A Season for Tending Review

I recently received a copy of the book A Season for Tending by Cindy Woodsmall from Library Thing to read and review.  A Season for Tending is a 339 page Amish fiction novel released in September 2012.  It is the first book in Woodsmall’s new Amish Vines and Orchards series and is the first book by Cindy Woodsmall that I’ve ever read.

A Season for Tending Summary

In a community where conformity flourishes, seeds of Rhonda’s odd behavior were planted long ago.  Can she cultivate her relationships with the same care that she gives her beloved garden?

Old Order Amish Rhoda Byler’s unusual gift and her remarkable abilities to grow herbs and berries have caused many to think her odd. As rumors mount that Rhoda’s “gift” is a detriment to the community, she chooses isolation, spending her time in her fruit garden and on her thriving canning business. 
 
Miles away in Harvest Mills, Samuel King struggles to keep his family’s apple orchard profitable. As the eldest son, Samuel farms with his brothers, the irrepressible Jacob and brash Eli, while his longtime girlfriend Catherine remains hopeful that Samuel will marry her when he feels financially stable. 
 
Meanwhile, Samuel’s younger sister Leah is testing all the boundaries during her rumschpringe, and finds herself far from home in Rhoda’s garden after a night of partying gone badly. But Leah’s poor choices serve as a bridge between Rhoda and the King family when a tragic mistake in the orchard leaves Samuel searching for solutions.

Rhoda’s expertise in canning could be the answer, but she struggles with guilt over the tragic death of her sister and doesn’t trust herself outside her garden walls. As the lines between business, love, and family begin to blur, can Rhoda finally open up to a new life? And what effect will this odd, amazing woman have on the entire King family?

My Thoughts About A Season for Tending

I will state up front–I am NOT a fan of Amish fiction and A Season for Tending is not the book that will change that.  It was slow moving and a bit too soapy for me.  Cindy Woodsmall is a fine writer, no doubt about it, but I simply did not enjoy the storyline at all.  I would love to see her take a step away from the Amish fiction fad and write a Christian fiction book of a different genre.

Fans of Amish fiction will probably love A Season for Tending.  The writing is good and if you enjoy this sort of story line, then I would say that you’d enjoy this one.  As for me, I felt it was too slow and stilted. I just didn’t connect with the characters at all.  If Woodsmall continues to write Amish fiction alone, this will be the last book of hers I read.  But, I hope that at some point she steps away from this genre to write about a different subject.  If you like Amish fiction, then give this one a try, but if you’re like me and don’t enjoy it, I’d say skip this one.

NOTICE:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Library Thing in exchange for my honest review.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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