Gathering the Threads is the third and conclusion to Cindy Woodsmall's The Amish of Summer Grove series. Unfortunate for me, I've not the pleasure of reading the first two installments of the series, and therefore did felt a little disconnected with the characters. Despite that, the author did a great job in providing readers with a summary of both books prior to the start of this one. As to events, I was up-to-date, so to speak.

I've always wanted to pick up one of Cindy Woodsmall's stories, since I've heard such good things, and that I'm a big Amish fiction fan. Though I wished I would've known Gathering the Threads was a continuation, I'd would've read the first two. However, I'm not disappointed at all. The author crafted a great story with many intricacies in plots and character developments that interest me as a reader, and kept me guessing.

"You knew I need you. . . the day came when my world crashed around me. . . I need you in order to survive in that chaos. . ." (329)

I enjoyed the theme set forth, as well as the underlying premise of "switched at birth" and cultural nurture versus innate being. The emotional angst and confusion continues as a theme through the series, I'm sure, but additional messages of self-reflection to understanding, bullying and faith took its turn in Gathering the Threads. I did find the process a little on the slow side. However, the ending came rather abruptly, but concise.

"People's ability to understand and navigate their own minds and emotions are the same either way. Neither side is better at it than the other - just different. " (224)

In all, Gathering the Threads was an emotional journey for the characters for sure, and I'd imagine for readers that followed this series from beginning to end.