Roots of Wood and Stone, Amanda Wen's stunning debut, provides a compelling tale of family and the roots that tie us together.

Amanda Wen is an author to watch. Her novel features these amazing characters who draw you in the moment they walk onto the page. Sloan with her love of history. Garrett with his plans and to-do lists. Lauren with her fierce protectiveness of Rosie. And Annabelle with her strong, indomitable spirit.

These characters beckoned me into the story as if they were my friends. And one by one, I formed a connection with them that lasted past the last page. I laughed with them. Cried with them. And fell completely in love with them. When I finished the book, I actually felt disappointed. Not because Wen didn’t craft a great ending, because her ending is incredible. But because I wasn’t ready to let these characters go. Even now, I’m tempted to go back and read the novel again.

And really, there’s two stories in one, which is something that’s always drawn me to dual timeline novels. But this book is different. For one, the romantic interest’s perspective is shown, which made me happy. I like seeing both sides of a romance. Two, the perspectives don’t have a chapter dedicated specifically to them. One chapter may have Sloane, Garrett, and Annabelle’s perspectives in them. And I found I liked that.

Annabelle’s scenes appeared as Garrett and Sloane were reading her diary entries, and there’s a lot of jumps in time from one entry to another. To me, this gave the illusion of being with them as they learned about Annabelle because I was learning about her, too. And then they would talk to each other about what they found. I thought this was incredibly well done of Wen. It really helped pull me into the story and become invested.

And it also gave more time to explore the romance between Garrett and Sloane as well as their spiritual arcs. Wen expertly weaves these threads together within the story.

I could gush about this novel all day, but suffice it to say, Roots of Wood and Stone is a wonderful novel romance fans will love.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)

Roots of Wood and Stone is a pleasure to read. Whether I was reading Sloane and Garrett’s story (modern day) or Annabelle’s (in the 1800s), the chapters are filled with beautiful words, descriptions you can sink into, and deep emotional insight. The rich history of the house and land drew me in as much as the people. Amanda Wen has taken two stories and intertwined them in unexpected ways. This a perfect winter read what will warm your heart. I love the faith thread that runs between the two eras. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A story of family lost and found. A great Christian fiction book with just the right balance of romance and mystery.

I loved this book! I started it this morning and finished it this afternoon. It was an easy, entertaining read. The dialogue flowed and the story (both past and present) was intriguing. My only quibble was since the diaries were so easy to find, I find it a bit far fetched that no one had found and read them and they didn't know who Annabelle was.

Roots of Wood and Stone
by Amanda Wen
Back of the Book: “This historic home holds the keys to their destiny . . . and their hearts
Abandoned at birth, her family roots a mystery, historical museum curator Sloane Kelley has dedicated her life to making sure others know theirs. When a donor drops off a dusty old satchel, she doesn't expect much from the common artifact . . .until she finds real treasure inside: a nineteenth-century diary. Now she's on the hunt to find out more.
Garrett Anderson just wanted to clean out his grandmother's historic but tumbledown farmhouse before selling it to fund her medical care. With her advancing Alzheimer's, he can't afford to be sentimental about the family home. But his carefully ordered plan runs up against two formidable obstacles: Sloane, who's fallen in love with both the diaries and the house, and his own heart, which is irresistibly drawn to Sloane.
A century and a half earlier, motherless Annabelle Collins embarks with her aunt and uncle on the adventure of a lifetime: settling the prairies of Sedgwick County, Kansas. The diaries she left behind paint a portrait of life, loss, and love--and a God who faithfully carries her through it all. Paging through the diaries together takes Sloane and Garrett on a journey they never could have planned, which will change them in ways they never imagined.
This warm, beautifully written split-time novel will resonate with readers looking for stories that reveal the beauty of God's plan for our lives, and how our actions ripple for generations”
Impressions: The author did a lovely job with this dual timeline of historical and contemporary romance. Going between the stories was smooth in transitions and each part was appropriately spaced so as not to get lost jumping from one person to the next.
Rated: Kissing
Liked: I liked the author's personal history that went into this book. I’ve always wanted to know more about my family history and this re-sparked my own interest.
Disliked: I don’t always like a happy ending. What I mean is when everything in the book ends up nice and tidy with a bow on top just to give a conclusion, it ruins the story for me. The ending wasn’t rushed but it did have all loose ends tied up to make for a nice neat ending. I think Sloane’s romance at the end could have been vaguer to give something to the imagination.
Quotes: “To this hard, wonderful adventure of a life. The Lord had indeed wrought beauty from her life’s most bitter moments.” – The more I grow, the more I see God working in my life’s ups and downs and I could relate to this statement.
“The Lord broke his silence. If there ever was a silence. Maybe it’s that I finally stopped shouting at him and started listening.” – Have you ever felt this way? I know I have. It’s like when a child throws a tantrum and the parent is there the whole time trying to help calm the situation. Once the child looks up and realizes they are ok and you are there they calm down and you can work through the situation. I think I am like this with God. I get so worked up in my mind and start spewing out my frustration in my actions and words without going to God. It’s not until I go to God that I realize that he was there the whole time waiting for me. Did I just compare myself to my children’s tantrums… yes.
“But the Lord himself promised there’d be trouble. Life is hard.” – truth drop
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

This is a new to me author and I believe it is her debut book. I was immediately swept into this story! I am a huge genealogy buff. I loved the discovery of journal after journal and the dual timeline aspect. Without spoilers Amanda Wen did a perfect job of giving just enough story to keep you hooked until the very end and then gave you more! Her characters were well developed and the story line was believable and well written. I had awww! moments and I cried or got teared up! It takes an amazing writer to get those emotions out of me! I highly recommend this book!

I was so excited to learn that it is a series! The next book will be about Lauren. It is called A Time For Us. Keep an eye out!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

Roots of Wood and Stone is a poignant, warm, debut novel that left me pleasantly surprised...with a mysterious time-slip storyline that leaves ripples in a stream for years to come. I wasn't certain I could read this because I'm suffering from Covid, but the author wrote with such clarity, I had no problems at all with comprehension. Amanda Wen is an impressive debut writer, whose future books I am indeed looking forward to!

*I received a complimentary copy of this this novel from Kregel Publications via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*

After reading Roots of Wood and Stone, I was surprised to learn that it was the author's debut novel. Wen writes with a strong voice that tells the contemporary story in this time split novel, while also breathing life into the historical story told through a lifetime of diaries. Roots of Wood and Stone deals with an adopted woman's desire to know more of her biological family's story, the difficulties of eldercare and the heartbreaking decisions that accompany that, and the need to both hold on and to let go in order to move forward. While I truly enjoyed both time frames, my heart connected most with the historical story. This novel is a wonderful addition to the growing number of choices of time split novels and shouldn't be missed.

I look forward to future books by Amanda Wen, and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of her debut novel from Kregel Publications via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

There are so many God Things in the book, they give heart tugs, and thus it became a page turner. I'll say I "loved this book", yes, all of it.

We flash to the eighteen hundreds and back again, and all the while you become very involved in what is Annabelle's story, and then present day dealing with the challenges life presents. We are given a brother and sister, having recently losing their mother, are not cleaning out and taking care of their grandmother. She lives in the family homestead, but is deep into alzheimer's and they know the time is coming and hard decisions have to be made.

We also meet Sloane Kelley, a young woman who has always felt she doesn't belong, but is working at the Historical Museum, when a dusty satchel is dropped off. In this bag is a diary that is about to change everyone's life, and we are about to be drawn into the Collin's Family, and I didn't want to leave. This book is rich is love and history, a bit of sweet romance, both in the past and present, and a deep love of God!

I received this book through the Publisher Kregel and Read With Audra Blog Tour, and was not required to give a positive review.

Roots Of Wood And Stone by Amanda Wen is a charming Christian dual timeline novel about family and inheritance.
The book is set in present day and the mid nineteenth century in the form of diaries found in a grandmother’s attic. We all want to know where we came from so we can plan where we are going. We want to be “filling in the blanks” in our backstories.
God’s plans are the key to a fulfilled life. “He’d followed his own plans. Leaned on his own understanding.” When we stubbornly refuse to press into God and to lean on Him, we will always be dissatisfied.
When life is uncertain, prayer is the only way to go. “Nothing could steal the joy of answered prayer.” Answers to prayer may not always be what we expected but as joy bubbles up we know we are in the right place. Sometimes we do not know what to pray but our “frantic wordless prayers” are always heard.
There is loss within the novel. It is a loss that consumes. “I can’t move. I can’t breathe. I can’t do anything but hurt.” The pain is palpable.
A house is in need of a little love and restoration. Likewise there are broken lives that also need love and restoring. God will repair and repay the years the locusts have taken.
As one life is opening up, another is closing in as we witness the cruelty of the disease that is Alzheimer’s. “One more thing the relentless thief known as Alzheimer’s had stolen.”
The characters were all warm, wonderful and welcoming. The love radiates outwards from the pages.
I absolutely loved Roots Of Wood And Stone. It was a delightful read about legacies of love passed down the years.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

What a beautifully written story! The author did an excellent job of weaving the past with the present. I loved every thing about this book especially the main theme which was to trust God with the plans for your life and how important forgiveness is. I highly recommend this book, it was an excellent read.
Thank you Independent Publishers Group and Kregel Publications via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved Garrett and his sweet family. Lauren and Rosie just rounded out the story so perfectly. Sloane's bookish personality seemed at odds with her night life as a jazz singer, but it worked well! Though her character grew and matured, I never felt like she appreciated her adoptive parents the way she needed to. While she focused so deeply on her feelings of rejection, I wondered if she projected those feelings onto them as well.

Overall, this was a lovely story that made me curious about my own family. It's a great read for those cold winter evenings when you want to snuggle under a cover and get lost in an good book.

3.5 stars

This is a solid debut of a time slip novel. The characters are well-developed and easy to connect with. You can see God at work throughout the story. I really enjoyed the author's notes for insight on the story behind the story.

A beautifully crafted story written in a dual time frame. The characters are well developed and easy to relate with. Life in Kansas during the early years are realistic. Restoring history is so important! I love the author's notes that gives the background of the inspiration of the book. Love it!

ROOTS OF WOOD AND STONE by AMANDA WEN is a most enjoyable split time novel with great characters in both of the time frames. I like the way the two stories come together and are held together by the old farmhouse.
When Garrett Anderson, a financial planner, comes down to his grandmother's beautiful old farmhouse to help his sister Lauren sort out their grandmother's affairs, he finds an old satchel that he dumps on Sloane Kelley, the Sedgwick museum's historical curator's, desk. She is ready to throw it out until she comes across a diary which she finds out later belonged to Annabelle Collins 150 years ago. Sloane becomes hooked on Annabelle's story, especially when Garrett finds more diaries, which she devours. Sloane and Garrett become good friends and seem to really understand one another. In fact it is the first time that Sloane. who was left on a bus as a baby and adopted, feels as though she is worth something and accepted for herself - no longer plan B!
Throughout the novel we get the message of God's care for His children and that we need to submit to His plans for our life rather than following our own ways. Also we are reminded of the importance of forgiveness and the fact that each of us is special in God's eyes.
Roots Of Wood And Stone is a really beautiful read and one I highly recommend.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Independent Publishers Group. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

'I stopped talking with God altogether. Either he didn't exist, or his purpose was to gut me like a fish. Whichever it was, I was through.'

Reading is one of the absolute joys of my life and when I read a book that just ticks all the boxes and moves me greatly, that brings even greater joy. This is such a book.

Amanda Wen has written a stunning debut novel, a time slip that will have you falling in love with all the characters. From the 1800s Annabelle and Jack to current day Sloane and Garrett, not to mention wonderful secondary characters. Wen has that rare gift of being able to create a character that is very nearly a living, breathing person to her readers. I love it so much when I can connect with characters. Wen drops you right down in that story with them! Her book shows that even present generations can learn from the actions of the past. What I loved, well, one thing I loved, because I loved it all, was how strong the spiritual theme here was. And that theme is: trust God with your plans for your life. First. Don't try to do it yourself. He has the best plans.

Extremely well written and resonating with God's grace and love, populated with amazing characters, this one is most definitely for the keeper shelf. It's on my top reads list for 2021! Highly recommended.

My thanks to Kregel Publications for an early copy of this book via Net Galley. I received no compensation and the opinion in this review is entirely my own.