The Winnowing Season: Book Two in the Amish Vines and Orchards Series Paperback – April 2, 2013

I am a new fan of Cindy Woodsmall as her stories invites you to sit down in a favorite chair and read. Cindy introduced Rhoda, Samuel, Jacob and several other characters in her first book of the Amish Vines and Orchards series.The series continues through book 2 and hopefully very soon book 3. It is a wonderful story of Rhoda and the characters learning how to survive through a devastating tornado and their willingness to move into another state to start a new Orchard. Each character has their own quirks and talents that help weave the plots from one event into the next. So without spoiling anyone reading this review...I encourage you to get your own copy today!I enjoy the way Cindy brings us into the Amish "world" with hard working and strong Christian values. These values are really missing in the everyday lives of everyone on the world! Hopefully more people will buy the book series, learn from it--it just might change your own values. Enjoy reading about another "culture" right here in America and be blessed.

I GIVE THIS BOOK: 4 3/4 out of 5 starsTake the characters from book one and set them down in the middle of no-where Maine and a new adventure begins. Not only do they have to contend with the stress of revitalizing this apple orchard, but people are not acting as they should be and no one is telling secrets. Plus they sometimes forget that they are new and Amish in an unfamiliar town.It is similar to the way that I forget I am reading about Amish and not people from a hundred years ago. This book contains so much hope for a fresh start and it kills me that they keep secrets from each other, the only people they can rely on. It is not fair to run away when people need you front and center. There are so many struggles in this book, but there is always a touch of hope behind everything.Cannot wait 5 months for book 3!Until next time, live life one page at a time!

Just as Book One in Cindy Woodsmall's Amish Vines and Orchards series was a real page turner and a book easy to fall in love with so was Book Two The Winnowing Season a well written book that was hard to put down. The reader can look forward to reading about the same step off the page characters he or she already fell in love with in the first book A Season for Tending and to the continued saga of them as they work to make up for what was lost in the end of that last book, but unlike the first book there are more strains from within the relationships that make for a more painful read. Cindy Woodsmall's skill in setting a scene, plot, relationship, and letting her characters take on life is still there so this is a good book. However, this book is similar to the heart-breaking Book Two of other series. She sets up the reader for book three while bringing the pain in her characters up from a low simmer to a full blown raging boil. Mysteries are set up to, hopefully, be explained and resolved in the next book and there are many opportunities for the reader to yell his or her advice at the characters as they choose their actions and each deal with their personal dilemmas, demons, and prejudices in the ways that they choose. What appeals perhaps the most besides the realness of the characters is the family love. The family love is there for siblings and sibling-in-laws of course, but what is also wonderful is that the characters find they do not have to be related by blood or law to come to carry and nurture that same familial love. Truly a good, if sometimes painful, read. Hats off to Cindy Woodsmall. And now it is time to wait with abated breath for the delivery of the third installment of Amish Vines and Orchards. Drive quickly, postman, or in honor of these characters: Ride swiftly postman.

Loved reading this series. Grew up with apple trees and learned a lot about caring for trees from this series.

I loved all of the characters as they mixed in all of their relationships. I love reading the Amish novels to GRT to know their customs.

After reading, A Season of Tending #1, I couldn't wait to get into this book. It takes off running! Rhoda, Samuel, Jacob, Leah and others make the big move to Maine to a rundown house and orchard. Can they make it work? What about Jacob and his past? Will it continue to haunt him in Maine and can his and Rhoda's romance survive the strain? And really strange things begin happening with Rhoda, seeing her sister, Emma, and hearing voices...what do they mean? And a new elderly couple are introduced in this book and there is a mystery surrounding them, but...as with the first book, it's a cliff-hanger. Can't wait for Book 3, For Every Season, coming this Fall.

She has done it again! Every page you read just makes you want to read another. The only things that make you put it down are the things that have to be done. The characters become friends and you get so absorbed in them you feel what they feel. I say that is what it takes to be the master author Mrs. Woodsmall is. Even before I finished reading this book, I wanted the next one. It will be hard to wait until the next book is on the shelves but I have no other choice:( As soon as it is, I will get it and begin having a wonderful time reading it.

Woodsmall does a great job bringing her characters to life and creating realistic romantic tension. I read this book quickly and can't wait for the final one to see how it all works out. Personally I'm rooting for Samuel to end up with Rhoda, though that is not how I felt when I first started this book! I'm not into the religious aspects, but the good writing and storytellin keep me reading Cindy's books.

I thought the four book series was well written , Cindy writes about real life experiences and problems.Even though it is fiction, one feels part of the storyline .Love to read about real life situations, will pass books on for others to read.

A good book to read and get lost in. Great author to know and to love I stay with brill

good book, good shape, good buy

I am loving the twists and turns of this series of novels. One of the best series I've read lately!

as with the other books they have to be read in sequence and I do not have the whole set yet