Monday, December 13, 2021

"The Christmas Singing"--by Cindy Woodsmall--"The Apple Ridge Series"--spend Christmas with the Amish in this story of love, romance, heartache, and restoration--discover the power of second chances in this touching tale--with recipes (see my review)

 10301098 

The Christmas Singing

After Gideon coldly broke her heart, can the warmth of the season revive Mattie’s hopes?
 
Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve.
 
Three years later, will learning the truth behind his rejection restore her Christmas joy – or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?
 
Spend Christmas with the Amish in this story of love, romance, heartache, and restoration.

Experience the holidays with the Plain folk and discover the power of second chances in this touching story from the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Bridge of Peace.
 
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 REVIEW:  Author Cindy Woodsmall creates wonderfully vivid characters, not so much by the description of their looks, but by the immediate sense of who they are as people. She infuses each character with human flaws and imperfections, yet they are immensely appealing. In "The Christmas Singing", Mattie Eash is a talented and artistic cake baker who is at times somewhat absent-minded. When her heart was broken by her childhood sweetheart, Gideon Beiler, Mattie left her home in Pennsylvania and moved to Ohio. She made a new life, and found someone safe and predictable, Sol Bender, with whom to keep company. While she enjoys the security and steadfastness of her relationship with Sol, she cannot forget her first love, Gideon. His apparent interest in a life outside their Amish world, and his attraction to "Englisch" women leaves Mattie deeply hurt and unsure of herself. However, Gideon has secrets of his own, and he let Mattie go because he thought she would be better off without him and his troubles. When an accident brings them back in each other's world, old feelings and hurts come to the surface. Will Gideon finally reveal the secrets he has held from Mattie? If so, can Mattie forgive him and accept him as he is? Emotions run high during the holidays, and love stories are especially poignant during this time of year. "The Christmas Singing" will touch your heart and leave you filled with the spirit of the season. Some of the recipes for the wonderful cakes described in the book are included as an extra treat! 

Book Copy Gratis Library Thing

 

6275220 

The Sound of Sleigh Bells

 

17288591 

The Dawn of Christmas: A Romance from the Heart of Amish Country  

 

12003694 

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms

 

Cindy Woodsmall

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.
 

 

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