The Book – When the Heart Cries
Hannah Lapp is a young Old Order Amish girl that understands that love does not cross boundaries and that love cannot mend all broken things. Finding love with young Mennonite Paul Waddell is what the heart wants but not what will be accepted with Hannah’s family. But the heart wants what it wants and after three years of secretly loving Paul, Hannah accepts his marriage proposal, praying that her family will understand.
On that joyous night though the unthinkable happens to Hannah that could destroy her entire future with Paul and her community. As Hannah battles with the secret that she holds in her heart, she is slowly losing the respect of her community. How is it that a loving people can turn so cruel when the rumors start to fly?
Journey with Hannah as she attempts to let the matter drop yet manages to dig herself deeper into the tragedy that she now calls her life. Her sister hates her, her father thinks she is a liar, the Bishop has called her to repent, yet all Hannah wants to do is love Paul. Then the worst tragedy of all happens, Paul thinks that Hannah has become a fallen woman and leaves her too.
Can Hannah rely on God and listen to His voice even though that is not the way of the People?
Will she break free of the Ordnung and find her way or will the laws of the community drag her down and hold her captive?
Liar she is not but no one seems to take her at her word anymore, she follows her heart but that might not be good enough to free her soul from the tragedies that she has faced.
My Thoughts
This book held me captive as I read the story of a young girl that was frightened and heart sick. I struggled to read as she tried to bury her secret and carry on in her community as if nothing was wrong. I held my breath when she realizes that the no one believed her story and cried with her as she teetered on the edge of depression.
This story shows the scary, dark, and dangerous side of the Amish. Where the rules are more important than the facts and no one is given the chance to make things right. There is no innocent until proven guilt, there is only the rules of the Ordnung and they must be followed.
I was amazed at the turn this story took and my heart cried right along with Hannah. I could not image having to live with such a devastating secret and then feel as if my family had abandoned me. This character is so well written and I felt draw to her within moments of reading the book.
There is nothing wrong with following the rules of your beliefs and it was actually refreshing to take a peek into the Old Order Amish from a different perspective.
I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the Sisters of the Quilt series, because I for one believe that if God calls you to something, He will carry you thorough it. I cannot wait to see this story to completion.
Well written, and an Amish story like none other that I have read. Well done!
Visit the author Cindy Woodsmall around the web:
website: http://www.cindywoodsmall.com
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Visit again soon to see what I have on my book shelf!
In His Grace.
Callie
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