A Season for Tending, Book Review

A Season for Tending
Amish Vines and Orchards, Book 1 
By Cindy Woodsmall    

ABOUT THE BOOK

In a community where conformity flourishes, seeds of Rhoda’s odd behavior were planted long ago. Can she cultivate her relationships with the same care and tenderness that she gives her beloved garden?
 
Old Order Amish Rhoda Byler’s unusual gift and her remarkable abilities to grow herbs and berries have caused many to think her odd. As rumors mount that Rhoda’s “gift” is a detriment to the community, she chooses isolation, spending her time in her fruit garden and on her thriving canning business.  
 
Miles away in Harvest Mills, Samuel King struggles to keep his family’s apple orchard profitable. As the eldest son, Samuel farms with his brothers, the irrepressible Jacob and brash Eli, while his longtime girlfriend Catherine remains hopeful that Samuel will marry her when he feels financially stable.  
 
Meanwhile, Samuel’s younger sister Leah is testing all the boundaries during her rumschpringe, and finds herself far from home in Rhoda’s garden after a night of partying gone badly. But Leah’s poor choices serve as a bridge between Rhoda and the King family when a tragic mistake in the orchard leaves Samuel searching for solutions. 
Rhoda’s expertise in canning could be the answer, but she struggles with guilt over the tragic death of her sister and doesn’t trust herself outside her garden walls. As the lines between business, love, and family begin to blur, can Rhoda finally open up to a new life? And what effect will this odd, amazing woman have on the entire King family? 

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MY TAKE:

Wow!  This was truly a great book!  Cindy Woodsmall never seems to disappoint me!  I do need to say, that the beginning was a bit hard for me to follow.  There seemed to be quite a few characters and I was having a hard time following.  However, I was sick with a cold when I started reading it, which could have led to my brain being a little confused!  :-)  After I got into the book a bit more, things started coming together and take shape.  I am a very visual person, and I have never had any trouble visualizing Ms. Woodsmalls books.  This book was no different.  I truly enjoyed it from the start of the book until the very end.  In fact, the end had me wishing for the second book NOW!  I am not a very patient person, so it will be difficult waiting on book 2 of Amish Vines and Orchards!

I would absolutely suggest this book.  If you liked ANY of Cindy Woodsmalls books, this one will not disappoint!  It had a bit of an edge to it to keep you on your toes!  Don't miss this book!

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review."