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Apple Ridge #1-3
Christmas in Apple Ridge: Three-in-One Collection: The Sound of Sleigh Bells, The Christmas Singing, The Dawn of Christmas
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?
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?
566 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2012
154 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Woodsmall
68 books1,117 followersCINDY WOODSMALL is an award-winning, New York Times, and CBA best-selling author of twenty-five works of fiction and one nonfiction book. Coverage of Cindy’s Amish connections and her novels has been featured on ABC Nightline and the front page of the Wall Street Journal. She lives in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains.
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tbr-first-reads
June 14, 2017*** I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads ***
** The Giveaway was Listed By Ashley **
* I received my copy on Thu, Sep 20 2012 *
THANK YOU GOODREADS FIRST READS AND ASHLEY!
I will follow with a full review after reading.
** The Giveaway was Listed By Ashley **
* I received my copy on Thu, Sep 20 2012 *
THANK YOU GOODREADS FIRST READS AND ASHLEY!
I will follow with a full review after reading.
October 14, 2014
I loved this book! It is a collection of sweet love stories with the magic of Christmas and God's blessings! View my full review here.
October 26, 2012
Christmas in Apple Ridge by Cindy Woodsmall is a Three-in-One collection of The Sound of Sleigh Bells, The Christmas Singing and an all new novella, The Dawn of Christmas . This book means something special to me as I had the pleasure of getting to know the author a bit better via email and facebook and I was deeply honored that she included one of my original soap recipes in the back of the book. One thing is for certain, this author cares deeply about her fans and about the characters she is writing about. That care and attention becomes evident in the stories she brings to life and gives her readers a window into the very soul of her characters.
The Sound of Sleigh Bells
Beth Hertzler has had her heart and spirit broken. She mourns the loss of her fiance far longer than expected and her family worries about her future. When Beth discovers a beautiful carving of Amish children something stirs deep within her soul and seems to mend some of the pain that she has carried in her heart. Her aunt is determined to bring the talented young artist and Beth together, but Jonah has his own painful past. With pain and suffering in both of their lives, will Beth and Jonah be able to overcome their fears and trust in each other?
I had already read this story once before but once again I really enjoyed it. The characters are dealing with very real issues and I found their journey to be one of inspiring faith. Our paths are not always ideal and learning to put our trust in God isn't always an easy road to travel. This is particularly true when a person's faith in friends or family has been shaken. This is absolutely one of my all time favorite Christmas novellas!
Read excerpt
The Christmas Singing
Gideon made a promise to Mattie that he would always attend the Christmas Singings, a promise he keeps, even now that they are broken up and living separate lives. She has relocated to Ohio and is now the owner of a very successful bakery called "Mattie Cakes". Not only has she found success there, she has also found a new boyfriend and as much as Gideon dislikes it, there is very little he can do about it without revealing a deep secret that he feels should remain hidden.
When Mattie's shop burns down, she is forced to return her parent's home for a visit. Going home means seeing Gideon...something she is not at all interested in. Why did Gideon throw away her love for a flashy English girl? How did it happen? When? How could he throw away their relationship as if it never mattered? At the end of the day though, it is easier to leave those questions unanswered.
As the story unfolds around the pair we also see a glimpse at a few other beloved characters from within the Apple Ridge community. Namely, Jonah, Beth and Lizzie from The Sound of Sleigh Bells as well as Roman and Aden from The Scent of Cherry Blossoms. The small peek into the lives of her other characters and stories is one thing I really enjoy about reading Cindy's books. I feel like I'm getting to know the entire community and building relationships with them.
The Christmas Singing is a fantastic Christmas tale. One filled with love, understanding and forgiveness. All the things that make up the true meaning of Christmas!
Read excerpt
The Dawn of Christmas
Heartbreak seems to abound in Apple Ridge and there is no exception for Sadie. Years have passed her by and the pain of finding her cousin in the arms of her fiance is still fresh in her mind. For the last four years, Sadie has lived away from her family, trying to to get over the betrayal, but the time has come to return home. Eager for some quiet time, Sadie saddles up and heads out for a late night ride. Instead of peace and quiet she finds a scared horse and his rider who has been seriously injured. Sadie learns that his name is Levi, and like her, he places no trust in love.
When Sadie and Levi find themselves pretending to court, both are surprised to find that they have true feelings for one another. Which happens to be a problem since they have both sworn that they will never marry and have their own plans for the future. Then, when Daniel, Sadie's ex-fiance, makes an appearance, it seems all hope is lost for Sadie and Levi. Can Sadie and Levi learn to trust or will they let the hurt of others keep them from ever experiencing love for themselves?
I really LOVED this story. It was concluded so beautifully and like the previous novellas, it continued the stories of Jonah and Beth as well as Mattie and Gideon. I just about squealed with delight at the continuing of Jonah and Beth's story and I'm certain that my book crush on Jonah has deepened into book love! It seems I develop quite a few book relationships with the characters in Cindy's stories and I think anyone that is a fan of Christian Fiction or the Amish Genre will not be disappointed in this book!
Read excerpt
Places to Buy Christmas in Apple Ridge:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
CBD
About the Author:
Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author who has written six novels, three novellas, and Plain Wisdom, a work of nonfiction coauthored with her dearest Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud. She’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.
A Special Note:
Cindy,
You made my year! I may not know you personally or even all that well but you have been such a blessing to me this year. Your books have given me peace during a difficult time, during the loss of my Evenstar. You have given me courage through your writing and the faith to keep trying to do more, live more and love more and most importantly, the desire to please God with my life. I am proud to answer "Cindy Woodsmall!" when I am asked who my favorite author is and I am so honored that you took the time to reach out to me. God bless you my friend!
With much love,
Kristin
The Sound of Sleigh Bells
Beth Hertzler has had her heart and spirit broken. She mourns the loss of her fiance far longer than expected and her family worries about her future. When Beth discovers a beautiful carving of Amish children something stirs deep within her soul and seems to mend some of the pain that she has carried in her heart. Her aunt is determined to bring the talented young artist and Beth together, but Jonah has his own painful past. With pain and suffering in both of their lives, will Beth and Jonah be able to overcome their fears and trust in each other?
I had already read this story once before but once again I really enjoyed it. The characters are dealing with very real issues and I found their journey to be one of inspiring faith. Our paths are not always ideal and learning to put our trust in God isn't always an easy road to travel. This is particularly true when a person's faith in friends or family has been shaken. This is absolutely one of my all time favorite Christmas novellas!
Read excerpt
The Christmas Singing
Gideon made a promise to Mattie that he would always attend the Christmas Singings, a promise he keeps, even now that they are broken up and living separate lives. She has relocated to Ohio and is now the owner of a very successful bakery called "Mattie Cakes". Not only has she found success there, she has also found a new boyfriend and as much as Gideon dislikes it, there is very little he can do about it without revealing a deep secret that he feels should remain hidden.
When Mattie's shop burns down, she is forced to return her parent's home for a visit. Going home means seeing Gideon...something she is not at all interested in. Why did Gideon throw away her love for a flashy English girl? How did it happen? When? How could he throw away their relationship as if it never mattered? At the end of the day though, it is easier to leave those questions unanswered.
As the story unfolds around the pair we also see a glimpse at a few other beloved characters from within the Apple Ridge community. Namely, Jonah, Beth and Lizzie from The Sound of Sleigh Bells as well as Roman and Aden from The Scent of Cherry Blossoms. The small peek into the lives of her other characters and stories is one thing I really enjoy about reading Cindy's books. I feel like I'm getting to know the entire community and building relationships with them.
The Christmas Singing is a fantastic Christmas tale. One filled with love, understanding and forgiveness. All the things that make up the true meaning of Christmas!
Read excerpt
The Dawn of Christmas
Heartbreak seems to abound in Apple Ridge and there is no exception for Sadie. Years have passed her by and the pain of finding her cousin in the arms of her fiance is still fresh in her mind. For the last four years, Sadie has lived away from her family, trying to to get over the betrayal, but the time has come to return home. Eager for some quiet time, Sadie saddles up and heads out for a late night ride. Instead of peace and quiet she finds a scared horse and his rider who has been seriously injured. Sadie learns that his name is Levi, and like her, he places no trust in love.
When Sadie and Levi find themselves pretending to court, both are surprised to find that they have true feelings for one another. Which happens to be a problem since they have both sworn that they will never marry and have their own plans for the future. Then, when Daniel, Sadie's ex-fiance, makes an appearance, it seems all hope is lost for Sadie and Levi. Can Sadie and Levi learn to trust or will they let the hurt of others keep them from ever experiencing love for themselves?
I really LOVED this story. It was concluded so beautifully and like the previous novellas, it continued the stories of Jonah and Beth as well as Mattie and Gideon. I just about squealed with delight at the continuing of Jonah and Beth's story and I'm certain that my book crush on Jonah has deepened into book love! It seems I develop quite a few book relationships with the characters in Cindy's stories and I think anyone that is a fan of Christian Fiction or the Amish Genre will not be disappointed in this book!
Read excerpt
Places to Buy Christmas in Apple Ridge:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
CBD
About the Author:
Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author who has written six novels, three novellas, and Plain Wisdom, a work of nonfiction coauthored with her dearest Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud. She’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.
A Special Note:
Cindy,
You made my year! I may not know you personally or even all that well but you have been such a blessing to me this year. Your books have given me peace during a difficult time, during the loss of my Evenstar. You have given me courage through your writing and the faith to keep trying to do more, live more and love more and most importantly, the desire to please God with my life. I am proud to answer "Cindy Woodsmall!" when I am asked who my favorite author is and I am so honored that you took the time to reach out to me. God bless you my friend!
With much love,
Kristin
October 14, 2013
Christmas in Apple Ridge: Three-in-One Collection: The Sound of Sleigh Bells, The Christmas Singing, NEW! The Dawn of Christmas by Cindy Woodsmall was on the list for Blogging for Books. I was having a hard time choosing because this sounded amazing and I also wanted to read the other Cindy Woodsmall book on the list. I didn't even get to look at the other books but I am sure that there were some others that would also interest me. I truly didn't even read anything about the book just that it was a Christmas book by Cindy Woodsmall and there were only a few more printed copies left so I just had to get it. I knew that it wouldn't be around if I picked another one first. It came in the mail super fast and arrived on the doorstep while I was trying to finish another book. I unpacked it and saw that it was huge!!! There were three stories in one book so I had my work cut out for me. I quickly picked this up because I knew I had to read fast to try to get back and see what other books that Blogging for Books had!!!
The Sounds of Sleigh Bells was about Beth Hertzler dealing with her past and the tragic death of her finance. Beth is still wearing black long after the morning period and at 26 years old is getting too old to find a lasting relationship in the Amish community. She goes back on the road to promote the buying and selling of Amish goods for her families store. While traveling, she sees a carving that catches her heart. She buys it and tells the store that she is interested in getting more to sell to stores that like to stock Amish goods. In this quest, she sends her aunt, Lizzy, back out to talk to the artist, Johnah. Her aunt gets an idea and starts her match making. Make sure you pick up this book to find out what happens with all the meddling.
In the second book, Mattie owns and operates Mattie Cakes in Ohio. She loves making and decorating cakes for all occasions but something happens and the shop that she has completely remodeled to suit her business goes up in smoke. She thought that she say her niece so she went back into building so she runs into the burning building to save her and is hospitalized. After her business is destroyed and she is trying to recover, she goes home to live with her parents in Pennsylvania. I don't want to give away all the good stuff but there are some characters from the first book that appear again in this one so make sure you read this great second story to find out what happens to Mattie and the characters from the first story!!
The Dawn of Christmas starts off with Sadie dealing with the stress of the day before her wedding to Daniel. She walks in on Daniel and her cousin in a compromising position and calls off the wedding. In reaction to the issues, she runs away to working in a neighboring town and doing a mission trip to Peru. After being away for a long time, her Daed requests that she comes back to town. During the trip, she takes a forbidden horse ride and hears some noises. She finds a horse which is follows to the man that was thrown to the ground. The injured man, Levi, was taken by a ambulance to get a cast and neck brace because Sadie called 911 and got him help. She asked that he not tell anyone that she was the one who helped since she wasn't supposed to leave the house and he kept her secret. Their friendship blossomed from there and even with towns apart, they continued to write letters and work together. Read the book to see what ups and downs happen in the friendship because there are a ton with a surprise that everyone will see coming!
I loved all three stories and even though it was a huge book which was a little hard to carry everywhere that I went (at almost 600 pages). I enjoyed reading the fast paced story and couldn't put it down. Even though each story was on its own, they were all related to the small town of Apple Ridge and some of the same characters were in each of the stories at different points in their lives. I loved the book and read it way too quickly!!! I think that it is one of those books that you could pick up on a cold winter day for years to come and enjoy the characters all over again. It is a heart warming story of love that anyone can relate to. I hope that you pick up this book at your local library or bookstore soon.
* Please note that I was provided this book for my honest opinion and review and I will be posting the review on NOVA Frugal Family, Amazon, Good Reads and Blogging for Books.
The Sounds of Sleigh Bells was about Beth Hertzler dealing with her past and the tragic death of her finance. Beth is still wearing black long after the morning period and at 26 years old is getting too old to find a lasting relationship in the Amish community. She goes back on the road to promote the buying and selling of Amish goods for her families store. While traveling, she sees a carving that catches her heart. She buys it and tells the store that she is interested in getting more to sell to stores that like to stock Amish goods. In this quest, she sends her aunt, Lizzy, back out to talk to the artist, Johnah. Her aunt gets an idea and starts her match making. Make sure you pick up this book to find out what happens with all the meddling.
In the second book, Mattie owns and operates Mattie Cakes in Ohio. She loves making and decorating cakes for all occasions but something happens and the shop that she has completely remodeled to suit her business goes up in smoke. She thought that she say her niece so she went back into building so she runs into the burning building to save her and is hospitalized. After her business is destroyed and she is trying to recover, she goes home to live with her parents in Pennsylvania. I don't want to give away all the good stuff but there are some characters from the first book that appear again in this one so make sure you read this great second story to find out what happens to Mattie and the characters from the first story!!
The Dawn of Christmas starts off with Sadie dealing with the stress of the day before her wedding to Daniel. She walks in on Daniel and her cousin in a compromising position and calls off the wedding. In reaction to the issues, she runs away to working in a neighboring town and doing a mission trip to Peru. After being away for a long time, her Daed requests that she comes back to town. During the trip, she takes a forbidden horse ride and hears some noises. She finds a horse which is follows to the man that was thrown to the ground. The injured man, Levi, was taken by a ambulance to get a cast and neck brace because Sadie called 911 and got him help. She asked that he not tell anyone that she was the one who helped since she wasn't supposed to leave the house and he kept her secret. Their friendship blossomed from there and even with towns apart, they continued to write letters and work together. Read the book to see what ups and downs happen in the friendship because there are a ton with a surprise that everyone will see coming!
I loved all three stories and even though it was a huge book which was a little hard to carry everywhere that I went (at almost 600 pages). I enjoyed reading the fast paced story and couldn't put it down. Even though each story was on its own, they were all related to the small town of Apple Ridge and some of the same characters were in each of the stories at different points in their lives. I loved the book and read it way too quickly!!! I think that it is one of those books that you could pick up on a cold winter day for years to come and enjoy the characters all over again. It is a heart warming story of love that anyone can relate to. I hope that you pick up this book at your local library or bookstore soon.
* Please note that I was provided this book for my honest opinion and review and I will be posting the review on NOVA Frugal Family, Amazon, Good Reads and Blogging for Books.
October 18, 2013
The Sound of Sleigh Bells: This is a heart-warming story of Beth Hertzler who has been hiding herself from love, ever since her fiancé died. She wears black and avoids all the single’s activities and has resigned herself to never fall in love again. She lives with her Aunt Lizzy, helps her run their store and she takes care of all the ordering and selling. One day her Aunt Lizzy ends up in another Amish community and sees a beautiful wood carving and she buys it and brings it home. Beth is immediately drawn to the beauty of the carving, it’s the most excitement Lizzy has seen in her niece in a very long time. Lizzy uses a bit of creative manipulation in getting Beth and the carver, Jonah “who is called the Old Man” to write each other. This is a wonderful “pen-pal” type of relationship and they immediately connect. But each one thinks they are writing to someone else. What will happen when they discover who they are really writing too? And will the hurt and trickery be something they can overcome? This is a wonderful love story, one of hurts, pain, disappointments and how letting God touch your very soul can heal anything and bring joy in the most unexpected ways. Here’s a wonderful quote from the book:
“Well, time and medicine and family would have eventually helped, but during the worst of it, I caught a glimpse of how Jesus let go of His anger. Just a fraction of a second, mind you, but I saw Him on the cross, looking beyond the people who’d put Him there and to the Father He trusted. It seemed that He didn’t hold the people accountable because He wasn’t looking at them. When in the worst pain, He kept his focus on everything above.”
The Christmas Singing: This was a delicious novel because the main character, Mattie, is the owner of Mattie Cakes. She designs and bakes specialty cakes and all other types of delicious sweets! She has a notebook full of drawings, magazine clippings, and notes that she has been collecting since she was a young girl. And Gideon, her best friend, helped her with her notebook and listened to her talk about her dreams. They were bound to fall in love, then something happened and Gideon broke Mattie’s heart. She left Apple Ridge and moved to Ohio to another Amish community and lived near her brother and sister-in-law and their family. She even met a new man, Sol. He seemed perfect for her. Yet, nothing was like it was with Gideon! Then a tragedy struck Mattie and her life was suddenly turned upside down. Who would really be there for her, Sol or Gideon? Could she trust Gideon and what was he hiding? You’ll love this book! I think this may be my favorite! Could it be all the delicious cakes????
The Dawn of Christmas: This book is about Sadie Yoder. She was marrying Daniel Miller until he broke her heart before the wedding. Then she decided she was through with men and would devote her life to mission work. She’d already been to Peru once and was back home making crafts saving money to go back again. But her family would not let up...they kept trying their best to matchmake and she was so tired of it. Many miles away, back in “The Sound of Sleigh Bells”, there was Levi. He lived with his brother and nephew. He decided women were not worth the trouble either and was tired of his family matchmaking. Then Sadie and Levi met and forged a strange friendship. They came up with a scheme to keep both of their families off their backs about marriage. But would this plan backfire? Probably? And what of Sadie’s old boyfriend, Daniel? This is a great novel, full of doubt, love, distrust, and the learning of how to love and trust again...and who to trust because some people lie so well.
You’ll love each one of these books. They are sold separately, but I loved reading them all together in this order. They are separate books with separate stories, but the characters and communities are the same in all three books and it’s neat to be able to see the lives of the other character’s as you read the next book.
I received a copy of this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for the purpose of this review and for my honest opinion and did not receive any compensation for a favorable review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
“Well, time and medicine and family would have eventually helped, but during the worst of it, I caught a glimpse of how Jesus let go of His anger. Just a fraction of a second, mind you, but I saw Him on the cross, looking beyond the people who’d put Him there and to the Father He trusted. It seemed that He didn’t hold the people accountable because He wasn’t looking at them. When in the worst pain, He kept his focus on everything above.”
The Christmas Singing: This was a delicious novel because the main character, Mattie, is the owner of Mattie Cakes. She designs and bakes specialty cakes and all other types of delicious sweets! She has a notebook full of drawings, magazine clippings, and notes that she has been collecting since she was a young girl. And Gideon, her best friend, helped her with her notebook and listened to her talk about her dreams. They were bound to fall in love, then something happened and Gideon broke Mattie’s heart. She left Apple Ridge and moved to Ohio to another Amish community and lived near her brother and sister-in-law and their family. She even met a new man, Sol. He seemed perfect for her. Yet, nothing was like it was with Gideon! Then a tragedy struck Mattie and her life was suddenly turned upside down. Who would really be there for her, Sol or Gideon? Could she trust Gideon and what was he hiding? You’ll love this book! I think this may be my favorite! Could it be all the delicious cakes????
The Dawn of Christmas: This book is about Sadie Yoder. She was marrying Daniel Miller until he broke her heart before the wedding. Then she decided she was through with men and would devote her life to mission work. She’d already been to Peru once and was back home making crafts saving money to go back again. But her family would not let up...they kept trying their best to matchmake and she was so tired of it. Many miles away, back in “The Sound of Sleigh Bells”, there was Levi. He lived with his brother and nephew. He decided women were not worth the trouble either and was tired of his family matchmaking. Then Sadie and Levi met and forged a strange friendship. They came up with a scheme to keep both of their families off their backs about marriage. But would this plan backfire? Probably? And what of Sadie’s old boyfriend, Daniel? This is a great novel, full of doubt, love, distrust, and the learning of how to love and trust again...and who to trust because some people lie so well.
You’ll love each one of these books. They are sold separately, but I loved reading them all together in this order. They are separate books with separate stories, but the characters and communities are the same in all three books and it’s neat to be able to see the lives of the other character’s as you read the next book.
I received a copy of this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for the purpose of this review and for my honest opinion and did not receive any compensation for a favorable review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
November 20, 2012
Cindy Woodsmall in her new book, “Christmas in Apple Ridge” published by WaterBrook Press brings us a Three-in-One Collection: The Sound of Sleigh Bells, The Christmas Singing, NEW! The Dawn of Christmas.
From the back cover: 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 authorCindy 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?
I like Apple Ridge. I wish that all cities and towns could be like Apple Ridge because the people of this town know each other and pull together in times of hardship. These three stories all center around Christmas time so if you are not in the mood for Christmas yet you will be by the time you finish reading. Yes, there is trouble in each story but trouble helps the characters grow stronger and to each other. And there is romance. Why else read these stories if it were not for the romance? Spending time in Apple Ridge is time well spent. If you don’t already have the first two stories then you will enjoy reading them for the first time. If you already do then the third story is brand new and you probably will enjoy reading the first two again. Either way it is great to visit in Apple Ridge and I look forward to more return visits.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Press for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the back cover: 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 authorCindy 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?
I like Apple Ridge. I wish that all cities and towns could be like Apple Ridge because the people of this town know each other and pull together in times of hardship. These three stories all center around Christmas time so if you are not in the mood for Christmas yet you will be by the time you finish reading. Yes, there is trouble in each story but trouble helps the characters grow stronger and to each other. And there is romance. Why else read these stories if it were not for the romance? Spending time in Apple Ridge is time well spent. If you don’t already have the first two stories then you will enjoy reading them for the first time. If you already do then the third story is brand new and you probably will enjoy reading the first two again. Either way it is great to visit in Apple Ridge and I look forward to more return visits.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Press for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
November 22, 2013
If you are looking for a wonderful read for Christmas, pick up this collection of three novellas by Cindy Woodsmall. All three stories are great! They each are long enough to be a full story, with great plot development and wonderful characters.
In The Sound of Sleigh Bells, we meet Beth and Jonah. Beth is in mourning over the loss of her fiancé the year before and never expects to marry in the future. Through insight into Beth's thoughts, we discover that there is a deeper reason, a secret that she is keeping that causes her to balk at the thought of marrying any other man in the years to come. Her secret is weighing her down and causing a deep depression that her family is very worried she won't come out of. Through some interference from her loving aunt, Beth connects with Jonah. Can he help Beth overcome her fears and open up to her family about the dark secret weighing her down? Is there a chance for love between these two people?
In The Christmas Singing, we meet Mattie and Gideon. In this instance, Gideon is the one carrying a secret. Years ago, Mattie and Gideon were together. They grew up together and entered a wonderful courtship. When Mattie found Gideon in the arms of another, the courtship was abruptly halted. Mattie left town and is involved with another man. When unforeseen circumstances bring Mattie back to her hometown, will she and Gideon reconnect? What is the secret Gideon is hiding and can he find the courage to tell Mattie what was really going on that night so many years ago?
In The Dawn of Christmas, we meet Sadie and Levi. Both of these characters are very wounded by events from the past. Sadie is wounded that she caught her intended cheating on her with another woman on the day before their wedding. The community chose to believe his lies over her truth and now Sadie does not trust men. Levi, on the other hand does not trust women. This is because of two instances that he knows about where two of his family members were hurt by women who left them. Will Levi and Sadie ever learn to trust? Could it be possible for these two hurt people to find love?
Great stories! I loved each one and am thankful to WaterBrook Multnomah for the complimentary copy they provided to me in exchange for my honest review.
Please rank my review at http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bl...
You can view this review on my blog at http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co....
In The Sound of Sleigh Bells, we meet Beth and Jonah. Beth is in mourning over the loss of her fiancé the year before and never expects to marry in the future. Through insight into Beth's thoughts, we discover that there is a deeper reason, a secret that she is keeping that causes her to balk at the thought of marrying any other man in the years to come. Her secret is weighing her down and causing a deep depression that her family is very worried she won't come out of. Through some interference from her loving aunt, Beth connects with Jonah. Can he help Beth overcome her fears and open up to her family about the dark secret weighing her down? Is there a chance for love between these two people?
In The Christmas Singing, we meet Mattie and Gideon. In this instance, Gideon is the one carrying a secret. Years ago, Mattie and Gideon were together. They grew up together and entered a wonderful courtship. When Mattie found Gideon in the arms of another, the courtship was abruptly halted. Mattie left town and is involved with another man. When unforeseen circumstances bring Mattie back to her hometown, will she and Gideon reconnect? What is the secret Gideon is hiding and can he find the courage to tell Mattie what was really going on that night so many years ago?
In The Dawn of Christmas, we meet Sadie and Levi. Both of these characters are very wounded by events from the past. Sadie is wounded that she caught her intended cheating on her with another woman on the day before their wedding. The community chose to believe his lies over her truth and now Sadie does not trust men. Levi, on the other hand does not trust women. This is because of two instances that he knows about where two of his family members were hurt by women who left them. Will Levi and Sadie ever learn to trust? Could it be possible for these two hurt people to find love?
Great stories! I loved each one and am thankful to WaterBrook Multnomah for the complimentary copy they provided to me in exchange for my honest review.
Please rank my review at http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bl...
You can view this review on my blog at http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co....
December 9, 2012
When this book was chosen as our December Holiday read for my book club, I rolled my eyes. Amish people and Christian fiction? Seriously? I was not enthusiastic, but I downloaded it onto my NOOK anyway.
I was hooked on this book after about ten pages. That's all it took. This is one of those reads where I read in bed until I fell asleep, NOOK in hand. What kept the pages turning, was not unpredictability. Everything about the plot in these three stories was predictable, but I just wanted to see how the relationships grew. I had a warm place in my heart for each one of the characters. It was exciting to see what I knew was going to happen unfold.
Each novella had a depth to it. One some level, I could identify with each character in my own way. The stories touches upon hopes, dreams, fears, tragedies, recoveries, and love. These are all themes that everyone can identify with on some level. Plus, I felt like a giggly school girl every time one of the relationships blossomed. When I was a teenager, all of the main male characters in this story acted as I hoped they would in real life. I became smitten with each of them!
This is prime material for a Hallmark Gold Crown Movie. The wait and hope is on!
I was hooked on this book after about ten pages. That's all it took. This is one of those reads where I read in bed until I fell asleep, NOOK in hand. What kept the pages turning, was not unpredictability. Everything about the plot in these three stories was predictable, but I just wanted to see how the relationships grew. I had a warm place in my heart for each one of the characters. It was exciting to see what I knew was going to happen unfold.
Each novella had a depth to it. One some level, I could identify with each character in my own way. The stories touches upon hopes, dreams, fears, tragedies, recoveries, and love. These are all themes that everyone can identify with on some level. Plus, I felt like a giggly school girl every time one of the relationships blossomed. When I was a teenager, all of the main male characters in this story acted as I hoped they would in real life. I became smitten with each of them!
This is prime material for a Hallmark Gold Crown Movie. The wait and hope is on!
September 30, 2012
This book was alright. It had the sweet wholesome Amish characters expected from this genre. This book is a collection of three stories, and the three stories are interconnected. I liked how I could follow one character from story to story; even when they weren't a main character, you could continue to follow their lives. However, unlike other authors I've read, the stories were totally predictable. About fifty pages into each story you knew who was going to end up with whom, and there was no surprise twists. The characters seemed a little flat; the author seemed to be so busy with the plot that she didn't develop the characters fully, so there was really no characters that I was rooting for. Overall, I think this book is good for a nice winter day, curled up by the fireplace where you just want to read a simple story. I don't recommend this book if you are looking for an exciting read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
October 7, 2013
Christmas in Apple Ridge: Three-in-One Collection: The Sound of Sleigh Bells, The Christmas Singing, NEW! The Dawn of Christmas
I read this on the Kindle
I got the 3 in 1 book as it was cheaper than getting the new book on it own
I had marked down i had read the 1st 2 books but i don't remember the 1st book at all
Each book is a complete story but you get characters from the 1st going in to the 2nd & all in the 3rd book
It a nice easy read & it what i call a feel good factor type of book
I read this on the Kindle
I got the 3 in 1 book as it was cheaper than getting the new book on it own
I had marked down i had read the 1st 2 books but i don't remember the 1st book at all
Each book is a complete story but you get characters from the 1st going in to the 2nd & all in the 3rd book
It a nice easy read & it what i call a feel good factor type of book
October 28, 2012
If you are like me and you're hopelessly dreaming of a white Christmas, read *Christmas in Apple Ridge* by Cindy Woodsmall. Contained within one collection are 3 delightful Amish Christmas stories to warm your holidays: *The Sound of Sleigh Bells, The Christmas Singing, & The Dawn of Christmas.* You will follow the romancing of Beth and Jonah, Mattie and Gideon, and Sadie and Levi. Add hot chocolate, Amish carvings, sleigh rides, and delicious fancy decorated cupcakes and cakes and you are ready for a White Christmas celebration in Apple Ridge. This was a special collection and readers are sure to love it!
December 20, 2012
I already owned the first two books in this 3-in-1 collection (The Sound of Sleigh Bells & The Christmas Singing). I bought the 3-in-1 collection book to read the new story "The Dawn of Christmas".
"The Dawn of Christmas" was just as excellent as the first two books.
What a wonderful story for Christmas and every day of the year.
"The Dawn of Christmas" was just as excellent as the first two books.
What a wonderful story for Christmas and every day of the year.
January 2, 2016
Ah, Christmas in the land of the Amish. Three simple stories full of loving families. Just the thing to put one in the holiday mood.
November 28, 2013
Since this is a three-in-one, I'm going to briefly review each novella individually.
The Sound of Sleigh Bells: I thought this novella was really good. It was an interesting read, and I loved that it had a secrecy strand running through it. The secret that Beth carried throughout the better part of the book added depth and built up the story well. It ended up not being quite as dramatic as I had expected--however I over exaggerate things in my head--but I thought it was a real life issue that can be relatable to the guilt felt by many people today. I loved Jonah to death. He was such a cool character with an awesome background. My favorite part was probably that they wrote letters to each other, which I love the idea of!
The Christmas Singing: This was probably the most unique Amish story I've read, hands down. Mattie is a professional cake decorator, who was once in love with Gideon before he brutally dumped her with the misleading belief that he was having an affair. As it turns out, the real story behind his reasons were heartbreaking and made the story so much more deep and real. Loved it!
The Dawn of Christmas: First off, I just need to say that I absolutely love the name Levi. Definitely one of my favorite guy names. Anyway, I thought this novella was very interesting and had a lot of unexpected twists and turns to it. It starts off with Levi getting hurt, and Sadie saving his life by coincidentally finding him. Both characters have scars from the past and an intriguing fear of commitment, that I think most people can identify with on some level. I thought this was really great and well worth the read.
Overall I thought these three novellas were fantastic, and definitely got me in the Christmas mood! Highly recommended! I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.
The Sound of Sleigh Bells: I thought this novella was really good. It was an interesting read, and I loved that it had a secrecy strand running through it. The secret that Beth carried throughout the better part of the book added depth and built up the story well. It ended up not being quite as dramatic as I had expected--however I over exaggerate things in my head--but I thought it was a real life issue that can be relatable to the guilt felt by many people today. I loved Jonah to death. He was such a cool character with an awesome background. My favorite part was probably that they wrote letters to each other, which I love the idea of!
The Christmas Singing: This was probably the most unique Amish story I've read, hands down. Mattie is a professional cake decorator, who was once in love with Gideon before he brutally dumped her with the misleading belief that he was having an affair. As it turns out, the real story behind his reasons were heartbreaking and made the story so much more deep and real. Loved it!
The Dawn of Christmas: First off, I just need to say that I absolutely love the name Levi. Definitely one of my favorite guy names. Anyway, I thought this novella was very interesting and had a lot of unexpected twists and turns to it. It starts off with Levi getting hurt, and Sadie saving his life by coincidentally finding him. Both characters have scars from the past and an intriguing fear of commitment, that I think most people can identify with on some level. I thought this was really great and well worth the read.
Overall I thought these three novellas were fantastic, and definitely got me in the Christmas mood! Highly recommended! I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for this review. These opinions are my own; I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated for this review.
December 24, 2013
Reading Christmas books always puts me in the mood for the season. I begin to anticipate the season of Advent, Christmas carols, decorating my home, doing a little shopping, holiday baking and rereading the story of Christ’s birth.
Christmas in Apple Ridge: Three in One Collection was sent my way via WaterBrook Multnomah. It’s a collection of three novels in one and tells the stories of three couples as they discover the true meaning of Christmas and life.
In The Sound of Sleigh Bells, we meet Beth and Jonah. Beth is a business woman, mourning over the loss of her fiancé. Each year, she travels to find Amish goods to sell in the shops her family owns and one trip, she finds a carving that unites her with Jonah. Let the match-making begin! Jonah also has his own story and it’s their grief that brings them together – and together, they overcome and find more than they were looking for.
In The Christmas Singing, we meet Mattie and Gideon, childhood sweethearts who were pledges to be married, but just before the wedding, Gideon calls it off and marries another. Mattie, upset, moves away to start a business and be closer to family, only to return a few years later when Gideon finally tells her the reason for the failed engagement and the choices she has to make.
In The Dawn of Christmas, we meet Levi and Sadie. After both parties have experienced great heartache, life literally throws them together. Yet, after both make feeble attempts at staying single, they come to realize that life may have had more in store for them after all.
Overall, each story was a great read and I plan on rereading them again in the future (next Christmas, perhaps). I would recommend them to anyone looking for an easy and truthful holiday read.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review; all opinions are my own.
Christmas in Apple Ridge: Three in One Collection was sent my way via WaterBrook Multnomah. It’s a collection of three novels in one and tells the stories of three couples as they discover the true meaning of Christmas and life.
In The Sound of Sleigh Bells, we meet Beth and Jonah. Beth is a business woman, mourning over the loss of her fiancé. Each year, she travels to find Amish goods to sell in the shops her family owns and one trip, she finds a carving that unites her with Jonah. Let the match-making begin! Jonah also has his own story and it’s their grief that brings them together – and together, they overcome and find more than they were looking for.
In The Christmas Singing, we meet Mattie and Gideon, childhood sweethearts who were pledges to be married, but just before the wedding, Gideon calls it off and marries another. Mattie, upset, moves away to start a business and be closer to family, only to return a few years later when Gideon finally tells her the reason for the failed engagement and the choices she has to make.
In The Dawn of Christmas, we meet Levi and Sadie. After both parties have experienced great heartache, life literally throws them together. Yet, after both make feeble attempts at staying single, they come to realize that life may have had more in store for them after all.
Overall, each story was a great read and I plan on rereading them again in the future (next Christmas, perhaps). I would recommend them to anyone looking for an easy and truthful holiday read.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review; all opinions are my own.
November 26, 2013
First off I must say that I love reading books about the Amish. Why? I do not know but they interest me so.
In the first book, The Sound of Sleigh Bells, I absolutely loved it. I cannot believe that I have not already read this one before. It constantly had me wanting more which to me means that it is a well written book. The story of Beth and Jonah's lives were both a bit complicated in the beginning but after things were understood and and they came to see the reasoning for why things happened the way they did things turned around for them both. I must say that I loved every minute of this book.
In the second book, The Christmas Singing, I was so happy that it was tied into the first book. Mattie has a lot on her plate right from the beginning of this book, clear to the end. I have to admit that she works well under stress. I wish I could handle it half as well as she does. This is definitely a very well written book, as I couldn't put it down either.
In the third book, The Dawn of Christmas, this was the fastest read of the three for me. You know, it's funny how the Amish want to marry off their sons and daughters and how their Churches want them home if they are not married. In this book both Sadie and Levi are single and their parents are trying to get them married off but neither of them have any interest in anyone so the plan that the have devised to get their parents off their back has backfired. And that is all I will tell you except for the fact that I couldn't put the book down until I was finished with it because it was such a good read.
You can see my complete review at: http://lovemy2dogs.blogspot.com/2013/...
In the first book, The Sound of Sleigh Bells, I absolutely loved it. I cannot believe that I have not already read this one before. It constantly had me wanting more which to me means that it is a well written book. The story of Beth and Jonah's lives were both a bit complicated in the beginning but after things were understood and and they came to see the reasoning for why things happened the way they did things turned around for them both. I must say that I loved every minute of this book.
In the second book, The Christmas Singing, I was so happy that it was tied into the first book. Mattie has a lot on her plate right from the beginning of this book, clear to the end. I have to admit that she works well under stress. I wish I could handle it half as well as she does. This is definitely a very well written book, as I couldn't put it down either.
In the third book, The Dawn of Christmas, this was the fastest read of the three for me. You know, it's funny how the Amish want to marry off their sons and daughters and how their Churches want them home if they are not married. In this book both Sadie and Levi are single and their parents are trying to get them married off but neither of them have any interest in anyone so the plan that the have devised to get their parents off their back has backfired. And that is all I will tell you except for the fact that I couldn't put the book down until I was finished with it because it was such a good read.
You can see my complete review at: http://lovemy2dogs.blogspot.com/2013/...
January 16, 2016
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".
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".
November 18, 2012
It has only been in the last year or so that I have really started reading those novels we call Amish Fiction. I was wondering today what it is about these stories that attracts so many readers. Is it that it is a unique culture? A throw-back to the early 1900s when farming and traveling was done with horses or mules? It might be any of these but for me, I think it is more that they speak to my soul in a way that other books do not. In a place where there are not the regular distractions of the blaring of TV sets, honking horns and racing vehicles it seems to us that it would be and is easier to hear Gods voice. In actuality it is our own restless heart that drowns out that Voice.
In these three novellas Cindy has again shown us that we are all human with all of our failures, and prone to suspicion, our own thoughts and impressions whether we live in the city, in an Amish community or anywhere else.
Like our hope was born at Christmas time, so do the couples in these novellas find hope – to rise above their circumstances overcome the hurdles and find true love. Although the first two novellas were published in 2009 and 2011 they flow into each other seemlessly, and are brought to us with the same dedication to details and imagery that we have come to expect from Cindy.
I really enjoyed it, and would be happy to recommend this for any woman on your Christmas List.
I received this ebook free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers through their Blogging For Books program. I was not required to write a positive review, just an honest critique, which I have done. The opinions are my own.
In these three novellas Cindy has again shown us that we are all human with all of our failures, and prone to suspicion, our own thoughts and impressions whether we live in the city, in an Amish community or anywhere else.
Like our hope was born at Christmas time, so do the couples in these novellas find hope – to rise above their circumstances overcome the hurdles and find true love. Although the first two novellas were published in 2009 and 2011 they flow into each other seemlessly, and are brought to us with the same dedication to details and imagery that we have come to expect from Cindy.
I really enjoyed it, and would be happy to recommend this for any woman on your Christmas List.
I received this ebook free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers through their Blogging For Books program. I was not required to write a positive review, just an honest critique, which I have done. The opinions are my own.
November 7, 2013
I have come to look forward to reading Cindy Woodsmall's Christmas novellas. This year I picked up Christmas in Apple Ridge which is actually a three-in-one collection of these novellas. I have previously read The Sound of Sleigh Bells and The Christmas Singing but I had yet to read The Dawn of Christmas.
What a thrill it was to quickly read through the first two tales and remind myself where the ongoing stories left off. It was a good reminder of the little details that I had so enjoyed on the first read through. By the time I reached the last story I was completely enmeshed in the people and place of Apple Ridge. I liked the flow of the stories and how each one was actually a stand alone novella, yet they flowed from one to the other introducing us to new characters while updating us on the ones we had already met. It was interesting to begin with the account of Beth and Jonah and continue through the story of Mattie and Gideon and finally being introduced to Sadie and Levi.
For an added treat there is some bonus material included. After book two there are a couple of cake recipes from Sherry Gore that are delicious (my book club tried them). After book three there is a recipe to make your own oatmeal and honey soap from fellow blogger Kristin Lail of ASimplyEnchantedLife.com
For all you Christmas story lovers out there this is one to keep around to enjoy again each year. I have a special bookshelf for Christmas books and this will definitely go on it. It is a paperback but I still think it would make an excellent gift for the book lover on your Christmas list.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
What a thrill it was to quickly read through the first two tales and remind myself where the ongoing stories left off. It was a good reminder of the little details that I had so enjoyed on the first read through. By the time I reached the last story I was completely enmeshed in the people and place of Apple Ridge. I liked the flow of the stories and how each one was actually a stand alone novella, yet they flowed from one to the other introducing us to new characters while updating us on the ones we had already met. It was interesting to begin with the account of Beth and Jonah and continue through the story of Mattie and Gideon and finally being introduced to Sadie and Levi.
For an added treat there is some bonus material included. After book two there are a couple of cake recipes from Sherry Gore that are delicious (my book club tried them). After book three there is a recipe to make your own oatmeal and honey soap from fellow blogger Kristin Lail of ASimplyEnchantedLife.com
For all you Christmas story lovers out there this is one to keep around to enjoy again each year. I have a special bookshelf for Christmas books and this will definitely go on it. It is a paperback but I still think it would make an excellent gift for the book lover on your Christmas list.
I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.
October 27, 2012
I’m a big-time collector of all Cindy Woodsmall’s books. So even though I’d already owed and read the first two novellas in this collection (you can read a previous review here: http://enjoyingthewritingcraft.blogsp..., with the addition of “The Dawn of Christmas” I had to read this latest sweet story.
And a sweet one it was. Novellas are not known for their depth of content as the word count just isn’t there to fully play with characterization. But what was included within these less-than-two-hundred-pages was a story of forgiveness and growth that left a sweet sigh in my heart when I read that last page.
Sadi and Levi have much working against their “relationship” due to personal issues in their past, but when life continues to throw them together, as a reader, I had the great fun of watching them fall in love and come together.
The Amish world is one that seems to hold no end of fascination for many readers. I thought this latest novella showed a different side of that world with a more welcoming touch to the outside electronic offers than in previous Orders.
A sweet story told in just a few pages, weaving in characters from the previous two novellas, making a lovely well-rounded
collection. Perfect to curl up with on a cold winter’s day!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.
And a sweet one it was. Novellas are not known for their depth of content as the word count just isn’t there to fully play with characterization. But what was included within these less-than-two-hundred-pages was a story of forgiveness and growth that left a sweet sigh in my heart when I read that last page.
Sadi and Levi have much working against their “relationship” due to personal issues in their past, but when life continues to throw them together, as a reader, I had the great fun of watching them fall in love and come together.
The Amish world is one that seems to hold no end of fascination for many readers. I thought this latest novella showed a different side of that world with a more welcoming touch to the outside electronic offers than in previous Orders.
A sweet story told in just a few pages, weaving in characters from the previous two novellas, making a lovely well-rounded
collection. Perfect to curl up with on a cold winter’s day!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.
February 16, 2014
Christmas in Apple Ridge is lovely collection of three winter-themed Amish novels by Cindy Woodsmall. This is a relaxing and heartfelt collection that was perfect for a cold day cuddled up next to the fireplace.
Cindy Woodsmall writes from the heart and it is obvious in the way she crafts her characters. Each character she creates is memorable and brings a certain special quality to the work. The stories are laid back and easy to read and reminded me that sometimes the most important parts of our lives are the connections we make with other people.
This book flows nicely and each of the stories is different, although they were all enjoyable. I really liked the descriptions she used of the Amish life and customs. It's nice to go to a world where technology is not at the front line every minute of every day.
I liked the emotional progression of the characters in "Sleigh Bells" very much. It was my favourite story of all three. Watching the main characters come to the realisation that they were in love was great and the stories of how they became the people they were at the point in which the reader met them was also interesting.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable and relaxing read that fans of the genre are sure to love. Christmas or not, this was a fun read.
This review is based on a print copy from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers and provided for the express purpose of a critical review. All opinions are my own.
Cindy Woodsmall writes from the heart and it is obvious in the way she crafts her characters. Each character she creates is memorable and brings a certain special quality to the work. The stories are laid back and easy to read and reminded me that sometimes the most important parts of our lives are the connections we make with other people.
This book flows nicely and each of the stories is different, although they were all enjoyable. I really liked the descriptions she used of the Amish life and customs. It's nice to go to a world where technology is not at the front line every minute of every day.
I liked the emotional progression of the characters in "Sleigh Bells" very much. It was my favourite story of all three. Watching the main characters come to the realisation that they were in love was great and the stories of how they became the people they were at the point in which the reader met them was also interesting.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable and relaxing read that fans of the genre are sure to love. Christmas or not, this was a fun read.
This review is based on a print copy from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers and provided for the express purpose of a critical review. All opinions are my own.
December 30, 2013
I was lucky enough to have read The Dawn of Christmas as a standalone not so very long ago and enjoyed it a great deal. I honestly had no idea at the time that there were other books in the series. I enjoyed that book so much that I was overjoyed when I learned of this omnibus of books 1-3!
While the same characters show up in the background of each story from time to time, the focus shifts from couple to couple and tells the tale of their own unique Christmas love story. The stories are sweet, but fraught with twists and turns and rough patches that test the character's strength and devotion to each other. Cindy Smallwood does an excellent job of realistically constructing the community of Apple Ridge and creates distinct, true-to-life characters that are easy to relate to. All three stories were short, but written fully - no lose ends!
The very best part was rereading The Dawn of Christmas. I now knew all of the background characters so much better and the story had much more depth because of it. So while each story can be enjoyed by itself, they even better when read together. All-in-all this collection is a fantastic read that I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy Christmas and Amish tales alike.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for my honest review.
While the same characters show up in the background of each story from time to time, the focus shifts from couple to couple and tells the tale of their own unique Christmas love story. The stories are sweet, but fraught with twists and turns and rough patches that test the character's strength and devotion to each other. Cindy Smallwood does an excellent job of realistically constructing the community of Apple Ridge and creates distinct, true-to-life characters that are easy to relate to. All three stories were short, but written fully - no lose ends!
The very best part was rereading The Dawn of Christmas. I now knew all of the background characters so much better and the story had much more depth because of it. So while each story can be enjoyed by itself, they even better when read together. All-in-all this collection is a fantastic read that I would definitely recommend to those who enjoy Christmas and Amish tales alike.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for my honest review.
December 12, 2013
There are three wonderful stories in this collection by Cindy Woodsmall. Two of them I'd read before, "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" and "The Christmas Singing" and one new story "The Dawn of Christmas". I reread the first two and enjoyed them just as much as I did the first time, I could not put the book down. The third story was just as enjoyable to read as the first two.
I like the fact that they were all connected, the characters knew each other. Cindy did a wonderful job of bringing the three stories together. Also, the fact that they would get out in bad snowstorms, I love that, it reminds me of my step-father, whenever there was a blizzard he JUST HAD to go someplace. We were a lot warmer though as we were in a car with a heater, except for the time we got stuck and had to walk about a mile.
Cindy draws you in and makes you feel like you are dealing with the heart tugging problems each person has to deal with. That is what keeps you reading late into the night, wanting them to realize that they are not seeing the whole story and they should listen to their heart. I think we are all guilty of that sometimes, especially when we have been stung before when the feelings are what we 'want' to feel, not what God wants for us. A definite must read!
I like the fact that they were all connected, the characters knew each other. Cindy did a wonderful job of bringing the three stories together. Also, the fact that they would get out in bad snowstorms, I love that, it reminds me of my step-father, whenever there was a blizzard he JUST HAD to go someplace. We were a lot warmer though as we were in a car with a heater, except for the time we got stuck and had to walk about a mile.
Cindy draws you in and makes you feel like you are dealing with the heart tugging problems each person has to deal with. That is what keeps you reading late into the night, wanting them to realize that they are not seeing the whole story and they should listen to their heart. I think we are all guilty of that sometimes, especially when we have been stung before when the feelings are what we 'want' to feel, not what God wants for us. A definite must read!
December 30, 2012
The Sound of sleigh Bells
Beth has carries a heavy load of guilt ever since her fiance died. But she begins to find healing in the work of a young woodcarver named Jonah.
The Christmas Singing
Mattie was devastated when her boyfriend broke up with her on Christmas Eve. But when he tells her the truth about it will it bring them together or drive them farther apart?
The Dawn of Christmas
Sadie and Levi pretend to be courting in order to get their parents to leave them alone. But they never intended to fall in love.
This little collection of three novellas is very well written. The author does an amazing job of bringing the characters and their emotions to life.
I really enjoyed "Christmas in Apple Ridge", and I am not a fan of romance stories. Especially the first two stories were so fascinating, I could hardly put them down. I didn't like the third one quite as well as the other two, but it was still really good. If you enjoy Amish, Christmas, or Romance novels, I definitely recommend "Christmas in
Apple Ridge".
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review".
Beth has carries a heavy load of guilt ever since her fiance died. But she begins to find healing in the work of a young woodcarver named Jonah.
The Christmas Singing
Mattie was devastated when her boyfriend broke up with her on Christmas Eve. But when he tells her the truth about it will it bring them together or drive them farther apart?
The Dawn of Christmas
Sadie and Levi pretend to be courting in order to get their parents to leave them alone. But they never intended to fall in love.
This little collection of three novellas is very well written. The author does an amazing job of bringing the characters and their emotions to life.
I really enjoyed "Christmas in Apple Ridge", and I am not a fan of romance stories. Especially the first two stories were so fascinating, I could hardly put them down. I didn't like the third one quite as well as the other two, but it was still really good. If you enjoy Amish, Christmas, or Romance novels, I definitely recommend "Christmas in
Apple Ridge".
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review".
December 9, 2013
In each novella, the main character struggles with a secret that was hid from others. This will kept them from enjoying life and experiencing true happiness. Yet, no matter what mistakes we make in this life, love and friendship in our family and community can set things back to right.
Throughout the collection, Jonah stands as a strength to all characters. He has a physical impairment that he learned to cope with. It is through his understanding of going through therapy and healing that helps him be a guiding star to others.
Also, there is a moment in each novella when a friend reminds the main character about Christ's suffering and how we must put our life into His hands and accept His grace. It is a beautiful moment that touches the heart and increases my love of the collection.
With each novella includes a different talent - carpentry, cake decorating, and horse training - it helps pulls the reader into the beauty of the world.
This collection is a great, clean, romantic reading for the Christmas season. It reminds us of the power of friendship, the possibilities of healing, the importance of communication, and the grace from Christ our Lord.
Throughout the collection, Jonah stands as a strength to all characters. He has a physical impairment that he learned to cope with. It is through his understanding of going through therapy and healing that helps him be a guiding star to others.
Also, there is a moment in each novella when a friend reminds the main character about Christ's suffering and how we must put our life into His hands and accept His grace. It is a beautiful moment that touches the heart and increases my love of the collection.
With each novella includes a different talent - carpentry, cake decorating, and horse training - it helps pulls the reader into the beauty of the world.
This collection is a great, clean, romantic reading for the Christmas season. It reminds us of the power of friendship, the possibilities of healing, the importance of communication, and the grace from Christ our Lord.
November 19, 2012
This is a group of three novellas, each featuring a different person or persons, and bools two and three also continue the stories of the main characters in the previous book or books. I have long loved Cindy Woodsmall's writing, and these stories did not disappoint. Each of them had a happy ending, and after all romantic fiction is required to have a happy ending, is it not?
I have finally figured out why I prefer stories about the Amish over any other fiction. The characters are concerned with what the Lord wants of them, they pray every time something happens that calls for prayer. They express regret when they realize they failed to pray when it was called for.In most of the other Christian novels I have read, there is no illicit sex or cursing, and the characters certainly believe in God or are being prayed for, but God does not play as important a part in their lives as He should in the life of every Christian.
I would like to see a sequel to these books. Questions about what is still going on in the lives of these people, fictional though they are.
I have finally figured out why I prefer stories about the Amish over any other fiction. The characters are concerned with what the Lord wants of them, they pray every time something happens that calls for prayer. They express regret when they realize they failed to pray when it was called for.In most of the other Christian novels I have read, there is no illicit sex or cursing, and the characters certainly believe in God or are being prayed for, but God does not play as important a part in their lives as He should in the life of every Christian.
I would like to see a sequel to these books. Questions about what is still going on in the lives of these people, fictional though they are.
December 24, 2012
Three sweet Amish tales, old and new, just in time for Christmas!
Welcome to Apple Ridge, in this three-in-one novella collection, three couples find love, and learn that often in order to open the door to incoming love, the past must be let go.
Cindy Woodsmall has written three poignant tales that are sure to delight. I had previously read The Christmas Singing, but I was happy to read 2 stories that I hadn't read before, though I should note that The Sound of Sleigh Bells is also a previously released title.
Ms. Woodsmall does an excellent job of creating engaging characters and telling their tales in a sweet and meaningfull way. The stories are well written and the pacing is great!
Overall, I deeply enjoyed each story, and so did my mother (who isn't an Amish fiction fan at all!) Each of the stories was woven with threads that endeared the characters to me :) A collection that I would definitely recommend to fans of great inspirational reads!
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Welcome to Apple Ridge, in this three-in-one novella collection, three couples find love, and learn that often in order to open the door to incoming love, the past must be let go.
Cindy Woodsmall has written three poignant tales that are sure to delight. I had previously read The Christmas Singing, but I was happy to read 2 stories that I hadn't read before, though I should note that The Sound of Sleigh Bells is also a previously released title.
Ms. Woodsmall does an excellent job of creating engaging characters and telling their tales in a sweet and meaningfull way. The stories are well written and the pacing is great!
Overall, I deeply enjoyed each story, and so did my mother (who isn't an Amish fiction fan at all!) Each of the stories was woven with threads that endeared the characters to me :) A collection that I would definitely recommend to fans of great inspirational reads!
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
November 30, 2012
Christmas in Apple Ridge is a collection of three Amish Christmas stories by Cindy Woodsmall. In The Sound of Sleigh Bells you will read about Jonah and Beth. The Christmas Singing is about Gideon and Mattie. And the Dawn of Christmas is Levi and Sadie’s story. I love Amish fiction, and I especially enjoy reading about how Amish celebrate their Christmas, so this book was a treat for me. Even though I have read the first two before, I enjoyed reading them again, and The Dawn of Christmas is a brand new story, so that one was a delight.
I highly recommend this wonderful book by Cindy Woodsmall. The stories are short, and can be read in a day or so. And being Christmas puts you in the Holiday spirit. And each story is enjoyable enough that you will want to keep this book and read these stories each Christmas. Pick up your copy asap! You will not be disappointed!
This book was provided by Blogging for Books through their reviewer Blogging program. I was not expected or required to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only.
I highly recommend this wonderful book by Cindy Woodsmall. The stories are short, and can be read in a day or so. And being Christmas puts you in the Holiday spirit. And each story is enjoyable enough that you will want to keep this book and read these stories each Christmas. Pick up your copy asap! You will not be disappointed!
This book was provided by Blogging for Books through their reviewer Blogging program. I was not expected or required to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are mine only.
October 28, 2013
The three books from The Apple Ridge series are all put together to make a three-in-one collection. Since each book is also a stand alone I'm going to only review the aspects of them being together and will refer you to my individual reviews since I've previously reviewed the first two and will write a separate review for the third one.
I enjoyed having all three of these books together. It made it easier for me to speed through the books and gave me a better sense of the community. Reading each book separately might leave time in between for me to forget some of the details. Woodsmall is about the only Amish fiction author I will read. Her down to earth characters and intriguing sense of style make this genre, that I typically don't enjoy, an enjoyable read. She always keeps me coming back for more. It was nice to read the new book in the series and to refresh my memory with the previous two books.
I received this book free of charge from WaterBrook in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed having all three of these books together. It made it easier for me to speed through the books and gave me a better sense of the community. Reading each book separately might leave time in between for me to forget some of the details. Woodsmall is about the only Amish fiction author I will read. Her down to earth characters and intriguing sense of style make this genre, that I typically don't enjoy, an enjoyable read. She always keeps me coming back for more. It was nice to read the new book in the series and to refresh my memory with the previous two books.
I received this book free of charge from WaterBrook in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2013
I've reviewed several of Cindy Woodsmall's books in the past. Each one has blessed me in a unique way and Christmas in Apple Ridge is no different. It is a three-in-one collection, which includes The Sound of Sleigh Bells, The Christmas Singing--both of which I've read before--and The Dawn of Christmas. There are many books that I would not wish to read a second time, but I enjoyed both the first and second stories as much this time as I did when I read them originally. The third story was new and I devoured it in just a few short hours.
Oh, by the way, don't stop at the recipes (if you get the e-version) like I did after The Sound of Sleigh Bells. I felt so silly when I realized I had missed the second and third portions of the book.
If you are an Amish romance fan, you will enjoy reading Christmas in Apple Ridge.
***Received this book for the purpose of review. The above opinion is my own.***
Oh, by the way, don't stop at the recipes (if you get the e-version) like I did after The Sound of Sleigh Bells. I felt so silly when I realized I had missed the second and third portions of the book.
If you are an Amish romance fan, you will enjoy reading Christmas in Apple Ridge.
***Received this book for the purpose of review. The above opinion is my own.***
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