The Scent of Cherry Blossoms

I just wrapped up the latest Cindy Woodsmall book. The Scent of Cherry Blossoms follows two brothers broken in two different ways. One suffers from a physical paralysis as the result of an accident. The other suffers from verbal paralysis, as a stutter keeps him trapped within his own body.

I've always enjoyed Woodsmall's fiction, and this novella is a sweet simple story of choosing love against all odds. The one brother, so broken in both body and spirit, realizes that by pitying himself, he's shut himself off from himself, his brother, his parents, a possible love, and especially, His God.

What a great reminder of how we should look beyond ourselves. When we help someone else, we can help but reap the benefits.

The Harvest of Grace

Cindy Woodsmall's "The Harvest of Grace" was definitely not my first foray into Amish fiction.

What struck me most was how real and relatable the characters were. Some books like this feel like the same character is replicated throughout. But in this book, Woodsmall engages you with men and women who feel like you.

The story is the continuation of a previous story line; however, Woodsmall does a great job of bringing you up to speed whether you have read previous books or not (although I had). It's also a story of forgiveness and redemption, from both points of view. Some characters enter the story seeking forgiveness while others have the greater challenge of offering forgiveness, erasing the debt of years -- sometimes decades -- of hurt.

I'm already a Cindy Woodsmall fan, and this book definitely did not disappoint.