The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall

Although Sylvia Fisher recognizes that most Old Order Amish women her age spend their hours managing a household and raising babies, she has just one focus—tending and nurturing the herd on her family’s dairy farm. But when a dangerous connection with an old beau forces her to move far from home, she decides to concentrate on a new start and pour her energy into reviving another family’s debt-ridden farm.

After months in rehab, Aaron Blank returns home to sell his Daed’s failing farm and move his parents into an easier lifestyle. Two things stand in his way: the father who stubbornly refuses to recognize that Aaron has changed and the determined new farmhand his parents love like a daughter. Her influence on Aaron’s parents could ruin his plans to escape the burdens of farming and build a new life.

Can Aaron and Sylvia find common ground? Or will their unflinching efforts toward opposite goals blur the bigger picture— a path to forgiveness, glimpses of grace, and the promise of love.

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My Thoughts:

One of my favorite genres to read, is Amish fiction. I have always been enthralled by the simplistic way of life and the sense of family and community that the Amish have.

When I saw this book for review, I knew I had to read it, seeing as it encompasses not only my love for all things Amish but my great admiration for Cindy Woodsmall, one of my favorite book authors.

The story follows Sylvia who wants to run the family farm by herself, but because she is female is unable to do so, it also follows the relationship between Sylvia and Elam who previously asked her to marry him, but since Sylvia asked him to wait, he moved on to one of her younger sisters and started a family.

A tragedy happens where everyone comes down with whooping cough, but Sylvia and Elam and a through the whole process of taking care of the family and the farm, a kiss is shared. Not knowing quite how to deal with it, Sylvia leaves.

The story not only centers on Sylvia and what is happening in her life, but there are quite a few other characters involved, all with one thing in common, Ada's House.

I loved this book, it had everything that a good Amish fiction should have, which made it very hard to put down from the minute I started reading.

Thank you to Blogging for Books for providing a review copy.