When the Soul Mends

Title: WHEN THE SOUL MENDS
Author: Cindy Woodsmall
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
September 2008
ISBN: 978-1-4000-7294-1
Genre: Inspirational/women’s fiction

Hannah Lapp has received a desperate and confusing call fromher sister, urging her to return home to her Old Order Amish community in Pennsylvania. Two years earlier, Hannah ran away from home after a terrible rape and has settled in the Englischer world. She’s engaged to be married to the wealthy Martin Palmer and isn’t really sure she wants to return home—even for a short visit.

Reluctantly, she answers her sister’s summons, and immediately after her arrival, she meets up with those who ostracized her, including family and former friends. Hannah senses that her sister, Sarah’s mental health is not good, and so she contacts her former fiancé Paul Waddell to work with her. But as Hannah is with Paul more, she begins to doubt her relationship with Martin. Will she ultimately chose Martin and the Englischer life, or Paul and the Plain life?

WHEN THE SOUL MENDS is the third book in the Sister’s of the Quilt series. Readers will want to read When the Heart Cries and When the Morning Comes before reading WHEN THE SOUL MENDS as the story is all tied together.

I enjoyed reconnecting with Hannah, and enjoyed reading about the work she did in the medical field in her new lifestyle. Her long awaited return home was difficult, and I found myself hoping that she could work things out. The faith message is expertly woven in, and the writing is stellar. Don’t miss this series or WHEN THE SOUL MENDS. It is definitely a series worth reading. A glossary of Amish terms is included at the end of the book. $13.99. 352 pages.