A Novel (The Amish of Summer Grove) - Ties That Bind

On the surface, Ariana's Amish family was typical for their small community of Summer Grove. Many siblings, in their teens or older milled about the kitchen in the early mornings getting ready for a full day of activities either with small children in tow or assisting those families with small children. Some like Ariana were preparing breakfast and others were getting ready to do chores. A contentedness pervaded the atmosphere most of the time. They enjoyed each others' company. But under the many layers of familiarity lay some rumblings of discontent. No one spoke openly about these feelings, but they were there nonetheless. It was a vague awareness that something disruptive could dispel their peace at any moment and change the entire family dynamics. What would be the trigger?

This is the first of three parts in the series. It features an unexpected twist of fortune that seems plausible, and possibly even probable. There are many great and positive things in this family saga, such as relationship building that I absolutely love. However, it seems inevitable that tension builds and two worlds collide with Ariana's good friend caught up in the middle. Don't expect a major resolution of the primary tension by the end of this first book, because it builds and leads directly into the next book. You definitely need to prepare to read the second book right away because of the high amount of suspense and heart break. This was so well written, that I was feeling with the Brenneman family when circumstances broke wide open.

It's getting to the point where I will read any book by this author because they are that good. Ms. Woodsmall puts her entire heart into what she writes. What she creates is impactful, both heart warming and heart wrenching, view shifting, and absolutely real. She's a writer that knows how to pull heartstrings with what she writes. In this particular series, she plays on misunderstandings that come between close friends when one party must keep secrets for the sake of confidentiality. The secret he must keep makes Quill look bad in the eyes of the Amish. Such is the misunderstanding that it rocks Ariana's world because she has lost trust in her good friend. And other circumstances are wearing her trust in others very thin.

My favorite part of the book centers again around Ariana. She is stubborn and that persistence is what helps her family keep their heads above turbulent waters. She is determined to buy a cafe in downtown Summer Grove so that she can lift her family out of the poverty they have been in for years. She works hard and finally succeeds beyond even her expectations. I couldn't help but root for her efforts to do something so thoughtful for her family.

Cindy Woodsmall takes us on another adventure filled with love, friendship, and discretion! But is everything really as it seems

Several times I thought I knew how things were going to turn out but then they took another turn!

Arianna is part of a large Amish family including a twin brother! The family has had its share of financial difficulties but have never let it define who they are! Because of the financial problems Arianna has always had a dream to own and operate her own cafe! She has worked and saved for years alongside her brother Adam to try to make her dream come true in order to help her family! Then one night during a rain storm she discovers a familiar silhouette standing near the barn of her friends house! With this discovery, she starts to connect things from the past to figure out why things happened!

The silhouette turns out to be a former friend, who Arianna had a crush on years ago, Quill Schlabach! It is believed by the Amish community that Quill was a link between the English world and the Amish who wanted to leave so Arianna was hesitant to reconnect with him! Quill makes a statement that leads Arianna to believe a member of her family is planning to leave the Amish life!

This is where things become entangled is several areas!

Will Arianna meet the deadline to close on her beloved cafe? Which family member is planning to leave? But most of all is Arianna who she really think she is? These are all questions that keep the reader trying to figure out the plot of the book and what will happen next!

Take this journey with Arianna I'm sure you will need a tissue at some point! I am looking forward to the next book to continue the adventure!

I hope with the writing of this review, it will draw you in to read The Ties That Bind! I have not been paid in anyway for this review!

This was a wonderful, fascinating story! Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves to bake and wants to open a cafe to help her large family have a little more breathing room financially. She and her twin brother have been saving for years toward that goal. She's just started dating a man she could get serious about and her life starts to feel like it's all coming together. Suddenly, she runs into Quill, the man she loved as a teenager who had left the Amish community behind along with her good friend. It's been five long years and she finds out that he's been helping people leave the Amish and someone in her family is next.

Quill had his reasons for leaving, ones he still can't share with Ariana. He wants to protect her, though, and soon is asked by her parents to dig into the circumstances surrounding her birth. He wants Ariana to trust him again, but knows that when the truth comes out, he may lose it forever. As he digs for the truth, he also tries to help Ariana figure out a way to earn the rest of the money so she can close on the cafe. He knows she'll need that victory to deal with the truth that's coming to light about her connection to a girl named Skylar Nash.

There were a couple unique aspects that really made this book stand out. Most Amish books don't deal with the negative aspects of Amish life so to show a man who not only has left the Amish, but is also helping others leave was interesting. The situation with Ariana and Skylar was fascinating, too, but I won't reveal what that was about! I really liked Ariana and her twin, especially the situation with his unrequited love for a certain girl. Both Ariana and Quill had a strong faith. I liked the interesting conversations they would have. Quill was really an upstanding guy who put other people ahead of himself. There were some cute romantic moments. I'm excited to see where the series goes! There were so many fascinating situations to be resolved. Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite authors of Amish fiction. I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Cindy Woodsmall has done it again! She’s drawn me into her world so effectively, that I hardly noticed I had reached the end of the story. In fact, I was frustrated that the story was finished, as it had more to disclose.
Ties That Bind begins with a crisis and immediately pulls you into the story of an Amish family and an Englisch family whose lives intersect. Woodsmall is able to navigate the two worlds successfully, framing each with the language and idiosyncrasies that make them believable.
The mysteries continued throughout the book, and it made me feel valued as a reader, not having everything spelled out for me. I love the wisdom spattered throughout, such as when Quill realizes hardship is a sign of being alive (p. 71), or when he recognizes the shallowness of treating God as a star to wish upon (p. 175). Arianna’s world turns inside out as she considers the treachery of those leaving the Old Order, but clings to love’s virtue, “with its thriving desire to be kind, encouraging, and protective” (p. 193).
The audience of Amish readers will have no further to look to find a great story. Award-winning Cindy Woodsmall has added another family to her repertoire, with The Amish of Summer Grove series, and it left me hanging on the edge of my seat for book two!
Disclaimer: "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

There is something to be said about waiting until an entire series is out before starting it. Authors and publishers may not like what I'm about to say but it's entirely worth thinking about. Well, on second thought, don't do everything I am about to say...it is not for the faint of heart and can make you miserable. It's a pretty well known fact that I took some time off from reviewing and blogging and all the stuff that goes with that. In that time (entirely too much time!) I didn't focus on the new books or even the old books though I did read a ton on my Kindle library (just without reviewing) like it was a glass of sweet tea. I missed a lot from some favorite authors. Maybe a whole series (or honestly several!). Back in the saddle and more productive than ever before I was given an opportunity to review Cindy's last book in her The Amish of Summer Grove series. You can't just read the end without starting at the beginning. So that's where I started with 'Ties That Bind'. And am ever so grateful that there's no long drawn out wait for me to read the next book...I already have it in the stack. Bless all of ya'll who made it through the wait for these to come out. I'd have lost it I'm certain!

Ariana's heart was broken by her childhood best friend Quill when he left the Amish under the cover of darkness (at her expense) with her friend Frieda. There's a story there, a much larger story that I hope plays out in later books. Quill, while older, was her first love, really her only love. She's dated a bit but then meets Rudy and finds love again. All of this while saving and working toward her dream of the restaurant to help her financially struggling family. There are so many threads that blend together almost seamlessly that it doesn't feel overwhelming. Quill has lots of secrets. Ariana's parents have a pretty big secret - maybe? Yeah, it's there after all, just took some time to go from maybe to real. Even Ariana's sister has a secret. And we all know that secrets have a way of coming out. And when her parents' secret comes out it's life changing. For them, for Ariana, for Rudy and another English family as well.

Skylar Nash is an English girl whose life is about to intersect with this loving Amish family in a way no one could have predicted. Lifelong fears become life altering secrets that have no way of staying under wraps. I'm struggling to not give out spoilers but I feel like all I'm doing is dancing with words...and sister don't dance. At the end of this book we leave Summer Grove with Ariana as she embarks on an adventure (I'm trying to soften the blow people!) to the English world while Skylar finds herself at the doorstep to rebel against what she fears the Amish will bring to her life. Again, grateful that I don't have to wait a year to read the next book, just a couple of weeks as I work through the ever rotating pile.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Cindy Woodsmall and WaterBrook & Multnomah Publishing. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Ties That Bind
The Amish of Summer Grove #1
By Cindy Woodsmall

Ariana Brenneman loves Her Amish life and can't understand why anyone would ever want to leave it behind and face separation from friends and family left behind. And she's never been able to get over the fact that the man she had hoped to marry turned his back on his Amish roots five years ago.

But Quill Schlabach has made a reappearance in Summer Grove and Ariana fears that his presence means yet more Amish are about to slip away and be lost to her forever. But Ariana only knows the story that was told to her she doesn't know it all (and the reader is left to discover the truth as the story unfolds). But an even bigger secret is about to be revealed, one that could threaten everything Ariana has ever known and unfortunately for Quill he is about to find himself smack-dab in the center of everything.

Meanwhile living a life that is as unAmish as one could possibly get is Skylar Nash a young woman who is struggling with who she is and even her totally dysfunctional family. Skylar's passion is acting and the life of a performer. Unfortunately, she feels she plays the part of failure all too well when it comes to her day-to-day life. She is on a slow descent into a path she may never get out of. And Skylar's actions are about to set her on a path she doesn't want.

What are the ties that bind one together as a family? Is it blood? Is it the household in which one was raised? And what makes a community a community? This is a question that is woven throughout this story but don't expect an answer by the end as this is but the first in a three book series. (But don't fret book 2 is out and the conclusion will be available in August).

This is a story that will touch the heart of any reader. Secrets, betrayal, and family are the focus of this book and I for one can't wait to see where the second book Fraying at the Edge leads.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ties That Bind: A Novel
(The Amish of Summer Grove)

About the Book
Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?
Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach. 
 Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.  
Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.      

My Review
Thank goodness this is the first book in The Amish of Summer Grove series (there will be three books)
At first I was a little confused trying to figure out who was who....many different people in this book...I have always enjoyed books about the Amish people because I do agree with many of their beliefs. In this book many are explained so it helps the reader to understand their ways. It was an okay read but, very busy, yet very slow....Ending was kinda open which kinda left me wanting to read more but unfortunately I do not think I would read the other two books.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy books about the Amish.

About the Author
Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times, CBA, ECPA, and USA Today best-selling author who has written over a dozen works of fiction and one of nonfiction book. Her connection with the Amish community has been widely featured in national media outlets. She's been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice Awards. Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains.

i received this book for blogging for books dot com...in return of my review

Ties That Bind (2015) by Cindy Woodsmall is the first book in The Amish of Summer Grove series. This novel comes in all forms including eBook, and is 339 pages in length. With a full-time job and a precocious five-year old at home, this book took me three days to read. I received a copy of the novel from WaterBrook Press; all opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give this novel 3.5 STARS. This novel is a Contemporary Amish novel.

This novel gets rave reviews on GoodReads, the store, and Christianbook.com. Many, many people via Facebook and other social medias laud this series as “excellent.” And, a good deal of people in one of the reading groups that I participate in update daily with how amazing these novels are, that the pages are flying for them. So, I began this novel with great expectations. I actually couldn’t wait to read this first book in the series. I thought that if everyone loves it so much, this must be a fantastic story.

I feel like I am missing something that other readers are seeing, but I found myself bored with this novel. Many times, I could put the book down. The entire time I was reading the book I thought to myself, “There has to be more to this, where is the action?” I am kind of at a loss for what to review because I feel like if I say anything, including anything from the exposition, it will inadvertently be a spoiler. I had this novel figured out by chapter one, which made continuing reading really hard. For me, there were no surprises. In fact, I felt most of this novel was a cliche. The Amish girl is a good girl who wants to better her family’s existence. She loves God. She loves her family. And, she has a crush on a boy that could be serious. The Englisch girl is bad. She comes from a divorced home. She does drugs. She is selfish. This seemingly stereotypical portrayal of the non-Amish girl really frustrated me, and is part of why I could put the book down. I come from a divorced home, but I love God. I adore my family and work really hard to make their lives a little better. I never took drugs. I never went crazy. I went to college and studied hard and got multiple degrees so I could work for a living. I take great offense at this cliched caricature. And, it made me unable to relate to Ariana or Skylar because, to me, they don’t feel realistically written.

Another issue I have with this novel is the conflict between Quill and Ariana. When Ariana was 15, Quill and Freida (Ariana’s best friend), escape the Amish community in the middle of the night. Ariana was shocked and deeply hurt as any person would be in this situation, Amish or not. She had grown to love Quill, and believed one day they would marry. Of course, Ariana assumes quite a lot about what happened between her best friend and the boy she loved. When Quill comes back into Ariana’s life five years later, Ariana is sure that he is up to no good and doesn’t give him the benefit of the doubt. The set up for this conflict is very well done. I kept waiting for a big reveal. I kept waiting for the truth to set Ariana and Quill free. This never happens. And, when you finally (near the very end of the book) get a small explanation as to why Freida had to leave, which was super obvious to this reader very early on, it was a “reveal moment” letdown.

On a positive note, I do love Lovina’s character. Lovina is Ariana’s mother, and she is the one who goes through a truly wretched experience. It’s the kind of experience that mother’s should never go through. Her character is exceptionally realistic and very well written. There are moments in the novel, especially towards the end, where I cried for Lovina and wanted desperately give her a huge hug. My heart broke for her quite a bit. I will continue to read the series because my mommy’s heart needs to see that Lovina has a satisfying conclusion. If I had to rate the novel just on her character and experiences, I would give this book a 5 STAR rating. Lovina is fantastic!

I think my real issue with this novel is that the entire book is exposition to set up book 2 and book 3. The unresolved ending forces the reader to buy book 2 and book 3 to see how Ariana and Skylar’s stories end. This is fine, but in order for me to want to keep reading a series I have to get something out of book 1: a big, surprising reveal, an answer to a question, a sense that the characters will reconcile, a love interest of some kind, etc. But, I didn’t get that in this book. Hopefully, book 2 and 3 will have what I am looking for in a book. Regardless, I have to read them to see how things turn out for Lovina.

Woodsmall tells a switched at birth story with a twist. What would happen if an Amish baby was switched with an Englisch baby? In this story, Ariana's and Skylar are now in their 20's and found out they were accidentally switched at birth. This is the first of three books. 

This book takes Amish books to another level. This book contains a sweet love story and takes you into the Amish world. But it takes you to another level. It tells the story of complex characters and relationships. This book introduces the complexities in both the Amish and Englisch worlds. The characters are far from perfect. This story introduces some of the flaws in both worlds. The first in the series, Woodsmall focuses mainly on Ariana's part of the story while introducing Skylar and her family later in the story. 

As I read this story, it was easy for me to connect with the characters for different reasons. I could connect to Ariana's drive and need to protect her family. She loves and embraces the Amish life. She has been protected from the downsides of Amish life and is somewhat naive to the issues within the community. I can connect to this love and passion for her family. Her goal driven attitude and the desire to fix things for everyone. Skylar is faced with failure in college and an uncertain future. She brought me back to life as a freshman and my own struggles. As a parent I could connect to both Ariana's parents and her sister. 

Not only are the characters and their situations relatable (to an extant- I wasn't switched at birth), but the story is rich and full of detail without feeling long and congested. Woodsmall expertly provides enough detail to help you feel like you're in the story. The story isn't a straight lined book, girl is switched at birth and reunited with biological family and happily ever after. It is instead filled with twists and turns which truly make this book a page-turner. 

This is a Christian book and there are many Christian themes folded into the story. The book stresses the importance of forgiveness, accepting God's Grace, and recognizes the legalism which at times plagues the Christian world. 

The really own downfall to this book, if you can call it a downfall, is the ending. She left the readers and Ariana in an unfortunate situation. I do own and will very soon be reading the second book. As I must find out what will become of the girls.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves Christian or Amish books. This book is beautifully written without any inappropriate language or sexual situations. There is mention of Drug and alcohol use. But it is minimal. I would say it would be appropriate for older teens. 

Disclaimer: I did receive this book free from the publishers. 

I am sure that kids that have been adopted, often wonder a lot about what life would have been like if they were raised by their birth parents, and perhaps even children from divorces often face that challenge as well. But what if you grew up knowing one way of life, and then learning that this wasn't your life after all? Could you come to terms with the results of thinking the people who raised you and your siblings weren't really yours after all?

In the novel Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall, Ariana Brennerman is coming to terms with the issues of trusting those she loves. Even since dreaming of the day when her and Quill Schlabach might marry, she had her heartbroken when he ran off into the evening with her best friend Frieda and leaving her a letter trying to explain things. Now at twenty-one, she has spent her life trying to do everything she can for everyone in her family. In my world, one might call her a people-pleaser, doing for others while she is left going without. But for her, her future is looking up. She is on the verge of fulfilling a dream of owning her own restaurant with being just $6000 short of her down payment and dating Rudy, a man who have given her his whole heart.

At late night encounter, leaves Ariana running into Quill once again, and all she can see is rage against the one person she trusted more than anything else in the world. The one person she loved, left her behind to marry her best friend. She can't even understand why he has returned except to help his ailing mother in any way he can. The leaders of the Amish community can't know about him being back and Ariana certainly isn't going to tell anyone, except the one person who knows her better than herself, her twin brother Abram. But when Quill informs her that someone in her family is considering leaving the faith and the community, Ariana believes it is her life mission to prevent him from hurting the only family she has ever known. But is there more to Quill than what she believes and can she learn to trust him again even if it means hurting those closest to her?

I received Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall compliments of Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.This the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove Series and it truly begins with a powerful opening. For me, this is a more mature Cindy Woodsmall in this series. There is a more serious theme in this novel than ones I have had the opportunity to read in the past. I would almost compare this series to one from Wanda Brunstetter with a more straight-forward approach to the situation developing between the Brennerman family and those leaving the Amish faith. I absolutely inhaled this one in an afternoon and am super excited to read the next novel in the series, Fraying the Edge. For me, this one easily garners a 5 out of 5 stars.

56197104
Cherese Akhavein's review Sep 25, 2017 · edit
it was amazing

First book in the series: The Amish of Summer Grove, Ties The Bind by Cindy Woodsmall
I have to admit it took me several chapters to get into this book, however once I did I could not put it down. Cindy pulled me in with these characters and held my attention. Twenty year old Ariana Brenneman loves her Amish life and her family, there is nothing more important to her than protecting them and being part of the community she was raise in.
Quill Schlabach Ariana's long time friends left years earlier with Frieda to the English world and left wounds she will never forget.
Now he is back and she fears he is back to take someone else away, Quill knows she distrusts him but he is determed to protect Ariana and protect her from the harsh reality of the cold world.
Quill also uncovers secrets from Ariana's own family that could turn world upside down, how can he save her that pain? And at the same time she believes he wants nothing but the worst.
Cindy unfolds these characters in a way that you will be excited to turn each page, the story is a tear jerker and at the same time a wonderful look into Amish life as if they are ordinary people. To many times people idealize the Amish and Cindy has showen they are just like any one else and have the same problem as we all do with this book. This is a must read, I highly recommend it.

Ariana is faced with some news she would rather have not received and now she just has to find away to keep her family together. She also comes face to face with Quill and face she thought she would never see again. Can she see her dreams come true and help her family or will it all come to head with secrets that are being kept? Quill is back home to check on his mom when he runs into the one girl who has always held his heart and the one person he has never wanted to hurt. But when she finds out he has a bunch a secrets can he convince her he's only trying to help her not hurt her?

This book is really not about a love story I would say I would say this book is about finding out who you are and finding yourself and finding hope when it seems like there is none. I really loved how with this book while there was a little romance stirring the book, the book was more about the importance of family and how important it was to valve and to belong. I really enjoyed that the author did not try and sugarcoat anything, she didn't try and make anyone perfect, but she made each one you interacted with in the story have some sort of struggle. While Ariana and Quill seem to be the main characters in the story there are a few other characters but it was easy to follow who was who and what was going on. I think there was one small tiny part that I loved how over all the story flowed and I found the book completely hard to put down. I can't wait to find out what happens next.

I am sure that kids that have been adopted, often wonder a lot about what life would have been like if they were raised by their birth parents, and perhaps even children from divorces often face that challenge as well. But what if you grew up knowing one way of life, and then learning that this wasn't your life after all? Could you come to terms with the results of thinking the people who raised you and your siblings weren't really yours after all?

In the novel Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall, Ariana Brennerman is coming to terms with the issues of trusting those she loves. Even since dreaming of the day when her and Quill Schlabach might marry, she had her heartbroken when he ran off into the evening with her best friend Frieda and leaving her a letter trying to explain things. Now at twenty-one, she has spent her life trying to do everything she can for everyone in her family. In my world, one might call her a people-pleaser, doing for others while she is left going without. But for her, her future is looking up. She is on the verge of fulfilling a dream of owning her own restaurant with being just $6000 short of her down payment and dating Rudy, a man who have given her his whole heart.

At late night encounter, leaves Ariana running into Quill once again, and all she can see is rage against the one person she trusted more than anything else in the world. The one person she loved, left her behind to marry her best friend. She can't even understand why he has returned except to help his ailing mother in any way he can. The leaders of the Amish community can't know about him being back and Ariana certainly isn't going to tell anyone, except the one person who knows her better than herself, her twin brother Abram. But when Quill informs her that someone in her family is considering leaving the faith and the community, Ariana believes it is her life mission to prevent him from hurting the only family she has ever known. But is there more to Quill than what she believes and can she learn to trust him again even if it means hurting those closest to her?

I received Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall compliments of Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.This the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove Series and it truly begins with a powerful opening. For me, this is a more mature Cindy Woodsmall in this series. There is a more serious theme in this novel than ones I have had the opportunity to read in the past. I would almost compare this series to one from Wanda Brunstetter with a more straight-forward approach to the situation developing between the Brennerman family and those leaving the Amish faith. I absolutely inhaled this one in an afternoon and am super excited to read the next novel in the series, Fraying the Edge. For me, this one easily garners a 5 out of 5 stars.

56197104
Cherese Akhavein's review Sep 25, 2017 · edit
it was amazing

First book in the series: The Amish of Summer Grove, Ties The Bind by Cindy Woodsmall
I have to admit it took me several chapters to get into this book, however once I did I could not put it down. Cindy pulled me in with these characters and held my attention. Twenty year old Ariana Brenneman loves her Amish life and her family, there is nothing more important to her than protecting them and being part of the community she was raise in.
Quill Schlabach Ariana's long time friends left years earlier with Frieda to the English world and left wounds she will never forget.
Now he is back and she fears he is back to take someone else away, Quill knows she distrusts him but he is determed to protect Ariana and protect her from the harsh reality of the cold world.
Quill also uncovers secrets from Ariana's own family that could turn world upside down, how can he save her that pain? And at the same time she believes he wants nothing but the worst.
Cindy unfolds these characters in a way that you will be excited to turn each page, the story is a tear jerker and at the same time a wonderful look into Amish life as if they are ordinary people. To many times people idealize the Amish and Cindy has showen they are just like any one else and have the same problem as we all do with this book. This is a must read, I highly recommend it.

Ariana is faced with some news she would rather have not received and now she just has to find away to keep her family together. She also comes face to face with Quill and face she thought she would never see again. Can she see her dreams come true and help her family or will it all come to head with secrets that are being kept? Quill is back home to check on his mom when he runs into the one girl who has always held his heart and the one person he has never wanted to hurt. But when she finds out he has a bunch a secrets can he convince her he's only trying to help her not hurt her?

This book is really not about a love story I would say I would say this book is about finding out who you are and finding yourself and finding hope when it seems like there is none. I really loved how with this book while there was a little romance stirring the book, the book was more about the importance of family and how important it was to valve and to belong. I really enjoyed that the author did not try and sugarcoat anything, she didn't try and make anyone perfect, but she made each one you interacted with in the story have some sort of struggle. While Ariana and Quill seem to be the main characters in the story there are a few other characters but it was easy to follow who was who and what was going on. I think there was one small tiny part that I loved how over all the story flowed and I found the book completely hard to put down. I can't wait to find out what happens next.

TIES THAT BIND is the first book in Ms. Woodsmalls newest series, The Amish of Summer Grove. This is a series that is all tied together, so readers will need to read them in order – TIES THAT BIND, Fraying at the Edge, and Gathering the Threads. The good news is that you won’t have to wait long to read Gathering the Threads as it is releasing in another month.

TIES THAT BIND starts slow, and at first I was confused what the fire had to do with anything, but it all ties together. Ariana is a very sweet Amish girl who loves her family with everything she has in her. She loved Quill but he hurt her deeply when he left with Ari’s best friend, and now she doesn’t trust him—especially when she discovers that he is the reason why Amish disappear in the still of the night. And when she learns that one of her family is planning on leaving she is desperate to find out who and stop them!

Quill is a dear and I love his level head, his ability to think on his feet and his caring nature. Even though he loves Ariana deeply his biggest desire is to keep her from getting hurt and he’s happy for her when she finds love with another.

When the upset comes, everyone is stunned and hurt and I am anxious to read Fraying at the Edge to find out what happens next! I’m sure it’s going to be a page turner. Stay tuned, as I will be reading that book soon.

Don’t miss TIES THAT BIND. A spell-binding book that kept me engaged and left me anxious for more. I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Total disclosure: I was allowed to join a launch team for the third book in this series. First, thanks in advance to WaterBook & Multnomah for sending me the first two books in the series so that I could get caught up. So, let's start there!

This book grabbed me from the beginning and I must confess the characters stuck with me long after I put the book down. I found this book to have a lot of depth, something that is not found too easily these days.

Ariana Brenneman is faithful to her Amish family and their lifestyle. She is a firm believer in the Old Ways and is at peace with her life. Her faith is unshakable. However, she is also getting over being hurt by an old friend, Quill Schlabach.

Quill left the Amish years prior and started helping other Amish people leave the community when they wish to do so. He helped Ariana's friend, Frieda leave and Ariana sees this as completely disrespectful and a betrayal to the Amish community. Ariana shockingly learns that Quill is back and that is possibly helping a family member of Ariana's to leave the community.

Ariana is determined to find out who it is and try to stop it. She is also trying to focus on the positive in her life, which includes her dream of opening a cafe.

However, there is a huge possible bombshell lurking that could shatter Ariana's life as she knows it. I don't want to give too much away here, but believe me, I felt this story was riveting. I was really drawn in.

The next book is Fraying at the Edge. I will do blog on that when I am finished, but I also want to say that the third book, Gathering The Threads is going to be available August 2017 and I can't wait.

While there are lots of events and other people to keep straight, this book had my unbroken attention all the means through. As I scan through tough things and massively robust choices they visaged it created Amish state believe what if I had to visaged the precise same factor what would I do. The family is those you were born into and tie you together when they come back beside you for life's journey. The struggles among this Mennonite community were tough because it gave the impression to be rules and rules rather than grace and mercy. whereas all are required, some ar required quite others. I hope I will get a duplicate of the following book once it comes out as a result of I'd like to scan a lot of regarding city and Skylar and their struggles as they go with the new "norm."
If you would like a book that's filled with intrigue which can grab at your heart strings, this can be one you would like to choose up and browse.

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.

In Ties That Bind, Arianna is a young Amish woman struggling to find the down payment for her first business. By purchasing the cafe, she can make a livelihood for herself and her family, enjoying what she does. Helping her is her twin brother, Abram, who is also wondering about his future as the girl he's been pursuing suddenly seems to shut him down. Things start to unravel when an old beau, Quill, returns to town. Known for helping the Amish leave the Old Order, Quill's presence sets Arianna to wondering who in her family could be leaving. But the mystery goes deeper than that as her parents begin to suspect she was switched at birth. Will she convince her family to continue in the Amish tradition? Or will it be Arianna who will find herself living among the English?

Cindy Woodsmall starts a new trilogy, The Amish of Summer Grove, with this book. Being book #1, it's a great set up of characters. Woodsmall's strength really is in character development and that shines in this book. Though over 300 pages, Ties that Bind sets up a thorough cast of characters without feeling slow or belabored. There is quite a few to keep track of with Arianna coming from a large family, courting, and being involved in an Amish community, but each character feels important, thought out, and identifiable.

As the story began to emerge, I wondered how just the first book could be so long without being redundant. However, once reading, I found that I still longed for more at the end of the book. I look forward to reading more in this series and discovering how Woodsmall will carry out this unique storyline. Definitely worth the read!

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

I have read every novel by Cindy Woodsmall, and loved them all. She has a way of gripping your emotions and making you really care about her characters, even though culturally they may be outwardly different from us.

I quickly grew to admire Ariana as she cared for her large, poor family in so many practical ways. Her relationships with her shy twin Abram, witty boyfriend Rudy and handsome nemesis Quill are depicted perfectly, with both personal consistency yet a particular voice for each. But things are about to change, as her world is rocked by a 20 year old secret. Finding she and an "Englisch" baby were switched at birth in an Amish birthing center puts her in the position of meeting the biological parents she never knew. The other daughter, Skylar, is equally upset at this revelation. She couldn't be more different from Ariana - brash, selfish, impractical, addicted to prescription drugs. How will these two young women adjust to meeting their "new" families? Can they ever love or even understand their biological parents after so many years in different worlds?

Quill provides the steady wisdom everyone needs during these challenging times, and I especially like his statement to Ariana when she begins to question who she really is: "The proof of who you are is in the decisions you make." If only Ari could see the truth behind Quill's decision to leave the Amish - then she might appreciate who her good friend really is!

I loved this book, but felt the last few chapters were a bit unrealistic as Englisch dad Nicholas forces Ariana to live with them for a year in exchange for not filing charges against the Amish midwife, Rachel. In real life, I think it would have been more likely that Ariana would have married Rudy to avoid this ultimatum, and that an extended meeting with her natural parents would have sufficed. But then we wouldn't have the next book in this series to look forward to, would we?!

If you enjoy good Amish fiction that explores more than prayer kapps and recipes, do yourself a favor and read Ties That Bind.

Ties That Bind is the first book in Cindy Woodsmall’s The Amish of Summer Grove series, and is also the first book I have ever read by her. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going in, but I was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful this story is! It captivated me from the moment I first read the synopsis, and I’m still dying to know the whole of the story. Though I am fully aware of a good amount of the secrets that all of the characters hold now that I’ve finished the book, I still want to know how everything works out in the end. I’m already sooooo ready to read the next book in the series, so I’m super glad it comes out next month.
Ariana Brenneman is by far one of my favorite Amish women I have ever been introduced to (in the books I’ve read of course). She is so sweet, and brave, and loving, and always cares for her large family, and I just know if circumstances were different—and if she were real—we would definitely be friends. I absolutely love her relationship with her twin, Abram, as well. They are so, so close, and their bond makes me wish I had a twin of my own. Most of all, though, I love how Ari handles everything that is thrown at her throughout the course of this book. She handles everything, even the worst nightmares, with such an amazing amount of patience and grace, and I cannot help but admire her for that.
I haven’t really come to a decision on what I think of Quill as of yet, so I’m not going to spend very much time on him. I know he seemingly has reasons behind all of the not entirely on the up-and-up things that he has done, and I even am fully aware of some of those explanations, but I still feel like he really seems to throw Ariana under the bus every time he tries to help. I love his devotion to her and his longing to keep her safe, but really all he’s ever done is just cause her pain, so I haven’t decided if I like him yet or not.
All in all though, I really loved this story! It’s so interesting, and there are so many elements woven together to make it captivate me from beginning to end, so I can easily give it all five bookshelves. Cindy has definitely become a favorite author of mine, and I can’t wait to read more of her books—namely the second installment, Fraying at the Edge—in the future!
(This review is from my blog, spreadinghisgrace.blogspot.com)

Book one, Ties that Bind, in Cindy Woodsmall’s series The Amish of Summer Grove is an enjoyable and sweet Amish novel that readers will enjoy. Although it may take readers a couple of chapters to get into the story, Woodsmall eventually captures the attention of her readers with the charming and relatable characters. Woodsmall brings to life the struggles and challenges that some Amish have with wanting to turn to the outside world, rather than staying amongst their own people. This is a pleasant story that fans of Amish fiction will want to pick up.

Series: The Amish of Summer Grove
Genre: Amish, Christian
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Publication date: September 8, 2015
Number of pages: 339

A review copy of this book was provided by Blogging for Books. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

My Thoughts On The Book:  I love Amish fiction and romance, I love Cindy Woodsmall books, so when you put the two together I am a winner all the way around. Woodsmall has an excellent way of drawing you into her stories with her life like characters.  This is the first book of The Amish of Summer Grove Series.  From the beginning of the book I felt as if I was part of this family and their lives.  There were a few different story lines going on throughout the book and the ending made you anxious to begin reading book two.  I could not put this book down.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Cindy Woodsmall and Waterbrook Press. 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.”

Cindy Woodsmall's new Amish of Summer Grove series gets off to an intriguing start with Ties That Bind.

In addition to including many elements that are familiar in Amish fiction, this story deals with some topics not often included. Quill is an ex-Amish young man who now spends his time helping others who struggling with the choice to leave their community. How and why he does that is one of the big uncertainties throughout the story. Ariana and her family discover they have connections to the English world that could have far-reaching impacts on many people.

Cindy has created characters who are interesting to get to know, whose lives and struggles are easy to care about. There are questions and crises, twists and turns, that keep the story moving and interesting. And the ending leaves things hanging in a way that guarantees a need to look forward to the second book in the series!

Ties That Bind is a great read for fans of Amish fiction, just as you would expect from Cindy Woodsmall.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first offering in Cindy Woodsmall’s series, The Amish of Summer Grove. I usually really enjoy her books but this one took me a while to get interested in, It started out slow and didn’t pick up until about half way through. The refreshing thing about this book is, unlike some Amish novels, the characters are portrayed as real people, flawed and imperfect.

As I said, I had read almost half of it before it captured my interest. After that point the plot became more solidified. The story line incorporates secrets and mysteries, lost loves and new interests. By the end of the book I was hooked and invested in the lives of the characters. However, the ending was really a let down for me. There was no resolution to any of the questions raised. It was obvious that you would need to read the whole series in order to have all the questions answered and mysteries solved. I would not call this a stand alone book. On the other hand, it does make me want to read the next one of the series when it comes out.

This is from the back cover:
“Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?

Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.

Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.

Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.”

As I’ve said before in many of my previous reviews, this is only my opinion based on my likes and dislikes. Your opinion might be very different. You should go to the publisher’s website, [...] and read an excerpt, then judge for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Press through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above 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.”

Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?

Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.

Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.
*
Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.

Ties That Bind is the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series.

You don't have to worry about language or sexual content while reading this book. I appreciated that. . There is mystery, drama, and a unique look into the world of the Amish in The Ties That Bind. There are many mini plots rolled into the main plot. I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the second book in the series.

About the Author
Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times, CBA, ECPA, and USA Today best-selling author who has written over a dozen works of fiction and one of nonfiction book. Her connection with the Amish community has been widely featured in national media outlets. She's been a finalist for the prestigious Christy, Rita, and Carol Awards, Christian Book of the Year, and Christian Retailers Choice Awards. Cindy and her husband reside near the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains.

I received a complimentary copy of Ties that Bind from Blogging for Books (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.

About This Book "Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart? Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach. Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish. * Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever. "

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times and CBA best-selling author of numerous works of fiction and one of nonfiction. Her connection with the Amish community has been featured widely in national media. She lives in the Foothills of the North Georgia Mountains with her family.

Ties That Bind is a new novel by Cindy Woodsmall and the first in the Amish of Summer Grove series. Sometimes when you read a lot of Amish fiction, the stories start sounding all the same. This is not true of books by Cindy Woodsmall. Ties That Bind is a unique story that will hook you in the first chapter and you will want to keep reading. I truly could not put it down. The novel does not just focus on one or two characters, it tells the story of three different characters plus a few others as well. Even though there are a lot of characters in the story, the author does a great job developing the characters and weaving them into the story so it is not at all confusing. This novel has many different layers to it and several different problems that need to be resolved. Of course, it is a series, so the ending will leave you hanging with the problem that you can't wait to find out what happens next!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging For Books for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review. I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC regulations.

What if everything you believed about yourself and your family was a lie? 20-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her Amish heritage and is looking to the future, working hard alongside her twin brother to save enough money to open their own cafe. Her mother, Lovina, watches them with pride and joy, but a niggling doubt finally causes her to investigate further into the night her twins were born. The birthing center had caught on fire while two mothers gave birth just a minutes apart; was it possible that in the chaos the baby girls had been switched?

One night, while checking on a sick neighbor, Ariana comes across a friend from her childhood whom she hadn't seen in five years, not since he left the Amish faith with another girl and broke her heart. When Quill apologizes and hints at more heartache ahead for Ariana, she realizes that he has been the mysterious figure helping young men and women leave the Amish faith quickly and quietly, whisking them away and helping them establish footing in the outside world. Knowing his apology means that one of her nine siblings must be considering leaving the fold, Ariana makes it her personal quest to find out which one and convince them to stay.

Quill firmly believes that every person has the right to choose their own life path, whether Amish or not, without condemnation for others. He had planned to remain Amish and marry Ariana someday until circumstances forced him to make a hard choice. Now that he's gotten involved in secretly helping Amish people navigate the English world, he's privy to a lot of hidden secrets. When Lovina and her husband come to him for help in tracking down the girl who may be their biological daughter, he knows it could destroy the life of one whom he still loves very much.

The other girl born on that fiery night twenty years ago is Skyler Nash, an aspiring actress who has big dreams but an even bigger tendency towards making bad decisions. With an unsavory boyfriend and a growing drug dependency, Skyler feels like her world is falling around her when her grades make her ineligible for performing in the college theatre program.

This is a novel with many deep storylines. It's an excellent start to Cindy Woodsmall's new series, but be prepared that it's just the beginning. You are definitely going to want to read the second novel when it comes out next year! As the puzzle pieces start coming together your heart will be tugged in many different directions. Joy, sadness, fear, love, and resolve are on full display. I really enjoyed this story, which is no surprise with this author.

I received my copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.

Book description: "Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.

Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.

Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever."

My review: This book was amazing! After reading the first chapter, I knew this was going to be a book that I couldn't put down. It left me on the edge of my seat until the last chapter, and I will continue to be on the edge of my seat until the next book in this series comes out. Reading this book will leave you emotionally wrung out as you experience the emotions of each of the characters. While this book is mainly about Ariana, there are several characters with stories all their own and as you read you want to know as much about each of them as you can. Ms. Woodsmall has started an amazing new series with plenty of stories to tell. While I can't wait to see what happens with Ariana and Quill, I would love to follow the stories of other members of Ariana's family as well. Although not your typical Amish fiction, if you enjoy reading books about the Amish, this is a must read! I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher through the Blogging for Books blogger program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

When it comes to Amish fiction Cindy Woodsmall is my favorite author. I have read all of her books and she never disappoints! Her newest book, Ties That Bind, may be the best yet! It is the first book in The Amish of Summer Grove series and I absolutely loved it.

The books starts out in an Amish birthing center where one women has just given birth and another is about to, when a fire breaks out. It's complete chaos. The story then jumps forward 20 years and we get to know Ariana Brenneman, a sweet Amish girl who loves her family and the Amish life. Her family has always struggled financially and she longs to help them out by starting a cafe. Her twin brother Abram is helping her raise the money.

Quill Schlabach left the Amish five years ago when he ran off with Ariana's best friend Frieda. Ariana was devastated and still struggles with bitterness. When she unexpectedly runs into him she knows he is there to help someone she loves leave the Amish community. Ariana is desperate to protect her family and devises a plan of her own.

Despite how it looks, Quill has spent his life protecting Ariana and when her parents come to him for help he begins to learn of a secret surrounding Ariana that will turn her life upside down. They are finally moving forward and forming a friendship and his involvement with "the secret" can destroy everything that they have rebuilt.

The book is fairly predictable at times, but that did not take anything away from it for me. The characters are well developed and despite everything that has happened between Ariana and Quill I couldn't help but root for their relationship. If I had to find one negative thing about this book it would be that I have to wait for the next book to see what happens next! I seriously can't wait! There are so many unanswered questions I have about this story and I can't wait to see what happens next in the lives of the characters I have already come to love.

***This book was provided to me by bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for my honest review.

Ties That Bind: A Novel (The Amish of Summer Grove) is the first book in a new series by Cindy Woodsmall. Here is an synopsis of the book.

Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?
Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.

Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.
*
Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever.

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting and mysterious. I like that it is different than other Amish series that I have read. It focused more on a girl's personal struggle to make something for herself and her family so that her family will stay together in the Amish faith. It also showed her parent's struggle by keeping a mysterious secret from the daughter that they love a lot. This was a quick read that kept me wanting to stay up late at night. It is a real page turner.

I received this book for review from Blogging for Books.

My Review

I really enjoyed this book. This book was all about family, the love of Christ and doing what is right even when it hurts. The lead up to the stories of Ariana and Skylar was excellent. They were well developed character and the author did a great job of building the connection between the two young women. The supporting characters provided great body to the story and allowed me to really immerse myself into the story. What was also interesting was the element of intrigue surrounding Quill and Ariana's family. I thought that played so well into the outcome of the story. Ariana's decision as she was in a difficult situation brought joy to my heart.

From a Christian Perspective

In this book I met one family who lived to glorify Christ by their actions and beliefs. On the other side was a splintered family with no spiritual direction. How the author brought this together was amazing. She really allowed the love of Christ and of others to shine through in this story. Ariana's parents faith was so strong and showed how you need to believe and trust that God's Will is right and true all the time. Even though we don't always understand it, it is still true. Ariana's story reminds me of Joseph who was also torn away from his family (Gen 37). Even in challenging circumstances, Joseph was able to rise above by trusting in and relying on God.

Overall, I would recommend this book to lovers of Christian Fiction as well as those who love a great story.

always look forward to starting a new Amish series, especially when the author is Cindy Woodsmall, and with Ties That Bind we begin the Amish of Summer Grove Series. Ariana Brenneman grew up in the Old Order Amish and has always been quite content, sure she aspires to open a bakery in the town of Summer Grove, that is if she can get the money together to do it, but that's so she can help out with her family. It had been five years since Quill Schlabach had left the Amish community with a teen girl, and if truth be told Ariana hadn't really ever gotten over it, and now he is back, but can they rebuild their friendship? Thing is Quill has always had feelings for Ariana, but he also knows something that would change her life forever and he wants to help her any way he can even if only she will let him.

I found myself struggling to get involved in this book and I think the reason might have been because there were so many characters and their stories to learn,that I felt like I was getting bounced back and forth to much. As the book progressed though I found myself being drawn into the story line. There was a few plot twists that provided just the right amount of ummph to make me want to read on and I am glad that I did! Overall, I didn't connect to this book right away but I am glad that I continued to read, because I have become hooked and can't wait to read the next book in the series!
A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.

My Thoughts
Ariana Brenneman's family is poor and she is determined she can help. She knows with her cooking and baking skills she could run a cafe and make a profit. However, the problem is lack of money. She is working hard, trying to save up enough money to buy a cafe in town, but time is running out. In desperation, she talks her brother into helping her by pooling his resources with her.
All Ariana can focus on is getting her money and helping her family financially, at least until Quill Schlabach shows back up late one night. Five years earlier he had run away from the Amish with her best friend, Frieda and been banned. Now, because she tried to help a friend, she saw Quill. He apologizes to her for what pain she is about to suffer. Now, she has a new worry; someone in her family was leaving the Amish, too.
As Ariana worries and frets over which family member may be leaving their faith, she decides she has to speed up the time frame to open the cafe. She hopes to entice her sister into staying. After all, she just needs a good incentive and more money, Ariana reasons.
Cindy Woodsmall has done an extraordinary job of weaving together multiple layers in the plot of Ties That Bind, including a mystery surrounding Ariana about which she herself is totally unaware.
I received this I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing story!!!! Ties That Bind is one of the best books Cindy Woodsmall ever wrote.

Right from the beginning, Ms. Woodsmall captures your attention. "Gnarled fingers of smoke seeped under the closed door of the old house. Fear threatened to steal Lovina's ability to obey her husband's departing words to stay put. She eyed a door in the bedroom that led outside. Could she get to it on her own?"

The story starts out when Lovina gives birth to twins...the Amish birthing center though is on fire and she must get out, along with another young woman named Brandi Nash, who was not Amish. The second chapter fast forward to 20 years later. Ariana is an Amish girl who has a dream. A dream to open up an Amish cafe and help her family out of poverty. She is also courting a young man named Rudy. Quill and his brothers help Amish individuals and even families leave their world behind to start a new life in the "English" world. He will be involved in other ways too in this story.

It was hard to put down and do some productive work. It kept my attention I wanted to know what would happen next. There are many characters but they all interact well with each other. There are 2 other books in this series and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next one.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Cindy Woodsmall has written 17 books, I have read and enjoyed 14 of them. I was excited to see she was starting another series. ‘Ties That Bind’ is the first book in Woodsmall’s The Amish of Summer Grove series She has friends in Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families that help her authentically portray her characters.

I think Woodsmall is trying to get us to look at how we live out our lives in the eyes of non-believers. If we are hypocrites, whether English or Amish, we can push people away from wanting to learn more about God. Also, we need to be praying (talking to God) all the time, not just when needs arise.

Woodsmall has created characters that I could not help but like and care for. From the beginning it was easy for me to see what was going to eventually happen. But there was so much more to this novel than the one predictable part of the story. This book is built around relationships and the love of family and God. The ending, which I think can be considered the beginning for the next book in the series, may be unrealistic for some. If you know enough about the Amish to understand their ways it should settle with you okay. This is not a stand-alone novel, do not plan on reading this book and being satisfied with the ending. I enjoyed this story and look forward to the rest of the series. I received a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review.

Everyone has secrets. But the secret in an Amish home will turn one young lady's world upside down.Ariana Brenneman is a twenty-year-old who dreams of opening a cafe in historic Summer Grove. Ariana loves her family, and the old ways. When an old friend, Quill Schlabach, who left the Amish community five years ago returns, Ariana thinks he is the one who has been helping the Amish leave the Amish ways.

Ariana is still hurt from Quills betrayal five years ago when he left with her friend Frieda. When she finds out that Quill is helping someone she loves leave the Amish community she has to come up with a plan. With hard work, determination, and the love of a close family, Ariana works through the issues that arise.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact I couldn't put it down. I'm so glad there will be more to this series and can't wait for the next book to be out! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved the style of writing and all the unique characters in this book. I highly recommend reading this book by Cindy Woodsmall.
*I Received this book for free in exchange for my honest review

Another great read by Cindy Woodsmall, I quickly got caught up in this story, and there are a lot of twists and turns, and when we are finished you won’t have all of the answers.
Quill wanted to be Amish, unlike his older brothers who left the faith, but a dark happening compelled him to honor his father and he left with a young Amish woman. You will be shocked when you find out why, but that is only part of the story.
The book begins with three babies being born in an Amish birthing place, with a fire raging inside. Fast-forward twenty years, and the world that all of them have know is about to be shattered.
I really had mixed feelings on how this should all end, these people are now really adults and yet the Amish remain loyal to their families, but what about the English child? Her life doesn’t appear so rosy, and I wanted her to go to her roots, but what is the cost of straightening out an old error.
Can’t wait for the next book to get some answers here, and although what I want to happen probably won’t, we will just have to wait.
I received this book through Blogging For Books, and was not required go give a positive review.

Wow, Cindy Woodsmall really knows how to write a doozy of a story! I wasn't expecting something like this and I guess that is the whole point!

Throw out the window most of what you thought about the Amish because here is a story that is so compelling it will have you shaking your head and thinking, this doesn't happen to the Amish, it only happens to the rest of the people in America, but sadly it did happen and Ariana must now face what lies ahead of her and make the best of what she can salvage and maintain.

Family life is never easy and certain members will do their best to make sure their wishes are what people will adhere to and not gossip. Quinn has tried his best to shield Ariana, but there comes a time when all secrets get spilled and that is when things take on a surreal feeling for Ariana as she tries to hold onto all that she has known.

You are going to love this book! I thought about doing a giveaway but since there will be another one coming, I decided to wait and see if maybe I can do them all at once. But, if you get the chance to read it before I am ready, take it! It's well worth it!

found the book very slow to begin with many characters……. Twenty year old Ariana Bennenman is devoted to God and her family who adhere to the Old Order Amish. The Bennenmans are a very large and poor family and all are hard working .Arianna has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood. Her twin brother Abram is doing all he can to help her to save enough money to purchase the cafe. Five years ago Quill, her closest friend, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish community. Someone in her family, she will do anything to prevent this. There are many twists and turns to this novel, different from other Amish books. I found it to be very interesting but….I DID NOT LIKE THE WAY IT ENDED! I know the writer will continue the story in another book, but you must wait until then. …..
I received a complimentary copy of Ties that Bind from Blogging for Books, in exchange for an honest review.

Ties That Bind
Cindy Woodsmall

Ties That Bind is the first book in The Amish of Summer Grove series by Cindy Woodsmall. I absolutely love Cindy’s books and this is another great one that you will not be able to put down and definitely can’t wait until the next one comes out.

Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She wants to open a café in the historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other of the Amish from being trapped into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.

Ariana still carries the wounds of a betrayal from five years ago when her dear friend Frieda ran off with Quill. Now Quill is back and has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish. There are secrets that Quill is keeping to protect Ariana, secrets that may hurt her.

This is a great novel that will keep you intrigued and you will not be able to put it down until your finished. Definitely a must read!!!

Thank you to the publisher and Blogging for Books for a copy of this book for my honest review!

I love Cindy Woodsmalls books and I'm never disappointed. They only regret with reading her newest Ties That Bind is that it's the first of a series and I hate waiting for the next one. lol
The first book of The Amish of Summer Grove series is one of the most intriguing ones I've read of hers. Arianna Brenneman is the twin of Abram and one of the ten children of Isaac and Lovina. The boy she hoped to marry, Quill, ran off with her best friend, Frieda. She is finally moving on and has a new beau, Rudy, when Quill reappears.
Quill appears to be linked to the night crawler, a person who sneaks in and assists the Amish who wish to leave the community. However, there are more pressing secrets that come to light that changes everything Arianna believes.
This novel does deviate somewhat from her usual ones in that it is focused more on the family and less on the Amish community. I enjoyed Ties that Bind and I iam now sitting on pins and needles waiting for her to release book two.
I received this book free from Water Brook Publishers for an honest review.

Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cords of family keep them together—or simply tear them apart?

”Twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman loves her family and the Old Ways. She has two aspirations: open a café in historic Summer Grove to help support her family’s ever-expanding brood and to keep any other Amish from being lured into the Englisch life by Quill Schlabach.

Five years ago Quill, along with her dear friend Frieda, ran off together, and Ariana still carries the wounds of that betrayal. When she unexpectedly encounters him, she soon realizes he has plans to help someone else she loves leave the Amish.

Despite how things look, Quill’s goal has always been to protect Ariana from anything that may hurt her, including the reasons he left. After returning to Summer Grove on another matter, he unearths secrets about Ariana and her family that she is unaware of. His love and loyalty to her beckons him to try to win her trust and help her find a way to buy the café—because when she learns the truth that connects her and a stranger named Skylar Nash, Quill knows it may upend her life forever. “

I have not read many Amish based books. They have always been hit or miss for me. Often I have found that the story line is too slow or just not intriguing enough to keep my attention. Ties That Bind was completely different. This book was captivating, intriguing and fast paced from the very start. Cindy Woodsmall developed the characters in a way that they were relatable and real. I was able to put myself in the scenes and experience the pain, love, anticipation, grief and comfort with the characters. Throughout the book there are little pieces of the puzzle and nuggets of information that start to paint an intriguing picture without giving away the plot. I love that kind of suspense; it makes you never want to put the book down.
Ariana and her family have a bond that is steadfast and true. The Brenneman family is the picture of a love that includes sacrifice and protection for each and every member. This picture is in stark contrast to the family Skylar Nash has grown up in. Her parents love her but whether or not she shares a bond is questionable. The way these two girl’s lives intertwine is an amazing journey of love, betrayal and suspense.
Ties That Bind is the first novel in the Amish of Summer Grove series. Cindy Woodsmall did an excellent job of wrapping up this first book in a way that did not leave you feeling disappointed but left enough suspense and intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation for the next installment. I highly recommend this book and am so excited for the next installment!
I received this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review.

Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite authors, so I was very excited to find out she has a new series coming out! Ties That Bind is the first book in The Amish of Summer Grove series. It took me a few chapters to get into the story and the characters, but once I did it was hard to put the book down! Babies being switched accidentally at birth is such a frightening, yet fascinating topic. Ariana is so devoted to her Old Amish lifestyle, and is close to accomplishing her dream of owning her own cafe. She also has a loving boyfriend she is planning to marry, so this news that she is not biologically from her Amish family has the potential to change everything. Skylar Nash is the opposite of Ariana-her life is a mess, so maybe the Amish lifestyle could bring her some much needed stability. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and find out how Ariana and Skylar adapt to their new lifestyles. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cindy Woodsmall has a new series out… The Amish of Summer Grove!

Wow! Cindy Woodsmall is such an amazing author!

Ms. Woodsmall took a problem I never thought I’d see in Amish fiction – a problem so rare I’ve only seen it mentioned in another series one time – and she made it work.

Right at the beginning you get completely drawn in… and you can’t put the book down… there’s smoke coming in the room, so you know there’s a fire. Talk about a good opening – this is a great one!

I’m a bit weird in that I love to read Amish fiction – without the English world coming in to make trouble – but Cindy handled the story with an expert touch. The author does a superb job making the problem believable. And no, I’m not going to even give a hint as to what the problem is… if you want to know, you have to read the book. And let me encourage you right now – read the book.

        Is it blood or love that actually makes us family?  This is a question that is really at the core of this first book in the series The Amish of Summer Grove by Cindy Woodsmall.  In Ties That Bind, the reader is introduced to a loving mother in a disastrous position for giving birth.  Then the story skips twenty years and the protagonist is revealed to be a baby born during that day as a fire ravaged an Amish birthing center.  On the surface this book, and likely the series, deals with the differences, both expected and unexpected, between the Amish culture and American culture, but on a deeper level it tackles questions of identity, love, what makes a family, and how actions by one family member have far rippling affects on all of the other family members.  It is a well crafted book but a difficult read for its emotional pain.  And yet, it is something that compels the reader to jump from the end of this book directly into book two.  It also raises one huge question: how can I be Amish for a week?
         Aside from expected characteristics of books set in the Amish genre, this book contrasts so many pieces of the ordnung with American life, of differences between people, and even the idea of taking loved ones for granted while setting up the characters to not only see life on the other side of this cultural gap but to experience it and see how they can grow from and through the experience.  It shakes ideas of black and white answers and challenges the reader to consider what can be answered so simply and what should be answered more softly in shades of gray or even the brilliant colors of the rainbow.  After all, the rainbow was a promise from God.  Would He use such a colorful representation of His promise if He didn't want use to consider many possibilities and complexities in any decision being made? Maybe.  And then again, maybe not.  But do take a read and share your thoughts below

This is one of the most interesting Amish fiction books I have read in years. There are a lot of unanswered questions that will force you to keep reading to better understand what is going on.
One thing I really loved was how Cindy wrote the dialogue for the Amish. I think we (or at least me) often think they talk so different from us. But these characters sounded like any other twenty-something person. It made them more real for me.
There is a lot of mystery surrounding the past of these characters and what will happen when truth is revealed? Also, I wanted to better understand the feelings between Ariana and Quill. Was there possible romance there or was Ariana really ready to commit to Rudy?
These questions and much more made this an excellent read.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Love this book - what drama! This type of story is so intriguing, I know that if you love Amish fiction + Lifetime movies this is the book for YOU! It has been a long time since I could really stick with a book until the finish, but this book kept me engaged. Of course, Cindy Woodsmall is one of my fav authors of Amish fiction. Included within the covers is plenty of drama and mystery. Quill is a very likable character as is Ariana. I am anxious to hear more of Quill's story. I feel like much has been left unsaid. The end of this book was less than satisfying and I can't wait for the next installment to be published. There is so much story to be told...I wonder if this will be a trilogy or more even. I better end before I give away too much of the story.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review which I have given.

Cindy Woodsmall has created another must read in the new series The Amish of Summer Grove. In book one, "Ties That Bind," the reader is introduced to Ariana Brenneman-a young Amish woman with the dream of opening her own cafe to help support her family. When she discovers Quill Schlabach, who left the Amish life, is back in town she begins to fear he is back to help someone else leave the faith. Ariana figures out it is someone in her family. Thinking it is her younger sister, Ariana enlists her sister to help work at the cafe but does she have the correct family member? And what about the strange way her parents have been acting? And will she ever earn enough money to purchase the cafe? Or even get her cafe opened?
The author does a great job drawing you into the story so much so that it is hard to put down the book!

What a great book! After reading the description of this book. I knew it was going to be a book I could curl up and enjoy. I did not realize it would be a book that I would not be able to stop reading once I stopped. I read this book over two days because I just had to know how it was going to end for Ariana. I fell in love with Ariana and her strong love for her way of life and family. I quickly started to realize the struggle Quill was dealing with in his efforts to protect Ariana.
My only complaint with this book is that I will have to wait to read the second book in this series until it comes out. I hope the wait is not to long. I can not wait to see how the journey unfolds from her for Ariana, Quill, and Skylar. (I won't go into details on who Skylar is so I don't give away any of the plot twists for this book.) The book was an easy read the story reads well and the author pulls you into the life of the characters very well. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed it.
*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall is a book about twenty-year-old Ariana Brenneman, a daughter of a large Amish family. Ariana loves the Old Order Amish community she has been raised in and is broken hearted when she discovers that one of her siblings plans to leave the Amish and abandon the traditional ways. Ariana plans to open a café in historic Summer Grove and help keep her sister in the Amish fold, but raising money to buy the old café isn’t the only unforeseen roadblock she faces. The secret aftermath of a fire that happened twenty years earlier at the time of her birth, surfaces and threatens to destroy Ariana, her family and all that she holds dear.

I have read quite a few books about the Amish, and I really enjoy most of them, but I did not enjoy this book. The conflicts and problems seemed contrived and unnatural. The characters were flat and not particularly likable. The Amish faith and way of life was portrayed as something that needed to be escaped from, but the non-Amish, English characters were no better than the Amish. Ariana’s Amish parents, sibling and boy friend seemed weak and incapable of doing anything without the consent and guidance of the ex-Amish man, Quill, who has been helping members of the church leave and join “English” society. The author tries to make Quill a hero of sorts in the story, but he comes across as more of a “rebel without a cause.” We know that he was somehow romantically involved with Ariana when they were about 15-years-old, but we never really know why he “left the fold” with another girl, who he supposedly married, but really didn’t. The reader also never finds out exactly why Quill “had no choice” but to leave the Amish and help others leave as well. Maybe that is another mystery left to the next book in this series. I struggled to get through this 339 page book, only to discover that there was no real resolution to the main conflict at the end, and too many lose ends left dangling. Apparently, the reader will need to buy book two in The Amish of Summer Grove series to find out more, but I will not be one of them. Ties That Bind was plenty for me. I am not particularly interested in finding out how the story ends.

After I finished this book, I realized that I had read another book by Cindy Woodsmall, a few years back and didn’t like that one much either.

I would give this book two stars ** out of five, so you can tell that I really didn’t like it much.

Full disclose: Blogging for Books provided me with a copy of the book to review, but my candid review and opinion is completely mine.

I have read every book Cindy Woodsmall has written and am a huge fan. For me, this story line moved too slow and the beginning of the book was a little confusing with all the various characters. I actually started the book over after I was several chapters in, hoping to grasp a better understanding of the story line and its characters.

Without giving anything away, I'm not sure how I feel about the ending! Ariana's decision...would that truly happen in the Amish culture? It doesn't seem possible to me.

Regardless, I will be watching for book 2 in "The Amish of Summer Grove" series to continue this journey with Ariana and Skylar. Ariana has some work to do for the Lord and Skylar has some serious healing to do. Will Skylar be able to open her heart and receive it? I'm anxious to find out!

Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall is a wonderful beginning to her new series, The Amish of Summer Grove!

This book is engaging; it captured my attention and didn't let me put it down till I had finished the book.
The characters are wonderfully complex and the story/plot very well written. At times I basked in the warmth of the story and a other times I found it to be heart-breakingly sad.

I enjoyed this book so much it has left me wondering how I am going to be able to hold on and wait till this series' book 2 is released!

Thank you to Waterbrook Press and Blogging for Books for the gift of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Ties That Bind is a unique story with a compelling plot, unlike any other I’ve read in Amish fiction. Cindy Woodsmall intertwines the Old Order Amish world with the Englisch, as secrets are unearthed and faith is tested. "Ariana’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Will holding tightly to the cord of family keep them together or simply tear them apart?"

Ties That Bind tugged at my heartstrings, and its cliff-hanger conclusion left me anxious for more. I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in The Amish of Summer Grove series and highly recommend it to fans of Amish fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Cindy Woodsmall has finally brought Amish novels into the 21 century. With current vernacular and plot, she has revealed a subject rarely spoken and written in Amish novels, Amish leaving the Old Order order for the modern world and society.

From the first chapter, Ties That Bind drew me into the plot. I felt the saddness at the betrayal of her friend and love, the bloom of her relationship with Rudy, and the confusion as she learns the truth of her past. Throughout the plot, the reader is one step ahead of the subjects, an advantage that I enjoyed.

I highly recommend this novel and know you will be captured by the residents of Summer Grove. I look forward the the second novel in this series!

Twenty year-old Ariana Brenneman’s comfortable Old Order Amish world is about to unravel. Her childhood friend, Quill Schlabach, mysteriously disappeared five years ago with her dear friend, Frieda, and she no longer trusts him. When he suddenly reappears Ariana realizes he has plans to help another leave the Amish. Quill has always wanted to protect Ariana from the truth and when he learns secrets about Ariana and her family will he be able to earn her trust? When Ariana learns the truth will her faith in God give her the grace she needs to extend forgiveness? The story is captivating and a page-turner, and I look forward to Book Two to continue the story of Ariana, her family and Quill.

Compelling. That is the first word that comes to mind when I think of the newest book by Cindy Woodsmall, Ties that Bind. Woodsmall draws you into the lives of the Brenneman family and the secrets that are lurking beneath the surface ready to bubble over. I am no stranger to Amish Christian Fiction and I can say with certainty that I have never read a story quite like this one.

Ariana Brenneman, the quintessential Amish woman, is loyal and faithful to her Amish beliefs and lifestyle. She loves her family and her community and is the epitome of a dedicated hard worker. You soon learn of the betrayal and hurt that she has gone through because of a former best friend and potential beau and how she copes with it. However, what we don’t realize, is how her life is essentially built on a false identity that she is not aware of.

Cindy Woodsmall does a wonderful job weaving in the lives of all of those involved in this dramatic story; developing characters and opening wide doors that many of us Englischers can’t even begin to comprehend. She has created a story that will tie you in, give you hope and wonder “What’s next?!” as we anxiously await the rest of The Amish of Summer Grove series.

You will not regret opening this book and diving into the world of Ariana, Rudy, Skylar, Quill and the rest of the Brenneman family. You will yearn for a taste of one of Ariana’s homemade croissants and will need to wipe away tears as you cry empathetically with her. You will see a whole new side of Amish life and will experience what it’s like on the “other side” as an ex-Amish person. One thing is for sure, you should expect to stay glued to this page turner as they fly before your eyes. Enjoy this fascinating story and be sure to look forward to the next one in the series as much as I am!
I received this book in exchange for a review from WaterBrook Multnomah Press.