Summary:
Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.
Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?
Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.
My Review:
Having lost all hope for the future, Beth is mourning the lose of her beau. She finds it hard to embrace any part of life. Images fade in and out of her memory leaving her confused. She suppresses everything and everyone behind her work and black. She puts up a wall to keep people out and her secret guarded. Beth allows her past as well as her future to be affected by her secret. Oh how she aches to be free from her past. Will she ever be free from the guilt of her secret? Will she ever be able to forgive herself? Will Christmas ever come to her life again?
I have a copy of this book for giveaway.
For Beth and Jonah the sight and sound of the sleigh triggered different responses. For one it brought memories of happiness, sounds of hope and love, and for the other it was a nightmare, with bad memories and haunting voices.
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This book was provided for review by the
8 comments:
Woodsmoke is one of my memory triggers. It takes me back to when I was a kid and the old woodburning cookstoves and heaters we had. Blessings! ~ Nikki
One of my greatest memories is when all the family could get together and we would talk and have the greatest time, that is what Christmas means to be the most, but that does not happen anymore as so many have passed away and them some just don't want to get together, I would love to win the book Sleigh Bells.
May God bless
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
Something that never fails to bring back sweet memories is the scent of White Shoulders perfume - my mom's favorite and mine as well. I grew up in a loving Christian home, and this scent brings back memories of mom laying out matching clothes and accessories for all of us on Saturday night, and then sitting together at church each week.
Thank you for the giveaway, Abi.
cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net
Christmas music .When all the families get together for parties for christmas.
The sight of a milk cow always brings back memories of my Granny. She had a cow to milk until she was in too poor health to care for it. The cow that I remember most was named Cindy. Once my Grandparents sold her. Some time later they went to visit. She was skinny and not doing well. They bought her back and fattened her up. Then they began to milk again. I would love to read this book. Please enter me in your drawing.
Cammy
emunagarden@gmail.com
Raspberries! One of my favorite childhood memories is from when I was a little girl and would visit my Grandma's house. She had rows of raspberry bushes in her backyard, we would go out with the buckets to pick them but it would take us forever because we were so busy eating them. :)
The scents that trigger most memories for me are the ones I don't have a name for. Like for example, I hadn't gone to Walmart in years and then I went a few months ago and the smell brought me back to other times that I had been in that store. It's a weird feeling. Also I'll smell a scent of perfume and I'll know I've smelt it before but sometimes it is hard to remember who wore what. Also a clock with an hourly bell brings me back to my grandparents house.
gasweetheart211[at]netscape[dot]net
Christmas music .When all the families get together for parties for christmas."The Sound of Sleigh Bells" sounds wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.Thank you.
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