Cindy Woodsmall has QUICKLY become one of my favorite authors. I absolutely love her writing style; loveable characters and engaging storylines. I also thoroughly enjoy the Amish subject matter of which she writes and I find myself coming away from each book with a new level of understanding of the Amish life. In this particular book, I came away with a new understanding of some of the Amish rules; in particular, that of shunning. Thanks, Cindy, for another GREAT BOOK!

The Hope of Refuge is the first book released in the new Ada’s House Series. When this book arrived, I quickly turned to the back wondering if Cindy included a Glossary, Cast of Characters, and Pennylvania Dutch phrase translations in this book like she has in previous books. YEA! There they all were. I’m particularly grateful for the Cast of Characters which helps me keep everyone straight when starting a new book/series. I wish all books would come with a Cast of Characters!

I enjoyed this book every bit as much as I enjoyed the three books in the Sisters of the Quilt series. I don’t want to give away too much about The Hope of Refuge, but I do want to say I found this plot an interesting switch-a-roo from the first series and I wonder if other books in this series will have similiar situations or if they’ll all be different. In the first series, the main character left the Amish lifestyle. Hmmmm…. I’ll leave you wondering now if the main character in this story joins the Amish lifestyle or only goes to them looking for help. It really is a GREAT book.

SUMMARY:
Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life.

Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus. Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?

GIVE AWAY: I have one copy of this book which I’ll give away next week. If you’d like to be entered in the drawing, please leave me a comment. Local friends are free to enter the drawing or you may borrow my copy which we can pass around to all who who would like to read it.
UPDATE: Debbie from Following the Narrow Path is the winner of this book.