Sweet Amish Christmas romance -- The Angel of Forest Hill

Cindy Woodsmall's The Angel of Forest Hill is a sweet Amish Christmas romance that could be enjoyed at any time of the year.

Rose and Joel are both interesting characters with deep needs and concerns in which each can be of benefit to the other.  Joel's difficulties surface in the form of extreme tragedy from the very beginning of the story.  The fact that Rose has hurts and scars is evident early on, but the depth of her struggles comes to the surface at a little slower pace.  Their story involves a slow-blossoming love born out of practical circumstances rather than any initial spark of romance. 

There are themes in the story that are probably unique to the Amish way of life.  Much of the plot, although in the Amish setting, has to do with personal issues that could come up in situations that any of us might face from time to time.  Trust (or lack thereof), emotions (positive and negative), and communication are areas where Joel and Rose have to learn important lessons.  Cindy Woodsmall hits those topics by way of a very engaging story.

If you are a fan of Amish fiction, and especially if you are already familiar with Cindy Woodsmall, you know to expect good things from her.  You should not be disappointed with this quick Christmas read.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for providing a copy of this book.  I was delighted to share my own thoughts in this review.

About the Book:

A time of anticipation. A season of miracles.
Because of Joel’s impossible situation, twenty-one-year-old Rose must sacrifice everything. As days pass into years in the midst of the beautiful hills, the laughter of children, and God’s providence—is it too much for Rose to hope for love in return?

An amazing journey toward love and belonging, filled with the wonder of the season of Christ’s birth.
 
When Old Order Amish Rose Kurtz is asked to leave her family, travel deep into West Vir­ginia, and help Joel Dienner with his children in the wake of tragedy, the quiet young woman recognizes a home where she might find kindness instead of criticism and hope replacing harsh words. She agrees to stay in Forest Hill and become Joel’s wife for the sake of his family needs, but their marriage is to be a partnership, one built from need, not love and affection.

As the years pass, Rose continues to beckon Joel to join life again, to take joy in his growing children, and to awaken his heart to the possibility of new love. Joel hopes that Rose can move beyond deep-rooted hurts to see the beautiful Christmas ahead, their season. But will the arrival of a beautiful widow and a series of misunderstandings reverse how far Rose and Joel have come?

About the Author:

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times and CBA best-selling author of numerous works of fiction and one of nonfiction. Her connection with the Amish community has been featured widely in national media. She lives in the Foothills of the North Georgia Mountains with her family.