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.

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.