Showing posts with label WaterBrook Press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WaterBrook Press. Show all posts

Amish Christmas at North Star by Cindy Woodsmall, Mindy Starns Clark and Emily Clark, Amanda Flower, and Katie Ganshert {Review & Giveaway}



Cindy Woodsmall, Mindy Starns Clark and Emily Clark,
Amanda Flower, and Katie Ganshert
Contemporary Fiction / Amish

One night four lives entered the world by the hands of an Amish midwife on the edge of North Star, Pennsylvania. Rebekah's Babies, as they are called, are now adults, and in four heartwarming novellas each person experiences a journey of discovery, the possibility of love, and the wonder of Christmas.

Guiding Star by Katie Ganshert
Curiosity gets the best of Englischer Chase Wellington when he investigates the twenty-five-year-old disappearance of an Amish baby. When he finds adventurous Elle McAllister in Iowa, will his revelations upend her world?

Mourning Star by Amanda Flower
Eden Hochstetler slips from her parents' shop to investigate the death of her friend Isaac. Who is guilty? Isaac's handsome great-nephew Jesse, an angry Englischer, or someone else?

In the Stars by Cindy Woodsmall
Heartbroken Kore Detweiler avoids North Star after Savilla Beiler rejects his love. But when he is unexpectedly called home, he and Savilla must join forces to keep a family together.

Star of Grace by Mindy Starns Clark and Emily Clark
Andy Danner left North Star to join a new Amish settlement in Mississippi. His little brother devises a scheme to bring Andy home for Christmas and unwittingly unleashes the power of forgiveness in a reclusive widower's life.

READ AN EXCERPT

My Thoughts

I usually skip over novellas but at Christmastime I devour them. Some people love Christmas movies, I love Christmas novellas. It's such a treat to snuggle up in the evening with a quick read. Amish Christmas at North Star is an even bigger bonus because it includes four novellas in one book.

Katie Ganshert sets the stage with the backstory of a cold and snowy night when four babies were born by the hands of an Amish midwife named Rebekah Schlabach. The circumstances were so unusual that the new little ones were forever dubbed "Rebekah's Babies".

The novellas then take up the individual stories of the babies twenty-five years later. What I really enjoyed about each story was that the author's personal style shined through. For instance Amanda Flower writes some really great cozy mysteries and her story in the book includes a bit of mystery along with the theme.

All of the authors are some of my personal favorites so I don't think that I could really choose a favorite story among them. While each of the stories relates to the opening they are also very stand alone. In fact other than the main characters being born on the same night and the central story revolving somewhat around North Star I didn't really find much that connected them until the ending that tied it all together nicely.

This book would make the perfect stocking stuffer for the book lover on your list. You could also pair it with a box of hot chocolate and fuzzy socks and it would become a full fledged present. Whatever you decide you can't go wrong with this group of writers.




Now . . . how about a GIVEAWAY?!! We loved Amish Christmas at North Star so much that we wanted to make a way for one of our readers to get their own copy. To do that we have partnered with Family Christian Stores to give one of our readers a $25 Appreciation Certificate so they can purchase the book or anything else they would like either online or in store.

The giveaway is open to U.S. residents and will run through midnight on Wednesday, December 2, 2015. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. The winner will be contacted by email and will have forty-eight hours to claim the prize. If unclaimed, a new winner will be drawn. The winners’ entries will be verified. Please enter the contest using the Giveaway Tools form below. All entries are optional.

Hope Crossing: Ada's House Trilogy by Cindy Woodsmall ~ An Old Order Amish Fiction Review



Ada's House Trilogy
Cindy Woodsmall
Contemporary Fiction / Amish

Hope Crossing…where Ada’s House stands 
as a haven for weary souls looking for kindness, 
faith, and second chances.


Two very different women are pulled by their strongest desires. Deborah Mast joined the Amish church and longs to marry her fiancĂ©, but he is changing. Cara Moore is forced to look into a life that was meant to be hers. Will Ada’s House help them realize their hearts’ desires or will it force them to accept what life has done to each of them?


Living out her passion for teaching, Lena Kauffman’s work is suddenly interrupted by a series of pranks and accidents targeted toward her and her students. When tragedy strikes her dear friend Grey Graber’s family on school property, the school board begins to blame her for the trouble. As grief and confusion take their toll on Grey and Lena’s friendship, they are both forced to face a new reality that may offer the peace and love they each long for.


Fleeing a terrible mistake, Sylvia Fisher dedicates herself to saving the failing Blank farm. When prodigal son Aaron returns, he is surprised by this unusual farmhand who opposes all his plans. Will Aaron and Sylvia’s unflinching efforts toward opposite futures mask the bigger picture—a path to forgiveness, grace, and the promise of love?

My Thoughts

One of the biggest treats for a book lover is a big fat tome from an author you adore. I found that in Hope Crossing. It is the omnibus of the Ada's House Trilogy and it is fabulous! If you were able to resist the urge to read the trilogy as it came out you are in for a real delight. Now you can snuggle up with the whole thing without waiting for months on end to read the next installment.

Each story centers around the Old Order Amish community of Hope Crossing. The center of this community is Ada's House and it plays a pivotal point in each of the stories. While each story stands alone there is a thread of continuity that weaves the three novels together. Each book has different main characters but in the subsequent stories the main characters become background figures so you get a glimpse at what has been going on with them since you left them.

I absolutely adore Cindy Woodsmall's writing. She has a wonderful way of presenting unusual circumstances in the context of the Old Order Amish community. I'm always wondering just how she is going to bring about a resolution to such a sticky situation. After all of her novels so far I'm happy to say she's yet to disappoint.

If you or someone you love enjoys Amish fiction this would be the perfect addition to your/their library. The book is hefty, but it is a great bargain to get all three books in one! 

Connect With The Author






Where Treetops Glisten by Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman & Sarah Sundin ~ Christmas Gift Guide for Book Lovers



Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman & Sarah Sundin
Historical Romance / Christmas


The crunch of newly fallen snow, the weight of wartime.

Siblings forging new paths and finding love in three stories, 
filled with the wonder of Christmas.

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana.

In Cara Putman’s White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help.

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theater in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart.

The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and His plan for a future?

My Thoughts

If you have an historical romance lover on your Christmas list, get them this book! It is three novellas that weave together the story of the Turner siblings during World War II. Sarah Sundin sets the stage for the whole book in her prologue entitled Winter Wonderland. You are introduced to Abigail, Pete and Meredith and given a bit of background on the whole family. I fell in love with them right from the start!

As you progress through each of the stories you not only experience what was going on during the war effort overseas, but what was going on in America in everyday lives. The story line takes place over a couple of different years and Christmas seasons so by the time you reach Tricia Goyer's portion you have a nice little wrap-up of what the rest of Abigail's story is.

These three authors did a marvelous job of carrying the characters' particular traits and nuances throughout the book. Each author of course has a distinct voice in their particular section but it blended well together, making the book feel whole and complete rather than jumbled. By the time you reach Cara Putman's Epilogue entitled Let It Snow, Let It Snow you will feel as if the Turner family is just a branch of yours.

To cap off the delightful story, the authors have included delicious sounding recipes for a yummy cookie exchange from some of the characters featured in the story. There is also a reader's guide in the back which would make this an awesome selection for your book club.

Connect With The Authors

Photo by Jessica McCollam

Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Pinterest  


Photo by Emilie Hendrix



Photo by Linda Johnson









 


Heart Wide Open by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson ~ A Christian Living Review



Nonfiction / Christian Living / Women


YOU BELIEVE IN GOD.
YOU'RE TRYING TO SERVE HIM.
BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TRULY 
LOVE HIM AND LET HIM LOVE YOU?

As a Bible-believing churchgoer, author Shellie Tomlinson harbored a secret in her good-girl heart. she longed for something more than routine faith; she wanted to love God with a genuine, all-consuming passion. So she got honest with Him:
"I admit it. I don't love you like I should, but I want to love you. Help me!"

In Heart Wide Open, Shellie invites you to answer the call of your restless heart and refuse to settle for anything less than the intimate friendship of God. Through her heartfelt and honest words, you'll find practical inspiration to help you:
  • exchange your "just enough Jesus" mindset for an all-out pursuit of Him
  • put sizzle in your Bible study by asking God to show you the wonder of His Word
  • trade formulaic devotions for a devoted life
Are you ready to stop struggling to make time for God and instead live every moment with God? Discover how to live with your heart wide open.

READ AN EXCERPT!




My Thoughts

I first fell in love with Shellie's work through her first two books, Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On and Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy! Those two books just tickled my funny bone. But let me tell you, Heart Wide Open struck a nerve.

This book is written for those of us who grew up with not only Vacation Bible School but Backyard Bible Club. If you could do a sword drill in your sleep or recite the books of the Bible in perfect order or sing all the verses from hymn after hymn from memory, this book is probably written for you. 

It's written for those of us who fell deeply in love with Jesus as a child but somewhere along the line that love of all things Jesus began to fade. The tyranny of the urgent began to replace what was important, which is our very relationship with Jesus. We entered that awkward Jr. High era that took our eyes off of Him and put them on him. Then before we knew it we were young mommas with a growing family and all our efforts were directed there. We still love to say and sing "Oh how I love Jesus!" but do we really? Or in the words of Shellie, do we just want to want to love Jesus? The good news is that Jesus promises that He'll take that want to and turn it into a need to.

In fact Shellie talks about how He will take all of those failed Christian rituals of ours like, daily Bible reading and devotions, prayer time, and faith and breathe fresh life into them. The secret is admitting we need the help in the first place. Instead of hiding our lackluster feelings like Adam and Eve in the garden, we just need to get naked before God and cry out "Help me!"

I have to be honest and say that until I read this book I hadn't really realized how apathetic I had become. But as I turned page after page I continued to think, "Yep! That's describes me to a T." The good news is that Shelllie also points out the simple fix . . . Jesus! So if you are longing for a deeper relationship with Christ, pick this book up and let Him pry your heart wide open. Trust me . . . you won't regret it!

Connect With The Author:


Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Goodreads  I  Pinterest


Echoes of Mercy by Kim Vogel Sawyer ~ An Historical Romance Review




Kim Vogel Sawyer
Historical Romance

Back of the book:

Sometimes a secret must be kept 
for the truth to be revealed.

When a suspicious accident occurs at the Dinsmore's World-Famous Chocolates Factory in Sinclair, Kansas, Caroline Lang goes undercover as a factory worker to investigate the circumstances surrounding the event and how the factory treats its youngest employees--the child workers. Caroline's fervent faith, difficult childhood, and compassionate heart drove her to become an investigator for the Labor Commission, and she feels compelled to see children freed from heavy adult responsibilities and allowed to pursue an education.

Oliver Dinsmore, heir to the Dinsmore candy dynasty, has his own investigation to conduct. Posing as a common worker known as "Ollie Moore," he aims to find out all he can about the family business before he takes over for his father. Caroline and Oliver become fast friends, but tension mounts when the two find themselves at odds about the roles of child workers. Hiding their identities becomes even more difficult when fate brings them together over three children in desperate need. When all is revealed, will the truth destroy the love starting to grow between them?

READ CHAPTER ONE!

My thoughts:

When I'm in the mood for a compelling historical romance I know I can always count on one of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books. Echoes of Mercy continues her streak of great fiction. She once again brings us a story about a strong female in a non-typical role.

Caroline Lang is an investigator for the Labor Commission. Her heart is for seeing children get an education rather than being forced into labor while they are young. Her mentor and father figure, Noble, has asked her to go investigate the suspicious death of a colleague while undercover at the Chocolate Factory in Sinclair, Kansas. Even though she'd rather take some well deserved time off she says yes.

Once she is in Sinclair she interviews for a job at the factory with the sleazy Gordon Hightower. She gets the job as a toter and soon meets the dashingly handsome Ollie Moore. Unbeknownst to anyone at the factory Ollie is really Oliver Dinsmore, son and heir, to the factory. Ollie is there to find out about how the factory works from the inside.

The story proceeds with several unexpected twists and turns that leave Caroline and Ollie seeing to the care of three orphans. The caring of the children draw the two together, but the situation at the factory puts barriers up that seem insurmountable. 

One of the things I like about Kim's novels is her clear message of faith. I always come away from one of her books feeling not only entertained but inspired and uplifted. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a clear gospel message interspersed within an intriguing plot.

Connect with the author:










What Once Was Lost by Kim Vogel Sawyer ~ An Historical Fiction Book Review



Kim Vogel Sawyer
Historical Fiction

Back of the book:

A woman meant to serve, a child in the dark, a man standing apart--can these three souls embrace a God with new plans for them?

On a small Kansas farm, Christina Willems lovingly shepherds a group of poor and displaced individuals who count on her leadership and have come to see the Brambleville Asylum for the Poor as their home. But when a fire breaks out leaving the house uninhabitable, she must scramble to find shelter for all in her care, scattering her dear "family."

With no other options, Christina is forced to approach Levi Jonnson, a reclusive mill owner, to take in a young blind boy named Tommy Kilgore. Levi agrees, with reluctance, but finds himself surprised by the bond that quickly grows between him and Tommy. As obstacles to repairing the farm pile up, Christina begins to wonder if she can fulfill the mission to which she's dedicated her life. And when an old adversary challenges Christina, will she find an unlikely ally--or more--in the aloof Levi? Can Levi reconcile with the rejection that led to his hermit-like existence and open his heart to something more, especially a relationship with a loving God?





My thoughts:

Sometimes in our well-meaning good deeds we actually wind up hindering the very ones we are trying to help. Without meaning to we become focused on how a situation affects us instead of others. This is the main lesson that Christina Willems comes to learn in What Once Was Lost.

Christina has been left in charge of the home that her beloved father ran for the housing of the poor. When one tragedy leads to another she begins to cling to what once was in the hopes of recapturing it. Meanwhile wonderful things are happening to those that have been entrusted to her care. Unfortunately Christina can't seem to let go and move on.

I think almost everyone can relate to being unable to move on from something that is familiar. The unknown can be so scary. The idea of trusting the plans that God has for you is wonderful, but it is often hard to put into practice.

If you enjoy historical fiction I think you are going to like What Once Was Lost. The characters are easy to identify with and the situation is a common plight for all of us. Of course I have to add that it is set on the prairies of my beloved Kansas so that just pushes it over the top! Grab a copy for yourself and contemplate what you are holding onto that you should be letting go of.

Extras:

Kim has put together two short stories that add to What Once Was Lost.






Connect with the author:





Book Review ~ Emma of Aurora by Jane Kirkpatrick


Change & Cherish Trilogy
Jane Kirkpatrick
Historical Fiction

Back of the book:

The Change & Cherish Trilogy, based on the true story of Emma Wagner Giesy, is now available in one volume.

A Clearing in the Wild
When Emma's outspoken ways and growing skepticism lead to a clash with the beloved leader of her 1850s Bethel, Missouri, colony, she finds new opportunities to pursue her dreams of independence. But as she clears a pathway West to her truest and deepest self, she discovers something she never expected: a yearning for the warm embrace of community.

A Tendering in the Storm
Determined to raise her children on her own terms, Emma suddenly finds herself alone and pregnant with her third child, struggling to keep her family secure in the remote coastal forest of the Washington Territory. As clouds of despair close in, she must decide whether to continue in her own waning strength or to humble herself and accept help from the very people she once so eagerly left behind.

A Mending at the Edge
As a mother, daughter, sister, and estranged wife, Emma struggles to find her place inside--and outside--the confines of her religious community. Emma reaches out to others on the fringe, searching for healing and purpose. By blending her unique talents with service to others, she creates renewed hope as she weaves together the threads of family, friends, and faith.


My thoughts:

Does it drive you crazy when you have to wait for the next book to come out in a series you are reading? It surely does for me! Emma of Aurora is the answer to that frustration. This hefty tome combines the three stories of the Change & Cherish trilogy in one volume.

Jane Kirkpatrick continues her tradition of writing about real yet obscure historical figures. She has a talent for bringing the everyday struggles and triumphs of a bygone era to life in her storytelling. Emma Giesy and her story are compelling on many levels. 

I enjoyed reading about the colony that was set up in Bethel, Missouri and then relocated to Aurora Mills, Oregon. On the surface it seems like the ideal way to live. But upon closer inspection the flaws become glaring. Emma's strength also becomes her weakness. Her impulsiveness helped found the area in the Willapa Valley but it also lead to years of strife for her family.

Many of Emma's decisions wouldn't have been mine but I found it interesting to see the story unfold. There was definitely a price to be paid for the independence that she sought. The best and worst part of this series was the ending. It was satisfying to see everything come full circle yet unsatisfying because the story was over. It left me wanting to know the rest of the story. Ms. Kirkpatrick has supplied additional details in her notes at the back of the book but I would love just one more volume in this series. Of course I would probably want just one more after that too! In my opinion that is the mark of a great writer and a compelling story.

Connect with the author:






Book Review ~ Christmas in Apple Ridge by Cindy Woodsmall


Cindy Woodsmall
Contemporary Fiction/Amish

Back of the book:

Experience the holidays with the Plain folk of Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania, in these touching novellas centered around love, romance, heartache, and restoration from best-selling author Cindy Woodsmall.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells
Beth Hertzler is unable to let go of a past tragedy, but when she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds. Determined that her niece meet the gifted artist, her aunt tracks him down, but it’s not that simple – will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love?

The Christmas Singing
Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve. Brokenhearted, Mattie moves away and pursues her longtime dream of becoming a cake decorator, and even finds a new beau. But when Mattie is forced to return home three years later, will learning the truth behind Gideon’s rejection restore her Christmas joy – or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?

The Dawn of Christmas
Sadie enjoys her freedom away from home and her mission trips to Peru, but after four years, her Old Order Amish family insists it’s time to come home and settle down. Levi, a bachelor who distrusts women after a family heartbreak, also has no desire for romance. To keep their families from meddling in their lives, Sadie and Levi devise a plan—but soon discover that the walls around their hearts are breaking down. Can they let go of their prejudices, learn to trust each other, and embrace a future together?







My thoughts:

I have come to look forward to reading Cindy Woodsmall's Christmas novellas. This year I picked up Christmas in Apple Ridge which is actually a three-in-one collection of these novellas. I have previously read The Sound of Sleigh Bells and The Christmas Singing but I had yet to read The Dawn of Christmas.

What a thrill it was to quickly read through the first two tales and remind myself where the ongoing stories left off. It was a good reminder of the little details that I had so enjoyed on the first read through. By the time I reached the last story I was completely enmeshed in the people and place of Apple Ridge. I liked the flow of the stories and how each one was actually a stand alone novella, yet they flowed from one to the other introducing us to new characters while updating us on the ones we had already met. It was interesting to begin with the account of Beth and Jonah and continue through the story of Mattie and Gideon and finally being introduced to Sadie and Levi.

For an added treat there is some bonus material included. After book two there are a couple of cake recipes from Sherry Gore that are delicious (my book club tried them). After book three there is a recipe to make your own oatmeal and honey soap from fellow blogger Kristin Lail of ASimplyEnchantedLife.com 

For all you Christmas story lovers out there this is one to keep around to enjoy again each year. I have a special bookshelf for Christmas books and this will definitely go on it. It is a paperback but I still think it would make an excellent gift for the book lover on your Christmas list.

Connect with the author: 







Book Review ~ The Winnowing Season by Cindy Woodsmall



Cindy Woodsmall
Amish Vines and Orchards Series, Book 2

About the book:

The tornado that devastated Kings’ Orchard pushed Rhoda, Samuel, and Jacob to make a new start in Maine. Are they strong enough to withstand the challenges of establishing an Amish community—and brave enough to face the secrets that move with them?

On the eve of their departure to begin a new Old Order Amish community outside of Unity, Maine, Rhoda Byler is shocked to discover that choices made by her business partner and friend, Samuel King, have placed her and her unusual gifts directly into the path of her district’s bishop and preachers. She is furious with Samuel and is fearful that the Kings will be influenced by the way her leaders see her, and not what they know to be true—that Rhoda’s intuition is a gift from God.

Jacob King won’t be swayed by community speculation. He loves Rhoda, believes in her, and wants to build a future with her in Maine. But when the ghosts of his past come calling and require him to fulfill a great debt, can he shake their hold before it destroys what he has with Rhoda? Samuel has a secret of his own—one he’ll go to great lengths to keep hidden, even if it means alienating those closest to him. Throwing himself into rehabilitating the once-abandoned orchard, Samuel turns to a surprising new ally.

Book 2 of the Amish Vines and Orchards series asks: can the three faithfully follow God’s leading and build a new home and orchard in Maine? Or will this new beginning lead to more ruin and heartbreak?



My thoughts:

One of the many things that I appreciate about Cindy Woodsmall’s series is that they seem to come out in pretty quick succession. Even with that it is still sometimes hard to immediately remember what happened in the last book and where we are at in the story. At the beginning of each of her subsequent books is a short synopsis of what has occurred in the story up to this point. I really wish more authors and publishers would adopt this practice.

This installment picks up where the first book left off. Samuel is still smitten with Rhoda but he can’t act on those feelings because his younger brother Jacob is actively pursuing her. Samuel and Rhoda are amazing business partners but could they be life partners as well?

Samuel makes decisions out of his passionate nature and does so in the pursuit of truth and justice. The problem is that in that quest he winds up hurting the very one he meant to protect. I find myself so frustrated with his stubbornness. He always thinks he’s right!

Jacob makes me crazy too. If he would just tell the truth about things it would not only allow others to help him, but it would give him the freedom to begin to set things right.

Rhoda is such an interesting and complex personality. I admire her ability to stand up to constant ridicule from those around her. One of the things that has me scratching my head is her willingness to cover up for Jacob. When will she realize that she’s not helping by allowing him to continually escape detection and repeatedly shirk his responsibilities to the group?

I have to say that I had the same exact reaction to the ending of this book as I had to the first one and many of Cindy’s other books as well. It went something like this, “What . . . that can’t be the end!” I would then frantically flip a few pages just to see if I had missed something. Nope . . . another cliffhanger! It is a very good thing that the next book in the series, For Every Season, is scheduled to release in August 2013. I can hardly wait!

Connect with the author:

Twitter: @CindyWoodsmall
Pinterest   

Amish Vines and Orchard Series
1.       A Season for Tending
2.       The Winnowing Season 
3.       For Every Season 




The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

The Christmas Singing
Cindy Woodsmall
Amish Fiction – Christmas

Gideon Beiler has loved Mattie Eash since they were children. But when faced with unexpected circumstances, he makes up an excuse to end their engagement. He doesn’t want to lie to her, but he believes that telling Mattie the truth will be more hurtful.

Brokenhearted, Mattie moves from Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, where she pursues her longtime dream of becoming a cake decorator. She finds a new beau—a man offering the secure relationship Gideon has denied her.

When Mattie is forced to return to Apple Ridge, she and Gideon must confront the suffering created by his dishonesty—and address the powerful emotions that continue to bind the two childhood friends.

My thoughts:

I must first admit that I am completely biased towards this book. I had the privilege several months ago, along with my book club, to have lunch with Cindy Woodsmall. She was an absolute delight! I had read several of her books before meeting her, but this is the first since then. It was so interesting to “hear her voice” while reading her words. She is a very gentle and thoughtful person and it comes through in the characters that she brings to life.

The Christmas Singing is a great stand-alone read. You will not miss a thing if it is the only one you read but if you really want to make it better read last year’s book, The Sound of Sleigh Bells before you read this one. The Christmas Singing gives you the rest of the story from Lizzy and Omar and Beth and Jonah.

My book club is reading The Christmas Singing for December. It does not include discussion questions, but it does include two fabulous cake recipes from the kitchen of the talented Sherry Gore. In the story, Mattie is a baker and both of the cakes are part of the story. I think it is going to be a wonderful time of discussion and tasting.


About Cindy Woodsmall:

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

Her first novel released in 2006 to much acclaim and became a best seller. Cindy was a 2007 ECPA Christian Book Award finalist, along with Karen Kingsbury, Angela Hunt, and Charles Martin.

Her second book, When the Morning Comes, hit numerous best-sellers lists across the US, including edging into the extended list on the New York Times, coming in at number thirty-four.

Her third book, When the Soul Mends, hit the New York Times best-sellers list, coming in at number thirteen, as well as making the USA Today's best-sellers list.

Cindy continues to write and release best-selling works of fiction, and she's begun work on a nonfiction piece as well


“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it
on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
With the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Blog Designed by: NW Designs