The Gift of Christmas Past by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall

I was so happy to get an advance copy of this book.   When I first found out it was a Cindy Woodsmall book, I immediately thought it would be an Amish book. So, in complete honesty, I was a little leery of it because I am not what you would call a "romance" reader. However, I was so pleasantly surprised. The story grabbed me right away. I was excited to also see that it was co-authored by Erin Woodsmall.

Hadley and Monroe are high school sweethearts but Hadley has a lot of issues and can't seem to keep her anger in check. When a crime happens, and Hadley is blamed, Monroe is forced, for reasons I won't post here, to walk away. 

Fast forward years later, Hadley and Monroe meet again. What will happen? You have to read to find out. 

I really enjoyed this story and read it very quickly. I was just saying to someone the other day that in this day of violence, and almost how things are so accepted in regards to explicit language and situations, it's so refreshing to read a good, wholesome story. I was glad I had the opportunity to read this. 

No review was required. 

Gathering the Threads by Cindy Woodsmall

Well! What a fun journey this was! I have finally finished The Amish of Summer Grove Series. This is the third and final book in the series and will release in August 2017. I was so lucky and grateful to receive an advance copy from WaterBook Multnomah and help with the launch! 

For my review on Book One (The Ties that Bind) click here: Ties That Bind
For my review on Book One (Fraying at the Edge) click here: Fraying At The Edge

You can read what the first two books are about in my other blogs, but this is the wrap up of the Brenneman family saga about Ariana and her place in the world. Finding out she was switched at birth, she had to carve out a new life for herself and come to grips with the fact that who she thought were her birth parents were not. On top of that, she had to deal with the fact that her real birth parents are "worldly". This goes against everything Ariana stood for and believed in. 

It is also the story of her lifelong friendship with Quill and how they had to learn to forgive each other in order to move on in life. 

Also, we get to see through the series how Skylar, who is the girl really born to Amish parents, Lovina and Isaac, come to terms with addiction and if she will find peace in the upheaval in her life as well. 

I don't like to give too much away in my reviews, because I want you to read them yourselves and enjoy them as much as I did. However, there were a few things I wanted to touch on. 

I couldn't stand Nicholas. Even towards the end, I found it hard to come to terms with how much turmoil he actually caused in Ariana's life. Again, no spoilers here, but for those who read the book, I would love your thoughts. 

Also, and I know I am going to get major darts thrown at me, but I didn't like, nor did I ever come to like Skylar. Even after things have started to settle, she still seemed entitled to me. 

However, I loved this series. I usually like Amish fiction but this series had a real depth to it. I think it's going to do very well in wrapping up the series for those who have read the first two and are looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. I was so lucky to get to read it in advance and I want to thank WaterBook Multnomah again for allowing me to help promote the last book as well as sending me the first two so that I could get caught up. No review was required. 

I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did! Summer isn't over yet and I have plenty left on my summer reading list! What are you reading this summer? Comment below! 

Fraying at the Edge by Cindy Woodsmall

Greetings, all! 

The time is getting closer to the release of the third book in this series, Gathering the Threads, but today I want to talk about the second book, Fraying at the Edge. For the review on the FIRST book click here: Ties That Bind

The second book picks up from where the first one left off, launching Ariana into her strange new modern world.  She is so committed to her Amish lifestyle and faith she feels like she's falling apart or "Fraying at the Edge" (ha! You like how I did that?) when her biological father places certain demands on her. 

Meanwhile, Skylar (the biological daughter of the Amish Brenneman family) is also struggling acclimating to her new environment as well. She tries everything in her power, while struggling with addiction, to alienate the Brennemans the best she can. 

Neither girl wants to be in the situation they are in. Can they find some kind of peace or at least tolerance for their surroundings while waiting for the end of the time period that was forced on them? 

My two cents; This series has been great so far. I cannot wait to read the third book. I will be starting it today.  I kind of felt like a bad person while reading this one, because I absolutely felt no sympathy for Nicholas, Ariana's biological father. Without giving too much away, I thought he was horribly rude, unrelenting and quite frankly, totally disrespectful of Ariana's lifestyle and faith. I don't like to rant too much on blogs, for fear of spoiling something, so I will not give any more away, except to say, I haven't been this engrossed in characters in a long time. 

Isn't it great when you actually care what happens in a book and get vested in the characters? I find lately that it doesn't happen a lot, but with this series, I really can't wait to find out what happens. The only downside will be when I am finished the last book and they will be gone. 

A big thanks goes to Waterbook Multnomah for allowing me to be on the launch team for Gathering the Threads and also for sending me the first two books in the series. No review was required. 

SPECIAL:  Right now when you pre-order Gathering the Threads, you will get The Ties that Bind FREE!!! Go to wmbooks.com/gatheringthethreads today to get this awesome BOGO deal! 

And, as always, please let me know what you think! Thanks for reading! 

The Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall

Total disclosure: I was allowed to join a launch team for the third book in this series. First, thanks in advance to WaterBook & Multnomah for sending me the first two books in the series so that I could get caught up. So, let's start there! 

This book grabbed me from the beginning and I must confess the characters stuck with me long after I put the book down. I found this book to have a lot of depth, something that is not found too easily these days. 

Ariana Brenneman is faithful to her Amish family and their lifestyle. She is a firm believer in the Old Ways and is at peace with her life. Her faith is unshakable. However, she is also getting over being hurt by an old friend, Quill Schlabach. 

Quill left the Amish years prior and started helping other Amish people leave the community when they wish to do so. He helped Ariana's friend, Frieda leave and Ariana sees this as completely disrespectful and a betrayal to the Amish community. Ariana shockingly learns that Quill is back and that is possibly helping a family member of Ariana's to leave the community. 

Ariana is determined to find out who it is and try to stop it.  She is also trying to focus on the positive in her life, which includes her dream of opening a cafe. 

However, there is a huge possible bombshell lurking that could shatter Ariana's life as she knows it. I don't want to give too much away here, but believe me, I felt this story was riveting. I was really drawn in. 

The next book is Fraying at the Edge. I will do blog on that when I am finished, but I also want to say that the third book, Gathering The Threads is going to be available August 2017 and I can't wait. 

The Winnowing Season-Book 2 in the Amish Vines and Orchards Series by Cindy Woodsmall

UPDATE: TEN YEARS LATER! 

Wait until you read this!  I have NEVER, EVER reread books as an adult. EVER. I just feel there is too much out there that I want to read and can't imagine rereading something I read already, much less something I didn't like the first go round. 

As you can see, TEN YEARS ago, almost to the day, (I didn't know this until I looked back on this blog) I attempted to read The Winnowing Season. Apparently, I only got about six and a half chapters down before I gave up. Now, I hadn't read the first one, but felt that I didn't need to because this one had a synopsis of the first one in the beginning. 

I don't know what pressed me to go back to this, but there must be a reason. I actually went back and got the first book, A Season for Tending, from the library. I thoroughly enjoyed it!  I then got this one for another shot and ended up really getting into it. I think maybe it was because I read the first book and got more vested in the characters.  I am just floored that I, 1. went back at all and 2. ended up really enjoying it. I am also very shocked that it was 10 years almost to the day. 

It just goes to show you just never know! Give that book you gave up on another whirl! 

What are all of you reading?

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Waterbrook Multnomah provided me with a copy of this book on the condition I provided a review. I was very excited to pick this one. I am a huge fan of Amish fiction. I find that it is a relaxing change of pace to read an Amish or Christian fiction book. Sometimes you just need to clear the cobwebs out of your head and I think this type of book is the way to do it. 

This book is the sequel to the first book in the series,  A Season for Tending  and starts with a short synopsis of that book. I love other Amish authors and read a lot of books in this genre. However, I promised an honest review. I could not finish this book. I finished about six and half chapters. Being an avid reader, if I am enjoying a book, I will finish it in a few days. I could not bring myself to read anymore. I think it was because I found some of the characters annoying and I found myself not really concerned about what happened to them. I also felt some of the dialogue sounded forced. That being said, that part may be my fault because this book is a second in the series and I did not read the first one. However, don't let this stop anyone from reading it!  I feel bad that I didn't like this book, but that will not stop me from trying other books from the same author.