Sunday, March 4, 2012

Cover to Ending: Lovely! ~ The Scent of Cherry Blossoms by Cindy Woodsmall ~ Review


A forbidden romance always makes for a great book. Instant tension, the reader wants to see this couple beat the odds and come together. Surely nothing can stop them, and yet something almost always does. It is what makes the book stronger and the reader more invested. Fall in love with the characters and you want to see their happily ever after.
         
   If you’re a long-time reader of Amish fiction, you know how important their faith is to them. To step out of the bounds of that faith leads to ultimate ex-communication and damaged relationships. And when an Old Order Mennonite woman and an Old Order Amish man fall in love…everything is going against them.
           
My only complaint about this novella? I wanted it to be longer. I wanted to spend an entire book watching the love story of Annie and Aden continue to grow and blossom (pun intended) and surmount the inconceivable.
           
Don’t take me wrong, the book was wonderful and complete unto itself, I just loved the plot so much and wanted to know more.
           
A completely charming read, one I read in one sitting with a sweet couple and a wonderful subplot addition with secondary characters. It’d be great if they got their own story too. Cover to ending: completely lovely!
            
This review is my honest opinion. I was not obligated to review this novella.

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More about the novel...

Annie Martin loves the Plain ways of her Old Order Mennonite people, like those revered by her beloved grandfather. Retreating from a contentious relationship with her mother, Annie goes to live with her Daadi Moses in Apple Ridge.  
 
But as spring moves into Pennsylvania and Annie spends time amongst the cherry trees with the handsome Aden Zook, she wishes she could forget how deeply the lines between the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonite are drawn.
 
Can Annie and Aden find a place for their love to bloom in the midst of the brewing storm?





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4 comments:

  1. Casey.

    Thank you for all this great effort. I look forward to your reviews. Makes my week. And I read a lot of reviews and books.
    About the novella. I love the novella. And hopefully can pick up Annie Martin's book at the library. With a Quaker heritage, I love the 'old ways' myself. But it is the novella that will draw me to her work.
    A piece of art, the novella is written rarely. I think of Stephen Crane's work. And many others of course: Billy Budd, Shawshank Redemption, Animal Farm, Christmas Carol and on and on.
    I love the novella for teaching ESL. Short and poinant, students are not dragged down (unlike my French teachers ruling over us with Dumas and Hugo tomes).

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    1. Novellas are quick, fun reads aren't they?? You'd probably really like her last novella, The Christmas Singing. A delightful story. Really enjoyed that one. :)

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  2. I really enjoyed your review of this book. Please keep it up:)

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