Book Giveaway: The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall

I discovered author Cindy Woodsmall by accident - our local Christian bookstore had clearanced their Christmas items to 90% off and her Christmas book The Sound of Sleigh Bells was included. I bought it and took it home. It was a quaint story about an Amish girl who has been emotinoally wonded and decided she will never be interested in a man again . . . and an Amish man who has been phsyically wounded and chosen to isolate himself while he heals. The emotions ran deep and the story was intriguing.

When my mom had surgery scheduled and asked me to recommend some books, I told her I had some good books but they were Christmas themes (it was now April). She said it didn't matter and started with the Cindy Woodsmall book. At the end of the week she had finished the book and gone in search of more titles by this author. She came home with the Sisters of the Quilt series - When the Heart Cries (Sisters of the Quilt, Book 1), When the Morning Comes (Sisters of the Quilt, Book 2), and When the Soul Mends (Sisters of the Quilt, Book 3).

I have read Book 1 and am about halfway through Book 2. These books are even better than Sleigh Bells in my opinion. The setting is still modern day Amish country, but the plot is captivating and the story moves quickly, drawing you in and keeping you there. I already know I will feel as if I have lost good friends when the series ends.

Today, I am offering the opportunity to win an autographed copy of  The Hope of Refuge: A Novel (An Ada's House Novel). This is the first book of a new series entitled Ada's House. The second book - The Bridge of Peace: A Novel (An Ada's House Novel) - is due out in September of this year.

To be honest, this is one giveaway I wish I could keep for myself as I haven't read this book and I'm sure it's just as great as the first four I have read by Ms. Woodsmall.

New Yorker Cara Moore is a widowed single parent struggling just to survive. In an effort to find answers to her past, she is drawn to an Amish community. However, she quickly learns that this small town is not a place for outsiders. In spite of the threat it poses to his standing in the community, Ephraim Mast begins the challenge of fulfilling the command he feels God has given him -  "Be Me to her." Torn between his community and his blossoming friendship with this single mother, Ephraim risks losing everything in order to help solve the mysteries of Cara's past.

Mandatory Entry: Must be a Google follower of MelissaStuff and tell me your favorite Christian fiction book and author.

Extra Entries:

(Please leave a separate comment for each of these that you complete so that you get the maximum number of entries.)

1. Follow MelissaStuff by RSS feed or email subscription (box to the right).

2. Sign up for Cindy Woodsmall's newsletter (Sent quarterly, with an occasional special edition).

3. Follow MelissaStuff on Twitter.

4. Become a friend of the MelissaStuff page on Facebook

Please make sure you leave an email address where you can be reached if it is not listed in your Google profile.

Good Luck! Contest ends at midnight on 6/8/2010 and the winner will have 24 hours to respond by email.

**This item was provided to me free of charge upon my request and all opinions expressed in this post are completely mine.**