Cindy Woodsmall When the Morning Comes

When the Morning Comes

Cindy Woodsmall

Waterbrook, Sep 2007, $12.99

ISBN: 9781400072934

In Owl's Perch, Pennsylvania following the break up with her beloved Mennonite fianc Paul Wadell after his betrayal left her reputation in ruins, Hannah Lapp leaves her family behind to live with her outcast Aunt Zabeth in Ohio. Her Amish father considers Hannah dead and her sister Sarah struggles with what she has done to her sibling. Paul wallows in guilt because he knows his actions not only destroyed Hannah's reputation, but their chance for a life together.

In Ohio, as Hannah tries to adapt to life amongst the English, Paul pleads with her brother Luke and her best friend Mary to inform him where she went so that he can atone for his sin. Meanwhile, Hannah begins to move on with help from her aunt and from handsome Martin Palmer.

The second Sisters of the Quilt tale is a fantastic tale that leads the audience to deeply feel for Hannah, but to a lesser degree the other Lapp family members and Paul. The story line is a tear jerker as readers will be so hooked they will want to offer solace and assistance to the heroine. Although it would help a bit to read Hannah's first tale (see WHEN THE HEART CRIES) to better understand the secondary characters like jealous Sarah, fans of modern day Amish tales will appreciate Cindy Woodsmall's fine character driven sequel.

Harriet Klausner