represented in the primary recurring characters as well as each book’s specific protagonists, and each time I pick up a new Stoney Ridge story it feels a bit like a gathering of old friends. In Lost and Found, a new group of more liberal Amish – the Beachy Amish – has moved into Stoney Ridge and are causing considerable problems for our beloved & already established Old Order community. So much so that Bishop David Stoltzfus is thinking about relocating his church to another state. I have to admit that my heart sank into my stomach at this news – how could these beloved characters live anywhere else?!? I needn’t have worried, should have remembered that the author cares for this little community even more than I do lol and would make sure it turned out for their good. (Spiritual life application lesson there!)

There are a few plot threads going on in Lost and Found, and we are treated to several different character POVS as we shift back and forth between the different storylines. Fisher excels at this writing style and makes the transitions seamless, easy to follow, and headed toward a common, unifying end. I especially enjoyed the subplots involving birding (I didn’t know until Fisher’s books that this is a huge hobby for the Amish) and mental health, as well as the character growth we see in several people throughout. Trudy’s bird logs were entertaining as well as informative, and I loved learning about the spiritual symbolism of certain birds. Her specific character voice made me chuckle more than once as I read the logs, and the scenes between her and the ‘tattooed lady’ were hysterical.

Bottom Line: There’s a lot more I could say about Lost and Found by Suzanne Woods Fisher – so many aspects I enjoyed – but I don’t want to spoil the reading experience for you. It’s best if you settle in with your favorite reading beverage and a comfy perch to discover for yourself all the delightful characters and plot twists that make up this sweet book. On the surface, it’s an engaging novel with hints of romance, dashes of humor, and a dose of drama…. and you can certainly enjoy it at that level alone. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find several profound spiritual and practical truths to ponder. I stayed solidly invested in the outcome from beginning to end, and I closed the final page with a satisfied sigh and my usual Hank-Lapp-induced grin.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 stars / loved it!

KissingBook Level: 2 / warm, rosy glow of sweetness

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Suzanne Woods Fisher is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 books, including The Moonlight School, Anything but Plain, The Sweet Life, and The Secret to Happiness, as well as the Three Sisters Island, Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop’s Family, The Deacon’s Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.

Other Featured Books by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Revell is offering a print copy of Lost and Found by Suzanne Woods Fisher to TWO of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

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What about you? What makes you want to read Lost and Found by Suzanne Woods Fisher?