Have you ever been caught off guard, that you got emotional from a book? Well if you did not know Suzanne Woods Fisher books. This one made me get emotional in a good way. Though I was in tears trying to read a few chapters. I would wipe them away and try and continue reading the book. Well, this did not help. It just keeps happening. Though I can say they were happy tears over sad ones. What triggered them I do not know.

It was something that the author wrote in the chapter that made me start the tears. This book “Two Steps Forwards” is written well. The storyline behind Issy in this book is done well. Sylvie King and Jimmy Fisher's storylines were decent. It was not that much that it made me emotional. That does not mean that it was written well.

I do enjoy it when there is a repeat of characters that come from previous books. The storylines do flow well. You can read these books out of order. They can read as standalone. The background does get explained a bit as you read.

I have read “Mending Fences” which is the first book of this series. Two Steps Forward is better than the first one only because it got me a bit more emotional. I would still read the first book as well of this series as I would love to pick up the second book of this series which is called “Stitches in Time”. If you would like to you read my review of Mending Fences.

Able to be read as a standalone, Suzanne Woods Fisher’s “Two Steps Forward” is the third and final book in the Deacon’s Family series. Having read the previous book but not the first one, I was still able to follow along without any trouble. This is one aspect of Fisher’s writing that I appreciate the most, that the characters are fluid throughout the various series, yet the books can be read out of order. Appended to the front of this story is a cast of characters list, which I always find helpful, particularly in novels like this that do have repeating figures.

Horses are among my favorite animals, second only to dogs, and I loved their presence in “Two Steps Forward.” While it isn’t, of course, unusual to feature horses in some capacity in an Amish novel, this is the first book I’ve read that dealt with the Amish running a horse-breeding farm. Sylvie King makes for an interesting heroine, not because she rebels against her community’s rules or values, but for the fact that she has a way with animals. She is a horse whisperer of sorts. Furthermore, she is a single mother and widow who can manage the animals and her little boy with patience and gentleness. She makes an interesting contrast to Jimmy Fisher, who worked on a ranch yet doesn’t have the same instinctual aptitude that she does. Edith, Jimmy’s faultfinding mother, makes life harder for Sylvie as Sylvie works to clean up the outbuildings and property of Rising Star Farm.

Through Sylvie’s story and the related stories of other characters readers will recognize from prior books, Fisher demonstrates the self-sufficiency, determination, grace, and unwavering loyalty of the Amish. Discussion questions at the end of the book take readers deeper and are worthwhile whether reading in a group or individually.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This is mostly about how it was dealing with how the Amish came to America. It really tells the story of what happens on a ocean crossing. To extent that it gives what it like when Amish and other were traveling to the New World for their freedom.

You do not go into it expecting what is to happen. It seem more historical then Amish. Though is mostly about Amish and how they come to America. Susanne tell a story about Anna and though she is with while crossing the ocean. She seem interested in the carpenter on the Charming Nancy? Who could that be?

I really enjoyed this clean Amish Romance but it was so much more. It showed how the hero and the heroine touched the whole community. I received this for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I've given this a 5* rating. It had a really sweet ending, that brought me to tears. There is a little mystery and action woven into this story and it kept me turning the pages when I had time. Would love to read more of this community.