Tuesday, October 20, 2009

The Sound of Sleigh Bells (book review & giveaway)

I have had the privilege to read another one of Cindy Woodsmall's books, and I could not put it down. I just love Cindy's books, and I find myself really enjoying my hobby of reading again. I got the book: The Sound of Sleigh Bells, and it is a great book! Cindy does such a great job with drawing the reader right into the character's lives. The Sound of Sleigh Bells is a story of Beth Hertzler, who is a young girl who is haunted by the death of her fiancĂ©. She carries the weight and guilt of how he died, and keeps it secret. Beth works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store. She is a go-between for Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. Out on one of her business trips she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, and she is so captivated by the carving. She desperately wants to find this artist and encourage the carver to sell their work in her store.
She doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving , because it may be a sign of idolatry.
Beth's family and aunt Lizzy would love to see Beth return to her wonderful, loving self. Still after a year, she still wears black (a sign of mourning). Lizzy sees how the carvings affect the very heart of Beth, and stirs her. Lizzy is encouraged at how Beth lights up when she talks about the wood carving. So, on a mission to get the "old" Beth back, Lizzy travels to meet the carver. Finding Jonah, the artist, Lizzy comes up with a plan. Will her plan work like she wishes, a plan to reintroduce her niece to love work/life and love, or will it turn her hurting niece more away? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?
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.

You can find this book online at Amazon or Randomhouse.

Enter to win a copy of this great book! This giveaway is open to residents of the USA (bloggers/non-bloggers), and will end on October 30th, 2009. To enter, just leave a comment about something you have always wanted to do~ maybe even since childhood. You can come back once each day throughout the contest and enter again by just leaving a friendly comment relevant to the contest.**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter this contest, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**
This review was sponsored by Multnomah Books, a division of Random House. They have supplied me with a book to review and keep for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review. I was sent an extra copy to giveaway as a prize for my readers.

55 comments:

Staci A said...

This sounds like a great read! I've actually always wanted to go on a real horse-drawn sleigh ride. I think it would be amazing!
mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com

mverno said...

go to hawaii mverno@roadrunner.com

Amber said...

I would love to win - I have always wanted to go watch the Olympics some time.
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol EL said...

I've always wanted to stay in a romantic B&B. jelly15301@gmail.com

Carol EL said...

Yahoo reader subscriber. jelly15301@gmail.com

Valerie said...

I love these winter stories and the Sleigh Ride just is awesome. Thanks for a chance to win this book.

souldolphindream said...

Sounds like a great read! I have always wanted to go to Germany to see the castles there

souldolphindream@aol.com

Unknown said...

This book sounds fabulous, thanks for the great review.

I've always wanted to go to Italy.

Anonymous said...

sounds like a good hokiday book to read!

frogz60@hotmail.com

lfhpueblo said...

To go to Alaska and pan for gold there.

ezmerelda said...

I would love to build a really nice snowman. I live in north Texas, so nice, clean snow is almost a "never happens".

Unknown said...

I am back for today's entry. Thank you for the chance.

Unknown said...

I thought I did this yesterday but don't see my comment so- I re-subbed via Google reader.

Ms. Anita said...

I know this is a little far-fetched and maybe a bit "kooky," but I've always wanted to go into outer space... as in, be an astronaut. :)

roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

Ms. Anita said...

I tweeted about this...

http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/5176992300

roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

taxchyk said...

My older sister told tales of riding a sled to school when our family lived in West Virginia. I always thought that would be great fun.

Daniel M said...

always wanted to visit hawaii - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

Anonymous said...

would like to go to Australia! Imagine Christmas in summer~ no cold, wierd!

frogz60@hotmail.com

Ms. Anita said...

I tweeted for my daily entry. (Is it okay if I do that & count it as an entry?)

http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/5207891263

thanks!

roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

katzkids by Kathy D. said...

The book sounds wonderful.
I have allways wanted to discover a treasure,to find something that has been hidden for years and years.
kats7960@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Today's friendly comment- you totally rock for hosting the reviews and giveaways, I know how much work goes into them. :)

Wheatiesmomma said...

Hi Carebear - you know how much I love to read and I am sure I would love anything you recommend. If I don't win, you will have to loan me your copy - LOL. One thing I have always wanted to do is go on a missions trip and experience a different part of the world while helping others in need. I would also like to go on a vacation to a Horse Ranch where you go on cattle drives and eat dinner around a bonfire.

Nickolay said...

I have always wanted to go to Disneyland. Even as I get older I still want to go.

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Betty C said...

I've always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon even though I'm afraid of heights. I'd probably faint dead away and not enjoy it :)

Ms. Anita said...

I've always thought it'd be neat to walk the Appalachian Trail. :)
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

Molly K said...

I've have always wanted to go on a Safari in Africa. But the older I get the more scared I am.

taxchyk said...

A horse-drawn sleigh ride does sounds like fun!

Ellie Wright said...

I've always wanted to go snow skiing. I'm from Texas so I've never had the chance. Thanks for the giveaway.
eswright18 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I've always wanted to go to Ireland!

shawnac68@hotmail.com

Jen V said...

I have always wanted to learn to play an instrument but my parents couldn't afford it. Now I am making sure my kids get the chance to learn.

I am glad to hear that her new book is a good read. I anxiously awaited each installment that followed When the Heart Cries.

ssovrnej(at)gmail.com

Jen V said...

I blogged about your giveaway.
http://greatbloggiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/10/enter-to-win-cindy-woodsmall-book.html
ssovrnej(at)gmail.com

Jen V said...

I added your button to my blog
http://greatbloggiveaways.blogspot.com/
ssovrnej(at)gmail.com

Jen V said...

I tweeted about this giveaway.
http://twitter.com/Greatgiveaways/status/5266607610
ssovrnej(at)gmail.com

Ms. Anita said...

I tweeted for 10/29...

http://twitter.com/HSBSuzanne/status/5267901117

roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

Another thing that would be fun to do is ride through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh! :)

Ms. Anita said...

I blogged about this...

http://anitamartin.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/the-sound-of-sleigh-bells-by-cindy-woodsmall/


roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I want to play the piano well enough so that people can start singing along at an evening party.

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

ive always wanted to spend our holidays in the mountains......would be so nice




cpsnsamples@aol.com

Hotsnotty2 said...

Bunjee-Jump! Thanks!

Hotsnotty2@hotmail.com

lknott said...

Everybody seems to want to travel somewhere! What I would like is to have my house cleaned, yard work done, all errands run, bills paid, meals cooked, for 24 hours of peace with nothing have to do!!!! And then I want to sit in my yard and enjoy the world from here!!


lknott@partnercom.net

erma said...

I have always wanted to go to college and be a baby nurse.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

Unknown said...

Looks like a great book. Winter is coming and I do a lot more reading.

Anonymous said...

sounds like a good book for winter reading! I have always wanted to go to Australia but cant imagine having Christmas in summer!

frogz60@hotmail.com

Smooshy said...

i've always wanted to visit japan!

Giveaway Lady said...

I have always wanted to go to Ireland or Scotland. I love their music, clothes, scenery, etc. I would love to go there. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thanks!
esterried@yahoo.com

Giveaway Lady said...

I am going to become a follower also.
esterried@yahoo.com

Giveaway Lady said...

I am going to subscribe also. Thanks!!
esterried@yahoo.com

cman said...

Going to Yellowstone :)

Miranda Ward said...

looks like an awesome read

john ferris said...

Something I always wanted to do was go in outer space.
john ferris
guapo1317@live.com

snakersolid said...

i always wanted to clim the highstes mnountain

Ms. Anita said...

It's so hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner! Hey... I just read another commenter who'd like to go into outer space. :)

roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com

lfhpueblo said...

I've always wanted to build my own home.

susansmoaks said...

i have always wanted to be a missionary

susansmoaks said...

subscriber

lisaray said...

hike the Appalachian trail.