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 Thoughts:
Roots of Wood and Stone is a time split novel that takes the reader into the past along a rocky road of loss and love as people carved out homes in the Kansas area. In the here and now we have Sloane Kelley who was adopted due to being abandoned at birth. She is the curator of the historical museum, which helps her in helping others and essentially the town find out about their pasts. Sloane continues to look for clues to her birth family.
Garrett Anderson and his sister are dealing with their Grandmother whom they love very much but suffers with Alzheimer's disease and it is only getting worse. In cleaning out her home, Garrett comes across an old satchel, but the real treasure is the diary hidden inside. Sloane is pulled in and meets Garrett because Garrett wanted to make some extra money in selling some of his Grandmother's old things.
The first diary, and the subsequent others they find throughout the house, tell the story of a woman by the name of Annabelle Collins and her life. Starting at the age of nine we meet her and see the strong woman she becomes, even in spite of the meanness that life throws at her. Her faith in God is shown strong in the midst of all of life's upheaval.
Wow. I enjoyed this story very much and am having trouble sharing my thoughts just because it fascinated me so much. It is a story of family, love, and generations past that still affect the now. That the people who did not make it into the history books, are just as important with the lives they lived and the impact they had on their families. Family loyalty and two beautiful love stories are told in the pages of this book. This was a really good and I look forward to more of author Wen's stories.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
About the Author:
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).
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