Definitely a bold, but fascinating departure from the typical Amish novel. Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall’s latest, Yesterday’s Gone began as a classic Amish story—which unfortunately was as slow-moving as a lame-horse pulling a rickety buggy—however, once the fantastical came into play, the plot became a combination of It’s a Wonderful Life and Men in Black #3. Yes, really.

Authors are always looking for the “what if” to build a unique plot, the Woosdmalls’ unexpected “what if” was a question most souls have asked themselves: If they had a chance to change a decision, would they do it?

Eliza Bontrager and Jesse Ebersol have fallen in love and decide to marry against the longstanding warning that there is a curse should the union happen. A curse that dates back to the 1700s. Even though the families are good friends, the decree draws the line on marriage.

So, you guessed it. Eliza and Jesse ignore the superstition and marry. Within a few years they have a series of devastating events occurring in succession. Enough that Eliza is weary of the pain and questions the wisdom of her saying “yes” to Jesse’s proposal. What if she could travel back in time and say “no” to the love of her life.

There is a way and that’s when this story had me swiping my Kindle until the wee hours. While there are similarities between It’s a Wonderful Life and Men in Black #3, the Woodsmalls take unexpected and fascinating twists to their book.

If you enjoy unique and unpredictable stories with a not-so-plain cast of characters, you will love Yesterday’s Gone. I would have given this book a 5-star, however, I almost didn’t continue reading after the first couple chapters. I’m so glad I did which is why this is a strong 4-star—even a 4.5-star.

An eBook copy was provided by Tyndale Publishing through #NetGalley for my honest review.

I usually do not like to read fantasy, but this one was an exception! The pain of loss, the ache of not having a live baby, and Eliza decides to change the past, and thus affecting the future. The saying "be careful what you wish for" she shows itself here.

Yes, we all have things that if we could go back in time, we would do differently or change, but we never think that the changes we make in our lives has ramifications on others.

This is an Amish story that is so very different, and we journey with Eliza and Jesse, but there are other couples involved here, and decisions change their lives too.

This quickly became a page turner for me, I had to know how things were going to turn out! Now I wish I could continue on in the lives of these folks that I now care about!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Interesting read, although not typical but change is good. A story about how Eliza sacrifices her marriage to Jesse to make him happy, or at least she thinks so. A quilt stitch can change an event in life but it may not be the life you expected. I received an advanced copy of this book and my opinion were of my own

Yesterday’s Gone by talented authors Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall is a captivating Amish time travel novel. Yes, you read that correctly. Amish time travel. It is a fabulous book that had me turning pages from the beginning. I was engaged with the characters and invested in their lives.

The story flashes back all of the way to where a particular group of Amish travel via sea to come to America. Things happen between two families to cause what is believed to be a curse if a member of the Bontrager family marries an Ebersol. Parents of those families will not allow their children to court let alone marry.

This is the most unusual yet interesting and emotional Amish novel that I have read. There are so many spiritual and life lessons packed into this lovely tale. Even though I finished it days ago, I am still pondering different parts of it.

The authors did a phenomenal job researching for portions of the story. The writing is exquisite and flows at a perfect pace. Characters are believable. They have both good and bad qualities. Descriptions are such that I felt transported to the Amish community. The emotions transferred from the characters to me. At times I read through tears.

Eliza Bontrager and Jesse Ebersol have fallen in love and decide to marry against the advice of their families. Things go smoothly for a while, and then they wonder if the curse is real. What would you do is you could go back in time and choose differently to avoid hurting someone you love? There are so many delightful characters this book. I am hoping there will be another book so that we may visit them again.

I highly recommend this book. It is so good. A book club could have lively discussions over this book. Be sure to read the author’s notes, too. I rated it 5 out of stars. A copy was provided by Tyndale Publishing and Net Galley, but these are my honest words.

I've enjoyed previous books by the author but did not care but this one. The paranormal part was a big turn off. Eliza's choice to go back in time to fix things did nothing but cause pain. I love Amish fiction but this one just didn't with for me.

What a beautifully written story. What would you do if you could go back in time a change one thing? Eliza has everything a loving husband Jesse, a home and they are well liked in the Amish community. But she has just lost her three baby a little girl and this has broken her and she wishes that she had said no to Jesse all those years ago.
She was told a story but her great aunt Rose about the quilt and she just has to believe that it is true but everything doesn't go right. Her sister Ruth has been taken back with her and she isn't too happy as her life has all changed. Can they fix the mistake before it is too late? Will anyone believe their story? What does the future hold for them now?
Eliza is a good woman that only wants everyone to be happy, she is generous & loving. Jesse is a good protector, husband and provider that always is willing to help anyone. Yes they are both destroyed by the loss of their daughter but I think that Eliza needed to speak to Jesse before doing what she did.
Ruth is a fierce woman that will do anything for her family even following her heartbroken sister to another time.
Andrew is a hard working man that has found the woman that he loves but now he has to find his way back to her again.
A lovely read made me cry.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the ARC copy. This is my voluntary review.

Wonderful story! I guess all of us look back at some event in life, that if we could we would have liked to have changed the event. This gave me something to think about, if we change one event, then it would have a ripple effect on a lot of other events in our lives. Kudos to the author for a great story!

Not at all what I would have expected from Woodsmall. I liked the characters, especially Ruth, but did not like the storyline. Woodsmall definitely veered away from her normal take on the Amish.

Yesterday's Gone is not what I would expect in a Woodsmall novel. However, I thought it was a pretty good read and thought the plot twists were enjoyable. Four stars.

This was the first time travel I have ever read and it took a while for me to get used to it. The book was unique and engaging in its own way and opened up a whole new style of reading for me that I appreciate.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and opinion.

Thank you Tyndale House Publishers for allowing me to read Yesterday’s Gone by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall. Opinions are my own, and I was not required to give a positive review.

I have read Amish fiction for many years, and I have read many books by Cindy, but I must admit this is the most unusual Amish book I have ever read. Time travel, of all things! Who would have thought!

Although I kept thinking Eliza would wake up from a dream at anytime, there were so many important lessons to learn fro Eliza, Jesse, Ruth, and Andrew’s experiences. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”.

Jesse and Eliza weren’t encouraged to be friends and certainly they were not to date and marry. According to Ebersol and Bontrager hidden curse, there should be no permanent contact between the families.

When the marriage was going to happen anyway, Eliza’s great aunt gave her a heirloom quilt that was said to allow a one-time travel back in time. Although forgotten for a time, when Eliza and. Jesse suffered the loss of a daughter, the idea of changing events came to Eliz’s mind. Could she make thing better by not marrying Jesse?
She fins out the hard way that. Every decision you make has a real impact on friends, family, and community.

If you enjoy unique and unpredictable events in a story, this one is for you.

Like the story or not, the Woodsmall’s do a good job telling the story.

September 6, 2022, is release day for this 4-star book.

Yesterday’s Gone by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall is a paranormal Amish story.
The belief is that no Bontrager can marry an Ebersol because there is reported to be a hidden curse that occurs when anyone in these two families. Eliza Bontrager and Jesse Ebersol have decided to override their parents’ objections because of the curse and marry. Eliza’s great-aunt gives her an heirloom quilt and explains that she may use it to change one event in her life.

Eliza and Jesse’s desire to have children was not fulfilled because of miscarriages and something in their DNA which may cause their babies not to survive after birth. Eliza decided in her grief that she would release Jesse from this marriage so that he can marry someone who can give him children, so decides to use the quilt to go back in time to prevent their marriage.

The characters in the story got on my nerves. Not one of the main characters was happy after this occurred and the story tells about their search to reverse the event. I guess that I was not fond of this book because I am not into paranormal activities of any kind. Although the story was interesting and well-written, I just had a hard time reading it.

Not sure how I feel about this book. The time travel part was weird and offputting. But as pure fantasy I guess it is acceptable. I loved the Amish and the quilt part but just not keen on the way the story went. I love this author's work though so I am willing to keep mulling it over.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my own honest opinion.

Ich hatte die Freude, hier eine ARC, eine „Advance Reader Copy“ via Netgalley.com zu erhalten. Und es war wirklich eine Freude, das hier ist ein Roman, der mich tief berührt hat und mir eine ganze Menge „food for thought“ beschert hat. Ich kannte bislang weder die Autorin, bzw. das Mutter-Tochter-Autorenduo Woodsmall, noch sagte mir der Verlag etwas, aber ich werde mir beide vormerken für die Zukunft 😉. Ich fand das Cover interessant mit der jungen Amishfrau, und die Kurzbeschreibung machte mich neugierig:
„Eliza Bontrager and Jesse Ebersol have fallen in love and are determined to marry, despite the belief of their Amish community and respective families that there's a hidden curse--one that only shows up when an Ebersol and Bontrager marry.

Before the ceremony on the day of the wedding, Eliza's great-aunt Rose gives her a family heirloom quilt and tells her that she may use it to change one event in the past. Eliza appreciates the woman's heart, but she dismisses the strange conversation while keeping the beautiful quilt.

Several years later, mourning the loss of their third child, Eliza discovers her inability to deliver a healthy baby is genetic. Remembering her great-aunt's strange words, she decides that if she can go back in time and reject Jesse's proposal, she can save him the heartache of a childless marriage. Her sacrifice will allow him to marry someone else and raise a family. But once she puts her plan into action, she discovers the true impact of her decision--on Jesse and so many others within their community.“
Und da ich auf deutsch rezensiere, hierum geht’s (auf deutsch): Eliza Bontrager und Jesse Ebersol sind sehr verliebt und wollen heiraten – und zwar gegen alle Widerstände: ein alter Fluch besagt, dass die Ebersols und die Bontragers nicht untereinander heiraten dürfen, da sonst unaussprechliche Dinge passieren. Die beiden setzen sich aber durch, die Liebe siegt. Auf der Hochzeit nun erscheint eine ältere Grosstante und macht Eliza ein merkwürdiges Geschenk in Form eines Quilts, der angeblich magische Kräfte hat. Die Besitzerin hat mit dem Quilt die Macht, in die Vergangenheit zu reisen, und einen Fehler zu korrigieren. Soweit, so gut, bzw. so egal, denn Eliza nimmt diese Ankündigung natürlich nicht ernst, freut sich aber nichtsdestotrotz über den wunderschönen alten Quilt.
5 Jahre später ist Elizas Welt zerbrochen. Nach 2 Fehlgeburten stirbt ihre dritte Tochter kurz nach der Geburt, und da für die Amish der Kindersegen enorm grossgeschrieben wird, ist Eliza völlig fertig. Die Trauer ist enorm, und es zeigt sich, dass Jesse und sie einen seltenen Gendefekt haben, der ihnen eine grosse Kinderschar vorenthalten wird. (Anmerkung; diesen Gendefekt, das Ellis Van Creveld Syndrom, gibt es tatsächlich, und der tritt bei den Amish People auch gehäuft auf). In ihrer Verzweiflung beschliesst Eliza, ihrem Mann aus Liebe diese Zukunft vorzuenthalten und nimmt den Quilt, um damit in die Vergangenheit zu reisen und ihre ganze Ehe zu verhindern…..was wäre, wenn sie Jesses Antrag damals einfach nicht angenommen hätte?
Ja, und ab hier wird es richtig faszinierend. Die Autorin spielt dieses Was-wäre-wenn nämlich komplett und mit allen Konsequenzen durch. Und es zeigt sich, dass eben nicht einfach nur diese eine Ehe nicht stattfinden wird, sondern dass ganz viele andere Dinge eben auch komplett anders ablaufen werden. Wir erfahren gemeinsam mit Eliza und ihrer Schwester Ruth und mit Jesse und Andrew und all den anderen Protagonisten der Amish-Gemeinde, dass das Leben komplett eine andere Richtung nehmen kann, wenn auch nur ein Ding in der Vergangenheit anders läuft. Und wir sind mit Eliza und Ruth vollkommen irritiert, in welcher Welt man nach derlei Experimenten aufwacht und sich dann darin zurecht finden muss. Und Elza wird auf sehr schmerzliche Weise bewusst, dass sie komplett über andere Menschen und deren freien Willen entschieden hat, denn so löblich es auch ist, dem geliebten Mann den Schmerz einer kinderlosen Ehe vorzuenthalten – vielleicht hätte sich dieser ja auch für diese Ehe entschieden? Trotz allem?
Ah, mehr spoilern geht nicht 😉, auf jeden Fall ist das ein extrem spannendes Gedankenspiel, dass die Autoren hier für uns durchexerzieren. Und kann man das dann wieder gut machen? Wenn ja, wie? Auch das wird faszinierend!
Ein bisschen erinnerte mich dieser Roman an Matt Haigs Mitternachtsbibliothek, wo die Protagonistin sich in -zig verschiedenen Leben ausprobiert, aber hier gibt es nur dieses eine Ausprobieren, und das wird in allen Facetten beleuchtet. Teilweise ganz pragmatisch, teils auch sehr philosophisch wird dieses Was-wäre-wenn betrachtet, und ich fand es unglaublich interessant.
Extrem interessant finde ich auch die Amish People; diese Glaubensgemeinschaft, die noch heute (und das Buch spielt heute im hier und jetzt) leben wie ihre Vorfahren und auf jegliche technische Erneuerungen verzichten und noch eine ganz andere Wertegemeinschaft verkörpern. Die beiden Autorinnen kennen sich in dieser Welt auch sehr gut aus, im Anhang des Buches gibt es eine Mini-Bio, aus der hervorgeht, dass Cindy Woodsmall, die Mutter des Duos, zeitlebens enge Freundinnen aus der Amish-Gemeinschaft hatte, und das merkt man. Ich kam mir vor wie ein Hausgast in der Gemeinde, und das war, ich wiederhole mich, super interessant.
Und noch was: der Roman war soooo romantisch. Richtig, richtig schön. Die Liebe ist teils übergeflossen, ohne das es kitschig wurde 😊. Mein Herz war voll.
Das Buch liess sich für mich als nicht-Muttersprachlerin sehr schön und flüssig lesen. Ich musste anfangs tatsächlich ein paar mal mein Wörterbuch zurate ziehen, denn einige Begriffe aus Natur und Landwirtschaft waren mir nicht wirklich geläufig, aber das verbuche ich dann unter wieder-was-dazugelernt.
Ich hoffe, der Roman wird auch in Deutschland veröffentlicht, ich könnte mir vorstellen, dass die Amish gerade auch auf deutsche Leser eine Faszination ausüben, denn schliesslich sind die Amish ursprünglich aus Deutschland geflohen, bis sie in Pennsylvania ankamen und dort ihre Siedlungen gründeten.
Mein Fazit: es war toll!!!!! Hat mich abgeholt, war ein echtes Lesehighlight.

What a novel! Just finished this lovely jem by Cindy Woodsmall.
She does an amazing job in bringing these characters to life and I love every one them.
From Eliza Bontraeger to Jesse to Ruth and Andrew.
I felt their fears, excitement and joy to heartache in a matter of minutes.
I also loved watching the miracles happen as the story unfolded.
This is a time travel story but unlike anything we've ever read and that is what makes this story special in my heart.
I finished this book in no time because it was soooo good! I hated to say goodbye and I hope there's more to come! I want to read Ruth and Andrew's story.
Woodsmall is an excellent author and I love anything she writes. This book will be a keeper on my shelf for sure and certain!
The author never ceases to fail me with her wonderful writing. I'm on board for every one. She never disappoints!
Well done! 5 stars!
My thanks for a copy of this book! I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.