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Oct 15, 2009

Nora rated it:

Amish customs are fascinating. There is a time for every season. Their customs allow for a structured time of grieving. For example the person in mourning is to wear black for the grieving period of time. This signals everyone to be respectful of that persons feelings and time of sadness.

Beth Hertzler is a young energetic, hard working woman who should have been done with the grieving process months ago but she can’t seem to get on with life emotionally. Life has hit her with a blow, More...

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Oct 13, 2009

Jen C (ReadinginWBL) rated it:

Common themes in Amish fiction are family and faith. The interesting thing about "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" is that the two main characters are older single Amish women who run a store together. The older of the women, Aunt Lizzy wants to see her neice Beth to find love after being in mouring for an extended period of time. Aunt Lizzy goes about matching Beth to an Amish artisan whose work Beth admires. Though Aunt Lizzy's intentions were good, she goes about her matchmaking in a dece More...

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Oct 12, 2009

Kelly rated it:

Every time I read an Amish fiction novel, I am surely more and more pulled into it becoming one of my favorite genres. I have yet to find a piece of work that I have not thoroughly enjoyed. It is often surprising to me as I am a lover of mystery, suspense and quite frankly...horror. I once thought that Amish fiction and Christian fiction for that matter, could not possibly hold my attention. Boy was I happily wrong!

Cindy Woodsmall weaves a story that reads so quickly that I had to f More...

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Nov 05, 2011

Abbie rated it:

Beth is living in a world of shame and grief which and she sides from it by wearing black. Everyone thinks she is still grieving the loss of her fiancé but she is dealing with much more. She works with her aunt Lizzy in her store and keeps herself so busy she does not let herself feel. Lizzy is her single aunt who worries about Beth never finding love and becoming an old maid. Lizzy finally talks Beth into going on one of her selling trips and on this trip Beth comes across a carving that stirs More...

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Nov 18, 2009

Jessica rated it:

I won this through the firstreads program and I'm so happy I did. It was a wonderful book that I would highly recommend to my Christian friends.

After the Amish faith's required six months of mourning following the death of her fiancee, Beth chooses to continue her mourning wearing only black and finding no joy in life. Beth is almost living a life of recluse, refusing to associate with any other young people, or to talk about the pain she has faced. As the story progresses, we learn More...

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Feb 27, 2010

Lynn rated it:

Beth Hertzler who had lost her fiance over a year ago is still mourning over his death. Living with her Aunt Lizzy in a little apartment above their dry goods store, she trys to convince everyone that she is fine.If they only knew the secret she was holding inside. On a business trip for the store she comes across a most intricate carving that touches her deep within her soul. Now if she can just find the artist and help his work become known.Seeing how this carving stirs emotions in Beth her More...

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Oct 16, 2009

Kristi (Books and Needlepoint) rated it:

My synopsis: Lizzy had been worried about Beth, her niece, for awhile. The mourning period for her fiance, Henry, should have ended almost a year before - but Beth still wore the traditional black, visited his grave regularly, and didn't allow herself any time to feel joy.

When Beth finally goes on a much-delayed buying trip, she wanders into Pete's Antiques, a store that wasn't on her agenda. She finds an Amish carving of children playing in the snow. Something about the carving touc More...

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Nov 28, 2009

rjp316 rated it:

Very easy short read – story about two single older Amish women. Beth is grieve the lost of her fiancée and can’t seem to move forward in life when her Aunt, Lizzy, tries to manipulate her into a circumstance where she might get over her grief. The main themes were self-forgiveness and taking a chance. I liked the fact that the writer showed that there is always two different viewpoints for every situation – for one the sound of sleigh bells brings joy and for another grief and also that diff More...

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Nov 20, 2009

Heather rated it:

This book was a pleasant surprise. I signed up to read it on Goodreads' Firstreads giveaway because the plot sounded interesting. It is.

The Sound of Sleigh Bells is about an Amish woman and Amish man, both of which have suffered loss. They both have scars that need healing, and each is the key to the other's healing. There are dark - by Amish standards, I must add - secrets and sad stories. But, the story as a whole is about grace, redemption, and love.

As a Christian, I More...

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Oct 12, 2009

Becky rated it:

Beth Hertzler carries an emotional wound that has left her unwilling to open her heart to love again after her fiance passed away. The problem is, that no one quite knows why she has drug out her mourning for him so long. Into her life enters a young artist, who was also wounded years ago in a sleigh accident. Intrigued by his carving, Beth buys a piece of his art and unknowingly (which will be revealed in the story), starts a pen pal friendship with the artist. Once she realizes who it is s More...

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Apr 28, 2010

Cafelilybookreviews rated it:

Haunted by the tragic memories of love and loss, Beth Hertzler can’t seem to move on with her life and bury the past.

When her Aunt Lizzy tries to help and ends up meddling in her personal life, a strange turn of events cause Beth to face emotions and feelings she has desperately tried to forget. Intrigued by an intricate wood carving that she discovers in an antique shop, Beth feels herself mysteriously drawn to the carving and eventually to the artist who created it.
More...

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Oct 16, 2009

Janna rated it:

This book was a nice, fresh insight into the Amish world without being forced. While it gave me a peek into the business side of Amish crafts and even some interesting insight into the whole graven images issue, the real impact of the book is dealing with forgiveness. Self-forgiveness.

Beth has totally closed herself off from everyone and everything since her fiancee died. But there are some surprises in the reasons why she has done so, and it isn't necessarily because she is heartbro More...

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Nov 14, 2011

Rebecca rated it:

I liked this book. I have never read anything by this author and know little about the Amish way of life. The story is about Beth who's in mourning after the death of her fiance and is harboring a secret related to his death. Beth has kept everyone at a distance until she discovers a piece of artwork created by an Amish craftsman that touches her deeply. Beth believes the craftsman is an old bachelor. The craftsman thinks Beth is her aunt who encourages him to write. They fall in love thro More...

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Sep 20, 2009

Renee rated it:

I was so excited to have the opportunity to read and review The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall. She has a way of seamlessly combining the lifestyle of the Amish with a story with depth and meaning. It was interesting to read how Amish bishops have different ways of interpreting rules about graven images; I guess shades of gray are common in many denominations. I enjoyed the way the author used letters between Beth and Jonah to tell the story especially in relationship to their pasts. I More...

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Oct 13, 2009

Clockstein rated it:

The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall is a moving novel of forgiving yourself placed within the Amish community. Beth Hertzler has devoted her life to working in her aunt Lizzy's shop as well as helping trade between the Amish and Englischers after the death of her fiance. The black mourning clothing she wears reflects the state of her heart. When she finds a carving by Jonah Kinsinger it touches her heart, awakening something long dead. Lizzy sees the connection and sets a plan in motion More...

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Aug 14, 2010

Amber rated it:

This is a book about an amish girl named Beth Hertzler. She is having a hard time letting go of a past tragedy. She is in mourning and pretty much cutting herself off of all happiness. Into her life walks Jonah (with the really big nudge of her aunt Lizzy). And I can't say much else without giving the story away. So if you want to know read it! haha :)

But really I like Cindy Woodsmall's books. I find them easy to read and they hold my attention. I read the "When The Soul Mends" More...

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Oct 14, 2010

Samantha rated it:

This is the first Amish book that I've read, as well as the first book I've read by this author. It's not really my "style," but I did enjoy it. It was a nice change of pace coming from the types of stories I'm used to reading. All in all, this book was very sweet. It was short enough to be read in a day, also part of the reason I did like it because I'm used to reading books around the 400 page marker where this one had just short of 200. I loved how she described the way the characte More...

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Nov 15, 2009

Barbara rated it:

This story has it all; amish ways, sentiment, romance, emotional healing, suspense, and surprises. It is an easy, enjoyable read, and the first book I've read by Cindy Woodsmall; it certainly won't be the last. The main character, Beth, needs emotional healing from a very bad experience she's been through, and it takes someone else who needs their own psychological healing to break through her defenses. This is a book I will probably end up reading over and over again, and is a good one to pass More...

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Jul 19, 2010

LGayle rated it:

One of the criteria I use to determine how well written a book is - for me - is if I find myself crying. So! Although I didn't actually have to stop reading, get a tissue to wipe my eyes or blow my nose, I DID have tears in my eyes. The Sound of Sleigh Bells follows a young Amish woman through a "slough of despair" that had begun about two years before the opening page. This story handles several levels of deceit as well as lies and secrecy, as well as forgiveness and growing matur More...

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Jan 05, 2012

Brooke (i blog 4 books) rated it:

After reading The Christmas Singing, I simply had to go back and read The Sound of Sleigh Bells! I was not disappointed! Cindy Woodsmall has cemented my affection for the residents of Apple Ridge. I adore strong female characters and felt that Cindy did a wonderful job of combining the simplicity of Amish life and the strength that comes from loving the Lord in both Beth and Aunt Lizzy's characters. She also did a wonderful job of giving the characters real problems and helping them to overcome More...

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Dec 06, 2009

Denise rated it:

This is a very fast read. I finished one book today and picked up The Sound of Sleigh Bells and then next thing I knew I was done with it. I like Woodsmall's books about the Amish. This book was no exception. The book has a good story line and as most of these books turn out the characters are probably going to live happily ever after. However I will admit to using up several kleenex along the way. More...

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Nov 03, 2011

Camille rated it:

Yes! It's that time of year!

It's time for CHRISTMAS NOVELS!!!!! (And music!!!)

So, I'm starting with

The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall

I did something a little different and got the audio recording of this book. I drive a fair amount and wanted to listen to books while driving. But also, I wanted a book to listen to while doing chores.

You see, I have 3 fish tanks and an terrarium. :) I have one tropical community tan More...

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Jan 01, 2012

Rachel rated it:

I read this after The Christmas Singing, which actually follows on from this book, but would have to say I prefer this one. It took me a while to get into it, maybe because I started listening to it when I was busy finishing off coursework at the end of the semester and wasn't able to concentrate and appreciate it properly. But by the end of the book I was really enjoying it and had really come to sympathise with Beth. The secret behind her mourning Henry definitely changed my perception of this More...

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Dec 30, 2009

Molly rated it:

I really loved reading this book. Maybe it's because it's about the Amish (I really love the Amish!), maybe it's the season of winter (winter=holidays=something else I love!), or maybe it's the simple fact of Cindy Woodsmall's beautiful talent of writing a story that I didn't want to end, that I loved this book so much!

It's a story of hurt, guilt, faith, love and friendship between two Amish members. The plot of this story is simply life like and warm.

I'm not going to m More...

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Feb 13, 2010

Krista rated it:

Hearing the sound of sleigh bells gives Beth wonderful feelings. However Jonah feels the opposite. These two Amish young people come from different Amish districts but it becomes a matter of fate that they meet.
Beth is a single Amish girl with a secret~ about her dead fiance. Will she ever be free of the terrible secret? Lizzy, Beth's Aunt, thinks Jonah may be the answer to Beth's mourning of her fiance. Lizzy is worried about her and wants to see her happily married, unlike herself w More...

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Jan 16, 2010

Wrighty rated it:

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist f More...

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Aug 09, 2011

Margaret rated it:

The sound of sleigh bells is something that brings great joy into the life of Beth Hertzler, yet the same sound brings pain to Jonah Kinsinger. This is a great Christmas or anytime read of growth, strength, forgiveness, moving forward, and romance with true love. Straight from the beginning even with the mystery of what really holds Beth back from looking for love brings a reader in to care for her with a slight of intrigue. Each chapter causes one to wish for her to open up to love. In a diffe More...

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Aug 09, 2010

Alice rated it:

Alas, there were four crucial pages missing from my copy of this book: what exactly happened on that rainy night between the Amish bride-to-be and her fiance? We know he was found dead in the morning....

Otherwise, the story was better than the average Amish romance. (Most in this genre move the plot along soooo slowly as the ladies visit from house to house and chat around the kitchen table.) Ms. Woodsmall was able to penetrate more deeply than usual into the fears of hurting, healin More...

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Mar 01, 2011

Vicki rated it:

I really enjoy fiction and nonfiction about the Amish lifestyle since I live in an area with a lot of
Amish. It was an easy read. Cindy Woodsmall is a wonderful storyteller and does a really good job
of keeping your interest in the story. The sound of sleigh bells is something that brings great joy
into the life of Beth Hertzler, yet the same sound brings pain to Jonah Kinsinger. Good lessons
on healing from bitterness, guilt and past hurts. A good book for the holidays or an

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Nov 19, 2009

Carol rated it:

This was a charming holiday story and a fast read. I was hooked on the characters on the first page. The plot was a simple romance set among the Amish in Pennsylvania and Ohio. I enjoyed the insights into the courting traditions of the Amish. The lessons about self, forgivness, etc. transcend the cultural framework of the story. I will be looking for more of this author's books.

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