The Hope of Refuge (review & giveaway)

I could not wait until my new book from Cindy Woodsmall came in the mail for review! I love the style and storyline that Cindy writes in her books about the Amish communities. The Hope of Refuge is a great story, and I highly recommend it to you!

The story is about Cara Moore and her struggle to find her past~ becoming her safe refuge. Cara's mother passed away when she was young, and her father "dumped" her off at a train station. Cara was sent to foster care, and the only thing she has to guide her to some roots is her journal. Cara is a single mother of a daughter named Lori, and she needs to protect her at all costs. Cara has a stalker and she is always on the run with her daughter in fear of her daughter being taken away. Trying to recover her memory of her past, Cara and Lori leave New York City toward an Amish community. She wants a fresh start for her and her daughter, but what she uncovers is a trail of secrets, destruction and the shunning from those in Dry Lake. Only one man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life. Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus. Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?
I was so drawn in by the story and the characters of this book, it was so hard to put it down!
You can find this book at Randomhouse.com.

Author Bio:
Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

Cindy was recently covered on ABC Nightline! Check it out...it is so interesting!

I have one extra copy to giveaway! This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States. Please just leave a comment telling me why you want to win this book. Contest is open until August 21, 2009. Feel free to do the "extra credits" for additional entries. Good Luck!