WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Archives

Amish, Christmas, Cindy Woodsmall, Rhe's Bookshelf, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing

Rhe’s Bookshelf: Christmas in Apple Ridge

December 4, 2013 No Comments

synopsis: Christmas in Apple Ridge is a 3-n-1 novella series.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells
Beth Hertzler is unable to let go of a past tragedy, but when she discovers a large, intricately carvedscene 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?

What I Thought:

I am becoming such a lover of these Amish stories, and most especially those by Cindy Woodsmall. She is who really won me over in the first place. Again her stories have had the ability to draw me into these beautiful and romantic stories. Stories of promise and new beginnings. These stories are always full of hope and warmth. I really can’t get enough of them and am always anxiously awaiting when I can get my hands on another one. I loved that the three stories intertwined with each other, and we were able to see what happened after another character’s book is over. The last one, The Dawn of Christmas, wasn’t my absolute favorite. I didn’t get into the characters like I did the others. The book probably deserved to be a little bit longer. It felt hurried during parts of it.

All in all these books, together, will hold a place on my “books I’d read again again” bookshelf.

Thanks Cindy!

5 out of 5 Stars

visit Cindy’s website and because I’m totally obsessed with Book Trailers (I really want to be in one now!)

here’s the one for this Novella

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Blogging for Books, Christian Fiction, Christian Romance, Francine Rivers, Redeeming Love, Rhe's Bookshelf, Romance, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing

Rhe’s Bookshelf – Redeeming Love

August 17, 2013 No Comments

California’s gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.

Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside.

Then she meets Michael Hosea, a man who seeks his Father’s heart in everything. Michael obeys God’s call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel’s every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw.

But with her unexpected softening comes overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does…the One who will never let her go.

A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.

Includes a six-part reading group guide!

What I thought:

I’m sure many of you have read this book, at least that’s how I felt when I first let people know that I was reading this book. So many of my friends expressed shock that I had never read it, many of them reading it while we were in high school and our early college days. Even my mom read it. How did I miss this?! Frankly, I have no clue how I did. Francine Rivers is a name that I’ve heard and seen, and I was surprised to find out that she had previously been a mainstream romance writer. Trust me, she’s got a knack for that particular kind of romance, that is more about the romance and less about anything physical. I would be willing to bet good money that most women know exactly what I’m talking about and are just as much of a succor for it as I am. The emotional connection one feels with someone can be more powerful than anything else. Redeeming Love is just that. It’s an emotional, and spiritual romance novel. I couldn’t put it down. I was absolutely addicted to it.

The story, it was just amazing. What kind of love is this?! It was a beautiful representation of the love Christ has for us. He never gives up on us! Ms Rivers painted a word picture like none I’ve read in a really long time. It is a rather long book but it didn’t feel like it, there was no real slow parts, which is a pet peeve of mine. Everything that was written mattered to the story.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone! If you have older teenage daughters…yes!! I’m already looking forward to my next Francine Rivers book. In the Spring of 2014 Francine Rivers’ new book, A Bridge to Haven, which takes places in 1950s Hollywood is being released. I’m so excited!

5 out of 5 Stars

visit Francine River’s blog and facebook

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Blogging for Books, book review, Christian Fiction, Cindy Woodsmall, Rhe's Bookshelf, The Winnowing Season, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing

Rhe’s Bookshelf – The Winnowing Season, by Cindy Woodsmall

July 14, 2013 No Comments

The Winnowing Season (Amish Vines and Orchards, #2)

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.

What I thought:

The Winnowing Season is book 2 in the Amish Vines and Orchard Series, and my second Amish book ever. If you read my review of book 1 you’ll know that I was kind of surprised to really like it. There were portions of this book that were slower than I normally like. However, I should be truthful and say that most of the books I normally read are of a much faster variety. A lot of the stuff that has to do with Amish tradition still got me and sort of broke up the story for me. I found that it sort of distracted me because I spent so much time being annoyed with that. It was almost like it got in the way of the story and it didn’t make sense to me. Some things are so Amish, and then other parts of the story just didn’t follow that same vein. I still am committed to continuing on with the series because I just want to know what happens next. So, to that end Ms. Woodsmall has done her job! The hardest part for me was the Jacob storyline. It became really frustrating, but I just don’t want to give away too much of the story to elaborate on that. All I will say is that it is quite emotionally taxing. The characters are developed well and you learn so much about the Amish culture, which I find extremely fascinating.

Rating:

3 out of 5 Stars

Disclaimer:

I received this book in partnership with WaterBrook/Multnomah Publishing and Blogging for Books. I was not compensated in any other way. And, as always, my views and opinions are my own. Take them or leave them.