Review - Fraying at the Edge by Cindy Woodsmall

Waterbrook; 352 pages; $14.99; Amazon

I know I have written about when and how I became interested in reading the Amish fiction genre several times on here, but I don't believe I ever mentioned that Cindy Woodsmall was the second author I had read in the genre. For some reason or another, her titles have been hard to find in my area (There's only a small Walmart in my town!), so it has been awhile since I have read any of her works.

When I saw her newest book, Fraying at the Edge, was available to review, I eagerly signed up to review back in early July. The book must have got lost in the mail as I never received a copy; though I did receive replacement after I contacted the publisher about the situation.

Fraying at the Edge is actually book two in The Amish of Summer Grove series. And, no, this isn't a standalone series as from my understanding it does continue with the same characters and storylines from the first novel (Ties That Bind); so it took me several chapters to figure out who was who and what was what.

Anyhow, Fraying at the Edge centers on Ariana Brenneman, a young woman who raised in the Old Order Amish, but recently learned she had been switched at birth twenty-years-ago. She had left her home and ventured into the real world (known as the Englischer world to the Amish) to get to know her biological parents. While her new life is full of wonders, she has a difficult time adjusting to the Englischer's way of life.

Meanwhile, Skylar Nash (aka the girl Ariana was switched with at birth), is determined to reject her Amish biological family. Well , that is until she is given a choice of spending time in the Amish country or being sent to rehab for illegal prescription drug addiction.

Final Thoughts: The plot in Fraying at the Edge somewhat reminds me of "The Heritage of Lancaster County" by Beverly Lewis, where both the main characters learn that the life they have been living has been a lie; though this story is about two young woman who were switched at birth.

In the novel, Ariana (who was raised as Amish), is blackmailed (yes, she is forced to leave her home) into leaving the Amish country and ventures into the Englischer world to live with her biological parents; which is not a great way to start a relationship with your newfound parents.

The other main character is Skylar Nash, who is left with no other choice, but to live with her biological Amish parents. However, the girl gets the shock of her life when she learns that there are no cell phones, computers, or any other technology in the Amish country. On top of that, she is still dealing with her drug addiction.

Without reading the previous novel, it took me several chapters to get to know the characters and grasp a feel for the storylines. Similar to other Cindy Woodsmall's works, the novel is well-written with detailed descriptions, developed characters, and lively dialogue. Overall, minus a few predictable moments here and there, I enjoyed reading Fraying at the Edge.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher for my honest review and they are 100% my own opinions. I received no other compensation for this review and I am not required to give a positive review. I am also not associated with the publisher or author in any way.