After three months ofdraus in da Welt,
Ariana has returned to Summer Grove, the Old Order Amish community
where she was raised for twenty years, and life with her Brenneman
family. Skylar Nash, the Englisch-raised young woman is working in
Ariana s cafe while getting to know her birth family and their Plain way
of life. Skylar's time in Summer Grove has changed her outlook, just as
Ariana has grown to see her personal faith in God in a different light
than the manner she was taught while growing up. Both women will have to
make decisions about their paths and Ariana must decide what role her
childhood friend, ex-Amish Quill Schlabach, will play in her life.
Gathering the Threadsis the third and final novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series."
About The Author
Cindy Woodsmall is a
New York Times
best-selling author who has written a dozen (and counting!) works of
fiction and one of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish
friend, Miriam Flaud, coauthored the nonfiction,
Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy’s been featured on
ABC Nightline and the front page of the
Wall Street Journal, and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. In June of 2013, the
Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as the second most popular author of Amish fiction, following Beverly Lewis.
She is also a veteran homeschool mom who no longer holds that
position. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew
stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was
something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband
was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.
She’s won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer’s Choice Awards,
Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings’ Best
Books of the Year. She’s been a finalist for the prestigious Christy,
Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian
Retailers Choice Awards.
Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish
families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she didn’t realize
it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began preparing Cindy to
write these books. At the age of ten, while living in the dairy country
of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a Plain Mennonite girl.
Luann, like all the females in her family, wore the prayer Kapp and
cape dresses. Her parents didn’t allow television or radios, and many
other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During the numerous times
Luann came to Cindy’s house to spend the night, her rules came with her
and the two were careful to obey them—afraid that if they didn’t, the
adults would end their friendship. Although the rules were much easier
to keep when they spent the night at Luann’s because her family didn’t
own any of the forbidden items, both sets of parents were uncomfortable
with the relationship and a small infraction of any kind would have been
enough reason for the parents to end the relationship. While navigating
around the adults’ disapproval and the obstacles in each other’s
lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true friendship that lasted into
their teen years, until Cindy’s family moved to another region of the
US.
As an adult, Cindy became friends with a wonderful Old Order Amish
family who opened their home to her. Although the two women, Miriam and
Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart geographically, and a century
apart by customs, when they come together they never lack for
commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God can accomplish
through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued to make
wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite
communities—from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.
Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.
- See more at: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/about-cindy/biography/#sthash.2dhH1m2k.dpuf
Cindy Woodsmall is a
New York Times
best-selling author who has written a dozen (and counting!) works of
fiction and one of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish
friend, Miriam Flaud, coauthored the nonfiction,
Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy’s been featured on
ABC Nightline and the front page of the
Wall Street Journal, and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. In June of 2013, the
Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as the second most popular author of Amish fiction, following Beverly Lewis.
She is also a veteran homeschool mom who no longer holds that
position. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew
stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was
something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband
was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.
She’s won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer’s Choice Awards,
Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings’ Best
Books of the Year. She’s been a finalist for the prestigious Christy,
Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian
Retailers Choice Awards.
Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish
families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she didn’t realize
it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began preparing Cindy to
write these books. At the age of ten, while living in the dairy country
of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a Plain Mennonite girl.
Luann, like all the females in her family, wore the prayer Kapp and
cape dresses. Her parents didn’t allow television or radios, and many
other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During the numerous times
Luann came to Cindy’s house to spend the night, her rules came with her
and the two were careful to obey them—afraid that if they didn’t, the
adults would end their friendship. Although the rules were much easier
to keep when they spent the night at Luann’s because her family didn’t
own any of the forbidden items, both sets of parents were uncomfortable
with the relationship and a small infraction of any kind would have been
enough reason for the parents to end the relationship. While navigating
around the adults’ disapproval and the obstacles in each other’s
lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true friendship that lasted into
their teen years, until Cindy’s family moved to another region of the
US.
As an adult, Cindy became friends with a wonderful Old Order Amish
family who opened their home to her. Although the two women, Miriam and
Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart geographically, and a century
apart by customs, when they come together they never lack for
commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God can accomplish
through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued to make
wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite
communities—from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.
Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.
- See more at: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/about-cindy/biography/#sthash.2dhH1m2k.dpuf
Cindy Woodsmall is a
New York Times
best-selling author who has written a dozen (and counting!) works of
fiction and one of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish
friend, Miriam Flaud, coauthored the nonfiction,
Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy’s been featured on
ABC Nightline and the front page of the
Wall Street Journal, and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. In June of 2013, the
Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as the second most popular author of Amish fiction, following Beverly Lewis.
She is also a veteran homeschool mom who no longer holds that
position. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew
stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was
something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband
was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.
She’s won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer’s Choice Awards,
Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings’ Best
Books of the Year. She’s been a finalist for the prestigious Christy,
Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian
Retailers Choice Awards.
Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish
families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she didn’t realize
it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began preparing Cindy to
write these books. At the age of ten, while living in the dairy country
of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a Plain Mennonite girl.
Luann, like all the females in her family, wore the prayer Kapp and
cape dresses. Her parents didn’t allow television or radios, and many
other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During the numerous times
Luann came to Cindy’s house to spend the night, her rules came with her
and the two were careful to obey them—afraid that if they didn’t, the
adults would end their friendship. Although the rules were much easier
to keep when they spent the night at Luann’s because her family didn’t
own any of the forbidden items, both sets of parents were uncomfortable
with the relationship and a small infraction of any kind would have been
enough reason for the parents to end the relationship. While navigating
around the adults’ disapproval and the obstacles in each other’s
lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true friendship that lasted into
their teen years, until Cindy’s family moved to another region of the
US.
As an adult, Cindy became friends with a wonderful Old Order Amish
family who opened their home to her. Although the two women, Miriam and
Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart geographically, and a century
apart by customs, when they come together they never lack for
commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God can accomplish
through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued to make
wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite
communities—from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.
Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.
- See more at: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/about-cindy/biography/#sthash.2dhH1m2k.dpuf
is a New York Times, CBA, ECPA, and USA Today best-selling
author who has written a dozen (and counting!) works of fiction and one
of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud,
coauthored the nonfiction, Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish
Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy has been featured on ABC
Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal,and has
worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life.
In June of 2013, the Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as the second most
popular author of Amish fiction, following Beverly Lewis.
She's a
veteran homeschool mom who no longer holds that position. As her
children progressed in age, her desire to write grew stronger. After
working through reservations whether this desire was something she
should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband was her
staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.
She's
won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer's Choice Awards, Inspirational
Reader's Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings' Best Books of the
Year. She's been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol
Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice
Awards.
Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old
Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she
didn't realize it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began
preparing Cindy to write these books. At the age of ten, while living in
the dairy country of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a
Plain Mennonite girl. Luann, like all the females in her family, wore
the prayer Kapp and cape dresses. Her parents didn't allow television or
radios, and many other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During
the numerous times Luann came to Cindy's house to spend the night, her
rules came with her and the two were careful to obey them--afraid that
if they didn't, the adults would end their friendship. Although the
rules were much easier to keep when they spent the night at Luann's
because her family didn't own any of the forbidden items, both sets of
parents were uncomfortable with the relationship and a small infraction
of any kind would have been enough reason for the parents to end the
relationship. While navigating around the adults' disapproval and the
obstacles in each other's lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true
friendship that lasted into their teen years, until Cindy's family moved
to another region of the US.
As an adult, Cindy became friends
with a wonderful Old Order Amish family who opened their home to her.
Although the two women, Miriam and Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart
geographically, and a century apart by customs, when they come together
they never lack for commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God
can accomplish through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued
to make wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite
communities--from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.
Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.
If
you'd like more information or to contact her, you can go to her
website:
http://www.cindywoodsmall.com or Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/authorcindywoodsmall
My Review
Gathering Threads is the dynamic conclusion to The Amish of Summer Grove
series, and what a read and journey you are about to embark on as you
turn that first page.
Now this book can be read by itself, there is
so much information provided to bring you up to date, but don’t deprive
yourself, the first two books are tremendous and you don’t want to pass
them up, and yes I have read them.
Ariana, Abram, and Skylar, the
Trips, or triplets, or torn apart twins because of circumstances way
beyond their control. With this book both Ariana and Skylar are living
with Brenneman’s, of course with their twin Abram, and find sibling
rivalry at its best.
This book is about closure, and forgiveness, and
putting your feet on the right path, and yes the author has given us
all of this. There is heartbreak, and then there is love and compassion,
above all the Love of God.
Ariana never wanted to go into the
English world, but she did and has now returned to her roots, but you
can see Gods plan written here, especially in the form of her atheist
father Daniel. Then we see broken Skylar, and she is now drug free, but
trying to find her place in her Amish family, and Abram, the kind,
sweet, young man, who finds himself in love, but of course there are
problems to overcome.
We are also reunited with Berta and feel her
pain and anguish, trying to live faith, but yearning for her family.
There is so much injustice in this small community, and your heart will
break for this strong woman, and you will love her son Quill, whose
reputation in this area of Amish is not good, and yet he has a heart of
gold and is there for his fellow men.
There is a wonderful Epilogue
at the end of this book, and I would love to continue here and receive
more updates, but it is time to say goodbye, and you will be missed!
I received this book through the Publisher Waterbrook, and was not required to give a positive review.
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Lyrical Underground (July 11, 2017)
Print Length: 247 pages
ASIN: B01MPVNVR5
