Monday, May 26, 2025

The Harvest of Grace By Cindy Woodsmall

 


This adventure is about several young Amish people who eventually become entwined in each other's lives.

There is Sylvia, who is the eldest daughter of a dairy farmer, whose love for dairy farming outweighs the desire to be married. When her beau asks her, she wants to postpone their big day, wanting more time to be able to discover who she is. Taking her answer as a "no", her beau secretly plans to marry Sylvia's sister. Heartbroken and unable to leave the farm, she tries to endure her feelings of rejection and betrayal. When one day she is caught off guard with her now brother-in-law, he kisses her and she returns the kiss. Feeling shame and guilt, Sylvia leaves and begins working for a couple on the Blank's dairy farm, where she meets their son, Aaron, which leads her down a whole new road to adventure.
There is Cara, who has a young daughter named Lori, whose father died when she was little. Cara left New York because of the fear of someone stalking her, and traveled to Dry Lake because of some memories from her childhood. After seeking refuge in Ephriam's barn, she is taken in and falls in love with him. When Cara finally gets comfortable in her surroundings, she is given a challenge she feels is far beyond her power alone to conquer.
Then there is Lena. She is recovering from an accident and has a bluish purple birthmark on her face. She falls in love with Grey, who was married to the Blanks' daughter. Grey is now a widower and is made to wait the required time of mourning until he can court Lena. Grey also has a secret that he carries with him that he feels could destroy their relationship if Lena only knew.
Will these young couples be able to work through the challenges that God has allowed in their lives, or will they give up and play it safe? Find out how each of these couples faces their challenges both separately and together.

Last Season By Jenny Judson & Danielle Mahfood


Last Season By Jenny Judson & Danielle Mahfood

 I found this book to be well written in terms of the storyline. I liked the underdog mentality. One of the main characters, "Cassandra," comes from a rich and powerful family, while the second main character, "Crispin," is from the working class. Crispin, a stable boy trying to work off his father's debts, falls for Cassandra, making a huge error in judgment that results in him being sent away to India, where his future and fortune change. When Cassandra's father also makes a significant mistake, his decision affects their family's fortune, leaving them penniless. However, fate intervenes and guides both Crispin and Cassandra to a future neither of them expects. The only issue I had with this book was that large portions were written in italics, making them difficult to read. Overall, it's a story full of love, loss, and triumph.