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I love how this book spoke to me. It helped me to feel better in my current state. I love this book and it was the first time I have ever read a Cindy woodsmall book. I will be reading the rest of this series and any other book I can find on her. ( )

'When the Heart Cries' was one of those stories that made me cry. It is the beginning of a series and the author did a great job of leaving you with an ending that makes you want to pick up the next book right away and start reading. (And I have and it picks up right where book one left off).

Hannah Lapp has grown up in a traditional Old Order Amish family, but finds herself falling in love with a Mennonite, Paul Waddell. Their relationship is a secret until Paul finishes college and then will try to win her parents favor. But things don't go as planned. Tragedy will strike Hannah and also her best friend, Mary and life for these folks will never be the same again. Your heart will cheer these two girls on, but also be saddened by how misunderstood Hannah is and how cruel people can be, even her own family. I shed tears for Hannah and Paul as the love for each other is obviously there, but secrets are never good in a relationship.

Going to go read some more of book two, 'When the Morning Comes'. If you like a good feel for the Amish way of life and the heartaches that comes with it, then you will appreciate this story. It took me by surprise a few times, things I wasn't expecting to happen but I always appreciate that in a story. Life is never predictable. And you couldn't ask for a better friend than Matthew in this book; he is a gem. But you might want to have book 2 on hand so you can continue the story and find out what happens next. ( )

Good conflict and serious life issues, written in a believable way. It wasn't mushy. It had the feel of real Amish culture and real people. I like all the characters, but my favorites were the MC, Hannah Lapp and her friends, Mary and Matthew. The love and support the three gave each other through terrible trials is encouraging to everyone who reads it. It makes me want to be like them.

What I didn't like: a couple of situations were too obvious -- placed there by the author to build wrong impression (girl falls into boy and is seen by boy's girlfriend who imagines the worst - that kind of stuff), but it wasn't enough to take away from the book.

Overall, I REALLY, REALLY like it! Okay, I'm off to buy the next book in this series, "When the Morning Comes". I gotta find out what happens to Hannah Lapp! ( )

Cindy Woodsmall tackles a subject that is difficult to cope with in any place, but is doubly so in an Amish community: the violent rape of a young and innocent girl. While family members deny what has happened, indeed spreading untruths about her, Hannah grows to feel more alone and outcast. Angrily rejected by her fiancée and with only two friends who still believe her and believe in her, she realizes that the others, including her father and church leaders, will never forgive her but will always believe the attack to be her fault. To save her life, Hannah must break from her community, her family, and the old ways to become a new person, accepted for who she is. And she must do it alone. With well developed characters and an intriguing plot, this story is captivating from the very start. ( )