Roots of Wood and Stone, Amanda Wen’s stunning debut, provides a compelling tale of family and the roots that tie us together.
Book Blurb
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
Amanda Wen is an author to watch. Her novel features these amazing characters who draw you in the moment they walk onto the page. Sloane 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’s, Garrett’s, 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.)
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.
Further Information
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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