Seasons of Tomorrow

Book Title: Seasons of Tomorrow
Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pub Date: April 15, 2014
Declaimer: “I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.”
Series: Amish Vines and Orchards #4
Genres: Amish, Amish Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Christian Fiction,
Synopsis: As love restores Rhoda, a sudden tragedy is the test of faith she never saw coming… 
More settled in her heart than ever before, Rhoda Byler feels a newfound confidence living in the Old Order Amish settlement she helped establish in Orchard Bend, Maine. Though it has been almost a year since one brother left, Rhoda is happy to be working alongside the other brother as they tend and nurture the settlement’s orchard. Time has helped to heal Rhoda’s wounds, and she finds that even her unusual gift of profound intuition is less of a burden as she continues to seek God’s wisdom and purpose for her life. 
But when an Englischer friend’s grandchild is taken deeper into hiding from her grandmother, can Rhoda’s gift make a difference or will it simply be a catalyst to another season of doubt and misunderstanding? As she resolves to stay on course, suddenly a shocking tragedy challenges the young settlement like never before, threatening to uproot Rhoda’s peace and the future of everything she holds dear.

Reviews: Goodreads, Shelfari, Librarything, Barnes and Noble, 

My Thoughts:
Rhoda has started feeling settle in Maine. She starts to follow her god talent and tries to help an englisher with finding her grandchild. Soon a family tragedy happens and things start unravel a bit in Maine. Will the new settlement stay and be able to establish. Samuel dat come to make a demand about his daughter Leah. What will happen to all though who are making it a go in Orchard Bend, Maine. You may like how it ends up and see all the battles the new settlement need to overcome?

For Every Season

Book Title: For Every Season
Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pub Date: August 20, 2013
Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Series, Romance, Amish, Amish Fiction
Book Resource: Received it from Waterbook for a free honesty Review
Series: Amish Vines and Orchards #3 
Synopsis: Working hard to develop a new Amish community outside of Unity, Maine, Rhoda Byler is fully committed to rehabilitating an orchard with business partner Samuel King. But an impulsive decision has created an unexpected strain in her relationship with her beau, Samuel’s brother, Jacob, threatening plans for the orchard. Amidst mounting tension in matters of the heart and business, Rhoda finds that this fledging settlement feels like the home she has always longed for, and she begins to embrace the God-given, heightened intuition that has always felt like a burden to her. She longs for Jacob to fully be free of his past, so they can work towards the future together.

But as Rhoda uses her gift to unpack an old secret with her Englisch neighbors, it is not her beau but an unlikely ally that cheers her on. With the orchard on shaky ground and Jacob’s plans in question, Rhoda is determined to see things through to harvest. But can she trust her insight to direct her path in matters of the heart?

Reviews: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ LibraryThing/ Barnes & Noble/

My Thoughts:
This the best series I have read. Though I have read other series. I love this book because it is just different and I love that it is catching and keeps me to be surprised. I like getting to know each person in the book and in detail. It also keeps me wanting more and making me wait for the next book for more.

The author is great in this. You learn new secret and new storylines that are dealt with. We find out if Jacob can free himself of his past along with Ronda. Ronda learn that her gift from god and what do with it or at least some of it. Will Ronda and Jacob be together in future. You will need to read it to find out for yourselves.

Do they learn what kind of relationships they each want. Samuel, Jacob and Ronda all need to figure it all out. I wonder where each one will go and who will choose who or what path they decide to take. If you have not read this series. I would recommend it that you do. The series starts with the book “A Season for Tending”.

My Rating:

Review: Seasons of Tomorrow

Book Title: Seasons of Tomorrow
Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pub Date: April 15, 2014
Declaimer: “I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.”
Series: Amish Vines and Orchards #4
Genres: Amish, Amish Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Christian Fiction,
Synopsis: As love restores Rhoda, a sudden tragedy is the test of faith she never saw coming… 
More settled in her heart than ever before, Rhoda Byler feels a newfound confidence living in the Old Order Amish settlement she helped establish in Orchard Bend, Maine. Though it has been almost a year since one brother left, Rhoda is happy to be working alongside the other brother as they tend and nurture the settlement’s orchard. Time has helped to heal Rhoda’s wounds, and she finds that even her unusual gift of profound intuition is less of a burden as she continues to seek God’s wisdom and purpose for her life. 
But when an Englischer friend’s grandchild is taken deeper into hiding from her grandmother, can Rhoda’s gift make a difference or will it simply be a catalyst to another season of doubt and misunderstanding? As she resolves to stay on course, suddenly a shocking tragedy challenges the young settlement like never before, threatening to uproot Rhoda’s peace and the future of everything she holds dear.

Reviews: Goodreads, Shelfari, Librarything, Barnes and Noble, 

My Thoughts:
Rhoda has started feeling settle in Maine. She starts to follow her god talent and tries to help an englisher with finding her grandchild. Soon a family tragedy happens and things start unravel a bit in Maine. Will the new settlement stay and be able to establish. Samuel dat come to make a demand about his daughter Leah. What will happen to all though who are making it a go in Orchard Bend, Maine. You may like how it ends up and see all the battles the new settlement need to overcome?

My Reviews:

Review: For Every Season

Book Title: For Every Season
Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pub Date: August 20, 2013
Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Series, Romance, Amish, Amish Fiction
Book Resource: Received it from Waterbook for a free honesty Review
Series: Amish Vines and Orchards #3
Synopsis: Working hard to develop a new Amish community outside of Unity, Maine, Rhoda Byler is fully committed to rehabilitating an orchard with business partner Samuel King. But an impulsive decision has created an unexpected strain in her relationship with her beau, Samuel’s brother, Jacob, threatening plans for the orchard. Amidst mounting tension in matters of the heart and business, Rhoda finds that this fledging settlement feels like the home she has always longed for, and she begins to embrace the God-given, heightened intuition that has always felt like a burden to her. She longs for Jacob to fully be free of his past, so they can work towards the future together.

But as Rhoda uses her gift to unpack an old secret with her Englisch neighbors, it is not her beau but an unlikely ally that cheers her on. With the orchard on shaky ground and Jacob’s plans in question, Rhoda is determined to see things through to harvest. But can she trust her insight to direct her path in matters of the heart?

Reviews: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ LibraryThing/ Barnes & Noble/

My Thoughts:
This the best series I have read. Though I have read other series. I love this book because it is just different and I love that it is catching and keeps me to be surprised. I like getting to know each person in the book and in detail. It also keeps me wanting more and making me wait for the next book for more.

The author is great in this. You learn new secret and new storylines that are dealt with. We find out if Jacob can free himself of his past along with Ronda. Ronda learn that her gift from god and what do with it or at least some of it. Will Ronda and Jacob be together in future. You will need to read it to find out for yourselves.

Do they learn what kind of relationships they each want. Samuel, Jacob and Ronda all need to figure it all out. I wonder where each one will go and who will choose who or what path they decide to take. If you have not read this series. I would recommend it that you do. The series starts with the book “A Season for Tending”.

My Rating:

The Scent of Cherry Blossoms

 

Book Title: The Scent of Cherry Blossoms

Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Genres: Christian Fiction, Amish Fiction, Romance, Fiction
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pub Date: February 21, 2012 (208 pages, Hardcover)
About the Author: Bio/Twitter/ Facebook/Website/

Synopsis:
Annie Martin loves the Plain ways of her Old Order Mennonite people, like those revered by her beloved grandfather. Retreating from a contentious relationship with her mother, Annie goes to live with her Daadi Moses in Apple Ridge.

But as spring moves into Pennsylvania and Annie spends time amongst the cherry trees with the handsome Aden Zook, she wishes she could forget how deeply the lines between the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite are drawn.

Can Annie and Aden find a place for their love to bloom in the midst of the brewing storm?

My Thoughts:
I loved this book. It gives you the respective of two people though their eyes. One is a Old Order Mennonite and the other is from Old Order Amish. There are something going on between both families.

Both families now each other. Annie Martin grandfather is a partner of Zook Dinner. For they need his partnership to keep it running. Aden and Annie are finding it hard to settle their hearts. They try to to go separates ways. Annie grandfather tries to threaten the partnership.

You will need to read it to find out if they make it work. Who decides to change faiths to really get love the one they both want.

Book Reviews: Goodread/ Shelfari/ LibraryThing/ Christenbooks/Barnes and Noble

My Rating:

A Season for Tending

 

Book Title: A Season for Tending

Author:  Cindy Woodsmall
Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Amish, Amish Fiction, Romance, Series
Series: Amish Vines and Orchards #1
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pub Date: September 18, 2012 (352 Pages, Paperback)
Book Source: Won in a giveaway on Goodreads

Synopsis:
Old Order Amish Rhoda Byler’s unusual gift and her remarkable abilities to grow herbs and berries have caused many to think her odd. As rumors mount that Rhoda’s “gift” is a detriment to the community, she chooses isolation, spending her time in her fruit garden and on her thriving canning business.

Miles away in Harvest Mills, Samuel King struggles to keep his family’s apple orchard profitable. As the eldest son, Samuel farms with his brothers, the irrepressible Jacob and brash Eli, while his longtime girlfriend Catherine remains hopeful that Samuel will marry her when he feels financially stable.

Meanwhile, Samuel’s younger sister Leah is testing all the boundaries during her rumschpringe, and finds herself far from home in Rhoda’s garden after a night of partying gone badly. But Leah’s poor choices serve as a bridge between Rhoda and the King family when a tragic mistake in the orchard leaves Samuel searching for solutions.
Rhoda’s expertise in canning could be the answer, but she struggles with guilt over the tragic death of her sister and doesn’t trust herself outside her garden walls. As the lines between business, love, and family begin to blur, can Rhoda finally open up to a new life? And what effect will this odd, amazing woman have on the entire King family?
My Thoughts:
Ronda is having trouble letting go of her guilt. Though it all she meets Leah King. Ronda starts to see that her family struggle  But her dreams with her garden she will not let go. Sumuel starts having trouble with the apple orchard. Though Samuel is having some trouble he starts something with Ronda as partner with King’s Orchard.

Samuel struggles with this family orchard. Things show that Ronda care about Samuel. For she goes after Samuel when something happens.

Things go from one thing to another. Is Ronda in love with Jakob or is god trying to get Samuel and Ronda together in another place. Where they will be working together ten hours away. To determine this it hard to say. For me I think God wants Samuel and Ronda together but the only way I will now is for the second book. Though there surprises and twist in this book.

Book Reviews: Goodread/ Shelfari/ LibraryThing/

My Rating:

Christmas in Apple Ridge

 

Book Title: Christmas in Apple Ridge

Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Genres: Fiction, Amish, Christmas, Amish Fiction, Collection, Series, Christian Fiction,
Series: Apple Ridge
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pub Date: October 9, 2012 (576 Pages, Paperback)
Book Source: Received it for an Honesty Review
About the Author: Website/Goodreads/ Bio/

Synopsis:
Experience the holidays with the Plain folk of Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania, in these touching novellas centered around love, romance, heartache, and restoration from best-selling author Cindy Woodsmall.

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

My Thoughts:
This book has 3 stories in one. I enjoyed them all. The three stories are connected to the previous story in this book. It also mentions Aden and Annie in the last story called “The Dawn of Christmas”.

The first story in the book in about Beth Hertzler and somewhat about her aunt Lizzy. The story revels some secrets throughout the book and a romance forms between Beth and Jonah. Will Beth take a chance at second love. Read to find out. You could read the the book called “The Sound of Sleigh Bells” to read about Beth and Jonah and Beth’s aunt Lizzy.

The second story is about Mattie and Gideon. Mattie is living in Ohio for some time but something happen to bring her home to Apple Ridge. Her cousin Beth and Lizzy wedding. Though coming home will Mattie learn the truth of Gideon’s break in the engagement on Christmas eve. Well they get back together. To find out what happens you can read it or you could read the book called “The Christmas Singing“. You can read about Gideon and Mattie and about Lizzy and Beth weddings.

The third story is about Sadie and Levi. Levi is a cousin to Beth and Mattie in someway. Sadie and Levi do not trust the other gender. Though the way they met is somewhat strange that Sadie came and found him laying in the hay-field hurt. Can Sadie and Levi let go of their prejudices and learn to trust each other. You also get to hear about Lizzy and Beth and also about Mattie. There the other couple that is mention that is Aden and Annie. You can read about Aden and Annie story in the book called “The Scent of Cherry Blossoms“. If you want to read about Sadie and Levi you can be getting the book called “The Dawn of Christmas“.

If you want all three of the stories you can get this book called “Christmas in Apple Ridge“.

My Reviews: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ LibraryThing/ Christianbooks/Barnes & Noble

My Rating:

The Winnowing Season

Book Title: The Winnowing Season

Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pub Date: April 2, 2013, (Paperback, 336 Pages)
Genre: Christian Fiction, Amish, Amish Fiction, Series, Amish Vines and Orchards
Series: Amish Vines and Orchards #2
Book Source: Paperback, Got from LibraryThing

Synopsis:
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.

Book 2 of the Amish Vines and Orchards series asks: can the three faithfully follow God’s leading and build a new home and orchard in Maine? Or will this new beginning lead to more ruin and heartbreak?
My Thoughts:
I loved this book even more. It tell you more about Ronda Bayler. I love the fact that it tell us about her and she learn a lesson as well about a few things and what gods wants. Though does she know that she may be in love with some else but thinks it Jacob. We will have to see about that in the next book.

This book also goes in to depth about  Jacob past as well. I do not know want to give way anything. I strongly you read this book if you have read “A Season for Tending”. If you have not you can read this on first and then the that one. But that up to you.

In this book, you learn more about Ronda and her family a bit and also about Jacob and Samuel. There some fun things that happen and what they were learning about how to start a settlement in Maine. Do they learn about Friendship as well.

My Reviews: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ LibraryThing/ Novel Crossing/

My Rating:

Review: The Winnowing Season

Book Title: The Winnowing Season
Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pub Date: April 2, 2013, (Paperback, 336 Pages)
Genre: Christian Fiction, Amish, Amish Fiction, Series, Amish Vines and Orchards
Series: Amish Vines and Orchards #2
Book Source: Paperback, Got from LibraryThing

Synopsis:
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.

Book 2 of the Amish Vines and Orchards series asks: can the three faithfully follow God’s leading and build a new home and orchard in Maine? Or will this new beginning lead to more ruin and heartbreak?
My Thoughts:
I loved this book even more. It tell you more about Ronda Bayler. I love the fact that it tell us about her and she learn a lesson as well about a few things and what gods wants. Though does she know that she may be in love with some else but thinks it Jacob. We will have to see about that in the next book.

This book also goes in to depth about  Jacob past as well. I do not know want to give way anything. I strongly you read this book if you have read “A Season for Tending”. If you have not you can read this on first and then the that one. But that up to you.

In this book, you learn more about Ronda and her family a bit and also about Jacob and Samuel. There some fun things that happen and what they were learning about how to start a settlement in Maine. Do they learn about Friendship as well.

My Reviews: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ LibraryThing/ Novel Crossing/

My Rating:

Review: Christmas in Apple Ridge

Book Title: Christmas in Apple Ridge
Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Genres: Fiction, Amish, Christmas, Amish Fiction, Collection, Series, Christian Fiction,
Series: Apple Ridge
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Pub Date: October 9, 2012 (576 Pages, Paperback)
Book Source: Received it for an Honesty Review
About the Author: Website/ Goodreads/ Bio/

Synopsis:
Experience the holidays with the Plain folk of Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania, in these touching novellas centered around love, romance, heartache, and restoration from best-selling author Cindy Woodsmall.

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

My Thoughts:
This book has 3 stories in one. I enjoyed them all. The three stories are connected to the previous story in this book. It also mentions Aden and Annie in the last story called “The Dawn of Christmas”.

The first story in the book in about Beth Hertzler and somewhat about her aunt Lizzy. The story revels some secrets throughout the book and a romance forms between Beth and Jonah. Will Beth take a chance at second love. Read to find out. You could read the the book called “The Sound of Sleigh Bells” to read about Beth and Jonah and Beth’s aunt Lizzy.

The second story is about Mattie and Gideon. Mattie is living in Ohio for some time but something happen to bring her home to Apple Ridge. Her cousin Beth and Lizzy wedding. Though coming home will Mattie learn the truth of Gideon’s break in the engagement on Christmas eve. Well they get back together. To find out what happens you can read it or you could read the book called “The Christmas Singing“. You can read about Gideon and Mattie and about Lizzy and Beth weddings.

The third story is about Sadie and Levi. Levi is a cousin to Beth and Mattie in someway. Sadie and Levi do not trust the other gender. Though the way they met is somewhat strange that Sadie came and found him laying in the hay-field hurt. Can Sadie and Levi let go of their prejudices and learn to trust each other. You also get to hear about Lizzy and Beth and also about Mattie. There the other couple that is mention that is Aden and Annie. You can read about Aden and Annie story in the book called “The Scent of Cherry Blossoms“. If you want to read about Sadie and Levi you can be getting the book called “The Dawn of Christmas“.

If you want all three of the stories you can get this book called “Christmas in Apple Ridge“.

My Reviews: Goodreads/ Shelfari/ LibraryThing/ Christianbooks/ Barnes & Noble

My Rating:

Note: “I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.”