Book Tour: Roots of Wood and Stone

About 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.

My Review:

There are several time slip books being published lately. I have come to like them. It amazes me how an author can write about two time periods and bring them together to fit like a puzzle. Sloane has a wonderful and interesting job as historic museum curator. The  items  she has discovered are well preserved and helps history tell its story through relics, diaries and pictures. 

I know it was not by accident that Garrett brought an old satchel to the museum for Sloane to gather information on. God was already working to open a locked memory in Sloane’s  life.  Can you imagine being left on a bus as a little  baby? That’s all Sloane knows about her life. She was adopted but her desire has always been to find her birth mother. Her emotions are deep as she struggles to think she has always been plan B in everyone’s life. My heart broke for her as the little girl in her wanted to be someone’s plan A. She wanted to feel wanted and know what unconditional love means. She wanted to be first choice and not second. 

Garrett is hard to read at times. His grandmother has Alzheimer and slowly her mind is slipping away. It is a hard disease to watch and I cried as it reminded me of my mother. Selling her house is top priority for Garrett and he is so focused on it that he  sometimes makes wrong choices.

The best part of the story for me was the discovery of the diaries tucked away in his grandmother’s  house. In those diaries is the key to a time where it was  hard to survive. A young girl of nine years old starts a diary that spans her lifetime. Nestled in the pages are secrets, heartache, and answers that Sloane has been looking for. I loved getting to know

Annabelle and her adventure living with her aunt and uncle. God is there when Annabelle suffers great loses and He wraps His arms around her as she weeps. 

This has been a wonderful journey as generations bring history to the present. Their love and trust in God is evident as they raise children and give a future to their children. The author writes with such grace and I felt as if I was given a peek at the past through Annabelle’s  eyes. The ending is both emotional and surprising. God  has a plan for our lives. We need to wait on Him, listen to Him and follow the path he directs us to. 

I received a copy of this book from Audra Reads Blogging program. The review is my own opinion.

About the Author:

Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. She has placed first in multiple writing contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions contests. She was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest finalist.   Wen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature. She also frequently interviews authors for her blog and is a contributor to the God Is Love blog. Her debut novel, Roots of Wood and Stone, releases from Kregel Publications on February 2, 2021.   In addition to her writing, Wen is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team. She serves as a choral accompanist as well. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Wen lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.   To find Amanda Wen’s blog and short stories, visit www.amandawen.com. Readers can also follower her on Facebook (@AuthorAmandaWen), Twitter (@AuthorAmandaWen), and Instagram (@authoramandawen).

Giveaway

https://www.audrajennings.com/2021/02/win-copy-of-roots-of-wood-and-stone-by.html