Customer Reviews

The Christmas Singing: A Romance from the Heart of Amish Country

5 star:		(94)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Mattie's heart was broken when her childhood sweetheart broke their engagement, but she moved on. She moved to a new town, and started a cake business. But when fire strikes her bakeshop, Mattie is forced to revisit her old town, her old life, and her old love. Suddenly, everything she thought she knew is not exactly as it seems.

This was a perfect holiday read for me. Cindy Woodsmall does a wonderful job creating characters that readers really care about. I found this story to be really unique, focusing on a strong independent woman in the Amish culture, which is a rarity. Mattie is a strong character, wonderfully written, and as a reader, you long to see her happy.

I really liked that the story showed struggle, and felt it emphasized the similarities between the Amish and the English. I think that is part of why Amish fiction is so popular, because it helps bridge a gap between cultures that seem so foreign and antithetical, when in reality the cultures share many commonalities. The story is one of my favorites by the author, and it made for a wonderful, peaceful, hopeful holiday read.

Cindy Woodsmall bring us another Amish romance with The Christmas Singing. This is a short, ficitional novel about Mattie. Mattie is a baker who is creative and fun and a little scatterbrained. Her lack of caution leads to a change in scenery for her. She goes for an extended visit with her family and is forced to face her former flame. Gideon wronged her in the past and now she must see him almost daily in their small community. Will she ever forgive him for the pain he caused her?

This book has little to do with Amish tradition but it is set between two Amish communities. A light fiction, it is a very quick read. Although the title is about Christmas, the focus is on the relationships of the main characters, not about the holiday. An intriguing story with a mystery and then anticipation of the outcome of the story, it is a good read. I enjoyed it and was able to finish it in one sitting. I liked Mattie (or Mattie Cakes or Mattie Lane) and I was envious of her creativity. The characters were easy to imagine and understand although a couple of the characters were severely underdeveloped and probably could have been left out.

Cindy Woodsmall certainly has an easy way of introducing us to Amish girls and helping us understand their mindsets and lives. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of her Amish romances. The Christmas Singing was a great little novel and if you've never read Cindy Woodsmall's work, this would be a terrific one to begin with!

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for the purpose of review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

I am a big fan of Cindy Woodsmall so when I got the opportunity to read her latest book I jumped on it! I was a little nervous though with it being a novella because I read her trilogy's and I am always sad to see them end so I was worried how I would feel after this one ended in under 200 pages!!

I was really satisfied with the length and the story line!! As always with Cindy Woodsmall she creates these deep and meaningful characters that you just can't help falling in love with!! I especially fell head of heels in love with Gideon!! He is such a tender hearted man and I admired how he repeatedly thought of others over himself. Mattie was also great; she was a scatterbrained baker that I could totally relate to. I myself bake and decorate cakes so I understand her really well!

Like all other books by Cindy Woodsmall there is a lesson to learn; this being that the truth is always the best answer to all. Lying to someone you love, even just to protect them, can do more damage than you thought possible!! Gideon had to learn this the hard way! Not only was this a lesson of lying but also of forgiveness! While forgiveness can be hard it is what we Christians need to do!

One of my biggest issues with novellas is that they don't really get deep in to the story and you just feel short changed on the people and the story. I did not feel that way at all about The Christmas Singing. It was deep and emotional, humorous and overall charming! Overall I felt warm, cozy and satisfied with The Christmas Singing and I will be anxiously awaiting Cindy's next book!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from 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.

The Christmas Singing was a terrific story! It was one that I didn't want to put down and having only 189 pages is thankfully a book that can be read comfortably in one sitting. Though the story is short, it never felt rushed and it actually came across more like a full-sized novel.

Gideon almost always called Mattie "Mattie-Lane" and he was the only person to call her this. I was wondering why he gave her that nickname and when I finally learned why, I thought it was so sweet.

If you are looking for a sweet, heart-warming novella - this is it! While this story is set during the holiday season, I feel that it is a book that can be enjoyed anytime of the year. However, since I have already read it, I can see myself rereading it every Christmas season.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

Product Description
Christmas Eve has always been special to cake decorator Mattie Eash, who was born on the wondrous holiday. Yet the season lost its appeal three years ago, when her childhood sweetheart abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas. Mattie moved to Ohio, pursued her dreams of running a cake shop, and gave her heart to someone new. Someone who wouldn't break her heart.But an unforeseen setback forces her home and into painful proximity to Gideon. Will learning the truth behind his rejection restore her Christmas joy-or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?

My Review:
I must be honest and say I was disappointed in this book. I have read several of the authors books and I could hardly believe this book was written by the same person. Maybe it was because it was a shorter story. I just didn't find the story line all that interesting and it was so predictable. I have greatly enjoyed this authors other books but would not recommend this book to my friends.
I received this book free from Multnomah Publishers for this review.

Disclaimer: I rec'd a copy of this book as part of the publisher's blog-review program. I rec'd no other compensation and am only required to write an honest review of this work of fiction.
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First off, let me say I was ready to like this book: Christmas-themed (LOVE Christmas), about the Amish folks (very interested in their way of life), and by Cindy Woodsmall (whose books I've enjoyed in the past). So I was really ready to like this one.

I didn't just like it though, I love it!

Woodsmall has a way of taking the Amish culture and shifting our stereotypes of that culture. I still often think of the Amish as the wagon driving, all in black, almost stuck in the 19th century. But Woodsmall, who obviously has much affection for the Amish and their ways of life, modernizes their story a bit. In this particular novel, she has the main character, a 21-year-old baker named Mattie Eash, living away from her parents (though, with her brother) running a very successful bakery for Amish and Englischer alike. Somehow, I never think about the Amish women as being "career women" -- my ignorance!

Mattie is an artist when it comes to baking celebration cakes (and Woodsmall includes a couple of recipes in the back of the book in case Mattie's have whetted your appetite). But, Mattie is also a tad forgetful and scatty. Due to her scattiness, she must leave Ohio and her business and come back home to recuperate. Only problem: her former beau, Gideon Beiler is in the same town of Apple Ridge. Three years earlier, Gideon seemingly dumped Mattie (after they'd been courting all their lives) for an Englischer ... that's why Mattie is in Ohio and Gideon is in Pennsylvania.

The story continues to unfold as time goes from Thanksgiving toward Christmas Eve ... a joyous season of the year made more wonderful with Woodsmall's story. This is not high literature ... it's a fun read on a rainy afternoon. But it will make your heart sing!

Gideon Beiler and Mattie Eash have been in love with each other since they were children and many assumed they would eventually marry. However, when Gideon gets devastating news he finds an excuse to break up with Mattie. Mattie's heart is broken but she moves on, opening her own cake decorating business and dating Sol Bender. Gideon too has gone on with his life but has never really stopped loving Mattie. Unfortunate circumstances have brought Mattie back home and into Gideon's life - will her return rekindle their romance or is it too late?

Set in the Amish community, "The Christmas Singing" is a nicely done, at times poignant, novel about someone who loves his girlfriend so much he is willing to do whatever it takes to save her from hurt, even if it means ending their relationship. This would make an excellent novel for book clubs as Gideon's actions, while noble, are ripe for discussion. Author Cindy Woodsmall does an excellent job of showing just how much not only the reason for Gideon's decision has cost him but how the decision itself has hurt him. Woodsmall also does an excellent job with Mattie's character. She is a bit scatterbrained (at times devastatingly so), a talented cake decorator, and worried about her mother's health. People, including Gideon, seem to want to protect her and don't realize how strong she is - Woodsmall does an excellent job of developing that aspect of her character. Also well done, if a bit sad, are the reasons Mattie is dating Sol. Again, all of this would make a good book for a book club discussion. Finally, having the novel set at Christmas adds a lot of magic to the story.

"The Christmas Singing" is a nice romance.

Description
After Gideon coldly broke her heart, can the warmth of the season revive Mattie's hopes? Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve. Three years later, will learning the truth behind his rejection restore her Christmas joy - or open the door to even deeper heartbreak?
Review
Mattie's heart was broken when Gideon broke their engagement, but she moved to a new town and started a cake business. Then a there is a fire in her baking shop and she if forced to go back to her hometown. There, she sees her old love - and suddenly everything is not exactly as it seems. Mattie is surprising a strong independent woman - despite the impression that many people have of Amish women. You long to see her happy - no matter the outcome at the end of the book. Gideon is tender hearted and has always thought of others before he thinks of himself. He lied to Mattie years ago when he broke up with her. In his mind he was protecting her but he slowly begins to realize that he shouldn't have lied even though he was trying to do the right thing. The lesson learned here was that the truth is always best but this book is also a lesson in forgiveness. It is hard to forgive but it is the right thing to do.
Cindy Woodsmall always created characters that her readers really care about and empathize with. I enjoyed this book just as I've enjoyed Mrs. Woodsmall's other books.
NOTE: I received this book free from Waterbrook Press. 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.

The Christmas Singing written by Cindy Woodsmall is another must read if you like great books written witin the Amish culture. This one raises some questions that make for great discussion.

One is the question of how much we should share with our friends, especially those close to us, about what is going on in our life. Do we have a right to decide for someone else what they can handle? Gideon, one of the main characters in this book, makes a choice that affects so many.

Another is the question of whether or not we should ever choose to settle. Why would someone do that anyway? Mattie has to answer this question in this book as she considers her future.

You can also talk about how strength is not always readily evident in a person. You cannot judge just because of your perception. It may be biased. Allowing others to grow and to show what they are made of can bring great blessings in your life.

All of this is included in The Christmas Singing. Read and enjoy!!

This book was furnised to me at no cost for the purpose of review by WaterBrook Multnomah

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review

Mattie Eash is a cake creator and decorator, and she owns her own little shop `Mattie's Cakes' in Berlin, Ohio. Three years ago she left Apple Ridge after her Gideon, her childhood heartie, broke her heart when she caught him embracing another woman.
Destiny brings Mattie back to her hometown, but is she ready to face and forgive Gideon for what he did to her?

This is a sweet story about everyday life and love in an Amish community. I have never read anything before that concerned Amish people, so when picking this book up I was a bit unsure of what to expect, but I was happily surprised.

The writing is flowing and takes you through the book rather quickly. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good romance story. This will certainly make you smile.

(PS. I love the recipes in the back!)