FRAYING AT THE EDGE
The Amish of Summer Grove
Book Two
by
Cindy Woodsmall
Family, community, faith, and love. These "quilt blocks" sewn together made Ariana's beautiful life. When they are pulled to pieces, will anything familiar remain?
-from back of book
BOOK DETAILS
(from back of book)
AMAZON BUY LINK
- Series: The Amish of Summer Grove (Book 2)
- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: WaterBrook (August 16, 2016)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1601427018
- ISBN-13: 978-1601427014
The Old Order Amish life Ariana Brenneman loved vanished virtually overnight with the discovery that she was switched at birth twenty years ago Now she's immersed in the Englischer world, getting to know her mother and under the authority of her biological father, an atheistic intellectual with resolute plans to expand Ariana's worldview. Only Quill Schlabach, a childhood friend living Englisch, can steady the tilting ground between Arian's two worlds, but can she trust him after so many betrayals.?
At the same time, Skylar Nash is forced to choose rehab or spending several months with her true relatives, the large Brenneman family and their seemingly backward life--no electricity, no technology, no fun. What the young woman can't leave behind is her addiction to illegal prescription drugs and a deep emptiness from the belief that she doesn't belong in either family.
New ties are binding Ariana and Skylar to the lives they were meant to have. Can they find the wisdom and strength they'll need to follow God's threads into unexpected futures?
FRAYING AT THE EDGE is the second nvoel in The Amish of Summer Grove series.
AUTHOR;
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.
REVIEW:
Families sometimes get split apart, sometimes by choice, sometimes by situations. Ariana, at twenty years of age, finds out that she was switched at birth. Now her biological father, has a hold in her, and is threatening the life and people she loves. She is bound to be under his control for a period of time, as he shows and teaches of the non Amish world, the Englisch world. A long time friend from her childhood is the only one who is really keeping her from coming apart. Quill loves her, not only as a friend, but more. He knows he can't have her, she is better off with her Amish love and intended. Then we have the other side, Skylar, brought up Englisch, addicted to drugs, has the choice of spending time with her Amish relatives or going to rehab. Will Ariana, with her new knowledge of Englischer ways and Skylar, with her new knowledge of Amish ways, find the peace and happiness in their worlds or will life fall apart for both. I had a little trouble getting into this book. A lot of characters switching life styles and beliefs. After a while you start to connect with the characters and, even though you may not be able to relate, you can begin to feel what they are going through. Not to be missed, the ending will leave you wanting more, much more.
What if your life was totally changed from what you knew and loved? How would you come out of it?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, Cindy Woodsmall and Blogging for Books in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
I would give this book 4 STARS.
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