Sunday, November 26, 2017

The Gift of Christmas Past By Cindy and Erin Woodsmall





Arson wasn't the only fire that ignited between them. 
Promises shattered.
Lies spoken.
She was arrested.
He returned to the safety of his wealthy parents.

Almost ten years later, Hadley and Monroe are both specialists in the field of speech therapy. They meet again . . . thrown together to help a four-year-old-girl rendered mute after being rescued from a fire. 



Years of secrets and anger beg to be set free as Hadley and Monroe try to push aside past hurts and find common ground in order to help the traumatized child and her family.



Can the love of Christmas past drift into the present, bringing healing and hope for all?

Pick up your copy here...
https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Christmas-Past-Southern-Romance/dp/0998753807/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1511406962&sr=1-1&keywords=the+gift+of+christmas+past+cindy+woodsmall



Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times, CBA, ECPA, and USA Today best-selling author who has written seventeen (and counting!) works of fiction and one of nonfiction. She and her dearest Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud, coauthored the nonfiction, Plain Wisdom: An Invitation into an Amish Home and the Hearts of Two Women. Cindy has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal,and has worked with National Geographic on a documentary concerning Amish life. In June of 2013, the Wall Street Journal listed Cindy as the one of the top three most popular authors of Amish fiction.

She's won Fiction Book of the Year, Reviewer's Choice Awards, Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest, as well as one of Crossings' Best Books of the Year. She's been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice Awards.

Her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity. Though she didn't realize it at the time, seeds were sown years ago that began preparing Cindy to write these books. At the age of ten, while living in the dairy country of Maryland, she became best friends with Luann, a Plain Mennonite girl. Luann, like all the females in her family, wore the prayer Kapp and cape dresses. Her parents didn't allow television or radios, and many other modern conveniences were frowned upon. During the numerous times Luann came to Cindy's house to spend the night, her rules came with her and the two were careful to obey them--afraid that if they didn't, the adults would end their friendship. Although the rules were much easier to keep when they spent the night at Luann's because her family didn't own any of the forbidden items, both sets of parents were uncomfortable with the relationship and a small infraction of any kind would have been enough reason for the parents to end the relationship. While navigating around the adults' disapproval and the obstacles in each other's lifestyle, the two girls bonded in true friendship that lasted into their teen years, until Cindy's family moved to another region of the US.

As an adult, Cindy became friends with a wonderful Old Order Amish family who opened their home to her. Although the two women, Miriam and Cindy, live seven hundred miles apart geographically, and a century apart by customs, when they come together they never lack for commonality, laughter, and dreams of what only God can accomplish through His children. Over the years Cindy has continued to make wonderful friendships with those inside the Amish and Mennonite communities--from the most conservative ones to the most liberal.

Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains in their now empty nest.

If you'd like more information or to contact her, you can go to her website: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorcindywoodsmall

My Thoughts...

If you pick up this book based on the authors name alone you would be expecting an Amish book. But oh no its a contemporary Southern  Romance and it was Woodsmall's best book yet.
It was clean and very well written and the editing was very good. I will say that I have read everyone of Woodsmall's Amish books and they were good. But this one was very good and I hope that she continues  writing contemporary romances.
You have to read this book and find out if Monroe stands up to his parents and see if he and Hadley can find their way back to where they once were! You are going to be surprised with this book.
I gave this book 4.5 stars. I recommend it.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

21 comments:

  1. I will have to get this one and try it.

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  2. I love a good romance and Christmas story, and have been a fan of Cindy's for a long time I will be reading this one.

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    1. Oh Mary, I forgot to tell you, I got all the books that I won last week.

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  3. I will read this one it's not a Amish one.

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    1. Miss Jean, you are the winner! I will get your book right to you!

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  4. I did not get an e-mail about this post. I saw it on facebook. I really want to read this one.

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  5. My wonderful wife will,be happy to get her hands on a copy of this.

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  6. I need a good Christmas book and this sounds like something I'll enjoy! :)

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  7. Mary, My library said no more self published books, all they will get for me is traditionally published books. If I read this one I will have to buy it or win it.

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  8. I would love to win a copy of this one. It sounds like one I would read in front of the fireplace.

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  9. This one sounds like a great book. Thank you for sharing, Mary!

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  10. Cindy is one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to read this one. I am sure I will not be disappointed! Thanks Mary!

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  11. This sounds like a beautiful story to read.

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  12. Just the name Woodsmall alone does it for me :-) I love Cindy's writing and I bet this would be no exception. Never read a contemporary by her, so I'll definitely be checking this one out!

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  13. Loved this book. Reviewed it recently as well :)

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  14. Yes ! Would Love to read this one . Blessings ,DanaGirl

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