WOODSMALL, CINDY
WHEN THE MORNING COMES
Her relationship with fiance Paul Waddell in tatters, Hannah Lapp has fled her Old Order Amish community in hopes of finding a new home in Ohio with her shunned aunt. Hampered by limited education and hiding her true identity, Hannah struggles to navigate the confusing world of the Englischers. Back in Owl's Perch, Pennsylvania, Paul is wracked with regret and wants to search for his love. Will the opportunities in her new life persuade Hannah to stay among the Englischers, or will she give in to her heart's call to return home?
THIS IS THE SECOND BOOK IN THE THREE-PART SISTERS OF THE QUILT SERIES AND I RECOMMEND THAT YOU START WITH BOOK 1 (WHEN THE HEART CRIES).
IN SOME WAYS, I FEEL LIKE WHEN THE MORNING COMES IS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THIRD BOOKS. I THINK 1 AND 2 COULD STAND ON THEIR OWN (IF YOU READ THE AUTHOR'S CHARACTER NOTES ), BUT BOOK TWO HAS A TRANSITIONAL FEEL TO IT. IT IS A NECESSARY TRANSITION THOUGH AND BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN.
WOODSMALL IS BACK IN FULL FORM -- GRABBING MY HEART AND SQUEEZING THE LIFE OUT OF IT FROM THE VERY FIRST CHAPTER! SHE DIDN'T SPARE MY NERVES OR EMOTIONS AND I WAS CLOSE TO BASKET-CASE STATUS WHEN I FINALLY CLOSED THE BOOK AT MIDNIGHT. I COULDN'T GO TO BED WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED AND NOW MY NOSE IS BURIED IN BOOK THREE SO I CAN FIND OUT WHAT TRULY FINALLY ABSOLUTELY HAPPENS!
WHEN THE MORNING COMES SPANS TWO YEARS OF HANNAH'S LIFE AFTER SHE LEAVES HER OLD ORDER AMISH COMMUNITY. WE GET TO BE BY HER SIDE AS SHE TAKES BABY STEPS TOWARD AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. THERE'S SO MUCH I LOVED ABOUT HER JOURNEY AND SO MUCH THAT I'M STILL ACHING OVER.
I'M PROUD OF HANNAH FOR THE STRIDES SHE TAKES TO OVERCOME HURTS FROM HER PAST AND TO LATCH ONTO NEW DREAMS. I LOVE THAT SHE KEEPS HER 'PLAIN' HEART -- DOESN'T LET THE ENGLISCHER WORLD CHANGE THE FUNDAMENTAL PARTS OF HER. SHE TRANSFORMS INTO A CONFIDENT, CAPABLE WOMAN IN THIS BOOK BUT THE STORY IS ALSO PEPPERED WITH TALES OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS BACK IN OWL'S PERCH, PENNSYLVANIA WHICH BUILDS TO A DRAMATIC CONCLUSION AND CALL FOR HANNAH'S RETURN.
YOU KNOW A BOOK IS REALLY GOOD WHEN YOU DREAM ABOUT IT IN RESTLESS FITS ALL NIGHT LONG AND THE CHARACTER'S PREDICAMENT IS YOUR FIRST CONSCIOUS THOUGHT COME MORNING. IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHAKE MY 'BOOK TWO MELANCHOLY', I DIVED INTO BOOK THREE AND AM STILL IN THE THROES OF ANGST. THANK GOODNESS IT'S THE WEEKEND AND I'LL BE ABLE TO FINISH IT QUICKLY.
Wow, if you dreamed about it then I simply MUST read it! I keep hearing about Woodsmall. I just can't seem to keep up with all these good authors.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about not being able to keep up with all these great authors. Just when I think I'm getting a handle on things I read about another fantastic book that everyone else seems to be in the loop about. LOL. I really need to make reading a full-time occupation.
ReplyDeleteIf you want a stand alone by Cindy Woodsmall, try The Hope of Refuge -- it's one of this years Christy finalists. It's actually the first in a new series, but isn't the continuous kind of series that Sisters of the Quilt is. There are carry over characters, but there is resolution for the hero/heroine in each book. The second in the series is due out the end of August. I can't wait!
Wonderful review, Kav! You're very fortunate reading books 2 and 3 back to back. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a real fan of the Amish genre, but I think Cindy Woodsmall's books are great. I also like Beverly Lewis.
Rats, there's another author I haven't read yet. Beverly Lewis! Ack! And I totally couldn't have stood to wait however long it took to publish the next book!
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