A Love Undone (An Amish Novel of Shattered Dreams and God's Unfailing Grace) by Cindy Woodsmall

Book Description:  A husband and son abandoned to forge a path alone.

A young woman who sacrificed her dreams.

How will the God of grace and hope help them find their way?

At nineteen years old, Old Order Amish Jolene Keim was on the brink of happily-ever-after when everything changed, stealing the future she expected and burdening her with an unbearable decision. For the next ten years, Jolene throws herself into family life—and then she meets Andy Fisher. The horse trainer and father to a sweet nine year-old challenges her and holds up a mirror to issues Jolene has been unwilling to face.

Andy is cautious about his deepening friendship with Jolene, but he believes she knows the truth about him – that he is a grass widower. As a man whose wife has abandoned him six years past, he is unable to divorce or remarry according to the Amish ways. Andy has wrestled with God concerning his reality, and he had found peace with the solitary future facing him…until he met Jolene.

As Andy and Jolene find themselves confronted by difficult choices, will they trust in God's guidance—or will the allure of their deepening friendship only lead to further temptation?

My Thoughts:  When I read a Cindy Woodsmall novel I am always amazed at how much research she has done when writing about the Amish/Old Order Amish.  And in A Love Undone Ms. Woodsmall writes about Jolene and Andy. . . . Old Order Amish.

Jolene is one of those obedient responsible types.  So, it's no surprise when her parents pass away from a drowning accident that she takes it on herself to postpone her own plans, her own happiness to take care of her siblings....well, the next ten years fly by.  

Then Jolene meets Andy.  

I learned a new word in this read . . . grass widower which means 

1. A man who is divorced or separated from his wife.  2. A man whose wife is temporarily absent.  

Andy is a grass widower.  And when Andy meets Jolene he assumes that she knows he is a grass widower.  Ooops!  Never assume!  Simce andy's wife abandoned him, he cannot divorce or remarry according to Amish "laws."

Now, Andy and Jolene are confronted with their feelings and they must also rely on God's ways and trust Him with their feelings.

Quite a read!  Not only well written but interesting with a new twist on Amish culture!

*This book was provided for review by Waterbrook/Multnomah*

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (September 9, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030773000X
• ISBN-13: 978-0307730008