WHEN THE HEART CRIES - BOOK ONE IN THE "SISTERS OF THE QUILT TRILOGY" (CINDY WOODSMALL)

Story Description: 

When Hannah dares to love across the boundaries of tradition, will she lose everything?

Despite being raised in a traditional Old Order Amish family, seventeen-year-old Hannah Lapp desires to break with custom, forgo baptism into the faith, and marry outside the cloistered community. She's been in love with Mennonite Paul Waddell for three years, and before returning to college for his senior year, Paul asks Hannah to be his wife. Hannah accepts, aware that her marriage will change her relationship with her family forever.

On the evening of their engagement, tragedy strikes and in one unwelcome encounter, all that Hannah has known and believed is destroyed. As she finds herself entangled in questions that the Old Ways of her people cannot answer, Hannah faces the possibility of losing her place in her family, in her community- and in the heart of the man she loves.
When the Heart Cries is book one in the Sisters of the Quilt series. 

My Review: 

Hannah Lapp is 17-years-old and she yearns to be “as modern as personal computers and the internet”.  Freedom beckoned to her, but so did her relatives. 

Hannah is Amish and is in love with Paul Waddell who is a Mennonite.  Today is his last day at his Grandmother’s farm as he’s returning for his fourth year at college.  All Hannah would have of Paul during the fall, winter and spring would be his letters which he mails via his Grandmother’s house.  Hannah’s father would end their friendship immediately if he ever found out about it as the Amish and Mennonites don’t mix.  Paul was getting a degree in social work. 

Paul asks Hannah to marry him and she accepts.  They both know Hannah marrying Paul will affect her relationship with her family for the rest of her life.  Since she had not been baptized into the Amish faith, she wouldn’t be “shunned” if she chose to marry a Mennonite.  But her father would not allow an outsider’s influence to enter his home any more than he would electricity. 

After Paul has left for college, Hannah is walking home when a horribly traumatic event happens which changes her life.  Her family hides the event and almost treats Hannah as though she is a leper.  I felt so terribly bad for Hannah, my heart was aching for her and I wanted to wrap my arms around her and help her.  I was stunned that her family would treat her this way.  Soon rumors about various things began circulating around the community about Hannah and she was frowned upon by more and more people when what she really needed was love and support.  The emotional upheaval Hannah went through was heart wrenching.  I was so drawn into this story and can`t wait to read Book 2 and Book 3 to complete the trilogy.