The Winnowing Season by Cindy Woodsmall
The Winnowing Season by Cindy Woodsmall is the second installment of the Amish Vines and Orchards series. Rhoda Byler and her brother and his family have joined forces with the King brothers’ family to form a new Amish community in Maine. Rhoda and Jacob King had a new romance begun during the A Season for Tending installment of the series. Rhoda’s friend Landon had found an orchard in Maine badly in need of repair which was for sale at a price that they could afford. Rhoda came from a harder more conservative community of Amish than the King family. The night before they were to leave they got word that the Rueben Glick, the man who had destroyed Rhoda’s small family orchard and garden had twisted the story so that Rhoda was in trouble and maybe would be punished by not being allowed to go on the move. Though Rueben’s uncle was presiding over the meeting truth managed to win out and so began the great move to the new orchard in Maine. Rhoda Byler and Samuel King must learn to work together and Rhoda needs to learn how to deal with Jacob’s secrets and trouble with the law. This 2nd installment is how they all learn to live together drawing from each of their strengths and living within their weaknesses.
Ms Woodsmall has outdone herself with this installment. As usual she has left us wanting more. The author has drawn the reader into the lives of the Byler and King settlement of Amish in such a way that they no longer see the characters as Amish but rather as friends that anyone could have. Friends that we all want to live in and around our own community, friends who have problems but who love and care about those around them whether like them or different from them. I love reading her stories and look forward to reading the next installment of the Amish Vines and Orchards series.
This book was provided by Waterbrook Press for this review.
