September Book Club Pick — Roots of Wood And Stone

1 Sep

This month’s book club pick is one I have had on my TBR shelf way too long! Amanda Wen‘s novel, The Roots of Wood And Stone garnered lots of praise, and I cannot wait to discuss it with my group. Have you read it? We would love to know your thoughts.

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.

Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. She has placed first in multiple contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler Contest, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions Contest, among others. She was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest finalist.

In addition to her writing, Amanda is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist, frequently performing with symphony orchestras, string quartets, and her church’s worship team, and accompanying high school and middle school choirs. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Amanda currently lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.

3 Responses to “September Book Club Pick — Roots of Wood And Stone”

  1. Cindy Davis September 1, 2023 at 11:36 am #

    I LOVED this one and hope you and your book club does as well!

  2. Pam K. September 1, 2023 at 8:48 pm #

    My book club was fortunate to meet with Amanda Wen to discuss Roots of Wood and Stone. We all loved the book (and meeting her). We live about an hour from Sedgewick County in Kansas so that made it seem like a local connection for us. The second book in the series is also very good.

    • rbclibrary September 1, 2023 at 10:08 pm #

      Wow! That’s great!

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