How to Read the Apple Ridge Series
Cindy Woodsmall's Apple Ridge novellas are set in the fictional Amish community of Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania. Because each book is a standalone story focusing on different characters within the same town, you can read them in any order without losing track of the plot. However, reading them in publication order is the most popular way to enjoy the growth of the community.
Publication Order of Apple Ridge Books
If you want to experience the series exactly as it was released, follow this order:
- The Sound of Sleigh Bells (2009) – Follows Beth Hertzler, a young woman grieving her fiancé, who finds hope and a second chance at love through a gifted woodcarver named Jonah.
- The Christmas Singing (2011) – Centers on Mattie Eash, who returns to Apple Ridge for the holidays and must confront her past and her ex-fiancé, Gideon.
- The Scent of Cherry Blossoms (2012) – A standalone spring novella following Annie Martin, who moves to Apple Ridge to escape a difficult family situation and finds unexpected romance with Aden Zook.
- The Dawn of Christmas (2013) – Features Sadie Yoder and Levi, two romance skeptics who agree to a fake courtship to appease their families, only to spark real feelings.
The Christmas in Apple Ridge Collection
If you prefer to read the holiday-focused stories together, three of the novellas—The Sound of Sleigh Bells, The Christmas Singing, and The Dawn of Christmas—were compiled into an omnibus collection titled Christmas in Apple Ridge. Note that The Scent of Cherry Blossoms is excluded from this collection, as it is a spring-themed story rather than a Christmas tale.
Practical Reading Guidance
Since the characters do not carry over as main protagonists from one book to the next, you don't need to worry about major spoilers. If you are reading during the winter holidays, starting with the Christmas in Apple Ridge collection is highly recommended. If you want a change of season, pick up the spring-themed The Scent of Cherry Blossoms.