A Healing Touch finds us back in the cozy town of Stoney Ridge. We have visited here many times always returning to some of our most beloved characters. Ruth "Dok" Stoltzfus loves house calls. She not only wants to treat the physical side but also the emotional side of her patients. When a new widow is diagnosed with breast cancer, Dok refers her to Fern Lapp for support. Dok's assistant longs for a different profession but could face backlash from her community and family. How far will Dok go to see that dream become a reality? Finally an abandoned baby shows up on Dok's doorstep will she and her husband ever be the same? So many different storylines but each is done with amazing ease with the way Ms. Fisher writes. Her characters are very relatable and one finds themselves immersed in their lives. I received a copy through Netgalley. An honest review was written.

Another one of the author’s books in the Stoney Ridge series, however it can be read as a stand-alone book. We see many of the characters from other books in the series. This one is my favorite in the series

The characters emphasized in this book lend to interesting storylines for each one, Dok, Annie, Bee, Fern, and Hank Lapp. Each has an interesting storyline that leads to love, compassion, and bonds of friendship.

This is a book you will not want to put down until you have read the entire thing. I enjoyed reading this very much and highly recommend it.

Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

A Healing Touch by Suzanne Woods Fisher takes us back to Stoney Ridge, Pennsylvania. We get to catch up with Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus a busy doctor who treats English as well as the Amish and her assistant, Annie Fisher. Annie is a clever young Amish woman with a hypochondriac for a mother. Annie’s mother is also determined to find her a husband, but Annie has dreams of her own. One of Dok’s patients, Bee Bennett, a widow and horse breeder, is going through a health crisis and could use help with her horses. The help comes from an unexpected and unwelcome source which has the stubborn Bee automatically saying no. I thought A Healing Touch was a well written story with developed characters. I have read all the books in the Stoney Ridge series, so I already knew the core characters. I believe the story can be read as a standalone, but readers would benefit from reading the series in order. There is quite a bit going on in this book. The story is an emotional one. It will take you through the gamut of emotions (from laughter to tears). I love Dok’s approach to grief counselling and that she makes house calls. Some of the themes in the story are grief, dealing with a major health crisis, moving forward with your life after being “stuck” (from grief), marital woes, finding your calling, and forgiving past wrongs (which is very hard to do). I hope that we get to return to Stoney Ridge again soon. A Healing Touch is an expressive story with a hardworking doctor, an animated assistant, a bishop for a brother, a meddling mother, a striking EMT, a distinctive calling, unwelcome help with horses, and Amish grief counseling.

A Healing Touch
by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Pub Date Oct 01 2024
Revell
Christian | General Fiction (Adult) | Romance
In addition to addressing her patients’ physical needs, Ruth Stoltzfus also addresses their emotional ones through house calls. As a newly widowed Bee faces breast cancer, Dok reaches out to Fern Lapp for support. In order to help her painfully shy assistant Annie achieve her dream, Dok goes to great lengths. Dok’s world takes an unexpected turn when an abandoned newborn mysteriously appears at her office one frosty morning.
I give A Healing Touch five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!

Dok is happy in her marriage, and is therefore shocked when her husband expresses dissatisfaction at the amount of time they're spending apart due to work. Sure, she works a lot - but she has to! But as she works to improve the lives of her patients, particularly the widowed Bee who has just been diagnosed with cancer, she starts to realise that maybe he's right anyway. And the appearance of a baby on the scene will (gradually) change everything. But she's still got an important part to play in Bee's story, one way or another - not to mention the life of her assistant Annie, who has aspirations she's never dreamed of. Can they pull their marriage together and learn what's most important in life while navigating the various things life throws at them?

A delightful and inspiring read - as far as it went. I loved Dok's story, and it tied together beautifully with Bee and Annie's stories. The only problem was that while Dok's story came to a satisfying conclusion, the other two felt still very open-ended and 'to be continued'. And that left me feeling a mix of satisfied and disappointed. Dok is a great character and I loved the care and compassion she showed to her patients and those around her, but in some ways I actually connected more with Annie - possibly because I've never been great socially either. Watching them all grapple with the various problems they faced, whether it be dealing with a new baby, a cancer diagnosis, or an unusual (unpopular?) calling, was thought-provoking and inspiring, but I have to admit I wanted more. Hoping Annie in particular (but possibly also Bee) gets her own story soon, because I want to know how she goes both career-wise and relationship-wise. All in all, a great read, but be prepared for loose ends.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

A Healing Touch is an amazing story written by Suzanne Woods Fisher. Her well developed characters really brought life to this story. The storyline really keeps the readers interest and keeps the pages turning. I love the authors unique writing style.as The cover draws interest to this story as well.

I received an advanced complimentary copy of this story from Netgalley but was not approached to post a favorable review.

Loved reading the inspirational and awesome story. Dok and her husband, Matt, become foster parens and take care of an abandoned baby; Annie, an Amish woman, wants to become an EMT and has questions for the handsome Amish EMT; Bee's husband passed away and now she has to deal with breast cancer, and Damon volunteers to help her with her horses. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and another must read riveting story by the amazing author, Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Wonderful book!!!!

Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of my very favorite authors. A Healing Touch is one of her best books. It is part of a series but can be read stand-alone with no problems. The story line is sensitive and complex; it deals with grief, regret, health challenges, family and faith. The characters are well-described and appealing to all. I cannot recommend this book more highly, I would give it 10 stars if I could. The messages will stay with you a long time.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

A Healing Touch is a lovely, touching trip back to Stoney Ridge where the Amish and English live together. This story has a lot going on with the focus on separate situations with Ruth "Dok" Stoltzfus at the center. Dok grew up Amish but left the community to pursue a calling to become a doctor. When a newborn baby shows up on the steps of her office, her police officer husband Matt gets involved. They become foster parents when they discover the baby is a related to Matt. Did God bring this child to them for a reason? Then Bee, a widow of eighteen months, dealing with grief, has cancer. Dok puts Bee in contact with Fern Lapp, an Amish widow, a no nonsense and wise woman. Bee also has someone from her past show up to help with her horses. There are unresolved issues there. A beloved resident of Stoney Ridge, Hank Lapp, a loudmouth know it all is sick and refuses the extra testing needed. Annie Fisher, Dok's office assistant, has a calling to become an EMT. But can an Amish woman do that? She has to convince her bishop and parents. A handsome Amish man, an EMT, has some answers. This book is full of different stories with many lessons of faith, healing, forgiveness, love, courage, trust and listening to God and knowing that no matter what happens, He is there. Wonderful and uplifting addition to the series.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

A Healing Touch by Suzanne Woods Fisher is a book to be read repeatedly. The author has skilfully explored two different types of grief, with a cast of characters that spring from the page and lodge themselves in your heart.

Ruth "Dok" Stoltzfus is one busy woman. She believes in house calls and her practice consists of both English and Amish alike. She is so busy that when a baby is dropped on her doorstep, she immediately calls her husband, a police officer, and from there she expects the baby to go into foster care. What she wasn't expecting was her husband suggesting they become foster parents to the baby. She's too busy for a baby! And besides, they were in their 40s, too old to start thinking about having a family. But as the author takes the reader through the foster care/adoption process we learn, through Dok, how stressful it can be and how the heart can grieve for what it never knew it missed.

Dok's patient Bee, a widow, is trying to deal with overwhelming grief over the loss of her husband and now she has a cancer diagnosis. When Dok suggests she needs a support system, she connects her to Fern Lapp, also a widow and with more than her share of memorable and helpful suggestions from dealing with grief to faith and more.

"Faith should infuse grief the way a tea bag steeps in hot water."

If you have recently lost a loved one, this book (with Fern's help) should bring a "healing touch" to your weary soul. I wish I had a Fern in my life.

And then there's Annie. She is shy but has a brilliant mind that soaks up knowledge like a sponge. She is Amish and loves reading medical books and helping in Dok's office. When she spots an Amish man who is an EMT she feels the Lord calling her to the same position. But can an Amish woman become an EMT?

All these characters with their stories make A Healing Touch a novel to be read and savored. While I was disappointed not to see what happened with Annie and Gus, I am hoping another book is coming to see where that goes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and if you like Amish fiction that gets to the heart of grief (in its various forms), you will love A Healing Touch.

​I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Suzanne Woods Fisher takes us to the Amish and English community in Stoney Ridge for another multi-character filled story. I want to thank Baker Publishing, the author and NetGalley for my advanced reader's e-copy of this heart-warming novel.
This is my own unsolicited opinion of this book. It is so good. Dok Stolzfus, Bishop David Stolzfus sister, has settled into the mixed community and has become increasingly busy with her practice. It is important to her to do home visits when she is needed by her patients, Amish and English alike. She wants to help everyone heal and move forward.

Bee Bennett is deeply immersed in grief when Dok realizes she need help and suggests she visit Fern Lapp for counseling as she deals with widowhood and illness. This becomes such a wonderful part of the book. Grief and grudges can cause many problems. I love how Fern works with Bee.

Annie Fisher is a very shy young woman who feels God is leading her into the medical world. Dok hires her as an office assistant and decides to help her life out too. I really like her character and the mysterious Amish EMT who inadvertently inspires her.

Something is wrong with Hank Lapp, endearing neighbor; and oh, yes, someone leaves an infant on the steps of the doctor's office. There's a lot going on in Stoney Ridge! Dok seems to be in the middle of it.
This is an excellent read. I give the book a 5-star rating.
Triggers: Widowhood, cancer, abandoned infant, debilitating shyness, hypochondria.

Readers familiar with the Stoney Ridge series will love this story. Readers will get to know more members of the community along with ones from other stories. Fern shares her wealth of wisdom and Hank his unique personality as Dok ministers to a variety of people while taking a look at her own life. Love that Annie is stepping out to become the person God wants her to be. Love the way the author weaves together this enjoyable story. Highly recommended!

The story is set in a small amish town, Stoney Ridge.
The characters are both Amish and English.
Through the story you can read and learn the differences about dresses, thoughts, way to do, to grieve and to live between Amish and English. This is very interesting, I love it.
The author includes in the story some sentences and saying from the Bible, such as:
"The doctor can treat, but only God can heal"
The topics are common in the life both in Amish and English world, but also hard and difficult to deal with: cancer, loss of an husband, help Others, neglect family needs, jeopardizing the marriage, foster baby and give love.
I enjoyed very much reading the book, I love how the author writes. Lovely characters, I'll miss them.
Thank you to let me read this book to: Author, Editor, Interview&Review, Netgalley.

As a devoted fan of Amish romance novels, I was thrilled to read "A Healing Touch" by Suzanne Woods Fisher. This captivating story beautifully blends heartfelt romance with themes of healing and redemption, making it a true gem in the genre.

Fisher’s vivid storytelling brings the Amish community to life, immersing readers in its rich traditions and values. The characters are deeply relatable, each facing their own struggles and triumphs. The protagonist’s journey toward healing, both physically and emotionally, is beautifully portrayed, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way.

Overall, "A Healing Touch" is a delightful addition to any Amish romance lover’s collection. It’s a story that will leave you with a smile and a renewed sense of hope!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

A Healing Touch is an inspirational feel-good story with subtle lessons by Suzanne Woods Fisher. She returns her readers to Stoney Ridge with some familiar characters for those that have read her previous books and some new ones too. But never fear, this awesome story can be read as a standalone! Fisher again delivers a great thought-provoking story in which her engaging characters, both Amish and English, will draw you into this heart-griping story from beginning to end.

This memorable story centers around Ruth Stoltzfus (Dok), who realizes the importance of home visits for her patients, especially the Amish, who are reluctant to share their health problems, even with her. Wow, a doctor who believes in making house calls recalls a memory from my past when our family doctor did home visits for those who were sick.

Dok’s world is turned upside down when a baby is left on her office doorstep, or is Gabe a blessing from God? Surrounding Dok are a unique cast of characters, each dealing with their own personal problems both physically and psychologically. I laughed at some of the illnesses Annie’s hypochondriac mother presented to Dok, and admired Dok’s finesse in handling them. She also assisted Annie and her mother in overcoming their fears. My favorite character was Fern Lapp, an elderly widowed Amish woman, who in her own very special way assisted Bee, who received a breast cancer diagnosis a year after losing her husband, with her grief, post-op recovery, and forgiveness of past wrongs.

Fisher’s characters in this emotional story deal with some very real-life issues showing vulnerability, fear, and weaknesses, but when they turn to God to guide them, they show great strength. We should all learn to live by this great message that Fisher reminds us of in every one of her heartfelt books.

I highly recommend A Healing Touch to everyone who enjoys reading contemporary Christian Amish stories that are character driven with different storylines, and with a touch of humor and romance.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

My thoughts: a healing touch is a great woman's fiction to read. It has a touch of romance but also focuses on a marriage that needs to be revitalized and some people who need help coping with some things that have recently happened in their lives. Also there's a girl trying to find herself. I really enjoyed this fiction. Ms Woods is one of my favorite Amish authors. This is a must read. If you haven't read her other Amish books you will want to pick them up. Grab your copy today.. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story! There were so many characters that were enjoyable in this story but my favorite was Fern. Fern was a no nonsense lady but dispensed wisdom with grace and allowed the listener to come to their own conclusions. I always appreciate when an author weaves in foster care to the story. There are so many great things about foster care but also so many hard things and this was done well by the author. Dok was also a great character and her medical knowledge and love for her community was unparalleled.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Always a pleasure to be back in Stoney Ridge! Loved this book on so many levels. An enjoyable read from start to finish.
This author has the ability to create a story with multiple characters dealing with issues that many can relate to, and shine a light of faith and hope along the way. I love the subtle humor she adds that had me smiling, as well as the touching, heartfelt moments.
There are themes of dealing with grief, major health crises, marital issues, forgiving past wrongs, and moving forward in life after feeling 'stuck'. I loved Annie and her desire to overcome her crippling shyness in order to help people, being courageous and reaching for a dream despite obstacles and expectations thrown in her path. Her crush on the "Amish EMT" is charming.
Recommend for readers who enjoy a contemporary story with faith and hints of romance. 5 stars!

I believe this will be my most favorite book of all!
Lots of action that will keep you turning the pages for sure and certain.
I do want to mention that help does come from unexpected places and people.
I did want to shake Bee at times but she had to learn for herself what it all meant.
I enjoyed the mystery part of this story. It was really what kept me turning the pages.
Then there's Dok who's the most stubborn woman there is. I thought Bee was but it's Dok. I get their point of view I really do but sometimes you just have to accept help whether you want to or not.
Annie continues to amaze me. I loved "watching " her grow into the person shes supposed to be even more. Way to go Annie!
By the way, she's my most favorite character.
It was great to come home to the awesome community of Stoney Rodge again. It felt like I had never left.
I was really happy to see Hank back too. Sometimes he just makes laugh at his orneriness. He really does make my day. Love him.
I really fell in love with the cover of this book too.
Dreams can be realized with the help of our God.
This was a fantastic story that I very much enjoyed and didn't want it to end. I love this author's stories and this one definitely didn't disappoint.
I can't wait to see what she writes next!
5 stars! For keeping my interest all the way through.
I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

A Healing Touch is another excellent addition to the Stoney Ridge series. Suzanne Woods Fisher will draw readers right in with the three distinct storylines and its character driven plot. 5 stars.

First, we meet Ruth Stoltzfus M.D. better known as "Dok". She was raised Amish but left to become a doctor then returned to her Amish community and married police officer Matt Felman. I was fascinated by Dok's struggles to practice medicine among the Amish and maintain balance with her personal life.

Secondly, there's young shy Amish woman Annie Fisher with a hypochondriac for a mother. She's working temporarily for Dok but soon realizes she too can become a part of the medical field helping her community as an EMT. So very interesting what Annie has to do to become an EMT.

And lastly readers will meet horse breeder and widow Bee Bennett. When a medical crisis puts her in a position where she'll need help, she finds it in the most unlikely places, former Olympic rival Damon Harding and wise widow and counselor Fern Lapp.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well written story about life among the Amish and how the things they go through are not so very different than our own experiences. I appreciate Revell Publishing making a copy of A Healing Touch being made available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.