Cindy Woodsmall crafts novels deeply rooted in her authentic connections with Amish and Mennonite communities, drawing from lifelong friendships to imbue her stories with genuine insight. Her narratives explore themes of faith, family, and identity, highlighting the profound strength found in relationships and spiritual growth. Woodsmall's writing style is both perceptive and compassionate, drawing readers into the hearts of her characters and their intricate life journeys. She masterfully weaves the rich tapestry of Amish and Mennonite life, offering a unique window into a world often misunderstood.
"Old Order Amish wife and mother Jemima has put her marriage and family ahead of herself for years. She's set herself aside. Raising four children, she's followed all the rules and has been patient in looking forward to her time to chase a dream of her own. But when she finds out that her life savings for pursuing that dream is gone--and her husband, Roy, has been hiding a child with another woman--her entire world is shattered. Will she be able to listen to God and love Roy's child? With so much at stake, how can she and Roy fix their relationship before their lives come crashing down?"-- Provided by publisher
ECPA BESTSELLER • For fans of holiday romances and Amish life comes a new Christmas tale of surprising expectations and discovering miracles. Old Order Amish Ivy Zook is wrestling with her need to shed her community's ways so she can grow the business of her dreams: planning parties. As long as she's stuck living without modernization, she can barely get her business on its feet. But if she leaves too soon, she'd cause trouble for her sister, Holly, who is planning her wedding to Joshua Smucker. All of their plans become twice as complicated when an old car crashes into the storefront of Greene's Pharmacy, carrying a Swartzentruber (ultra-conservative sect) Amish man, Arlan, and his very ill sister. The Zooks take in Arlan and Madga, tending to the woman's illness and Arlan begins helping around the family farm. Ivy and Arlan are on different tracks, one wanting to leave her community and the other to return to his. But both young people are trying to discover what God has in store for their futures and what miracles might lie around the corner this Christmas season.
"A New York Times best-selling author releases her first southern novel, a Steel Magnolias-meets-Sweet Home Alabama story set on St. Simons Island. After losing two loved ones in a devastating tornado and suffering a head injury, Tara Abbott flees to St. Simons Island, where her disorientation causes the lines between imagination and reality, past and present to blur. There she encounters island residents Julep Burnside, Luella Ward, Sue Beth Manning, and Dell Calhoun--The Glynn Girls--who have been friends since Bible camp, forty years earlier. When Julep's son Gavin identifies a troubled soul in need of help, can the Glynn Girls guide Tara back to herself?"--
When an Old Order Amish woman takes a job at a small-town pharmacy struggling to survive in a world of "big box" stores, her motive is to help her Plain community. But the advent of the holiday season brings an unusual mystery to the surface--and possibly love. Twenty-four-year-old Holly Zook lives a unique life for a young Amish woman. Years ago, her bishop allowed her to continue her education and become the lead technician for Greene's Pharmacy, an old-timey drugstore that looks out for the Amish community--a group largely without secure healthcare plans. She knows she can't marry and hold onto her professional job. She's Amish, and she can only have one or the other, so she spurns love and works toward addressing treatable diseases--like the one that claimed her father's life. As long as Holly continues to avoid Joshua Smucker, the one man who draws her like a warm hearth in winter, she should be fine. When something unexpected threatens Greene's Pharmacy, Holly and Joshua must work together to unravel what's happened and find the "missing" patient before the Board of Pharmacy shuts them down. As the snows of December arrive, with Christmas in the air, will Holly succumb to the generous spirit of the season?
Returning to the Old Order Amish community she cherishes, the protagonist navigates the complexities of tradition, family ties, and personal choices. As she reconnects with her roots, she faces challenges that test her beliefs and relationships, ultimately leading her to discover what truly matters in life. The story explores themes of faith, belonging, and the struggle between modernity and tradition, offering a heartfelt glimpse into the Amish way of life and the strength of community.
Set during a period filled with hope and wonder, the narrative explores themes of faith and transformation. Characters experience profound changes and unexpected events that reshape their lives, highlighting the power of belief and the potential for miracles. The story invites readers to reflect on the significance of these moments and the impact they have on personal journeys.
Studying Late Medieval History is an introduction for undergraduate history
students wishing to understand the major topics in late medieval history.
Examining the period from 1300-1550, this introductory guide offers an
overview of 250 years of transformation, which saw technology, borders and
ruling dynasties across the continent change--Provided by publisher.
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.
Set in Hope Crossing, Ada's House serves as a sanctuary for those seeking compassion and renewal. The narrative revolves around the lives of individuals who find solace and support within its walls, exploring themes of kindness, faith, and the transformative power of second chances. Each character's journey highlights the importance of community and the healing that comes from connection and understanding.
The story revolves around Rhoda, whose journey of healing through love is abruptly challenged by an unforeseen tragedy. This event becomes a pivotal test of her faith, forcing her to confront her beliefs and resilience. The narrative explores themes of love, loss, and the strength required to navigate life's unexpected trials.
