The Gift Of Christmas Past
Arson wasn't the only fire that ignited between them.
Promises shattered.
Lies spoken.
She was arrested.
He returned to the safety of his wealthy parents.
Almost
ten years later, Hadley and Monroe are both specialists in the field of
speech therapy. They meet again . . . thrown together to help a
four-year-old-girl rendered mute after being rescued from a fire.
Years
of secrets and anger beg to be set free as Hadley and Monroe try to
push aside past hurts and find common ground in order to help the
traumatized child and her family.
Can the love of Christmas past drift into the present, bringing healing and hope for all?
Cindy Woodsmall
Cindy Woodsmall is a
New York Times and CBA best-selling author who has written
nineteen (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 one of the
top three Amish fiction writers.
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.
Erin Woodsmall
Erin Woodsmall is a writer, musician, wife, and mom of three. She has
edited, brainstormed, and researched books with Cindy for almost a
decade. is a writer, musician, wife, and mom of three. She has
edited, brainstormed, and researched books with Cindy Woodsmall for over a
decade.
