This ending will leave you hanging and wanting to find out how this story will end. So I will be starting book 3 next, "For Every Season". As in most books you can read this one as a stand alone, but I don't advise it. You need to read them in order to fully get to know these characters.

In this story Rhoda, Samuel and Jacob (along with others) will leave the Kings' Orchard and their Amish community behind and travel to Maine to establish a new Amish community and take over a very run down apple orchard. There will be many challenges. One being that Samuel has discovered a great love for Rhoda, but only after Rhoda and his brother Jacob have shown a real interest in each other. Samuel does not want to cause division so he withholds his feelings. Jacob has some very deep and dark secrets and these will also come out and cause hurt and confusion. As the back cover asks: "Can the three faithfully follow God's leading and build a home and orchard in Maine? Or will this new beginning lead to more ruin and heartbreak?"

I felt the characters all had issues to deal with, but they also had a lot to give to one another. It was another well told story and had me reading late into the night to see how it would end. Unfortunately, it didn't really end, so now I will pick up book 3 and see what happens next. ( )

I loved this book even more. It tell you more about Ronda Bayler. I love the fact that it tell us about her and she learn a lesson as well about a few things and what gods wants. Though does she know that she may be in love with some else but thinks it Jacob. We will have to see about that in the next book.

This book also goes in to depth about Jacob past as well. I do not know want to give way anything. I strongly you read this book if you have read "A Season for Tending". If you have not you can read this on first and then the that one. But that up to you.

In this book, you learn more about Ronda and her family a bit and also about Jacob and Samuel. There some fun things that happen and what they were learning about how to start a settlement in Maine. Do they learn about Friendship as well. ( )

Loved this book. It is continued with book 3. So ending has many unanswered questions from this book. ( )

Back when I started reading the first book in this series: “A Season for Tending”, I wasn’t even sure I liked it. I am beyond glad that I gave it the benefit of the doubt and kept going! WOW! What a powerful story!

When reading “A Season for Tending”, it took me almost a week to finish it (no I’m not a slow reader just…you know, life). Did NOT have that problem with “The Winnowing Season”. Looking back, I’m not sure if it’s because I was so intrigued by the story by the time I got to book 2 or if I moved quicker because I was already familiar with the major players or if it was more that I had momentum and pushed myself to finish so I could get to book 3!

One thing I know . . . I know it wasn’t because the story was better. “The Winnowing Season” was written exceptionally well but so was “A Season for Tending”! Cindy Woodsmall has opened a door into a wonderful world and I am thrilled to have found it and walked through! So far, both novels in this series have held me captivated. The characters are amazingly real and, despite my earlier misgivings about how “Amish” they really were, they are such good, honest, heartwarming people. It makes me long for the kind of community they have. Some days it almost makes me want to consider “going Amish”.

But that’s probably why these novels are so popular in today’s culture. We may have Internet, iChat, satellite radio, television, movies, cell-phones and texting but we, as a society are very lonely people. We reach out in all the wrong ways and this wonderful new genre of literature has made us aware of something that is lacking in most of our lives. To have that kind of community, togetherness, support and love. It’s an amazing idea and it’s wonderful to be able to step into that world, even for a little while!

Cindy Woodsmall achieves that. There are many authors of Amish fiction and Christian fiction and Inspirational fiction but only a handful of them actually succeed in truly making a person feel like they are “in the world” like Cindy Woodsmall does!

BRAVO Cindy! Another triumph!

OK! I’m off to read book 3 now! ( )

Trouble never seems to be far behind Rhoda. Now on her way to start a new Amish settlement in Maine with the King brothers, she eventually discovers that she is the object of affection for both brothers. Jacob openly declares his love while Samuel hides his. Jacob also has his secrets from the time he lived with the English. The past has a way of intruding on the present, and all three must deal with its repercussions. Rhoda is still troubled by her ability to sense things. Everyone has problems, but these characters seem to have more than their fair share. An entertaining story, you’ll soon find yourself lost in the lives and loves of these endearing characters. ( )