Nora S. (biblegirl06) reviewed Fraying at the Edge (Amish of Summer Grove, Bk 2) on + 92 more book reviews
This story reminds me of the authors' first series titled Sisters of the Quilt. The thing I loved about the stories was the fact it took place mostly outside the Amish community. While reading that first novel, When the Heart Cries; I learned to expect the unexpected from this author. I loved that. The same holds true with The Amish of Summer Grove series. The story and characters have grabbed my heart and never let it go.
This is not your typical Amish tale. Far from it. If you didn't read book one in this new series you will be brought up to speed by the author in the sequel, BUT you will have missed the richness of this story and the depths these families have been through and still agonize over their circumstances in Fraying at the Edge.
This author has a wonderful writing talent that quickly pulls readers into her books hook, line and sinker. In book one Ties that Bind, Skylar and Ariana discover at age 20, that they were switched at birth. Each family wants the chance to get to know their biological child. Nicholas (Ariana's biological father) has threatened the Amish community with a huge lawsuit (and/or jail time for the nurse in charge) if they don't comply with his demands. So Ariana goes off with her Englisch family and Skylar has the choice to submit to an inpatient rehab center OR to go to the Amish community in order to know her biological Mom and Dad. She chooses the Amish family. The author placed the reader inside the main characters shoes and had them looking at the world through their eyes. It was moving as both girls' worlds are turned upside down and are plunged into a surreal one year experience.
Here's a peek at the girls first impression of their new life. "Skylar had a lot to adjust to new family, Amish rules by the silo full, no modern conveniences, and the frustration of living in a poor home. Every time she turned around, another pipe had broken, which meant someone had to haul water into the house so she could brush her teeth. ...Who lived like this no electric lights, washing clothes by hand even when the water worked...the hardest part of this ordeal thus far was the lack of drugs...All she could think about was a couple of tablets of Xanax, Ativan, or Valium. Anything to stop the incessant restless legs."
Ariana was having a different kind of challenge. Who knew that making breakfast for her new family would cause so much chaos? Her biological mother's husband Gabe looked at Ariana. He told the person on the phone to hold a minute. "He lowered the phone to his chest, "It's the security system people. They said the emergency button inside the house was pushed. Is everything okay?"
"I..I guess," Ariana shrugged. "As far as I know I was trying to turn on the stove."
"The stove?" Gabe repeated.
"Dad ----Cameron rolled her eyes "tell the guy all our secret code stuff, convince him the house hasn't been invaded by body snatchers, and let him get back to the people who aren't trying to figure out how to use electricity."..."It's a whole new world for you, isn't it Princess Jasmine?"
"That's enough Cameron."
"What?"...You don't think I'm being nice either, Dad? Ariana and Toto aren't in Kansas anymore! Is anyone in this house surprised by that?"
"I am, Ariana's words were a growl.... I'm totally surprised by it. Shocked. Miserable. But it's just funny to you, isn't it?...Tell you what. You learn Gabe isn't your Dad at all, and trade him for someone as difficult as Nicholas. You give up your comfortable life and put yourself, by yourself, in, I don't know, maybe the Middle East, where the culture is totally disrespectful of you and all you've been taught to believe. Then we'll talk about how nice you've been okay?"
Does that make you want to read more? Can you feel both girls' anxiety, pain, loneness, despair? I like how one of Quill's siblings explained the experience both girls were having. "You're in a room of people who, in one way or another, had a high-magnitude earthquake hit their lives, Ariana...Quill had it the worst!"
This is why Quill was so helpful to Ariana. He was great at helping her navigate this strange new World.
Another aspect of this novel I loved is how naturally the spiritual thread is woven into this story. Just when the reader is totally invested in the novel and on the edge of their seat wondering what will happen next; I was stirred in my spirit and my heart by something I was dealing with and/or had dealt with in my own faith journey. That's another thing I love about this authors novels. I can expected the holy spirit to working in my heart. That's also unexpected on many levels and one of the main reasons I read Christian Fiction.
Quill teaches Ariana to listen to that still small voice inside of her. He says, "Never discount anything your senses are telling you, not at first. Let the information sink in, and trust your ability to reason out the truth. If you're wrong, that will become evident soon enough. Usually when one part of us is telling another part of us what's going on, it's a gift from God. Use it. ...Quill continues, "You know what you need? His eyes reflected hope. "You need a new view of the Heavens."
"Of the Heavens?"
"Ari, our God is so much bigger than we can grasp. As children we saw him as if we were inside a snow globe and he was just outside it, on his throne out of sight, looking down at us. For those of us raised to believe in a jealous, angry God, we see him with a frown, scowling. And as all Amish know, being frowned on is one tiny step from being shunned."
Ariana says when asked about life outside the Amish community, "The Englisch world was a mixture of fascinating beauty and deviant horror."
This author brilliantly pens an engaging, heart-felt story where I instantly cared about these young ladies and their struggle. The other thing I adore about this novel is the well-tied humor. This novel spoke volumes to me as I read how everything these girls believed about live and themselves was being tested. They had to start picking up the pieces, of their shattered lives and discover who they really were and how God fit into all of this?
Fraying at the Edge would make a wonderful book club pick. I am a huge Cindy Woodsmall fan. I think this novel is her best yet. It's a keeper and a must read novel.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher through the Blogging for books site. 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 is not your typical Amish tale. Far from it. If you didn't read book one in this new series you will be brought up to speed by the author in the sequel, BUT you will have missed the richness of this story and the depths these families have been through and still agonize over their circumstances in Fraying at the Edge.
This author has a wonderful writing talent that quickly pulls readers into her books hook, line and sinker. In book one Ties that Bind, Skylar and Ariana discover at age 20, that they were switched at birth. Each family wants the chance to get to know their biological child. Nicholas (Ariana's biological father) has threatened the Amish community with a huge lawsuit (and/or jail time for the nurse in charge) if they don't comply with his demands. So Ariana goes off with her Englisch family and Skylar has the choice to submit to an inpatient rehab center OR to go to the Amish community in order to know her biological Mom and Dad. She chooses the Amish family. The author placed the reader inside the main characters shoes and had them looking at the world through their eyes. It was moving as both girls' worlds are turned upside down and are plunged into a surreal one year experience.
Here's a peek at the girls first impression of their new life. "Skylar had a lot to adjust to new family, Amish rules by the silo full, no modern conveniences, and the frustration of living in a poor home. Every time she turned around, another pipe had broken, which meant someone had to haul water into the house so she could brush her teeth. ...Who lived like this no electric lights, washing clothes by hand even when the water worked...the hardest part of this ordeal thus far was the lack of drugs...All she could think about was a couple of tablets of Xanax, Ativan, or Valium. Anything to stop the incessant restless legs."
Ariana was having a different kind of challenge. Who knew that making breakfast for her new family would cause so much chaos? Her biological mother's husband Gabe looked at Ariana. He told the person on the phone to hold a minute. "He lowered the phone to his chest, "It's the security system people. They said the emergency button inside the house was pushed. Is everything okay?"
"I..I guess," Ariana shrugged. "As far as I know I was trying to turn on the stove."
"The stove?" Gabe repeated.
"Dad ----Cameron rolled her eyes "tell the guy all our secret code stuff, convince him the house hasn't been invaded by body snatchers, and let him get back to the people who aren't trying to figure out how to use electricity."..."It's a whole new world for you, isn't it Princess Jasmine?"
"That's enough Cameron."
"What?"...You don't think I'm being nice either, Dad? Ariana and Toto aren't in Kansas anymore! Is anyone in this house surprised by that?"
"I am, Ariana's words were a growl.... I'm totally surprised by it. Shocked. Miserable. But it's just funny to you, isn't it?...Tell you what. You learn Gabe isn't your Dad at all, and trade him for someone as difficult as Nicholas. You give up your comfortable life and put yourself, by yourself, in, I don't know, maybe the Middle East, where the culture is totally disrespectful of you and all you've been taught to believe. Then we'll talk about how nice you've been okay?"
Does that make you want to read more? Can you feel both girls' anxiety, pain, loneness, despair? I like how one of Quill's siblings explained the experience both girls were having. "You're in a room of people who, in one way or another, had a high-magnitude earthquake hit their lives, Ariana...Quill had it the worst!"
This is why Quill was so helpful to Ariana. He was great at helping her navigate this strange new World.
Another aspect of this novel I loved is how naturally the spiritual thread is woven into this story. Just when the reader is totally invested in the novel and on the edge of their seat wondering what will happen next; I was stirred in my spirit and my heart by something I was dealing with and/or had dealt with in my own faith journey. That's another thing I love about this authors novels. I can expected the holy spirit to working in my heart. That's also unexpected on many levels and one of the main reasons I read Christian Fiction.
Quill teaches Ariana to listen to that still small voice inside of her. He says, "Never discount anything your senses are telling you, not at first. Let the information sink in, and trust your ability to reason out the truth. If you're wrong, that will become evident soon enough. Usually when one part of us is telling another part of us what's going on, it's a gift from God. Use it. ...Quill continues, "You know what you need? His eyes reflected hope. "You need a new view of the Heavens."
"Of the Heavens?"
"Ari, our God is so much bigger than we can grasp. As children we saw him as if we were inside a snow globe and he was just outside it, on his throne out of sight, looking down at us. For those of us raised to believe in a jealous, angry God, we see him with a frown, scowling. And as all Amish know, being frowned on is one tiny step from being shunned."
Ariana says when asked about life outside the Amish community, "The Englisch world was a mixture of fascinating beauty and deviant horror."
This author brilliantly pens an engaging, heart-felt story where I instantly cared about these young ladies and their struggle. The other thing I adore about this novel is the well-tied humor. This novel spoke volumes to me as I read how everything these girls believed about live and themselves was being tested. They had to start picking up the pieces, of their shattered lives and discover who they really were and how God fit into all of this?
Fraying at the Edge would make a wonderful book club pick. I am a huge Cindy Woodsmall fan. I think this novel is her best yet. It's a keeper and a must read novel.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher through the Blogging for books site. 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
Fraying at the Edge by Cindy Woodsmall is the second book in The Amish at Summer Grove series. Ariana Brenneman is twenty years old and has just discovered that she was switched with another girl at birth. There was a fire at the birthing center the night Ariana and another little girl were born. Everyone had to evacuate and Rachel, the midwife took charge of the babies. The two girls must have been switched at that time. In order to avoid the Rachel, the midwife and now elderly, from being sued or going to jail (by Nicholas Jenkins, her biological father), Ariana must live in the Englisch world with her biological family (blackmail is always a good way to start a relationship). Nicholas does not believe in organized religion and has a very low opinion of the Amish culture (he is an atheist). Nicholas wants Ariana to spend one year with him and her biological mother, Brandi Nash (they are not married to each other). This means that Ariana will have to ask her family to run her new café while she is gone and her fiancé, Rudy will have to be patient and await her return. Nicholas makes up a list of items (a life lessons list) for Ariana. He wants her to accomplish a certain number of items on the "list" (going to a bar, dating, getting her driver's license, hair, clothes, etc.). Ariana is in for a rough adjustment. The only person she can contact is Quill Schlabach, former Amish, who works with his brothers at Schlabach Construction (Nicholas believes he is a good influence). They also help people who wish to leave the Amish community. Ariana had hoped for a future with Quill, but then he left the community unexpectedly with her best friend. How will Ariana adjust to the Englisch world? Will Ariana be the same person when she returns home?
Skylar Nash is the girl that was switched with Ariana. Skylar is given the choice of staying with her birth parents (Lovina and Isaac Brenneman) or going to rehab. Skylar has a drug problem and is rebellious. Nicholas is cutting her off (no money for college, place to live). Skylar picks staying with the Brenneman's. But Skylar is in for a shock when she finds out that they do not have electricity, phones, etc. Her goal is to find money to escape and keep herself plied with drugs. After spending her first few days sleeping, Isaac insists that Skylar has to contribute to the household. She can work in the gardens, help with the household chores, work in the barn, or help in the café. Skylar picks working in the café hoping it will provide a chance to see her boyfriend and drug dealer. Lovina wants to get to know her daughter, but Skylar is not interested. She feels that Nicholas and Brandi were glad to be rid of her and her birth family did not care enough to look for her. Skylar is in for a reality check living with the Brenneman's. Can the Brenneman's help rebellious and wounded Skylar?
Fraying at the Edge is well-written (as are all of Cindy Woodsmall's books) and has good characters. It is not a stand-alone novel. You do need to read the first book in the series in order to understand everything that is happening in Fraying at the Edge (or you will be very confused). I did find that the religious aspect is strong in this book. There are many theological "discussions" as Nicholas rants about the Amish culture and other religions. I have to admit that I did find it off-putting, and I started skimming through these sections (for me that means speed reading). I did, though, like his point about questioning things and not just following with blind obedience. It was interesting to see how Ariana adjusted to life in the Englisch world. Ms. Woodsmall did a very good job at showing us how our world (Englisch) looks through Arianna's eyes. I give Fraying at the Edge 4 out of 5 stars. I was disappointed with the cliffhanger. We have to wait another year for the final book and answers (which I will be reading). I am curious to see what life Ariana will pick.
I received a copy of Fraying at the Edge from Blogging for Books and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Skylar Nash is the girl that was switched with Ariana. Skylar is given the choice of staying with her birth parents (Lovina and Isaac Brenneman) or going to rehab. Skylar has a drug problem and is rebellious. Nicholas is cutting her off (no money for college, place to live). Skylar picks staying with the Brenneman's. But Skylar is in for a shock when she finds out that they do not have electricity, phones, etc. Her goal is to find money to escape and keep herself plied with drugs. After spending her first few days sleeping, Isaac insists that Skylar has to contribute to the household. She can work in the gardens, help with the household chores, work in the barn, or help in the café. Skylar picks working in the café hoping it will provide a chance to see her boyfriend and drug dealer. Lovina wants to get to know her daughter, but Skylar is not interested. She feels that Nicholas and Brandi were glad to be rid of her and her birth family did not care enough to look for her. Skylar is in for a reality check living with the Brenneman's. Can the Brenneman's help rebellious and wounded Skylar?
Fraying at the Edge is well-written (as are all of Cindy Woodsmall's books) and has good characters. It is not a stand-alone novel. You do need to read the first book in the series in order to understand everything that is happening in Fraying at the Edge (or you will be very confused). I did find that the religious aspect is strong in this book. There are many theological "discussions" as Nicholas rants about the Amish culture and other religions. I have to admit that I did find it off-putting, and I started skimming through these sections (for me that means speed reading). I did, though, like his point about questioning things and not just following with blind obedience. It was interesting to see how Ariana adjusted to life in the Englisch world. Ms. Woodsmall did a very good job at showing us how our world (Englisch) looks through Arianna's eyes. I give Fraying at the Edge 4 out of 5 stars. I was disappointed with the cliffhanger. We have to wait another year for the final book and answers (which I will be reading). I am curious to see what life Ariana will pick.
I received a copy of Fraying at the Edge from Blogging for Books and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
