Wished I loved it but didn't...

I couldn't even finish this book. I tried several times to read the book Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall that I received for free from the publisher through Blogging for Books for my review per FCC rules. Normally I enjoy her books but I couldn't get into the characters at all. I usually like at least one character in a book, and will continue reading but this one for some reason I didn't like any of them. However, I always say that if a book sounds interesting to someone they should read it no matter someone's opinion, sometimes I have liked books and others not. It is hard for me to really rate a book since I didn't even finish it, but since I did read some I will give it a 2.

For Every Season by Cindy Woodsmall Review....

  

 

I received a free copy of this from the publisher Waterbrook Multnomah for my honest review. This is the third book in a series of 4, the last one will be published next year. I have previously read the two books in the series and was really looking forward to this book. Rhoda is trying to determine which brother she wants or doesn't want, however she also feels a sense of responsibility, guilt, etc. The reader continues to learn more about the past of Rhoda's boyfriend Jacob. Which does nothing to endear me to him, and makes me even more suspicious of his past relationship with Sandra (although, it doesn't appear any of the Amish have too much of an issue with it). At one point neither of the three main characters are getting along Rhoda, Jacob, or Samuel.  There are still challenges at the new orchard, that add to everyone's stress level.We find out more about Camilla and Bob, the English neighbors of the new Amish community. This book adds more characters, and it will be interesting to see how those new members play out in the next book. In the end, Rhoda's choice was made for her, but I do think it was the right one.

 

I rank this book 3 out of 5:

 

The one thing that shows in this book, is how someone can be blind to their own faults, but always call someone else on the same ones. I thought that same character who had those issues, will perhaps wake up in the next book and realize who they have really loved the whole time. I felt the book ended to abruptly even though there will be another one. I felt Rhoda really needed to make the choice on her own, as that was a problem she had throughout the book, not having it decided for her. In some ways I have more questions than answers still, and really hope some of them will be addressed in the next book.
 

The Winnowing Season review....

I received a free copy of this book The Winnowing Season by Cindy Woodsmall for my review, and am under no obligation to give a positive review. This book is the second in a series, I reviewed the first book here. I was really excited for this book to come out. It continues with Rhoda and the lives of the King brothers and her family, in all trying to start a new Amish community in Maine. Rhoda is with Jacob King, but for this book most of the time he isn't in the same location as her, so she is stuck with her brother and his family along with Jacob's brother and sister living in one house. I never understood Jacobs character in this book and what kind of a hold that Sandra and Casey had over him, I get that he wanted to help but never understood how he felt responsible for them. It always felt that there was more to the story, than what we know. But I could tell that Sandra wasn't who she said she was, but perhaps we will find out more later. The whole thing also with the police investigation and Rhoda felt that it was just thrown in. I am interested though in how Leah and another potential suitor for her will go and about the English neighbors they have. I think Rhoda made a good choice at the end of this book though, and at this point I don't really want her to be with Jacob. I guess we will just have to find out in the final book, but I think in the end it will be Samuel. After all they knew each other first and seemed right for each other, but then who knows?

 

Ranking: 3 out of 5

What's on my Nightstand?

I finally decided to start participating in this to share the books that I have been reading every month.

 

I have been doing a lot of reading this month, although unfortunately it is not my type of reading, textbook reading isn't my idea of fun unless it includes history. But here are the books that I have enjoyed reading so far this month:

 

To Kill A Mockingbird-This is part of a read along that I joined, and am currently behind but will end up finishing the book later on this month. Only on chapter 5 so far, but enjoying it a lot better than when I was a kid trying to read it.

 

The Winnowing Season- I need to finish this book and due a review for my copy of the book. So far I am not enjoying it as much as I thought I would.

 

Sunshine: I got this book in a swap, and did not know what book I was getting. I really enjoyed that and while I normally don't read books on vampires and such I really enjoyed this book. I only wish it was either longer or that there was a sequel.

 

 

Here is my goal for the next month for What's on My Nightstand:

 

1. Finish reading Winnowing Season and To Kill A Mockingbird
2. Read Driving with Dead People - I also got this book from a swap
3. Emma - Part of Austen in August read along/classic club book
4. Sense and Sensibility - Part of Austen in August read along/classic club
5. Finish reading Heart of Darkness - Classic Club book
6. Finish reading The Railway Children- Classic Club book

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas In Apple Ridge Review...

This is a three in one book by called Christmas In Apple Ridge by Cindy Woodsmall. I will do a review of the three stories individually and then as a whole. I believe the first two books have previously been released, but the third is brand new by the author. I was given a e-book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for an honest review, I am not obligated to give a positive one. The first book is called The Sound of Sleigh Bells, that introduces us to Beth who is hiding a few secrets and is in mourning. She mets Jonah who is knows a few things about suffering and pain. Overall I thought this book was good, and it also shows us that we maybe hiding things even from ourselves in order to deal with life. My few complaints was that there wasn't enough of a sense of community. However, this maybe also due to the book being short, which happens with three books in one. The ending did seem rushed. The next book is The Christmas Singing which introduces Mattie and Gideon, who used to be together years ago, after their breaking up Mattie leaves the area. They run into each other later, and they still have things to settle. I really enjoyed this story and could see Gideon's side, and wasn't pleased all the time with Mattie's character after she found out more information about Gideon. The last book was The Dawn of Christmas and tells the story of Sadie and Levi. Their story is a meeting by chance and more about past loves with the affect they have on us and those around us. This book also includes previous characters from the other stories from the author. I thought this was really good to see as I really enjoy sequels, and always think just one novel tends to be rushed. I do hope that another sequel with all of the characters from the three books will be made later.

A Season for Tending review..

I finished reading A Season for Tending by Cindy Woodsmall. This is my second review for my outdo yourself reading challenge. I have read books by Cindy Woodsmall before and am a huge fan of amish books. The main character in this book is Rhoda who  is a young amish women who lives with her parents and siblings (along with sister in laws and neices/nephews). She loves to have a garden and help people with her herbs. However, she has a unique gift that make some Englischer's and amish alike afraid of her. She ends up meeting Samuel King who along with his family own King's Apple Orchards. You actually find out more and feel more connected to Samuel's family, and his girlfriend Catherine than Rhoda's family (they are more in the back ground). I do wish that there was more in depth characters in Rhoda's family. At first I wasn't too much of a fan of Leah, Samuel's sister, but she grew on me. I never did care for Catherine's character and am still leery of her. There are a few secrets that several characters have, some you find out and others you don't find out everything. I can't wait for the second book in the series to see what will occur. I give this book 4 out of 5.

Blogging for books....

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