Review of The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall

Rating: 3 Stars

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Synopsis from WaterBrook Multnomah: After Gideon coldly broke her heart, can the warmth of the season revive Mattie’s hopes?
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Mattie thought her childhood sweetheart adored her until he abruptly ended their engagement on Christmas Eve. Three years later, will learning the truth behind his rejection restore her Christmas joy – or open the door to even deeper heartbreak? Spend Christmas with the Amish in this story of love, romance, heartache, and restoration.
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Review: The Christmas Singing is a quick weekend read, great for busy readers during the holiday season.  Its hard cover and attractive dust jacket also make it a nice gift for fans of Amish fiction.  Readers who enjoy reading Amish fiction will likely appreciate this novella's journey with Mattie and Gideon.  
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I have often been turned off by the tragedy and grief that have been present in many of the Amish fiction novels that I have read in the past.  I hoped that The Christmas Singing would be an exception. Within the first hundred pages, I felt that nearly every main and supporting character had some past or present heartbreak, grief, or physical malady.  I found myself exasperated with some of the more "depressing" details.  Physical and emotional issues are parts of real life and should be included in fiction as well; but in a short novella, I felt that the details cluttered the plot and diverted my focus.  The ending was promising with a tidy and happy resolution.  
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There is potential for a few additional novellas featuring some of the characters from this novella whose stories need conclusions.  Readers who enjoyed The Christmas Singing and its predecessor, The Sound of Sleigh Bells, can read more of Aden's story in the February 2012 release of The Scent of Cherry Blossoms. 
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Click Here to Read an Excerpt from The Christmas Singing. 
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”