Mending Fences

Devastating secrets tear two families apart in this acclaimed novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods For ten years Emily Dobbs and Marcie Carter have been the closest of friends. They've raised their kids together, shared joy and heartache, exchanged neighborhood gossip over tea. But when Marcie's son, now a college freshman sports star, is arrested for date rape, the bond between the families could be shattered forever. As the Carters try to deal with the unthinkable, Emily discovers her daughter has been hiding a terrible secret…a secret that threatens the futures of both families. Recently divorced, Emily struggles to keep it all together—to support her terrified daughter, to maintain her friendship with Evan's mother and to have faith in the detective who could change all of their lives. When things seem darkest, both she and Marcie discover that sometimes the first step toward a better future is mending fences with the past.

Every saint has a past. Every sinner has a future. Luke Schrock is a new and improved man after a stint in rehab, though everyone in Stoney Ridge only remembers the old Luke. They might have forgiven him, but nobody trusts him. Amos and Fern Lapp allow Luke to live at Windmill Farm under two conditions. First, Luke must make a sincere apology to each person he's hurt--a four-page, single-spaced list. Second, he must ask each victim of mischief to describe the damage he caused. Simple, Luke thinks. Offering apologies is easy. But discovering the lasting effects his careless actions have caused . . . that isn't so simple. It's gut-wrenching. And his list keeps growing. Izzy Miller, beautiful and frustratingly aloof, also boards at Windmill Farm. Luke's clumsy efforts to befriend Izzy only insult and annoy her. Eager to impress, Luke sets out to prove himself to her by locating her mother. When he does, her identity sends shock waves through Stoney Ridge. Bestselling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher returns to her beloved Stoney Ridge for this brand-new series featuring some of her readers' favorite characters.

Laura Toivo's never been a success at love. The high-powered exec has always been better at dealing with clients than family or friends. When she's called home to Michigan to care for her ailing mother, she finds herself in uncertain territory. Then handsome widower Jack Stahl moves in next door. Jack has realized that life is too short and wants to focus on his kids and his faith, not a woman who's as career-hungry as he used to be. Can Jack show Laura that life is all about connections, and that love is the greatest of God's gifts?

In Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn, Gemma had her summer all planned out, but it takes sharp turn when she gets dumped and finds herself back in the Hamptons after a five-year absence. Being there puts her at risk of bumping into Hallie, her former best friend (that is, before Gemma ruined her life). But people don't hold grudges forever. Do they? Gemma intends on making amends, but a small case of mistaken identity causes the people she knew years ago—including Hallie and her dreamy brother Josh—to believe she's someone else. As though the summer wasn't complicated enough already. Can Gemma keep up the charade? Or will she be found out by the very people she's been hiding from?

When rancher Bobbie Del Rey walks into the veterinarian’s office with an injured pup, the last person she expects to see is the one woman she’s never allowed herself to love. The only thing more dangerous than the storm raging outside is the tempest in her heart. Veterinarian Grace Hammond is looking for a fresh start. Haunted by her past, she hopes moving back to her hometown will help her find the strength to stand up for what she needs in matters of the heart. The moment her first love, Bobbie Del Rey, walks into her clinic—tall, dark, and soaking wet—the boundaries Grace desperately needs become paper thin. Can the heartbreaks of the past ever truly be mended?

Mending Fences is a ten-week workbook about repairing broken or damaged relationships. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday begins with Scripture followed by a description of how the verse(s) pertains to difficult relationships. A relevant action assignment is then given that brings the verse(s) to life. Though the lessons are short and easy to read (requiring less than ten minutes each), the rubber meets the road in the challenging action assignments, where one is called to live out biblical truths. Each lesson ends with a space for journaling where readers can reflect on what they experienced. In contrast to the harsh rhetoric and "me-focus" of today's world, the emphasis of this book is on self-responsibility. Instead of erecting walls to keep people out, this book opens the door to healing fractured relationships through selfless demonstrations of true "agape" love. Several lessons are also devoted to strengthening one's relationship with Jesus since that relationship is foundational to all others.

Mending Fences illuminates the forces driving Moscow’s China policy, from the Ussuri River clashes in 1969 to the "strategic partnership" of the 1990s. Elizabeth Wishnick analyzes the efforts of Soviet leaders simultaneously to maintain their supremacy in the international communist movement, defend their borders from a perceived Chinese threat, and ensure the compliance of regional authorities in enforcing China policy.

Exploring the long history of conflict in South Asia, this book assesses the role of confidence- and security-building measures (CSBMs) in reducing tension. Using a comparative framework, the contributors draw lessons for South Asia from the experiences of the states in Cold War Europe and in the Middle East. Despite the significant historical, political and geographic differences among regions, the contributors illustrate how the implementation of CSBM's elsewhere has important implications for limiting interstate conflict in South Asia.