Cindy Woodsmall’s very first novel, When the Heart Cries, is a success! Cindy wrote a book that kept me reading until midnight, which is a highly unusual occurrence for the mama of two young toddlers!
When the Heart Cries tells the story of young Hannah Lapp, an Old Order Amish girl who accepts the proposal of Mennonite Paul Waddell. Because of their conflicting traditions, the engagement is kept secret with Paul planning to work at the family farm to win Hannah’s family’s acceptance of him and their future marriage.
However, before any of these plans have a chance to take place, Hannah suffers the unthinkable and must endure, not only her own personal pain and guilt, but also all of the guilt and restrictions of her strict Amish father and community.
Like Beverly Lewis’ The Secret, When The Heart Cries is written in a more contemporary setting. However, the modern backdrop didn’t seem as obvious to me; so despite my dislike of more contemporary settings, I enjoyed the entire book.
I could not put the book down. I had to keep turning the pages, feeling deeply for the characters, and hoping for a good ending.
If you decide to read this book, be sure to have books 2 and 3 on hand as well! When you finish When the Heart Cries, you won’t want to be waiting around for book 2, When the Morning Comes, to arrive at your door!
In fact, it took quite a bit of willpower for me to write this review instead of first grabbing When the Morning Comes! :-)
Congratulations to Cindy on her first novel, which is a wonderful read. If the other two books in the Sisters of the Quilt series, When the Morning Comes and When the Soul Mends are as good as book one and you enjoy the Amish genre, you won’t be disappointed in this new author!!
323 pages from Waterbrook.
Recommend: YES
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Tags: Cindy Woodsmall When the Heart Cries Christian fiction Amish fiction book reviews Old Order Amish Sisters of the Quilt Waterbrook Press Random House
3 comments:
Hey, thanks for the good recommendation -- sounds like a book(s) I would really enjoy!
I just finished a book last night - it won the Pulitzer Prize for writing in the 1920's but I had never heard of it... It's called "The Able McLaughlins" and it was terrific. A quick read that had excellent character development. I would recommend it.
I also noticed that you're in UNY. I am too... There are a few of us in blogging land. Feel free to touch base and say hi!
Love your new blog! Wish I had even half your creativity! =)
Your blog is just what I needed! I LOVE reading when I can find the time and I have been looking for some good books. I also get stuck in a rut when it comes to dinner and love seeing what other people are cooking.
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