Books are something that I am passionate about. I have loved them since I was a small child and remember spending much of my time with my nose buried in a book. As an adult my love for books is still there. Granted I don't get to read as much as I used to (hello four children), but on that rare occasion where I do get to read, I tend to devour the books.
Fiction is my absolute favorite to read. There is something about escaping into the world the author has created and imagining myself as a little fly on the wall taking it all in. From the characters to the storylines to the setting, it's magical. While I do tend to stick to book series, I do occasionally pick up a stand-alone book, and I did that with my most recent read. I'm glad that I did too.
I have read a few books written by Cindy Woodsmall, so when I noticed The Angel of Forest Hill on the blogging for books website, I knew I had to grab this title. There is something about the way that Cindy writes that just draws me into her Amish fiction series. They are seriously that good. Her new release, The Angel of Forest Hill did not disappoint. I binge-read this book and finished it in two days. If I'm being honest, I could have finished it in one day, but I was trying to ignore my brain and it's request to read just one more page.
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The book begins by introducing us to the Kurtz family in Perry County Pennsylvania. It is there that we find Rose, her parents, and their Bishop having a discussion about Rose traveling to West Virigina to assist the Dienner family. Joel and his wife Florence have two toddlers and a brand new baby, and things were not going well. Rose was needed to help care for the children as well as help Joel mend his broken heart.
Over the course of four years, we witness Rose and Joel's relationship change. It deepens and becomes more than what they expected. Of course there are still challenges that they must face and figure out how to work through. From jealousy to misunderstandings to bickering, there is a whole spectrum that they experience.
The Angel of Forest Hill isn't just about Rose's relationship with Joel and the children though. It is also about Rose's relationship with her own Mamm and discovering how to repair what had happened during her time at home. Then there is the relationship with Erma, Florence's Mamm, and how to build that relationship so they can move past the hurt.
I find myself able to relate to Rose quite a bit. No, I'm not Amish nor did I marry a widower. What I mean is the way that she thinks of herself. She tends to not think highly of herself and it is a struggle for her. She doesn't want to be that way, it's the hurt of the past coming through and a constant loop of those negative thoughts playing in her mind. It's a challenge for her to change this, but as time progresses we see Rose making strides in this.
The relationship that Rose has with the children is quite wonderful. You can feel the bond that they have and how much the children care for her. Yes, they miss their Mamm, but Rose is doing a great job in that new role as their Mama. There are times in the book where you feel like you are right there participating. Especially when the rooster traps them in the barn. I know I'd be up a ladder too if a rooster was chasing after me and trying to attack my children.
Okay here comes the time for honesty. There are two things I didn't like about the book and I promise you they are really minor. First up is the oldest child's name. Wait, WHAT? What are you talking about Laura? Allow me to explain. The child's name is Mose and in my mind that just didn't seem to be correct. I thought for certain that it must be a typo, as in my brain the boy's name was Moses. (see minor issue) My other issue was that the ending didn't feel right. It felt kind of abrupt. I was expecting one more chapter to nicely wrap things up (and have a glimpse into the future to see how their lives had changed), but instead it just ended. It left me feeling a bit disappointed and wishing that the book was part of a series so I could connect further with these characters.
Other than those two minor issues, I really loved the book. From the storylines with the children, to the budding relationship between Rose and Joel, to Rose's relationship with her Mamm, it was all there. As I closed the book, I thought of the characters and how their lives had changed over the course of the story. I found myself wishing I could be there to see their day to day lives and witness what was to come in their futures.
If you are a fan of Amish fiction stories, or are the least bit curious about them, I highly suggest that you pick up The Angel of Forest Hill. If you do, please come back and tell me what you thought. I would love to talk with you about it.
Curious where to buy it? I have some links for you.
FTC Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book from Blogging for Books for this review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. 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.”
