Short Story Review: Beginnings (Amish Knitting Circle) by Karen Anna Vogel

Title:Beginnings

Author:Karen Anna Vogel

Series:Amish Knitting Circle, #1

Publisher:Trestle Press

Release Date:September 5, 2011

Pages:short story

Source:publisher|My FTC Disclaimer

Purchase: Amazon|BarnesAndNoble

Rating:5/5 Books

About the Book:
Granny Weaver is praying for five women in her Old Order Amish community in Smicksburg, PA., but nothing seems to be happening. Spinning wool one day she ponders the fact that fibers wrapped around each other make a yarn that’s hard to break. Maybe the women she sees unraveling need to be spun together so they don’t break.

So Granny starts a knitting circle to make items for tornado victims in Joplin, MO. She invites Maryann who looks too tired and needs a break from her eight children. Ella seems mighty down since a doctor told her she can’t have children. Emma feels she’ll never get married because of her weight. Ruth has been depressed since the day she got married and won’t tell anyone why. Elizabeth never married to take care of her handicapped father, but others suspects she has a broken heart over a broken courtship.

Over the course of a year these women open up at the knitting circle. Their hearts are encouraged, being knit together in love as they face trials and troubles…together.

About the Author:
A trusted English friend among Amish in Western PA and Western NY, my four grown children call me an ‘Amish Addict.’ My husband of thirty years shares my addiction. Our Old Order Amish friends have taken us back to a time when life was slower. Slow enough to enjoy our faith, family and friends. Slow enough to make me relax and join a knitting circle and learn to spin wool. Wanting to share what I’ve learned from these gentle people led me to write Amish fiction. I’m represented by Joyce Hart of Hartline Literary Agency and blog under Amish Crossings: https://karenannavogel.blogspot.com/ Member of Pittsburgh East Scribes and ACFW.

My Review:
I’m a HUGE Amish fan, if you didn’t already know. And, with this short story, I get the pleasure of continuing on with Amish craze. The thing I loved most of all about this collection? I knew all the places in Pennsylvania Ms. Vogel mentioned….Smicksburg, Volant, Idiana….all of them.

The next thing I loved about this? Granny. 🙂 Granny Weaver. Bless her soul, she wants everyone to be happy. What better way than to start an Amish knitting circle? Her love for her friends and family really shined! Of course, I loved all the characters in this short little read. Ms. Vogel packs in emotion and the heart of Amish in this story.

Definitely read this if you are looking for a great little story…it’s 5 Books worthy and great when you’re having a tough time deciding what to read next. I am looking forward to the second installment, Wedding Season. Ms. Vogel is EXTREMELY talented! Well done!