A time of anticipation. A season of miracles.
Because
of Joel s impossible situation, twenty-one-year-old Rose must sacrifice
everything. As days pass into years in the midst of the beautiful
hills, the laughter of children, and God s providence is it too much for
Rose to hope for love in return?
An amazing journey toward love and belonging, filled with the wonder of the season of Christ s birth.
When Old Order Amish Rose Kurtz is asked to leave her family, travel
deep into West Virginia, and help Joel Dienner with his children in the
wake of tragedy, the quiet young woman recognizes a home where she might
find kindness instead of criticism and hope replacing harsh words. She
agrees to stay in Forest Hill and become Joel s wife for the sake of his
family needs, but their marriage is to be a partnership, one built from
need, not love and affection.
As the years pass, Rose continues to
beckon Joel to join life again, to take joy in his growing children,
and to awaken his heart to the possibility of new love. Joel hopes that
Rose can move beyond deep-rooted hurts to see the beautiful Christmas
ahead, their season. But will the arrival of a beautiful widow and a series of misunderstandings reverse how far Rose and Joel have come?"
Amazon
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
Rose Kurtz is the only girl in the family of twelve children, and if any
parents should have had counseling Roses should have. So when the
Bishop asks the family to have their daughter travel to West Virginia to
a very small Amish community of fifteen families, to help a very ill
mother whom had just given birth, the family does what the bishop asks.
Poor
Rose arrives amidst the grieving of a family, a screaming new born, and
two other young ones crying for their mom. What a heart breaker, and
Rose is a tender young woman, despite her upbringing.
Joel Dienner is
now desperate, what will he do, he is shattered and now responsible for
three young children, and how will he support and take care of them?
Rose is now the answer, and a quick, in name only, marriage takes place.
This
book does become a page-turner, and it is a very fast read, but of
course it is written like you are watching it unfold before your eyes.
Once you pick this up you will be at the end in no time, and wanting
more, it is that good!
I received this book through Blogging For Books, and was not required to give a positive review.
Posts
