Returning to the home she fled in disgrace, will Hannah find healing for the wounds of the past?After receiving a desperate and confusing call from her sister, Hannah Lapp reluctantly returns to the Old Order Amish community of her Pennsylvania childhood. Having fled in disgrace more than two years earlier, she finally has settled into a satisfying role in the Englischer world. She also has found … Englischer world. She also has found love and a new family with the wealthy Martin Palmer and the children she is helping him raise. But almost immediately after her arrival in Owl’s Perch, the disapproval of those who ostracized her, including her headstrong father, reopens old wounds.
As Hannah is thrown together with former fiancé Paul Waddell to work for her sister Sarah’s mental health, hidden truths surface about events during Hannah’s absence, and she faces an agonizing decision. Will she choose the Englischer world and the man who restored her hope, or will she heed the call to return to the Plain Life–and perhaps to her first love?
When the Soul Mends is the third and final book in the Sisters of the Quilt series.
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I loved this series. Fans of Amish fiction will enjoy it!
When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall is the final book in Sisters of the Quilt series. Hannah Lapp receives a call from her sister, Sarah that Matthew Esh has been injured in a fire and his brother, David passed away when their business caught fire. Hannah arranges for time off and heads home to Owl’s Perch, Pennsylvania. Hannah left home two and a half years ago when she was seventeen. She works for Dr. Lehman and is taking classes to become a nurse. Hannah has found a family with Martin Palmer along with his niece and nephew. Hannah arrives at the funeral and is instantly met with disapproval which reopens old wounds. She notices that Sarah is behaving oddly, and that there are burns on her hands which Sarah cannot explain. Something is up with Sarah and Hannah wants to get her help before she returns to her life in the Englisch world. Paul Waddell, Hannah’s old boyfriend, works as a counselor at Better Path. With Paul’s assistance, the family can get Sarah the help she desperately needs. It also gives Hannah and Paul an opportunity to resolve the past. As issues become resolved, Hannah realizes her feeling for Paul are still there. Hannah will need to make a choice between her new life in the Englisch world or her old one in Owl’s Perch.
When the Soul Mends is not a standalone novel. You need to read the book in the Sisters of the Quilt series in order as each book builds upon the previous one. I thought When the Soul Mends contains good writing with well-developed and thoughtful characters. The story has a languid pace. I wish it had been a little peppier and edited for length (368 pages). While I enjoyed When the Soul Mends, I did find it predictable. A couple has a misunderstanding that takes them the book to resolve. I wanted the couple to have a real conversation. I like how the author handled Sarah’s mental health issues and how it added depth to the book. The theme of forgiveness is dominate in When the Soul Mends. Only when you truly forgive can you begin to heal. I appreciated the epilogue which wrapped up all the storylines. When the Soul Mends is a lovely conclusion to the Sisters of the Quilt series.
When The Soul Mends Is a suitably sufficient in emotion and Faith. In the beginning it approaches your emotions on such an intense level and when it does that think to yourself – if it starts off like this how deep is this going to go? Then you start reading even harder because you don’t want to miss out on a single thing because you won’t believe how would aggressive this author gets with Your emotions. I don’t say this very much so when I say it I mean it – Ms. woodsmall Leaves a piece of herself with each of the characters for you and you are excited that she does. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher and Netgalley; all of the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.
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