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The Amish of Summer Grove #1
Ties that Bind
Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?
Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.
Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.
*
Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.
Ties That Bind is the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series.
Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.
Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.
*
Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.
Ties That Bind is the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series.
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First published September 8, 2015
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About the author
Cindy Woodsmall
68 books1,116 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
December 14, 2020
A fantastic start to a captivating series about faith, family, love, and God's ever-present grace.
February 7, 2017
I enjoyed this book so much, I can't believe I'm just getting around to reading it. The story starts off with Lovina and Brandi giving birth in a Amish birthing hospital. The story goes back and forth with their daughters lives.
Ariana being Amish and Sky English. I took a liking to Ariana with her upbringing, drive and determination. She set a goal and stuck to it.
What she didn't know was the secrets that her parents unearthed with the help of her Ex who left the Amish five years ago. This one secret was enough to destroy everything in everyone's life.
Ties that bind takes you on a journey of love, lost and heartache. The ending nearly had me in tears. For Ariana to make such a Painful decision after all she worked hard for was amazing!!!!!
Can't wait to read book two!
Ariana being Amish and Sky English. I took a liking to Ariana with her upbringing, drive and determination. She set a goal and stuck to it.
What she didn't know was the secrets that her parents unearthed with the help of her Ex who left the Amish five years ago. This one secret was enough to destroy everything in everyone's life.
Ties that bind takes you on a journey of love, lost and heartache. The ending nearly had me in tears. For Ariana to make such a Painful decision after all she worked hard for was amazing!!!!!
Can't wait to read book two!
September 2, 2015
This author hooked me from the start, “Gnarled fingers of smoke seeped under the closed door of the old house. Fear threatened to steal Lovina’s ability to obey her husband’s departing words to stay put.”
This story tugged at my heart strings. I couldn’t put down. I instantly connected with the characters and felt for their situation. Cindy skillfully pens a powerfully moving story that could be ripped from today’s headlines and affects both the Amish and the Engischer world.
I enjoyed this novel because it didn’t exclusively stay inside the Amish community. This author does a great job creating a tender story with believable characters I could relate to. I enjoyed her well timed humor and getting to the heart of the matter in relationships inside the family and outside in the world.
Here's a peek at the main Amish female character Ariana says about being a sister, “Sisterhood was like having a vivid rainbow and a gloomy thunderstorm in the same room at the same time.” LOL!
Here's a peek at leading male Amish character; Quill and what he shares about relationships, “People’s point of views were tricky in any relationship. That was especially true with him and Ariana. Quill had a helicopter view of the event in broad daylight. She wasn’t to blame for seeing him from the vantage point available to her (which was limited).”…He told Ariana “We have to allow people to make their own decisions about what’s right and wrong for them?” Quill is a complex young man who believes with all his heart he’s here to help people through the hard times. He wants to help them make the right choice for them no matter what the Old Order church says. This young man was loyal, responsible and wise.
Quill reflects on words found in a book from the Plymouth colony that help him.” All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties…Hardship wasn’t an indicator of being right or wrong. It was a sign of being alive.”
Ariana aspires to own her own restaurant that would benefit her whole family; at the same time she is fearful a family member wants to leave the Amish community. She thinks about the “fear Amish parents lived with …after welcoming newborns into the fold, watching over them with love and prayers for two decades, give or take, and then to see them across a great divide, standing in the world with the Amish on the other side. Did Englisch parents live with such fear, for their children – the terror that the fires of hell would swallow their loved ones?”
This is not your typical Amish story where a person is unhappy with the Old Order ways and wants to embrace the ways of the World. It’s so much more. This author does a brilliant job of engaging readers in this heart-wrenching tale that has two families think about what’s important to God, to themselves, and others. I can’t wait to read the next book in The Amish of Summer Grove series. I’m fascinated to see where this amazing author takes these characters next. This would make a great book club pick. There is so much to talk about that is relevant to everyone. This book is a keeper!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. 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”
Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
This story tugged at my heart strings. I couldn’t put down. I instantly connected with the characters and felt for their situation. Cindy skillfully pens a powerfully moving story that could be ripped from today’s headlines and affects both the Amish and the Engischer world.
I enjoyed this novel because it didn’t exclusively stay inside the Amish community. This author does a great job creating a tender story with believable characters I could relate to. I enjoyed her well timed humor and getting to the heart of the matter in relationships inside the family and outside in the world.
Here's a peek at the main Amish female character Ariana says about being a sister, “Sisterhood was like having a vivid rainbow and a gloomy thunderstorm in the same room at the same time.” LOL!
Here's a peek at leading male Amish character; Quill and what he shares about relationships, “People’s point of views were tricky in any relationship. That was especially true with him and Ariana. Quill had a helicopter view of the event in broad daylight. She wasn’t to blame for seeing him from the vantage point available to her (which was limited).”…He told Ariana “We have to allow people to make their own decisions about what’s right and wrong for them?” Quill is a complex young man who believes with all his heart he’s here to help people through the hard times. He wants to help them make the right choice for them no matter what the Old Order church says. This young man was loyal, responsible and wise.
Quill reflects on words found in a book from the Plymouth colony that help him.” All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties…Hardship wasn’t an indicator of being right or wrong. It was a sign of being alive.”
Ariana aspires to own her own restaurant that would benefit her whole family; at the same time she is fearful a family member wants to leave the Amish community. She thinks about the “fear Amish parents lived with …after welcoming newborns into the fold, watching over them with love and prayers for two decades, give or take, and then to see them across a great divide, standing in the world with the Amish on the other side. Did Englisch parents live with such fear, for their children – the terror that the fires of hell would swallow their loved ones?”
This is not your typical Amish story where a person is unhappy with the Old Order ways and wants to embrace the ways of the World. It’s so much more. This author does a brilliant job of engaging readers in this heart-wrenching tale that has two families think about what’s important to God, to themselves, and others. I can’t wait to read the next book in The Amish of Summer Grove series. I’m fascinated to see where this amazing author takes these characters next. This would make a great book club pick. There is so much to talk about that is relevant to everyone. This book is a keeper!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. 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”
Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
September 19, 2015
Adriana Brenneman is completely committed to the Amish faith, as well as her large, sprawling family. Life might not always be easy, but she would never think about running away, like her old friend Quill Schlabach did. His unexpected departure from their community hurt Adriana deeply, and accelerated her desire to remain in Summer Grove. Unlike her younger sister, she isn’t interested in dabbling in the ways of the world. Instead, Adriana is determined to open a cafe that will allow her to support her family, and hopefully convince them to stay committed to the Old Ways like her.
When she learns that one of her siblings has been in contact with Quill, Adriana struggles to keep her temper in check. She throws herself into her business plans even more than before, and tries to figure out which member of her family is considering leaving the faith. She’s completely unaware that her own parents have sought Quill’s help as well, trying to unravel a mystery that has hung over them since the night of Adriana’s birth, when she came home from the birthing centre wrapped in the wrong blanket. Does Adriana have ties to the English world that she isn’t aware of? How will she react when her parents reveal the secret surrounding her birth? Will the truth test her commitment to the faith she has always clung to?
Although Cindy Woodsmall is one of the most popular authors of Amish fiction, I hadn’t actually read many of her books prior to this year. I’m not sure what my excuse is—perhaps there are just so many Amish books out there that I overlooked her in favour of newer authors? I’ve actually had a copy of When the Heart Cries on my shelf for a while, and earlier this year I finally read it, and then purchased the second and third books in the trilogy on Audible. I usually prefer to read series where the novels are self-contained, but Cindy really has a knack for creating series that tug at your heart-strings and get you riled up over the injustices the characters are facing, even if their stories do span several books. Since I read the Sisters of the Quilt series right before I started Ties that Bind it was nearly impossible not to compare the two, but in the end I think this was a good thing. Cindy’s debut novel, When the Heart Cries, might have been released way back in 2008, but Ties that Bind was very reminiscent of it. If you like family sagas that stretch over several books, allowing the characters plenty of time to grow and evolve, I think you’re going to like this new series just as much as the Sisters of the Quilt novels. I’m only one book in, but I can already tell that these novels are going to be a hit with long-term fans of Cindy.
But isn’t this book about babies that might have been swapped at birth? Doesn’t that automatically make it cheesy and convoluted? Good questions! Swapped at birth stories are right up there with amnesia romances, both of which I have a slight soft spot for. When done right, they can be incredibly compelling. When done wrong—yeah, sometimes they can be pretty cheesy. I think Ties that Bind falls comfortably into the first category. The explanation behind the events of Ariana’s birth actually makes a lot of sense, and I appreciated the journey that Ariana’s parents went through in order to figure out if there was any chance their daughter was not who they thought she was. I really hurt for them as they struggled to find out information, especially when they didn’t know where to turn or how to uncover the truth without letting anyone else know their secret. If you’ve ever read an Amish novel before, you’ll know that gossip is a big issue in Amish communities, and in this situation, any gossip about their investigation could have really hurt Ariana.
Ariana was sometimes a difficult character to like. She’s young and naively committed to everything about the Amish lifestyle. As you get to know her, it becomes clear that her staunch commitment to the faith is almost a reaction to the fact that an old crush, Quill, ran off with another friend several years ago. Their abandonment of the faith, along with the fact that they kept their leaving a secret from Adriana, has flung her completely in the opposite direction. I kind of wished we’d had the chance to get inside Adriana’s head a bit more. Since her story is going to span several books, I’m sure we’ll learn more in the next instalment, but there were times that I grew a little weary of Adriana’s thoughts mostly focusing on her anger at Quill for abandoning her, her struggle to trust anyone fully, and her staunch disapproval of anyone considering leaving the faith. After several years of brooding, she’s made up her mind about what she thinks of anyone who has doubts about the Amish life, and it’s going to take a lot to change that. I’m sure I was just as idealistic and headstrong as Adriana at that age, but I can see why her attitude might put some people off.
I was really fascinated by the details about Quill helping people leave the Amish faith, seemingly spiriting entire families away in the dead of night. I remember watching a TV show about people (often ex-Amish) who helped teenagers leave their communities, but I’ve not heard much about entire families leaving. It makes sense that they would need assistance with finding a new home, new jobs, and paying for all the expenses of English life, after living in a community that is known for supporting its own. As the story evolves, Adriana learns that one of her own sisters has contacted Quill to ask for help, and she’s determined to stop her from leaving. I guessed pretty early on who the sister in question was, but I still appreciated this little twist. It was interesting to learn about the reasons why people might decide to uproot their entire family. It’s not so much about wanting modern conveniences or different clothing, as it is about needing support when difficult situations arise that the community might not previously have experience with.
One of the things that I love about Cindy’s writing is that she never romanticises the Amish lifestyle. She writes about the parts that aren’t so comfortable to consider—the hurt that can come about from gossip, the staunch belief that anyone not Amish isn’t truly saved, the lack of support for unconventional decisions that might be medically necessary, the push to conform, the refusal to talk about uncomfortable issues. These topics might not be so fun to read about, but they make her Amish communities seem true, and for me, that makes them all the more interesting and appealing. I like books that challenge my preconceptions and make me wonder what I would do in a certain situation. Adriana might be frustrating at times, but I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for her in the next book in the Amish of Summer Grove series.
Review title provided by Waterbrook Press.
When she learns that one of her siblings has been in contact with Quill, Adriana struggles to keep her temper in check. She throws herself into her business plans even more than before, and tries to figure out which member of her family is considering leaving the faith. She’s completely unaware that her own parents have sought Quill’s help as well, trying to unravel a mystery that has hung over them since the night of Adriana’s birth, when she came home from the birthing centre wrapped in the wrong blanket. Does Adriana have ties to the English world that she isn’t aware of? How will she react when her parents reveal the secret surrounding her birth? Will the truth test her commitment to the faith she has always clung to?
Although Cindy Woodsmall is one of the most popular authors of Amish fiction, I hadn’t actually read many of her books prior to this year. I’m not sure what my excuse is—perhaps there are just so many Amish books out there that I overlooked her in favour of newer authors? I’ve actually had a copy of When the Heart Cries on my shelf for a while, and earlier this year I finally read it, and then purchased the second and third books in the trilogy on Audible. I usually prefer to read series where the novels are self-contained, but Cindy really has a knack for creating series that tug at your heart-strings and get you riled up over the injustices the characters are facing, even if their stories do span several books. Since I read the Sisters of the Quilt series right before I started Ties that Bind it was nearly impossible not to compare the two, but in the end I think this was a good thing. Cindy’s debut novel, When the Heart Cries, might have been released way back in 2008, but Ties that Bind was very reminiscent of it. If you like family sagas that stretch over several books, allowing the characters plenty of time to grow and evolve, I think you’re going to like this new series just as much as the Sisters of the Quilt novels. I’m only one book in, but I can already tell that these novels are going to be a hit with long-term fans of Cindy.
But isn’t this book about babies that might have been swapped at birth? Doesn’t that automatically make it cheesy and convoluted? Good questions! Swapped at birth stories are right up there with amnesia romances, both of which I have a slight soft spot for. When done right, they can be incredibly compelling. When done wrong—yeah, sometimes they can be pretty cheesy. I think Ties that Bind falls comfortably into the first category. The explanation behind the events of Ariana’s birth actually makes a lot of sense, and I appreciated the journey that Ariana’s parents went through in order to figure out if there was any chance their daughter was not who they thought she was. I really hurt for them as they struggled to find out information, especially when they didn’t know where to turn or how to uncover the truth without letting anyone else know their secret. If you’ve ever read an Amish novel before, you’ll know that gossip is a big issue in Amish communities, and in this situation, any gossip about their investigation could have really hurt Ariana.
Ariana was sometimes a difficult character to like. She’s young and naively committed to everything about the Amish lifestyle. As you get to know her, it becomes clear that her staunch commitment to the faith is almost a reaction to the fact that an old crush, Quill, ran off with another friend several years ago. Their abandonment of the faith, along with the fact that they kept their leaving a secret from Adriana, has flung her completely in the opposite direction. I kind of wished we’d had the chance to get inside Adriana’s head a bit more. Since her story is going to span several books, I’m sure we’ll learn more in the next instalment, but there were times that I grew a little weary of Adriana’s thoughts mostly focusing on her anger at Quill for abandoning her, her struggle to trust anyone fully, and her staunch disapproval of anyone considering leaving the faith. After several years of brooding, she’s made up her mind about what she thinks of anyone who has doubts about the Amish life, and it’s going to take a lot to change that. I’m sure I was just as idealistic and headstrong as Adriana at that age, but I can see why her attitude might put some people off.
I was really fascinated by the details about Quill helping people leave the Amish faith, seemingly spiriting entire families away in the dead of night. I remember watching a TV show about people (often ex-Amish) who helped teenagers leave their communities, but I’ve not heard much about entire families leaving. It makes sense that they would need assistance with finding a new home, new jobs, and paying for all the expenses of English life, after living in a community that is known for supporting its own. As the story evolves, Adriana learns that one of her own sisters has contacted Quill to ask for help, and she’s determined to stop her from leaving. I guessed pretty early on who the sister in question was, but I still appreciated this little twist. It was interesting to learn about the reasons why people might decide to uproot their entire family. It’s not so much about wanting modern conveniences or different clothing, as it is about needing support when difficult situations arise that the community might not previously have experience with.
One of the things that I love about Cindy’s writing is that she never romanticises the Amish lifestyle. She writes about the parts that aren’t so comfortable to consider—the hurt that can come about from gossip, the staunch belief that anyone not Amish isn’t truly saved, the lack of support for unconventional decisions that might be medically necessary, the push to conform, the refusal to talk about uncomfortable issues. These topics might not be so fun to read about, but they make her Amish communities seem true, and for me, that makes them all the more interesting and appealing. I like books that challenge my preconceptions and make me wonder what I would do in a certain situation. Adriana might be frustrating at times, but I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for her in the next book in the Amish of Summer Grove series.
Review title provided by Waterbrook Press.
September 8, 2015
Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall is the first book in The Amish of Summer Grove series (there will be three books). On the night Ariana and her twin brother, Abram were born there was a fire at the birthing center. Brandi Nash (not Amish) also gave birth that night to a little girl. All were able to escape from the birthing center. Twenty years later Ariana is being courted by Rudy Hershberger and is hoping to open a café in Summer Grove. Ariana and her twin brother, Abram have been saving for the twenty percent down payment they need by October 1 for the building Ariana wishes to purchase (she has an arrangement with the owner). Ariana works for Berta Schlabach. While Berta is in the hospital, Ariana is taking care of her animals. While there Ariana sees Quill Schlabach. Quill was her friend growing up along with Frieda. Then five years ago, they unexpectedly left the Amish community. Since then Quill has helped other Amish leave the community, and Ariana is upset to find out that it is someone from her family that wishes to leave their Old Order Amish ways. Ariana will do anything to prevent it from happening.
Skylar Nash is going to college and lives with her mother, Brandi in Bellflower Creek, Pennsylvania. Brandi had Skylar at the Amish birthing center twenty years previously. Skylar loves to sing, dance, and act. She also gets involved with the wrong type of men who have led her to drugs. One of Ariana’s brothers, Mark is working on a stage for the college when he sees Skylar. He mentions to Abram (and their mother over hears them) how Skylar looks just like their sister, Salome. Lovina Brenneman is afraid that something happened while everyone escaped from the fire. Is the child she brought home really her daughter? Lovina and her husband, Isaac enlist Quill’s help to find out the truth.
Quill also comes up with an idea to help Ariana raise the money she needs for the café. Ariana is reluctant to accept any ideas or help from him, but she wants this café. Can she trust him? Quill just wants what is best for Ariana. Quill would do anything for her. He has been in love with her for many years and leaving the community was not what he wanted (but not his secret to tell). Why did Quill and Frieda leave the Amish community? Will helping Ariana’s parents find out the truth make Ariana push Quill further away? What happened twenty years ago while they were escaping from the fire? Will the truth change Ariana’s life in unexpected ways?
I found the Ties that Bind to be very slow book and can get very confusing (many characters and there is quite a bit going on in this book). Ariana has four sisters and five brothers along with their parents, spouses, and more children. That is just one family in the book. I have read many of Cindy Woodsmall’s books and have loved them, but I had trouble with this novel. Once I read about the fire and the babies, you knew what was going to be the outcome (very expected). I also had trouble relating to the main character, Ariana. I found her to be emotionally immature and very naïve (but with firm resolve that her way is the right way) for someone that is twenty years old. I give Ties that Bind 3.5 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of Ties that Bind from Blogging for Books (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...
Skylar Nash is going to college and lives with her mother, Brandi in Bellflower Creek, Pennsylvania. Brandi had Skylar at the Amish birthing center twenty years previously. Skylar loves to sing, dance, and act. She also gets involved with the wrong type of men who have led her to drugs. One of Ariana’s brothers, Mark is working on a stage for the college when he sees Skylar. He mentions to Abram (and their mother over hears them) how Skylar looks just like their sister, Salome. Lovina Brenneman is afraid that something happened while everyone escaped from the fire. Is the child she brought home really her daughter? Lovina and her husband, Isaac enlist Quill’s help to find out the truth.
Quill also comes up with an idea to help Ariana raise the money she needs for the café. Ariana is reluctant to accept any ideas or help from him, but she wants this café. Can she trust him? Quill just wants what is best for Ariana. Quill would do anything for her. He has been in love with her for many years and leaving the community was not what he wanted (but not his secret to tell). Why did Quill and Frieda leave the Amish community? Will helping Ariana’s parents find out the truth make Ariana push Quill further away? What happened twenty years ago while they were escaping from the fire? Will the truth change Ariana’s life in unexpected ways?
I found the Ties that Bind to be very slow book and can get very confusing (many characters and there is quite a bit going on in this book). Ariana has four sisters and five brothers along with their parents, spouses, and more children. That is just one family in the book. I have read many of Cindy Woodsmall’s books and have loved them, but I had trouble with this novel. Once I read about the fire and the babies, you knew what was going to be the outcome (very expected). I also had trouble relating to the main character, Ariana. I found her to be emotionally immature and very naïve (but with firm resolve that her way is the right way) for someone that is twenty years old. I give Ties that Bind 3.5 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of Ties that Bind from Blogging for Books (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...
September 7, 2015
About the Book:
In this first book in a new dramatic three-book series, The Amish of Summer Grove, an Old Order Amish young woman and an unsuspecting college student are on a collision course that neither could have foreseen.
Twenty-year-old twin Ariana loves her Old Order Amish family. Every dream of her future includes Old Order Amish life and her family. But one thing keeps her stomach in knots--she can't bring back the families that have left the Order during the middle of the night.
Five years earlier, Quill, a man she had secret hopes of building a future with left during the night, taking her dearest girlfriend with him, and breaking Ariana's heart. When he mysteriously returns, she's determined to not allow him to take anyone else. Unfortunately, she soon learns she's no match for Quill.
Struggling on all fronts, Ariana is shocked to learn that on the date she and her twin brother were born, the Amish birthing clinic burned down. Discovering the events of that night will change Ariana's path forever.
My Review:
Cindy Woodsmall is know around our house as the lady that keeps Mama reading. She is one of my all time favorite authors. I have read everything that she has written and she has never left me disappointed. Ties That Bind, is no different. The author manages to take a very unAmish subject, if you will and meld two different communities together. Surprisingly, it actually works.
Ariana is a very bright young woman that loves her Amish life and she really has no reason to leave it or so she thinks. She really gets upset with a man by the name of Quill when he left and took Ariana's good friend with him for her to never to return to their community. If that wasn't bad enough Quill returns some years later and Ariana is very grudgeful and very untrusting of this individual.
Ariana will soon found out a piece of information that will change her life forever. And the bad thing is, is that Quill has something to do with it. Ties That Bind is the perfect beginning to The Amish of Summer Grove series.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Blogging for Books.
In this first book in a new dramatic three-book series, The Amish of Summer Grove, an Old Order Amish young woman and an unsuspecting college student are on a collision course that neither could have foreseen.
Twenty-year-old twin Ariana loves her Old Order Amish family. Every dream of her future includes Old Order Amish life and her family. But one thing keeps her stomach in knots--she can't bring back the families that have left the Order during the middle of the night.
Five years earlier, Quill, a man she had secret hopes of building a future with left during the night, taking her dearest girlfriend with him, and breaking Ariana's heart. When he mysteriously returns, she's determined to not allow him to take anyone else. Unfortunately, she soon learns she's no match for Quill.
Struggling on all fronts, Ariana is shocked to learn that on the date she and her twin brother were born, the Amish birthing clinic burned down. Discovering the events of that night will change Ariana's path forever.
My Review:
Cindy Woodsmall is know around our house as the lady that keeps Mama reading. She is one of my all time favorite authors. I have read everything that she has written and she has never left me disappointed. Ties That Bind, is no different. The author manages to take a very unAmish subject, if you will and meld two different communities together. Surprisingly, it actually works.
Ariana is a very bright young woman that loves her Amish life and she really has no reason to leave it or so she thinks. She really gets upset with a man by the name of Quill when he left and took Ariana's good friend with him for her to never to return to their community. If that wasn't bad enough Quill returns some years later and Ariana is very grudgeful and very untrusting of this individual.
Ariana will soon found out a piece of information that will change her life forever. And the bad thing is, is that Quill has something to do with it. Ties That Bind is the perfect beginning to The Amish of Summer Grove series.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Blogging for Books.
September 26, 2015
Another great read by Cindy Woodsmall, I quickly got caught up in this story, and there are a lot of twists and turns, and when we are finished you won’t have all of the answers.
Quill wanted to be Amish, unlike his older brothers who left the faith, but a dark happening compelled him to honor his father and he left with a young Amish woman. You will be shocked when you find out why, but that is only part of the story.
The book begins with three babies being born in an Amish birthing place, with a fire raging inside. Fast-forward twenty years, and the world that all of them have know is about to be shattered.
I really had mixed feelings on how this should all end, these people are now really adults and yet the Amish remain loyal to their families, but what about the English child? Her life doesn’t appear so rosy, and I wanted her to go to her roots, but what is the cost of straightening out an old error.
Can’t wait for the next book to get some answers here, and although what I want to happen probably won’t, we will just have to wait.
I received this book through Blogging For Books, and was not required go give a positive review.
Quill wanted to be Amish, unlike his older brothers who left the faith, but a dark happening compelled him to honor his father and he left with a young Amish woman. You will be shocked when you find out why, but that is only part of the story.
The book begins with three babies being born in an Amish birthing place, with a fire raging inside. Fast-forward twenty years, and the world that all of them have know is about to be shattered.
I really had mixed feelings on how this should all end, these people are now really adults and yet the Amish remain loyal to their families, but what about the English child? Her life doesn’t appear so rosy, and I wanted her to go to her roots, but what is the cost of straightening out an old error.
Can’t wait for the next book to get some answers here, and although what I want to happen probably won’t, we will just have to wait.
I received this book through Blogging For Books, and was not required go give a positive review.
June 28, 2017
I am sure that kids that have been adopted, often wonder a lot about what life would have been like if they were raised by their birth parents, and perhaps even children from divorces often face that challenge as well. But what if you grew up knowing one way of life, and then learning that this wasn't your life after all? Could you come to terms with the results of thinking the people who raised you and your siblings weren't really yours after all?
In the novel Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall, Ariana Brennerman is coming to terms with the issues of trusting those she loves. Even since dreaming of the day when her and Quill Schlabach might marry, she had her heartbroken when he ran off into the evening with her best friend Frieda and leaving her a letter trying to explain things. Now at twenty-one, she has spent her life trying to do everything she can for everyone in her family. In my world, one might call her a people-pleaser, doing for others while she is left going without. But for her, her future is looking up. She is on the verge of fulfilling a dream of owning her own restaurant with being just $6000 short of her down payment and dating Rudy, a man who have given her his whole heart.
At late night encounter, leaves Ariana running into Quill once again, and all she can see is rage against the one person she trusted more than anything else in the world. The one person she loved, left her behind to marry her best friend. She can't even understand why he has returned except to help his ailing mother in any way he can. The leaders of the Amish community can't know about him being back and Ariana certainly isn't going to tell anyone, except the one person who knows her better than herself, her twin brother Abram. But when Quill informs her that someone in her family is considering leaving the faith and the community, Ariana believes it is her life mission to prevent him from hurting the only family she has ever known. But is there more to Quill than what she believes and can she learn to trust him again even if it means hurting those closest to her?
I received Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall compliments of Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. This the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove Series and it truly begins with a powerful opening. For me, this is a more mature Cindy Woodsmall in this series. There is a more serious theme in this novel than ones I have had the opportunity to read in the past. I would almost compare this series to one from Wanda Brunstetter with a more straight-forward approach to the situation developing between the Brennerman family and those leaving the Amish faith. I absolutely inhaled this one in an afternoon and am super excited to read the next novel in the series, Fraying the Edge. For me, this one easily garners a 5 out of 5 stars.
In the novel Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall, Ariana Brennerman is coming to terms with the issues of trusting those she loves. Even since dreaming of the day when her and Quill Schlabach might marry, she had her heartbroken when he ran off into the evening with her best friend Frieda and leaving her a letter trying to explain things. Now at twenty-one, she has spent her life trying to do everything she can for everyone in her family. In my world, one might call her a people-pleaser, doing for others while she is left going without. But for her, her future is looking up. She is on the verge of fulfilling a dream of owning her own restaurant with being just $6000 short of her down payment and dating Rudy, a man who have given her his whole heart.
At late night encounter, leaves Ariana running into Quill once again, and all she can see is rage against the one person she trusted more than anything else in the world. The one person she loved, left her behind to marry her best friend. She can't even understand why he has returned except to help his ailing mother in any way he can. The leaders of the Amish community can't know about him being back and Ariana certainly isn't going to tell anyone, except the one person who knows her better than herself, her twin brother Abram. But when Quill informs her that someone in her family is considering leaving the faith and the community, Ariana believes it is her life mission to prevent him from hurting the only family she has ever known. But is there more to Quill than what she believes and can she learn to trust him again even if it means hurting those closest to her?
I received Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall compliments of Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers. This the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove Series and it truly begins with a powerful opening. For me, this is a more mature Cindy Woodsmall in this series. There is a more serious theme in this novel than ones I have had the opportunity to read in the past. I would almost compare this series to one from Wanda Brunstetter with a more straight-forward approach to the situation developing between the Brennerman family and those leaving the Amish faith. I absolutely inhaled this one in an afternoon and am super excited to read the next novel in the series, Fraying the Edge. For me, this one easily garners a 5 out of 5 stars.
January 7, 2019
If I hadn't known that Cindy Woodsmall was a pretty authentic writer about the Amish, I would have been skeptical about the Amish in this book. They live such a different life from our local Amish. But although this book started slowly, it definitely drew me in.
What a premise! Two babies, switched at birth - Arianna grows up Amish, steeped in faith, family, and tradition. Skyler grows up Englisch, and at age 20 is at the epitome of worldliness in Amish terms. Product of a divorced, dysfunctional family, rebellious and troubled, addicted to drugs, Skyler is Arianna's polar opposite. When the switch is discovered, Arianna's biological father insists she leave the Amish and live for one year in the Englisch world, including no contact with her family or friends. The bottom falls out of her world. Skyler's Englisch family gives her the choice of rehab or going to live with her biological Amish parents for 6 months. Her world too is imploding.
There's a lot more to this story. It is deep and complex and the author does a good job of getting inside the characters' heads. Ready for the sequel!
What a premise! Two babies, switched at birth - Arianna grows up Amish, steeped in faith, family, and tradition. Skyler grows up Englisch, and at age 20 is at the epitome of worldliness in Amish terms. Product of a divorced, dysfunctional family, rebellious and troubled, addicted to drugs, Skyler is Arianna's polar opposite. When the switch is discovered, Arianna's biological father insists she leave the Amish and live for one year in the Englisch world, including no contact with her family or friends. The bottom falls out of her world. Skyler's Englisch family gives her the choice of rehab or going to live with her biological Amish parents for 6 months. Her world too is imploding.
There's a lot more to this story. It is deep and complex and the author does a good job of getting inside the characters' heads. Ready for the sequel!
August 18, 2017
I love the cover, totally what drew me in right off, Oh goodness I always wonder what is our deal with loving the Amish, do you think it is 'cause they are so quiet and keep to themselves. I love their simple ways. I think we have so much busyness in our daily lives. I am new to Cindy's books. I love her style. Trying to decide which I love more book 1 or 2? A three book series. For me I've been easily pulled into this world and these amazing characters. I look forward to each book. I am reviewing this after I have read book 2 ... so I am curious where book 3 will take us. I have been super lucky to get these books from the publisher for an honest review and my thoughts. I will definitely be looking into more from Cindy. I only wish I had read her books before now. So love her writing style. But please know that Cindy doesn't do the light and airy side of the Amish ... she brings in a darker side. fear. Such a great read. Loved it!! Well done. ( ;
October 19, 2015
About this book:
“Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?
Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.
Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.
Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.”
Series: Book #1 in “The Amish of Summer Grove” series.
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Talks about God & judging; Talks about the Amish beliefs; Scriptures are discussed, quoted & mention; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God (expect when Skylar referrers to God the ‘H’s are not capital); Mentions of hell & damnation; Mentions of church; Many characters have wonderings about God & aren’t completely sure about things; Nicholas is very against religion of any kind & “detests religion”;
*Note: A “My God” is said from Nicholas. {{I personally take it as him taking the Lord’s name in vain, due to him being against religion.}}
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘bull’, a ‘heck’, a form of ‘idiot’, two ‘crap’s, two ‘geez’s, two ‘oh my gosh’s, two forms of ‘wimp’, nine ‘stupid’s; Skylar curses but they aren’t written out; Sarcasm; A mention of crude words; Skylar drinks; Skylar smokes pot, is addicted to prescription pills & has highs (semi-detailed to detailed); Many mentions of pot, drugs, & drug tests; Many mentions of smoking & cigarettes; Mentions of drinking, beer & drunks; Mentions of bars; Mentions of poison; Mentions of divorce; A mention of hunting.
Sexual Content- a kiss is blown, a cheek kiss, two semi-detailed kisses, and two borderline semi-detailed // detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to be kissed; Touches & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); a ‘hot’, a guy is called “sinfully handsome”; A bit of flirting; A couple mentions of puberty (including a mention of a girl who went to flat-chested girl to a curvy woman which got a teen boy’s attention); Mentions of pictures of women in just underwear, Quill says at least one of his older brothers had certain magazines they hid; A mention of innuendos; A mention of a song talking about a guy taking a girl home; Many mentions of cheating; Mentions of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; Nicholas (married, age 35) & Brandi (age 20) had an affair together which resulted in a child; Giving birth (semi-detailed); Mentions of breast milk (semi-detailed);
*Note: A couple mentions of tight & very short clothing.
-Ariana Brenneman, age 20
P.O.V. switches between Ariana, Lovina, Skylar, Quill & Abram.
339 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
I have very mixed feelings on this book, I’m not quite sure what to think. I just finished the Beverly Lewis “The Heritage of Lancaster County” trilogy, so I admit I was comparing the beginning of this book to that series. The beginning of “Ties That Bind” was quite slow, but picked up about halfway when the big secret (which I guessed) was revealed. I don’t really like Skylar, but I have a feeling she’ll be worse in the second book (rebelling even more), but she could be a lot better. (But, I highly doubt that.) I also have another feeling that the second book may have quite a bit of witnessing. (At least, I hope so.) I’m iffy on Quill (which another thing—some very unique Old Oder Amish names are in this book!). I like Ariana & Rudy together (though I do not like all the kissing between them.), but I do like that Ariana & Quill grew up together. I’m not a fan of how the secret/ending was dealt with, and I am a bit annoyed on how the plot will be dragged out. Will I read the next book? Possibly, and if I do it’ll only be because I want to see if my predictions are right. ;)
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Waterbrook Press) for this review.
“Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?
Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.
Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.
Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.”
Series: Book #1 in “The Amish of Summer Grove” series.
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Talks about God & judging; Talks about the Amish beliefs; Scriptures are discussed, quoted & mention; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God (expect when Skylar referrers to God the ‘H’s are not capital); Mentions of hell & damnation; Mentions of church; Many characters have wonderings about God & aren’t completely sure about things; Nicholas is very against religion of any kind & “detests religion”;
*Note: A “My God” is said from Nicholas. {{I personally take it as him taking the Lord’s name in vain, due to him being against religion.}}
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘bull’, a ‘heck’, a form of ‘idiot’, two ‘crap’s, two ‘geez’s, two ‘oh my gosh’s, two forms of ‘wimp’, nine ‘stupid’s; Skylar curses but they aren’t written out; Sarcasm; A mention of crude words; Skylar drinks; Skylar smokes pot, is addicted to prescription pills & has highs (semi-detailed to detailed); Many mentions of pot, drugs, & drug tests; Many mentions of smoking & cigarettes; Mentions of drinking, beer & drunks; Mentions of bars; Mentions of poison; Mentions of divorce; A mention of hunting.
Sexual Content- a kiss is blown, a cheek kiss, two semi-detailed kisses, and two borderline semi-detailed // detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to be kissed; Touches & Nearness (up to semi-detailed); a ‘hot’, a guy is called “sinfully handsome”; A bit of flirting; A couple mentions of puberty (including a mention of a girl who went to flat-chested girl to a curvy woman which got a teen boy’s attention); Mentions of pictures of women in just underwear, Quill says at least one of his older brothers had certain magazines they hid; A mention of innuendos; A mention of a song talking about a guy taking a girl home; Many mentions of cheating; Mentions of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; Nicholas (married, age 35) & Brandi (age 20) had an affair together which resulted in a child; Giving birth (semi-detailed); Mentions of breast milk (semi-detailed);
*Note: A couple mentions of tight & very short clothing.
-Ariana Brenneman, age 20
P.O.V. switches between Ariana, Lovina, Skylar, Quill & Abram.
339 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
I have very mixed feelings on this book, I’m not quite sure what to think. I just finished the Beverly Lewis “The Heritage of Lancaster County” trilogy, so I admit I was comparing the beginning of this book to that series. The beginning of “Ties That Bind” was quite slow, but picked up about halfway when the big secret (which I guessed) was revealed. I don’t really like Skylar, but I have a feeling she’ll be worse in the second book (rebelling even more), but she could be a lot better. (But, I highly doubt that.) I also have another feeling that the second book may have quite a bit of witnessing. (At least, I hope so.) I’m iffy on Quill (which another thing—some very unique Old Oder Amish names are in this book!). I like Ariana & Rudy together (though I do not like all the kissing between them.), but I do like that Ariana & Quill grew up together. I’m not a fan of how the secret/ending was dealt with, and I am a bit annoyed on how the plot will be dragged out. Will I read the next book? Possibly, and if I do it’ll only be because I want to see if my predictions are right. ;)
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Waterbrook Press) for this review.
April 8, 2019
This story had an amazing story line and I am so glad the series is all published so I can read them all back to back. It was unlike any other series I have read and I really liked how the next book continued the story.
October 13, 2022
A book that makes you think deeply. I’m still deciding how I feel about the situation. One thing I do know, is Skylar’s birth “dad” is a bully and jerk that needs to be taken down a peg or three.
October 4, 2021
Wooo Hooo Hooo!!!
Young adult lit at its best !!!!
Young adult lit at its best !!!!
July 5, 2017
Ties That Bind (2015) by Cindy Woodsmall is the first book in The Amish of Summer Grove series. This novel comes in all forms including eBook, and is 339 pages in length. With a full-time job and a precocious five-year old at home, this book took me three days to read. I received a copy of the novel from WaterBrook Press; all opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give this novel 3.5 STARS. This novel is a Contemporary Amish novel.
This novel gets rave reviews on GoodReads, Amazon, and Christianbook.com. Many, many people via Facebook and other social medias laud this series as “excellent.” And, a good deal of people in one of the reading groups that I participate in update daily with how amazing these novels are, that the pages are flying for them. So, I began this novel with great expectations. I actually couldn’t wait to read this first book in the series. I thought that if everyone loves it so much, this must be a fantastic story.
I feel like I am missing something that other readers are seeing, but I found myself bored with this novel. Many times, I could put the book down. The entire time I was reading the book I thought to myself, “There has to be more to this, where is the action?” I am kind of at a loss for what to review because I feel like if I say anything, including anything from the exposition, it will inadvertently be a spoiler. I had this novel figured out by chapter one, which made continuing reading really hard. For me, there were no surprises. In fact, I felt most of this novel was a cliche. The Amish girl is a good girl who wants to better her family’s existence. She loves God. She loves her family. And, she has a crush on a boy that could be serious. The Englisch girl is bad. She comes from a divorced home. She does drugs. She is selfish. This seemingly stereotypical portrayal of the non-Amish girl really frustrated me, and is part of why I could put the book down. I come from a divorced home, but I love God. I adore my family and work really hard to make their lives a little better. I never took drugs. I never went crazy. I went to college and studied hard and got multiple degrees so I could work for a living. I take great offense at this cliched caricature. And, it made me unable to relate to Ariana or Skylar because, to me, they don’t feel realistically written.
Another issue I have with this novel is the conflict between Quill and Ariana. When Ariana was 15, Quill and Freida (Ariana’s best friend), escape the Amish community in the middle of the night. Ariana was shocked and deeply hurt as any person would be in this situation, Amish or not. She had grown to love Quill, and believed one day they would marry. Of course, Ariana assumes quite a lot about what happened between her best friend and the boy she loved. When Quill comes back into Ariana’s life five years later, Ariana is sure that he is up to no good and doesn’t give him the benefit of the doubt. The set up for this conflict is very well done. I kept waiting for a big reveal. I kept waiting for the truth to set Ariana and Quill free. This never happens. And, when you finally (near the very end of the book) get a small explanation as to why Freida had to leave, which was super obvious to this reader very early on, it was a “reveal moment” letdown.
On a positive note, I do love Lovina’s character. Lovina is Ariana’s mother, and she is the one who goes through a truly wretched experience. It’s the kind of experience that mother’s should never go through. Her character is exceptionally realistic and very well written. There are moments in the novel, especially towards the end, where I cried for Lovina and wanted desperately give her a huge hug. My heart broke for her quite a bit. I will continue to read the series because my mommy’s heart needs to see that Lovina has a satisfying conclusion. If I had to rate the novel just on her character and experiences, I would give this book a 5 STAR rating. Lovina is fantastic!
I think my real issue with this novel is that the entire book is exposition to set up book 2 and book 3. The unresolved ending forces the reader to buy book 2 and book 3 to see how Ariana and Skylar’s stories end. This is fine, but in order for me to want to keep reading a series I have to get something out of book 1: a big, surprising reveal, an answer to a question, a sense that the characters will reconcile, a love interest of some kind, etc. But, I didn’t get that in this book. Hopefully, book 2 and 3 will have what I am looking for in a book. Regardless, I have to read them to see how things turn out for Lovina.
This novel gets rave reviews on GoodReads, Amazon, and Christianbook.com. Many, many people via Facebook and other social medias laud this series as “excellent.” And, a good deal of people in one of the reading groups that I participate in update daily with how amazing these novels are, that the pages are flying for them. So, I began this novel with great expectations. I actually couldn’t wait to read this first book in the series. I thought that if everyone loves it so much, this must be a fantastic story.
I feel like I am missing something that other readers are seeing, but I found myself bored with this novel. Many times, I could put the book down. The entire time I was reading the book I thought to myself, “There has to be more to this, where is the action?” I am kind of at a loss for what to review because I feel like if I say anything, including anything from the exposition, it will inadvertently be a spoiler. I had this novel figured out by chapter one, which made continuing reading really hard. For me, there were no surprises. In fact, I felt most of this novel was a cliche. The Amish girl is a good girl who wants to better her family’s existence. She loves God. She loves her family. And, she has a crush on a boy that could be serious. The Englisch girl is bad. She comes from a divorced home. She does drugs. She is selfish. This seemingly stereotypical portrayal of the non-Amish girl really frustrated me, and is part of why I could put the book down. I come from a divorced home, but I love God. I adore my family and work really hard to make their lives a little better. I never took drugs. I never went crazy. I went to college and studied hard and got multiple degrees so I could work for a living. I take great offense at this cliched caricature. And, it made me unable to relate to Ariana or Skylar because, to me, they don’t feel realistically written.
Another issue I have with this novel is the conflict between Quill and Ariana. When Ariana was 15, Quill and Freida (Ariana’s best friend), escape the Amish community in the middle of the night. Ariana was shocked and deeply hurt as any person would be in this situation, Amish or not. She had grown to love Quill, and believed one day they would marry. Of course, Ariana assumes quite a lot about what happened between her best friend and the boy she loved. When Quill comes back into Ariana’s life five years later, Ariana is sure that he is up to no good and doesn’t give him the benefit of the doubt. The set up for this conflict is very well done. I kept waiting for a big reveal. I kept waiting for the truth to set Ariana and Quill free. This never happens. And, when you finally (near the very end of the book) get a small explanation as to why Freida had to leave, which was super obvious to this reader very early on, it was a “reveal moment” letdown.
On a positive note, I do love Lovina’s character. Lovina is Ariana’s mother, and she is the one who goes through a truly wretched experience. It’s the kind of experience that mother’s should never go through. Her character is exceptionally realistic and very well written. There are moments in the novel, especially towards the end, where I cried for Lovina and wanted desperately give her a huge hug. My heart broke for her quite a bit. I will continue to read the series because my mommy’s heart needs to see that Lovina has a satisfying conclusion. If I had to rate the novel just on her character and experiences, I would give this book a 5 STAR rating. Lovina is fantastic!
I think my real issue with this novel is that the entire book is exposition to set up book 2 and book 3. The unresolved ending forces the reader to buy book 2 and book 3 to see how Ariana and Skylar’s stories end. This is fine, but in order for me to want to keep reading a series I have to get something out of book 1: a big, surprising reveal, an answer to a question, a sense that the characters will reconcile, a love interest of some kind, etc. But, I didn’t get that in this book. Hopefully, book 2 and 3 will have what I am looking for in a book. Regardless, I have to read them to see how things turn out for Lovina.
November 2, 2017
Book one, Ties that Bind, in Cindy Woodsmall’s series The Amish of Summer Grove is an enjoyable and sweet Amish novel that readers will enjoy. Although it may take readers a couple of chapters to get into the story, Woodsmall eventually captures the attention of her readers with the charming and relatable characters. Woodsmall brings to life the struggles and challenges that some Amish have with wanting to turn to the outside world, rather than staying amongst their own people. This is a pleasant story that fans of Amish fiction will want to pick up.
Series: The Amish of Summer Grove
Genre: Amish, Christian
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Publication date: September 8, 2015
Number of pages: 339
A review copy of this book was provided by Blogging for Books. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Series: The Amish of Summer Grove
Genre: Amish, Christian
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Publication date: September 8, 2015
Number of pages: 339
A review copy of this book was provided by Blogging for Books. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
October 23, 2015
Ties that Bind
Book Summary
Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?
Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.
Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.
*
Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.
Ties That Bind is the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series
I received an ARC of this book which in no way influenced my opinion or review.
My Review
I really enjoyed this book. This book was all about family, the love of Christ and doing what is right even when it hurts. The lead up to the stories of Ariana and Skylar was excellent. They were well developed character and the author did a great job of building the connection between the two young women. The supporting characters provided great body to the story and allowed me to really immerse myself into the story. What was also interesting was the element of intrigue surrounding Quill and Ariana's family. I thought that played so well into the outcome of the story. Ariana's decision as she was in a difficult situation brought joy to my heart.
From a Christian Perspective
In this book I met one family who lived to glorify Christ by their actions and beliefs. On the other side was a splintered family with no spiritual direction. How the author brought this together was amazing. She really allowed the love of Christ and of others to shine through in this story. Ariana's parents faith was so strong and showed how you need to believe and trust that God's Will is right and true all the time. Even though we don't always understand it, it is still true. Ariana's story reminds me of Joseph who was also torn away from his family (Gen 37). Even in challenging circumstances, Joseph was able to rise above by trusting in and relying on God.
Overall, I would recommend this book to lovers of Christian Fiction as well as those who love a great story.
Love and Blessings!
Margaret
Book Summary
Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?
Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.
Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.
*
Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.
Ties That Bind is the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series
I received an ARC of this book which in no way influenced my opinion or review.
My Review
I really enjoyed this book. This book was all about family, the love of Christ and doing what is right even when it hurts. The lead up to the stories of Ariana and Skylar was excellent. They were well developed character and the author did a great job of building the connection between the two young women. The supporting characters provided great body to the story and allowed me to really immerse myself into the story. What was also interesting was the element of intrigue surrounding Quill and Ariana's family. I thought that played so well into the outcome of the story. Ariana's decision as she was in a difficult situation brought joy to my heart.
From a Christian Perspective
In this book I met one family who lived to glorify Christ by their actions and beliefs. On the other side was a splintered family with no spiritual direction. How the author brought this together was amazing. She really allowed the love of Christ and of others to shine through in this story. Ariana's parents faith was so strong and showed how you need to believe and trust that God's Will is right and true all the time. Even though we don't always understand it, it is still true. Ariana's story reminds me of Joseph who was also torn away from his family (Gen 37). Even in challenging circumstances, Joseph was able to rise above by trusting in and relying on God.
Overall, I would recommend this book to lovers of Christian Fiction as well as those who love a great story.
Love and Blessings!
Margaret
September 25, 2015
What if everything you believed about yourself and your family was a lie? 20-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her Amish heritage and is looking to the future, working hard alongside her twin brother to save enough money to open their own cafe. Her mother, Lovina, watches them with pride and joy, but a niggling doubt finally causes her to investigate further into the night her twins were born. The birthing center had caught on fire while two mothers gave birth just a minutes apart; was it possible that in the chaos the baby girls had been switched?
One night, while checking on a sick neighbor, Ariana comes across a friend from her childhood whom she hadn't seen in five years, not since he left the Amish faith with another girl and broke her heart. When Quill apologizes and hints at more heartache ahead for Ariana, she realizes that he has been the mysterious figure helping young men and women leave the Amish faith quickly and quietly, whisking them away and helping them establish footing in the outside world. Knowing his apology means that one of her nine siblings must be considering leaving the fold, Ariana makes it her personal quest to find out which one and convince them to stay.
Quill firmly believes that every person has the right to choose their own life path, whether Amish or not, without condemnation for others. He had planned to remain Amish and marry Ariana someday until circumstances forced him to make a hard choice. Now that he's gotten involved in secretly helping Amish people navigate the English world, he's privy to a lot of hidden secrets. When Lovina and her husband come to him for help in tracking down the girl who may be their biological daughter, he knows it could destroy the life of one whom he still loves very much.
The other girl born on that fiery night twenty years ago is Skyler Nash, an aspiring actress who has big dreams but an even bigger tendency towards making bad decisions. With an unsavory boyfriend and a growing drug dependency, Skyler feels like her world is falling around her when her grades make her ineligible for performing in the college theatre program.
This is a novel with many deep storylines. It's an excellent start to Cindy Woodsmall's new series, but be prepared that it's just the beginning. You are definitely going to want to read the second novel when it comes out next year! As the puzzle pieces start coming together your heart will be tugged in many different directions. Joy, sadness, fear, love, and resolve are on full display. I really enjoyed this story, which is no surprise with this author.
I received my copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.
This review originated at http://reviewsbyerin.livejournal.com
One night, while checking on a sick neighbor, Ariana comes across a friend from her childhood whom she hadn't seen in five years, not since he left the Amish faith with another girl and broke her heart. When Quill apologizes and hints at more heartache ahead for Ariana, she realizes that he has been the mysterious figure helping young men and women leave the Amish faith quickly and quietly, whisking them away and helping them establish footing in the outside world. Knowing his apology means that one of her nine siblings must be considering leaving the fold, Ariana makes it her personal quest to find out which one and convince them to stay.
Quill firmly believes that every person has the right to choose their own life path, whether Amish or not, without condemnation for others. He had planned to remain Amish and marry Ariana someday until circumstances forced him to make a hard choice. Now that he's gotten involved in secretly helping Amish people navigate the English world, he's privy to a lot of hidden secrets. When Lovina and her husband come to him for help in tracking down the girl who may be their biological daughter, he knows it could destroy the life of one whom he still loves very much.
The other girl born on that fiery night twenty years ago is Skyler Nash, an aspiring actress who has big dreams but an even bigger tendency towards making bad decisions. With an unsavory boyfriend and a growing drug dependency, Skyler feels like her world is falling around her when her grades make her ineligible for performing in the college theatre program.
This is a novel with many deep storylines. It's an excellent start to Cindy Woodsmall's new series, but be prepared that it's just the beginning. You are definitely going to want to read the second novel when it comes out next year! As the puzzle pieces start coming together your heart will be tugged in many different directions. Joy, sadness, fear, love, and resolve are on full display. I really enjoyed this story, which is no surprise with this author.
I received my copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.
This review originated at http://reviewsbyerin.livejournal.com
August 5, 2017
Loved this story, can't wait till the next one in this series. 4 +
THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY
The story starts off with Lovina and Brandi giving birth in a Amish birthing hospital. The story goes back and forth with their daughters lives.
Ariana being Amish and Sky English. I took a liking to Ariana with her upbringing, drive and determination. She set a goal and stuck to it.
What she didn't know was the secrets that her parents unearthed with the help of her Ex who left the Amish five years ago. This one secret was enough to destroy everything in everyone's life.
Ties that bind takes you on a journey of love, lost and heartache. The ending nearly had me in tears. For Ariana to make such a Painful decision after all she worked hard for was amazing!!!!!
**
Here's a peek at the main Amish female character Ariana says about being a sister, “Sisterhood was like having a vivid rainbow and a gloomy thunderstorm in the same room at the same time.” LOL!
Here's a peek at leading male Amish character; Quill and what he shares about relationships, “People’s point of views were tricky in any relationship. That was especially true with him and Ariana. Quill had a helicopter view of the event in broad daylight. She wasn’t to blame for seeing him from the vantage point available to her (which was limited).”…He told Ariana “We have to allow people to make their own decisions about what’s right and wrong for them?” Quill is a complex young man who believes with all his heart he’s here to help people through the hard times. He wants to help them make the right choice for them no matter what the Old Order church says. This young man was loyal, responsible and wise.
Quill reflects on words found in a book from the Plymouth colony that help him.” All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties…Hardship wasn’t an indicator of being right or wrong. It was a sign of being alive.”
Ariana aspires to own her own restaurant that would benefit her whole family; at the same time she is fearful a family member wants to leave the Amish community. She thinks about the “fear Amish parents lived with …after welcoming newborns into the fold, watching over them with love and prayers for two decades, give or take, and then to see them across a great divide, standing in the world with the Amish on the other side. Did Englisch parents live with such fear, for their children – the terror that the fires of hell would swallow their loved ones?”
This is not your typical Amish story where a person is unhappy with the Old Order ways and wants to embrace the ways of the World. It’s so much more. This author does a brilliant job of engaging readers in this heart-wrenching tale that has two families think about what’s important to God, to themselves, and others. I can’t wait to read the next book in The Amish of Summer Grove series.
**
Here's a peek at the main Amish female character Ariana says about being a sister, “Sisterhood was like having a vivid rainbow and a gloomy thunderstorm in the same room at the same time.” LOL!
Here's a peek at leading male Amish character; Quill and what he shares about relationships, “People’s point of views were tricky in any relationship. That was especially true with him and Ariana. Quill had a helicopter view of the event in broad daylight. She wasn’t to blame for seeing him from the vantage point available to her (which was limited).”…He told Ariana “We have to allow people to make their own decisions about what’s right and wrong for them?” Quill is a complex young man who believes with all his heart he’s here to help people through the hard times. He wants to help them make the right choice for them no matter what the Old Order church says. This young man was loyal, responsible and wise.
Quill reflects on words found in a book from the Plymouth colony that help him.” All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties…Hardship wasn’t an indicator of being right or wrong. It was a sign of being alive.”
Ariana aspires to own her own restaurant that would benefit her whole family; at the same time she is fearful a family member wants to leave the Amish community. She thinks about the “fear Amish parents lived with …after welcoming newborns into the fold, watching over them with love and prayers for two decades, give or take, and then to see them across a great divide, standing in the world with the Amish on the other side. Did Englisch parents live with such fear, for their children – the terror that the fires of hell would swallow their loved ones?”
This is not your typical Amish story where a person is unhappy with the Old Order ways and wants to embrace the ways of the World. It’s so much more. This author does a brilliant job of engaging readers in this heart-wrenching tale that has two families think about what’s important to God, to themselves, and others. I can’t wait to read the next book in The Amish of Summer Grove series.
**
Here's a peek at the main Amish female character Ariana says about being a sister, “Sisterhood was like having a vivid rainbow and a gloomy thunderstorm in the same room at the same time.” LOL!
Here's a peek at leading male Amish character; Quill and what he shares about relationships, “People’s point of views were tricky in any relationship. That was especially true with him and Ariana. Quill had a helicopter view of the event in broad daylight. She wasn’t to blame for seeing him from the vantage point available to her (which was limited).”…He told Ariana “We have to allow people to make their own decisions about what’s right and wrong for them?” Quill is a complex young man who believes with all his heart he’s here to help people through the hard times. He wants to help them make the right choice for them no matter what the Old Order church says. This young man was loyal, responsible and wise.
Quill reflects on words found in a book from the Plymouth colony that help him.” All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties…Hardship wasn’t an indicator of being right or wrong. It was a sign of being alive.”
Ariana aspires to own her own restaurant that would benefit her whole family; at the same time she is fearful a family member wants to leave the Amish community. She thinks about the “fear Amish parents lived with …after welcoming newborns into the fold, watching over them with love and prayers for two decades, give or take, and then to see them across a great divide, standing in the world with the Amish on the other side. Did Englisch parents live with such fear, for their children – the terror that the fires of hell would swallow their loved ones?”
This is not your typical Amish story where a person is unhappy with the Old Order ways and wants to embrace the ways of the World. It’s so much more. This author does a brilliant job of engaging readers in this heart-wrenching tale that has two families think about what’s important to God, to themselves, and others. I can’t wait to read the next book in The Amish of Summer Grove series.
*********
Skylar: English girl that was switched at birth
Brandy: Sky's mom that is the dress maker for the theater.
Cameron: Sky's step sister
Gabe: Sky's step dad
Nicholas Jenkins-Sky's bio dad
THIS SUMMARY/REVIEW WAS COPIED FROM OTHER SOURCES AND IS USED ONLY AS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE BOOK WAS ABOUT FOR MY PERSONAL INTEREST. ANY PERSONAL NOTATIONS ARE FOR MY RECOLLECTION ONLY
The story starts off with Lovina and Brandi giving birth in a Amish birthing hospital. The story goes back and forth with their daughters lives.
Ariana being Amish and Sky English. I took a liking to Ariana with her upbringing, drive and determination. She set a goal and stuck to it.
What she didn't know was the secrets that her parents unearthed with the help of her Ex who left the Amish five years ago. This one secret was enough to destroy everything in everyone's life.
Ties that bind takes you on a journey of love, lost and heartache. The ending nearly had me in tears. For Ariana to make such a Painful decision after all she worked hard for was amazing!!!!!
**
Here's a peek at the main Amish female character Ariana says about being a sister, “Sisterhood was like having a vivid rainbow and a gloomy thunderstorm in the same room at the same time.” LOL!
Here's a peek at leading male Amish character; Quill and what he shares about relationships, “People’s point of views were tricky in any relationship. That was especially true with him and Ariana. Quill had a helicopter view of the event in broad daylight. She wasn’t to blame for seeing him from the vantage point available to her (which was limited).”…He told Ariana “We have to allow people to make their own decisions about what’s right and wrong for them?” Quill is a complex young man who believes with all his heart he’s here to help people through the hard times. He wants to help them make the right choice for them no matter what the Old Order church says. This young man was loyal, responsible and wise.
Quill reflects on words found in a book from the Plymouth colony that help him.” All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties…Hardship wasn’t an indicator of being right or wrong. It was a sign of being alive.”
Ariana aspires to own her own restaurant that would benefit her whole family; at the same time she is fearful a family member wants to leave the Amish community. She thinks about the “fear Amish parents lived with …after welcoming newborns into the fold, watching over them with love and prayers for two decades, give or take, and then to see them across a great divide, standing in the world with the Amish on the other side. Did Englisch parents live with such fear, for their children – the terror that the fires of hell would swallow their loved ones?”
This is not your typical Amish story where a person is unhappy with the Old Order ways and wants to embrace the ways of the World. It’s so much more. This author does a brilliant job of engaging readers in this heart-wrenching tale that has two families think about what’s important to God, to themselves, and others. I can’t wait to read the next book in The Amish of Summer Grove series.
**
Here's a peek at the main Amish female character Ariana says about being a sister, “Sisterhood was like having a vivid rainbow and a gloomy thunderstorm in the same room at the same time.” LOL!
Here's a peek at leading male Amish character; Quill and what he shares about relationships, “People’s point of views were tricky in any relationship. That was especially true with him and Ariana. Quill had a helicopter view of the event in broad daylight. She wasn’t to blame for seeing him from the vantage point available to her (which was limited).”…He told Ariana “We have to allow people to make their own decisions about what’s right and wrong for them?” Quill is a complex young man who believes with all his heart he’s here to help people through the hard times. He wants to help them make the right choice for them no matter what the Old Order church says. This young man was loyal, responsible and wise.
Quill reflects on words found in a book from the Plymouth colony that help him.” All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties…Hardship wasn’t an indicator of being right or wrong. It was a sign of being alive.”
Ariana aspires to own her own restaurant that would benefit her whole family; at the same time she is fearful a family member wants to leave the Amish community. She thinks about the “fear Amish parents lived with …after welcoming newborns into the fold, watching over them with love and prayers for two decades, give or take, and then to see them across a great divide, standing in the world with the Amish on the other side. Did Englisch parents live with such fear, for their children – the terror that the fires of hell would swallow their loved ones?”
This is not your typical Amish story where a person is unhappy with the Old Order ways and wants to embrace the ways of the World. It’s so much more. This author does a brilliant job of engaging readers in this heart-wrenching tale that has two families think about what’s important to God, to themselves, and others. I can’t wait to read the next book in The Amish of Summer Grove series.
**
Here's a peek at the main Amish female character Ariana says about being a sister, “Sisterhood was like having a vivid rainbow and a gloomy thunderstorm in the same room at the same time.” LOL!
Here's a peek at leading male Amish character; Quill and what he shares about relationships, “People’s point of views were tricky in any relationship. That was especially true with him and Ariana. Quill had a helicopter view of the event in broad daylight. She wasn’t to blame for seeing him from the vantage point available to her (which was limited).”…He told Ariana “We have to allow people to make their own decisions about what’s right and wrong for them?” Quill is a complex young man who believes with all his heart he’s here to help people through the hard times. He wants to help them make the right choice for them no matter what the Old Order church says. This young man was loyal, responsible and wise.
Quill reflects on words found in a book from the Plymouth colony that help him.” All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties…Hardship wasn’t an indicator of being right or wrong. It was a sign of being alive.”
Ariana aspires to own her own restaurant that would benefit her whole family; at the same time she is fearful a family member wants to leave the Amish community. She thinks about the “fear Amish parents lived with …after welcoming newborns into the fold, watching over them with love and prayers for two decades, give or take, and then to see them across a great divide, standing in the world with the Amish on the other side. Did Englisch parents live with such fear, for their children – the terror that the fires of hell would swallow their loved ones?”
This is not your typical Amish story where a person is unhappy with the Old Order ways and wants to embrace the ways of the World. It’s so much more. This author does a brilliant job of engaging readers in this heart-wrenching tale that has two families think about what’s important to God, to themselves, and others. I can’t wait to read the next book in The Amish of Summer Grove series.
*********
Skylar: English girl that was switched at birth
Brandy: Sky's mom that is the dress maker for the theater.
Cameron: Sky's step sister
Gabe: Sky's step dad
Nicholas Jenkins-Sky's bio dad
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2015
This is not the typical Amish novel where the beautiful, dedicated, and tranquil life within the community rolls along like a buggy trip through the lush countryside. No. A darker side of the community of believers is brought forth. Secrets. Fear. A much different community of people inhabit Summer Grove.
As typical with Amish communities, there is shunning when a member leaves the community for the outside world. Ariana, the young Amish woman who felt the heart-wrenching betrayal five years prior to the opening pages of Ties That Bind when her beloved Quill abruptly leaves the community and takes her dear Frieda with him. However, typical of a sweet Amish lady, Ariana continues to care for Quill's mother who is ill and all alone in the community.
I was certainly surprised as Ties That Bind unfolded its many layers revealing feelings, faith, and futility. I was surprised at the fear and secrecy that surround an individual's or a families' plans to leave the community.
This is a well written book with characters that are well developed and believable. The emotional experiences of the characters is well expressed by the author.
While I never enjoy turmoil, secrets, and lives lived in fear, the author has written a believable story and it is one I can highly recommend.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the Blogging for Books Review Program on behalf of Waterbrook Press to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine and I was not compensated.
As typical with Amish communities, there is shunning when a member leaves the community for the outside world. Ariana, the young Amish woman who felt the heart-wrenching betrayal five years prior to the opening pages of Ties That Bind when her beloved Quill abruptly leaves the community and takes her dear Frieda with him. However, typical of a sweet Amish lady, Ariana continues to care for Quill's mother who is ill and all alone in the community.
I was certainly surprised as Ties That Bind unfolded its many layers revealing feelings, faith, and futility. I was surprised at the fear and secrecy that surround an individual's or a families' plans to leave the community.
This is a well written book with characters that are well developed and believable. The emotional experiences of the characters is well expressed by the author.
While I never enjoy turmoil, secrets, and lives lived in fear, the author has written a believable story and it is one I can highly recommend.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the Blogging for Books Review Program on behalf of Waterbrook Press to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine and I was not compensated.
September 24, 2015
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Five years have gone by since Quill and Frieda jumped the fence, leaving Quill's girl Ariana behind, hurting because of the betrayal of her boyfriend and best friend. Then Quill shows back up in Summer Grove. It was kind of difficult sometimes to follow what was going on because the reason for Quill and Frieda leaving was so secretive, it didn't make a lot of sense. The story gets interesting when Ariana's parents come to Quill because they suspect their baby was switched with an Englischer's baby at the time of birth. Resulting I a lot of tension and unanswered questions. Questions that only Quill could find out. This part of the story was so very interesting I couldn't put the book down, because I wanted to see what happened to these two young ladies. I sure hope there is a book two coming soon because the book ended in the middle of the story, leaving me hanging off a cliff! Can't wait to see what happens with these two young ladies!
I received this book from Blogging for Books to read and 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 55.
Five years have gone by since Quill and Frieda jumped the fence, leaving Quill's girl Ariana behind, hurting because of the betrayal of her boyfriend and best friend. Then Quill shows back up in Summer Grove. It was kind of difficult sometimes to follow what was going on because the reason for Quill and Frieda leaving was so secretive, it didn't make a lot of sense. The story gets interesting when Ariana's parents come to Quill because they suspect their baby was switched with an Englischer's baby at the time of birth. Resulting I a lot of tension and unanswered questions. Questions that only Quill could find out. This part of the story was so very interesting I couldn't put the book down, because I wanted to see what happened to these two young ladies. I sure hope there is a book two coming soon because the book ended in the middle of the story, leaving me hanging off a cliff! Can't wait to see what happens with these two young ladies!
I received this book from Blogging for Books to read and 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 55.
January 8, 2016
Cindy Woodsmall's new Amish of Summer Grove series gets off to an intriguing start with Ties That Bind.
In addition to including many elements that are familiar in Amish fiction, this story deals with some topics not often included. Quill is an ex-Amish young man who now spends his time helping others who struggling with the choice to leave their community. How and why he does that is one of the big uncertainties throughout the story. Ariana and her family discover they have connections to the English world that could have far-reaching impacts on many people.
Cindy has created characters who are interesting to get to know, whose lives and struggles are easy to care about. There are questions and crises, twists and turns, that keep the story moving and interesting. And the ending leaves things hanging in a way that guarantees a need to look forward to the second book in the series!
Ties That Bind is a great read for fans of Amish fiction, just as you would expect from Cindy Woodsmall.
Thanks to Blogging for Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
In addition to including many elements that are familiar in Amish fiction, this story deals with some topics not often included. Quill is an ex-Amish young man who now spends his time helping others who struggling with the choice to leave their community. How and why he does that is one of the big uncertainties throughout the story. Ariana and her family discover they have connections to the English world that could have far-reaching impacts on many people.
Cindy has created characters who are interesting to get to know, whose lives and struggles are easy to care about. There are questions and crises, twists and turns, that keep the story moving and interesting. And the ending leaves things hanging in a way that guarantees a need to look forward to the second book in the series!
Ties That Bind is a great read for fans of Amish fiction, just as you would expect from Cindy Woodsmall.
Thanks to Blogging for Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
July 16, 2017
While it took a couple short chapters to get into this book I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and story which took several surprising turns. My biggest critique is that the ending was very unrealistic. The main 20 year old character begrudgingly decides to go live with her biological parents for a year agreeing to have no contact with any family/friends. There is no way these parents had any legal rights to enforce this and I don't believe this character would have followed through with this decision at all. While I believe she would have agreed to meet, spend time, and get to know her biological family I don't believe she would have walked away from her culture, family, and cafe that she had just worked so hard to purchase. I'm torn because while I'd like to continue this series to see what happens to these characters I'm not sure I can bring myself to follow a story I don't see as believable. This is disappointing because the author in many circumstances seems to have intimate knowledge of the Amish and appears to create a story that could be believable otherwise.
September 7, 2015
Wow! Cindy Woodsmall is such an amazing author!
Cindy took a problem I never thought I’d see in Amish fiction – a problem so rare I’ve only seen it mentioned in another series one time – and she made it work.
Right at the beginning you get completely drawn in… and you can’t put the book down… there’s smoke coming in the room, so you know there’s a fire. Talk about a good opening – this is a great one!
I’m a bit weird in that I love read Amish fiction – without the English world coming in to make trouble – but Cindy handled the story with an expert touch. The author does a superb job making the problem believable.
And no, I’m not going to even give a hint as to what the problem is… if you want to know, you have to read the book. And let me encourage you right now – read the book.
October 2, 2015
Amazing story! This is the start of a great new series, about an amish family whose lives are turned upside down when it's realized that their daughter was swapped as a baby. A compelling story of the daughter, Ariana, and a long time friend, Quill, this book has a lot going on behind the scenes. I like the mysterious activities of Quill, as he helps people in his amish community decide what to do when they are unsure of staying in the faith. I like Ariana's pursuit of buying a cafe that would ultimately help her whole family and the community. It's also interesting when it focuses on the daughter of the english world, as she is trying to find her way. I'm looking forward to see what happens further in the series. Thanks to the author and goodreads, as they provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2016
So, so good. I loved this book. Some books about the Amish are better than others. This is one of the best. I was disappointed with the ending, as it just ended, but then I realized that there is a sequel, continuing the story and I am so excited to read it, I am starting it today!
I don't want to give anything away, so I can't say much about the plot, but the characters are amazing, they seem very real, as do the situations they find themselves in. It makes me want to live a simpler life, probably not as simple as the Amish, but it's a sign of a really great author, to make you want to be IN the story with the characters. At least, that's how I see it.
Clean and simple and a really, good story.
I don't want to give anything away, so I can't say much about the plot, but the characters are amazing, they seem very real, as do the situations they find themselves in. It makes me want to live a simpler life, probably not as simple as the Amish, but it's a sign of a really great author, to make you want to be IN the story with the characters. At least, that's how I see it.
Clean and simple and a really, good story.
November 8, 2016
This was not what I expected. I figured out the secret of the siblings right away, but the one about the friends took until half way through the book for me to get. The plot was interesting; it's the kind of story that I don't often read. I liked most of the characters. Quill was the character that I liked the most. He was so sweet, and I felt so bad for him. I hope he and Ari get back together. Skyler was the character that I liked the least. Her parents were close behind, though. They weren't in this book much, but, based on the ending of this book, I have a feeling that they will play a much bigger part in the the next book.
July 2, 2017
A very interesting read, especially if you enjoy different Amish books. Cindy focuses more on the family aspect of relationships, instead of romantic relationships; something that I found great. I did not like how Skylar was a heavy druggy, in my opinion, that could've been left out. I know that's the way of the world, but to me it was overdone. I did like the twists and turns Cindy put in the book, and the ending held an encouraging, hopeful look for Ariana and her future among the English. I enjoy books where I find a character I can relate to, and that was Ariana; making the book more enjoyable despite Skylar's drug abuse.
September 23, 2015
This was such a fantastic story. It was so different than most of the other Amish stories I have read. What would anyone do if they found out their child was switched with another child at birth. This is so well done. It is going to be hard waiting for the next book in this series. I love all the characters. How will Ariana and Skylar handle trading places for a while. This would be hard for anyone. I received this book from Blogging for Books for a fair and honest opinion.
March 30, 2018
Like I've told my husband, Cindy Woodsmall could write on any subject and make it eminently readable. She is a storyteller and an excellent one. And this comes from someone who isn't enamored of the Amish lifestyle for numerous reasons, primarily lack of independent thinking.
Naturally, I'll be reading the rest of this series.
Naturally, I'll be reading the rest of this series.
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