Gathering The Threads by Cindy Woodsmall is a delightful Amish romance with a wonderful, warm, welcoming feel to it. It is the third book in the Amish Of Summer Grove series but can be read as a stand-alone as I hadn't read the first two books.
The main themes are the search for identity and to belong. "She needed to understand who she was." Being raised Amish, spending time with the Englisch and then returning to the Amish community certainly creates mind confusion. Some things such as mobile phones which bring freedom are not easily surrendered. However, the Englisch love of money contrasts with the value the Amish put on family. "Spending money was the... answer for a lot of emotional upsets."
Family matters. Family is blood ties, those who have raised you and anyone you feel a connection with. Family love you, support you and discipline you.
There are also the topics of bullying versus exerting authority. Where does one end and the other begin? A misuse of power raises its ugly head in the novel. "Just because people think they're right doesn't actually make them right, and that's true whether they are a minister or a Daed."
Conflict between the Word of God and the Ordnung arises. The Ordnung was written by men. It is their rules. The Bible is God's instruction manual to us. We all have access to God's Word. We do not need a Bishop to put his interpretation onto God's Words. The reader is reminded of the truths in Revelation, that we are to add nothing to nor take anything from God's Word.
Helping the weak and vulnerable is key in the novel. We are all charged to 'look after the widows and orphans.' A community should be the responsibility of all. Aiding others is a priority, sometimes even at the threat of personal safety.
Grace covers us all. "We are made worthy by grace... not judgment or expectations from the church. God never intended us to stand in judgment over one another. Abuse by those in areas of influence rears its head in the story.
I really enjoyed Gathering The Threads. It was a great read and my first by Cindy Woodsmall. I shall be hunting out many more by her.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Gathering the Threads

I just loved the character of Ariana, she had a lot to overcome with her two families. She was raised Amish but found out her biological family is English. Also really like Quill, Ariana's good friend. Loved what he does. A lot of other characters too. There is forgiveness to come. This is the 3rd in the series,I haven't read the first two yet but this book did give a summary but will definitely be reading the first two books. A very interesting book, enjoyed it very much. I received an advanced copy of the book thru net gallery.

The third book in Cindy Woodsmall’s The Amish of Summer Grove series, “Gathering the Threads” continues the story of Skylar and Ariana as they come to terms with the fact that they were switched at birth and brought up in totally different ways. Ariana comes back to her Amish family, but with different ideas that cause discord with her Amish parents and siblings. She is trying to determine just who she is after knowing she comes from Englisher parents and brought up in an Amish home with their plain and strict ways. The bishop of her community is determined to make her knuckle under and conform to the way Amish women are treated. She is resisting and the subsequent dramas that follow make up the story.

I was in total agreement with Ariana throughout the book because I know that my stubbornness and independence would totally rebel at the condescending way women are treated as subjects, not individuals. I thought this book gave much to think about and I was glad that I read it.

I received a Kindle copy of this book from NetGalley.com, but was under no obligation to post a review.