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Fiction. Literature. Romance. Christian Fiction. HTML: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 woma… (more)
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Both the Amish and Englisher characters were developed to show that we all have flaws. How we deal with our challenges is important. I will continue reading this series to learn what becomes of these families as the move to a region that has no Amish community.
Cindy Woodsmall offers a fresh look at Amish life as she brings her characters to life.
Rhoda Byler is a young
As a woman in business, she has her share of cynics, but add to that a gift that enables her to sense things before they happen, and you have a woman with her share of finger pointers.
When she meets Samuel King through his sister, Leah, under somewhat less than ideal circumstances, a partnership ensues bringing Rhoda's canning skills and Samuel King's apple orchard together. Will this also bring Samuel and Rhoda together?
The reader is led in that direction until Samuel's brother, Jacob, starts seeing Rhoda as a future partner--but not just in business.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more Woodsmall books.
Then there is the King family in Harvest Mills trying to keep a struggling apple orchard in business. The oldest King girl Leah is a troubled teen who makes some poor decisions. She winds up in Rhoda's garden after getting drunk at a party. Rhoda took her in for the night and contacted her family. This is how Rhoda met the Kings. She is attracted to Samuel after discussing horticulture with him. There is the attraction there but Samuel is sort of pre engaged to Catherine, who is gossipy, jealous and wants things her way.. Later Rhoda meets Jacob King, Samuel's brother and there is an attraction there.
Both the Kings and the Bylers have had hardships happen. I can't wait to read the upcoming books to see how these families persevere and overcome the obstacles that have been put in their path. Who will be Rhoda fall in love with? And will Leah get over wanting to leave the Amish way of life?
As with all communities, people are not always what they present themselves to be. People who claim to love
Enter the King family. Samuel has been in charge of the families apple orchard, and when a chance meeting with Rhoda, gives him an idea. So begins changes. Some are far reaching. As with the end of this book, we are heading down hill without breaks. Can't wait for the next book in this series.
Will Rhoda end up with one of the King brothers? What about Catherine? How about Leah? There are more questions, and I have to wait for answers, please soon!!
I received this book from Blogging For Books, and the Publisher Waterbrook Press, and was not required to give a positive review.
Samuel struggles with this family orchard. Things show that Ronda care about Samuel. For she goes after Samuel when something happens.
Things go from one thing to another. Is Ronda in love with Jakob or is god trying to get Samuel and Ronda together in another place. Where they will be working together ten hours away. To determine this it hard to say. For me I think God wants Samuel and Ronda together but the only way I will now is for the second book. Though there surprises and twist in this book.
Thanks to the Early Reviewer's Program for giving me the opportunity to get this great book!
Fans of Amish fiction will probably love A Season for Tending. The writing is good and if you enjoy this sort of story line, then I would say that you’d enjoy this one. As for me, I felt it was too slow and stilted. I just didn’t connect with the characters at all. If Woodsmall continues to write Amish fiction alone, this will be the last book of hers I read. But, I hope that at some point she steps away from this genre to write about a different subject. If you like Amish fiction, then give this one a try, but if you’re like me and don’t enjoy it, I’d say skip this one.
NOTICE:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Library Thing in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
introduces witchcraft, or at
The book held my interest from beginning to end, and had me wondering where each incident would lead the characters. I can't wit for the next book. I have my own ideas as to where the story line will go and I can't wait to see if Ms. Woodsmall and I think alike.
I found the book
Cindy Smallwood
Book Summary: 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
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?
Review: I really like Cindy Smallwood’s writing style. While this book took me a little while to get into it was worth the effort. Once I got into the flow of it I was hooked! The characters were fresh and completely different from anything I have read by her. This was a well thought out series and I look forward to the next two. This story made me laugh, cry and realize that Rhoda was truly a fresh face for Amish readers. The Kings were fun and lively. While problems seem to plague all of them Rhoda, Landon and the Kings are realistic and fun. I knew what was coming at the end and I was still hanging on the edge of my seat when the events finally came about. Poor Rhoda really needed the Kings and they needed her. Her Daed was fantastic and truly a great addition to the entire story. I want to see more of him. There are so many different things going on at once that I wished I could read faster. I needed time to soak up everything too!
I would like to thank Edelweiss, Library Thing and Waterbrook Press for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
You will come to care for these characters and will be sad when this book is done and the second one is not released yet.
Rhonda, who has a 'gift' for sensing when bad things are
Samuel King, has a struggling apple orchard after meeting Rhonda and seeing her amazing garden, he asks for help.
What happens? You wil have to read the book to find out.
Samuel struggles with this family orchard. Things show that Ronda care about Samuel. For she goes after Samuel when something happens.
Things go from one thing to another. Is Ronda in love with Jakob or is god trying to get Samuel and Ronda together in another place. Where they will be working together ten hours away. To determine this it hard to say. For me I think God wants Samuel and Ronda together but the only way I will now is for the second book. Though there surprises and twist in this book.
Then there is Samuel King who lives miles away and is trying to make something of the apple orchard that has been in the family for years. But due to circumstances, he needs help getting his orchard to grow better apples and seeks out Rhoda's expertise. The two must learn to work together and help each other out through difficult struggles they are both facing, with the community and with family issues. Tragedy will strike, but both Rhoda and Samuel are strong and will endure through it.
This was a story that had very interesting characters, and all were very different and all had different views on their Amish heritage. I enjoyed myself and look forward to reading more in this series.