Audiobook Review: Fraying at the Edge by Cindy Woodsmall

“Family, community, faith, and love.
These quilt blocks sewn together made Ariana s beautiful life.
When they are pulled to pieces, will anything familiar remain?
The Old Order Amish life Ariana Brenneman loved vanished virtually overnight with the discovery that she was switched at birth twenty years ago. Now she is immersed in the”Englischer”world, getting to know her mother, and under the authority of her biological father, an atheist intellectual with resolute plans to expand Ariana s worldview. Only Quill Schlabach, a childhood friend living”Englisch,” can help steady Ariana s tilting ground between the two worlds, but can she trust him after so many betrayals?
At the same time, Skylar Nash is forced to choose rehab or spend several months with her true relatives, the large Brenneman family and their seemingly backward life no electricity, no technology, no fun. What the young woman can t leave behind is her addiction to illegal prescription drugs and deep emptiness from the belief that she doesn’t belong in either family.
New ties are binding Ariana and Skylar to the lives they were meant to have. Can they pray for the wisdom and strength they ll need to follow God s threads into unexpected futures?””
“Fraying at the”Edge is the second novel in The Amish of Summer Grove series.”

I really enjoyed this lovely audiobook by Cindy Woodsmall.

Even though it’s part two of a trilogy there was enough back story to fill me in on the first book without getting confused or feeling like I’d missed out.

I loved getting acquainted with the situation that found both Arianna and Skylar living in completely different worlds since being switched at birth twenty years earlier. I felt their emotions as they struggled to adjust to their new families and lifestyles and wondered how I would’ve coped in a similar situation. I was fascinated by  the glimpses into the Old Order Amish community and enjoyed the comparisons with the modern “Englisch” life. I particularly enjoyed conversations Arianna had with her English father about blindly accepting beliefs and authority.

The narration by Stina Nielsen was perfect as she brought all the characters, male and female, young and old to life. I really hope she narrates the next audiobook in the series as I definitely want to find out what happens to Arianna and Skylar.

I think all ages would enjoy this audiobook and I can imagine this series would be a great for groups to discuss the different themes throughout.

Thanks so much to christianaudio.com Reviewer’s Program for my free copy.