“Difficult times end up making us the best we can be.”

A Healing Touch is a heartwarming (and sometimes heartwrenching) new addition to Suzanne Woods Fisher’s Stoney Ridge universe. It works perfectly as a standalone but if you’ve read any of the other books set here you’ll enjoy getting to hang out with your faves like Bishop David, his sister ‘Dok’, and of course the one and only HANK LAPP (if you know Hank at all, you’ll know why I all-capped him).

As is typical of a Fisher novel, we are walking into this community to find a handful of stories in progress among several primary characters, initially connected loosely by one person or event and then continuing on throughout the novel in their respective plot lines. I really enjoy this style of storytelling because it feels like I’m visiting Stoney Ridge in person and spending time with three or four characters as they live their lives. In A Healing Touch, as the title would suggest, all of the subplots have Dr. Ruth Stolzfus (aka ‘Dok’) as a connecting factor. There’s recent widow Bee Bennett and her new cancer diagnosis (as well as a blast from her past who shows up to help with the horses, and the practical Fern Lapp who helps Bee with her grief), Dok’s smart-but-shy young assistant Annie Fisher (along with Annie’s hypochondriac mother, and the handsome Amish EMT who opens Annie’s heart to more than one dream), and an abandoned newborn who upends Dok and her husband Matt’s lives. And y’all… SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG WITH HANK LAPP. Oh my heart!

Each main female in A Healing Touch – Bee, Annie, and Dok – is well-crafted with developed layers that draw you in while you follow the compelling journeys they take on these pages. Themes of grief, loss, fear, forgiveness, and surrender are presented compassionately and sincerely and, while these are indeed deep topics and handled with the care they deserve, the book itself never becomes heavy. Emotional at times, yes. But the tone nevertheless remains uplifting and positive. And then, of course, there were moments of humor that made me giggle (as per usual when HANK LAPP is in the story). Like when Dok finds him high-stepping it in a hurry to flee the angry goose that has him in its sights…. or this exchange of dialogue:

“CALM as a CUCUMBER,” Hank bellowed.
“Unflappable,” Sarah said.
“Our ANNIE can NOT be FLAPPED,” Hank said.

Bottom Line: A Healing Touch by Suzanne Woods Fisher is touching and heartfelt, pointing readers to the mercy & grace of God even as it entertains us with relatable characters (including some beloved favorites) and engrossing subplots. Bee, Dok, and Annie experience layered character growth over the course of this novel, and I found that each woman spoke to my heart in some way. Fisher’s charming writing voice makes it easy to fully immerse yourself in this story and difficult to put it down. I enjoyed this visit to Stoney Ridge, including the dash of romance, and I’m already looking forward to the next one.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

An Amish woman named Fern was quite wise. She was a woman of few words but what she did say was powerful and to the point. Bea was hesitant to meet Fern. Was she ready to hear what she had to say?
Sometimes we spend too much time thinking of the negatives than the positives. We don't think of what we could gain but what we can lose. This was what some of the characters in this wonderful book thought. It can be scary to enter a new relationship after you have been hurt or lost a loved one. You might feel it is too risky to go for the new job or to try for a promotion.

An Amish girl, Anna, was willing to take the risk. Her mother was not. Conflict can occur when there is a difference of opinion. This could lead to heartbreak.

I enjoyed the book. The characters were realistic. I always love reading Suzanne Woods Fisher's books.

Five stars.

Dr. Ruth Stoltzfus works as a doctor in the Amish community. She relies on house calls to help her patients' physical and emotional needs. Dr. Ruth meets her patients where they are and ensures she does what is best for them. This was a great Amish story.

Will finish this review after Thanksgiving!

I loved going back to Stoney Ridge and characters that I've read about in previous books by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 1 October 2024

Another great Amish story from Suzanne Woods Fisher. I love seeing the Amish and English living together in community and learning about what that may look like. All the characters were real and relatable and I was truly invested in all of the storylines. It was also nice seeing previous Stoney Ridge characters turn up and to see a little more of their stories.

Recommend for anyone who loves an Amish story.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley UK for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I love reading stories that take place in Amish country. This blended a few stories that all took place within the same community. All had ties to the Amish in one way or another. A doctor who was Amish but now served the Amish. An abandoned baby taken in for emergency foster care. A young Amish woman who feels the calling to become an EMT despite this not being the norm in her church district. A woman who breeds horses has to go through radiation treatment for cancer. She gets the advice from a therapeutic Amish woman who guides her with her depression and with coming to terms with people on her past. Overall, a wonderful packed full read!!

A Healing Touch by the amazing storyteller Suzanne Woods Fisher is another captivating Amish Christian tale. The author takes readers back to Stoney Ridge where Amish and English both live together. I was excited to return there and catch up with the characters.

This book has so many things going on with different situations. It mainly focus on Ruth "Dok" Stoltzfus. She grew up Amish and left the community in order to become a doctor. Then she returned to take care of them.

This thought provoking novel tackles abandoned babies, illness, cancer, family matters, grief, widowhood, hope, and faith. It grabbed my attention quickly. I was so invested in the stories of the Amish and English beloved characters that I had trouble putting the book down. There are twists and turns to keep readers on their toes. The writing is superb and will transport you to the Stoney Ridge community. Be sure to read the Cast of Characters at the beginning. It will make you smile as you become acquainted or reacquainted with everyone.

I highly recommend this poignant novel. It has lingered in my mind for days, which is the sign of a great book. I love the life and Christian lessons it provides. It receives a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided but these are my honest words.

Ruth "Dok" Stoltzfus is the kind of doctor that I wish we had more of. She truly cares for her patients. She listens to them and even makes house calls to see that they get the medical care they need. Unfortunately, she puts them ahead of her own needs and those of her husband. But, God in his own way has a plan to remedy that situation. A way that Dok would have never ever chosen, but it changed her in ways she would have never dreamed.
Dok's assistant is an extremely shy Amish girl, Annie, who feels or maybe even hears a calling from God. But, her parents want her to cease working for Dok come spring to help on their farm. Her mother, unnaturally clings to her, as well as manufacturing illnesses for herself. Can Dok get to the bottom of this?
Then, there is Bee who is still grieving the death of her husband. Now, she has a diagnosis of breast cancer. Dok sends her to Fern Lapp for some help. Fern has a special way about her of knowing how and when to say just the exact right thing for the moment without harping. Bee also got some most unexpected help with her horses while recovering from surgery and radiation treatments. Just maybe Bee will also find forgiveness and healing.
This was just an absolutely wonderful story with an amazing storyline and characters and a happy ever after ending. I would love to see a sequel to it!
I was given an advanced ecopy from the publisher, Revell, through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

This is a sweet story from multiple perspectives. I enjoyed reading the emotional healing and growth of the characters with a touch of Amish back ground. I particularly loved Annie's youthful voice. how smart and driven she is, and working through anxiety (which I relate to)!

A Healing Touch ranks as one of the best Amish books I have read. I loved the relationship between the Amish and English. There were several plots happening at the same time . The author did a great job intertwining them all. And each character’s story kept me wanting to read more. I was so glad that the characters were above middle aged. A Healing Touch was the first book I have read of Suzanne Woods Fisher. And it captured my attention so much that I will definitely be seeking out more.
This was entertaining and really heartwarming. However, it also enveloped really tough topics so might be a difficult for some to read. One of the characters had cancer and was dealing with the grief of losing a spouse. Another had to face a marriage that needed some repairs and a change of focus on priorities. One of the main characters lived with regrets and the desire for forgiveness. Adoption was also a topic. A Healing Touch really packed a punch and can provide some amazing discussions. It is challenging to write a review without spoilers as there were so many touching moments that really had me paying attention. It truly is entertaining and yet so very engaging . I was amazed when I finished and looking back see so many themes guiding and teaching throughout A Healing Touch.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher with no obligations. The opinion expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Oh, how welcome it is to return to Stoney Ridge, catching up with old friends & making new ones, too!
The book has several storylines, providing the opportunity for new narrators - & not necessarily Amish ones - which adds to the interest.
There are characters I can identify with in one way or another, making it easy to empathise (& maybe also do some soul-searching...)
I always learn new things in this author’s books – about birds, about ice-cream, in this case about medical conditions – but who would ever have guessed the denouement?!?
Another excellent volume to add to Suzanne Woods Fisher’s impressive achievements, all of such a high standard : definitely in my very top Christian authors : )

I thoroughly enjoyed A Healing Touch. What a beautiful story. I do find Amish culture fascinating and Suzanne Woods Fisher does a great job of drip feeding the details into the plot. There were several storylines in this book with a marriage on the rocks, a life paused by grief and another stifled by expectation.

Cleverly, all three plots intersect at different places with the Dok and her husband at the center of everything. Dok and her husband Matt have long focused on their careers and not their relationship. But a newborn baby left on her clinic doorstep changes everything for them. Then there’s Bree who has the double blow of being widowed and diagnosed with cancer. A man from her distant past steps in but both need to find different types of healing to allow a new future to be revealed. For Bree, much of the work comes around an Amish table.

And then there’s Dok’s assistant who feels called to be an EMT, but no one from her church has ever done such a thing. A hypochondriac mother doesn’t help. But a handsome Amish EMT from another district could hold the key. Between the clever stories, the Amish details and the beauty of the different resolutions, this is a lovely book. I wish the author had taken a little more time with the ending, but that’s my only complaint. And wanting more isn’t really a bad complaint at all!

I received a copy of A Healing Touch from the publisher via NetGalley, the opinions are my own.

Rating: 5 stars ~ Genre: Amish, suspense, medical ~ Pages: 297 ~ Publish Date: 1 Oct 2024
Subtitle: Amish Fiction about a Small Town Community Doctor and an Abandoned Baby

Oh my gosh. My dream story. Amish fiction. With a mystery. The main character is a doctor, Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus. She reminds me of the country doctor I had until I went off to college. House calls? Dr. B made them. He rode in on a snow plow because I had pneumonia. He drove my mother and me to the hospital when my appendix was about to burst. Emotional? Well, sorta. I had numerous ear infections as a kid and would tell me he was finding sweet potatoes in my painful ears.

Yep, “Dok” Stoltzfus is my kind of doctor. I read the description I knew I wanted to read this book. You are correct. Her surname is Stolzfus and was raised Amish leaving for school before baptism. The story opens with an Amish farmer patient, Levi Yutzy. You might not believe he assures “Dok” there is no need to reattach his finger. By the way, “Dok” does not agree. My daddy once missed a step descending from a combine and ended up with busted ribs. Did he see Dr. B? Nope. He had my mother bind the ribs with a sheet and returned to combining wheat.

“Dok” doctors the Amish and the ‘English’. She knows her patients. Including ‘Englisher’ Bee who is newly widowed. And sadly has a breast cancer diagnosis. Dok’s handling of the situation is unique.

Her assistant, Annie, is Amish and loves her job. Her ‘daad’ does not like Annie working for an Amish turned ‘Englisher’. Annie is a natural and you will like her.

Oh, and a newborn baby boy is left at her office doorway one cold morning. And Dok’s husband, Matt, has a solution to the baby’s immediate care. Dok isn’t so sure.

You might think there is just too much going on for one story. No. This story is a page-turner. I didn’t want this book to end and I hope Suzanne Woods Fisher plans a sequel. All of the above is woven together with skill. Okay, I admit it. I loved this one. Every bit of it.

I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of “A Healing Touch” via NetGalley from the publisher, Revell. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 5 stars
Cover: An Amish woman holding a baby which hints at the subtitle.
Pages: 297
Publish Date: 1 October 2024
#AHealingTouch #NetGalley #SuzanneWoodsFisher

A Healing Touch by Suzanne Woods Fisher is a stand alone novel but it is set in the world of Stoney Ridge. As a reader of her prior books the return to Stoney Ridge was very nice. I don't read many Amish novels but I always take the time to read Woods Fisher's novels. They are heartfelt and filled with faith and family. I loved seeing past characters from her novels and the new main characters were also great and very well written. There are many different story lines going on here but they all mesh together seamlessly.

I rate this book 5 stars as one of the best books I have read so far this year. If you are a fan of Suzanne Woods Fisher, you will not be disappointed. I had a hard time putting this book down because I was anxious to see what would happen next. Suzanne had my attention from page one because each character had their own uniqueness about them and their own storyline that all tied in together with each other. I enjoyed it so much and wanted to share it with others that I requested our library order it. I highly recommend it.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All words are my own.

Fans of Suzanne Woods Fisher will welcome the return to Stoney Ridge and the familiar characters. This is a stand alone and is not part of the Stoney Ridge Seasons series. The readers are introduced to two new characters Bee, an Englisher who is struggling with forgiveness. The other new character is Annie, a plain girl who develops an interest in becoming an EMT. The stories are interwoven amongst the characters and keep the story moving forward. Readers who like Amish fiction will not be disappointed and fans of Ms. Fisher will feel like they are coming home to another heart warming novel.

Having read a number of Suzanne Woods Fisher's book, I was excited to read A Healing Touch. I was not disappointed in this new offering from a favorite author. It was enjoyable to follow several characters from previous books (Dok, the doctor in Stoney Ridge, Hank (Mr. Loudmouth! and his wife, and Fern, recently widowed) and to get to know Annie, Dok's assistant. There are several story lines--dealing with cancer, foster care, illness, and a young Amish woman who desperately wants to step out of the traditional woman's role. Each were dealt with realistically and kept my interest. I enjoyed this delightful story that is rich with faith and family, Readers who enjoy Amish fiction will not want to miss reading A Healing Touch. I read a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

A Healing Touch
Suzzanne Woods Fisher
This is a touching Amish romance. What makes this tale unique is the relationship between Amish and English.
In A Healing Touch we are once again transported to Stoney Ridge. We meet Ruth “Dok” Stolzfus. Dok grew up Amish but felt called to be a doctor. She chose to follow the call, went to college where she studied medicine. When she returned to Stony Ridge she married police officer Matt Felman. Dok and Matt are deeply in love, but he feels they aren’t spending enough time together. Dok has a loving character; she always tries to do what is best for her patients, including house calls. She has both Amish and English patients. She is a very busy woman. Especially after a newborn baby is left at Dok’s office steps. She and her husband Matt become foster parents for the child. The baby is a relative of Matt. Could God have brought the baby too them as a gift?
Bee Bennett was widowed eighteen months ago. She was still dealing with her grief when she discovered she had cancer. Dok thought Bee would benefit from a support system, so she put her in contact with Fern Lapp, also a widow. Fern is a sensible woman and doesn’t believe in nonsense. Bee needed help with her horses. Damon Harding, her former Olympic rival, came to offer that help.
An important resident of Stoney Ridge, Hank Lapp is a loudmouth, and a know it all. He is ill but refuses the tests he needs.
Dok’s office assistant Annie Fisher enjoys working for Dok but when she meets an Amish EMT she sees a way to enter the medical profession and help the community She must convince both her Bishop and her parents. She isn’t sure Amish women can be EMTs.
This book is filled with a variety of stories, all with excellent messages. The messages deal with assurance, recovery, mercy, friendship, courage, confidence and the wisdom to listen to God and to depend on him no matter what. He is in control. I enjoy Amish stories, perhaps it is because we live in an area with an Amish community. This book is rather unique because it is several short stories with a connection. Not all of the stories are wrapped up in this book hopefully they will be in the next installment.

A Healing Touch by Suzanne Woods Fisher is her latest novel set in Stony Ridge. This time, our story focuses on the bishop's sister Doc. Doc left the Amish to pursue her calling in medicine, but somehow ended up back in Stony Ridge practicing. Spend time with her and her husband as they emergency foster a sweet boy and learn about God's timing in their lives. You will also love Annie, Doc's assistant, who yearns to do something more with her life. As always, there are not enough stars to give Fisher. Excellent book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

A Healing Touch
by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher has given us a delightful new book, A Healing Touch, in the Stoney Ridge series. Although part of this series, it is a story or should I say stories that could easily stand alone in its own right.

Dok, Annie, Bee, Fern, and Hank Lapp. Each has an interesting storyline On their own. Her characters are realistic and believable. Each have an important story to tell and add much to the book.

Each storyline is developed well leaving just enough unsaid that we really can’t wait to see what happens as their lives go forward.

This story is very uplifting and a great addition to the series.

I was given an ARC by Revell and was not required to give a positive review. Order your copy of this 5-star book today.