An Amish Christmas: December in Lancaster County

Overview: Celebrate Christmas with four Amish romances.

“A Choice to Forgive” by Beth Wiseman

After Daniel disappeared that long-ago Christmas Eve, Lydia built a life with his brother. But now she's a widow and Daniel has reappeared, asking for forgiveness. Can she go back to her normal life with her long-lost love as her neighbor?

“A Miracle for Miriam” by Kathleen Fuller

Seth is no longer the arrogant young man who shattered Miriam's confidence and broke her heart. Will he be able to show "plain" Miriam that she is truly beautiful to him?

“One Child” by Barbara Cameron

The birth of one child forever changed the world two thousand years ago. On a snowy Christmas night in Lancaster County, another child changes the world for two very different couples.

"Christmas Cradles"by Kelly Long

When Anna Stolis takes over for her aunt, the local midwife, Christmas night heats up with multiple deliveries, three strangers' quilts, and unexpected help from the handsome and brooding Asa Lapp.

ISBN-13: 9781595548566
Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date: 9/13/2011
Pages: 528

Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD
*For a limited time ONLY, Christianbook.com is selling this collection for $4.99! (Check price before purchasing)*

My Review: "A Miracle for Miriam" by Kathleen Fuller -  This was a sweet story with a strong message. Forgiveness and self-worth are the main themes throughout this story and the author does an excellent job of getting them across. The characters are well-written and you can really see the changes in them in such a short story. Overall, I enjoyed this novella and will definitely read more by Kathleen!

"A Choice to Forgive" by Beth Wiseman -  This book is all about forgiveness. Beth Wiseman does a fantastic job of weaving forgiveness throughout the entire story. Daniel and Lydia are great characters with a heavy past to overcome. I enjoyed the stories and the obstacles the author put in their places for them to overcome. It kept the story moving in a swift pace. Overall, it was well written story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

"One Child" by Barbara Cameron - What a powerful novella that shows how God really does work in mysterious ways. David and Sarah are grieving. On Christmas night, a stranger knocks on their door seeking shelter for him and his pregnant wife. Both families, in their own ways, help comfort and support each other. This was an excellent book and I will definitely be reading more by Barbara Cameron!

"Christmas Cradles" by Kelly Long -  Do you believe in love at first sight? This is a heartwarming novella about second chances, overcoming shame, and accepting the gift the Lord has given. I enjoyed the sparks and attraction between Asa and Anna. The description of the storm made me want to cozy up with a blanket by the fire. I think this was my favorite story of the four.

Overall, I really enjoyed this collection of novellas and I look forward to reading An Amish Second Christmas soon!

About the Authors: Award-winning, best-selling author Beth Wiseman is best known for her Amish novels, but her most recent novels, Need You Now and The House that Love Built, are contemporariesset in small Texas towns.Both have received glowing reviews.Beth's highly-anticipated novel, The Promise, is inspired by a true story. Website: www.bethwiseman.com Twitter: @bethwiseman Facebook: Fans-of-Beth-Wiseman

Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including A Man of His Word and Treasuring Emma, as well as a middle-grade Amish series, The Mysteries of Middlefield. Website: www.kathleenfuller.com Twitter: @TheKatJam Facebook: Author Kathleen Fuller

Kelly Long is the author of the Patch of Heaven series and the historical Amish Arms of Love. She was born and raised in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania. She’s been married for twenty-six years and enjoys life with her husband, children, and Bichon.

Barbara Cameron is the author of fifteen novels and three nationally televised movies (HBO), as well as a recipient of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart. Her Amish stories are inspired by her visits to Lancaster Co., PA.

Sarah's Garden by Kelly Long

I received this book as part of the Christian Fiction Book Swap and Sell Group on Facebook, as part of a Sisterhood of the Traveling Books! It's fun to look at the names of the people who already read it before me.  Check out the group on Facebook. We have lots of members who are trying to sell or swap their Christian books and I've gotten some real deals on books!!

Overview: Quite by accident, Sarah King has fallen in love. But this love is forbidden, and could cost her everything she holds dear.

Tucked into the majesty of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains is a garden Sarah King has been nurturing for years. She never feels more alive than when she is alone with her thoughts and her Creator among the delicate rows of plants. But then duty calls her away from her beloved garden and into a world she knows little about.

Grant Williams, a handsome young veterinarian, has left the city to open a rural practice among the Amish. Within minutes of meeting shy but feisty Sarah King, he is captivated by her.

As their feelings grow for one another, Sarah insists they can never be together. Marrying Grant would mean being uprooted from her home, her family, and her community. Throughout the cold Pennsylvania winter, with her garden tucked away until spring, Sarah begins crafting a quilt that illustrates her pain. Can anything lasting blossom from a love that's forbidden?

ISBN-13: 9781595548702
Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date: 7/13/2010
Series:Patch of Heaven Series , #1
Pages: 304

Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD 

 

My Review:  The first Amish book I read, I didn't enjoy at all. I struggled to get through the book and decided the Amish genre was not for me. Recently, though, like taste buds for food, my reading tastes have changed. I've read a few Amish books and actually enjoyed them. This book is no exception. Kelly Long has mastered story telling. While there was no action or adventure in the story, it flowed smoothly and was written in a way that had me eagerly turning pages until the very satisfying end.

I've come to appreciate the simplicity of the Amish faith. Sarah King is a great example of that. I loved her internal struggles that made her seem so human, yet her strong faith in the Lord who loves us all shined through her life, no matter what turmoil she was feeling inside. I think that's what drew Grant to her. Grant Williams is a good man. He is a Christian, whose faith is not so different from the Amish, but his way of life is. He has a great appreciate for the Amish community, instilled in him by his parents, and works hard to become accepted by the community. They form a friendship and their romance is a sweet, sweet story.

The message of the story, in my opinion, is simple: have faith in the God who created you and knows what is going to become of your life before it happens. As the Bishop reminds Grant, "You're tired because it's normal. Don't give in to despair. Have faith in what Der Herr (the Lord) can do, even if you feel that you have done all you can. That's where He gets His space to work, when it's at the end of what you are."

Overall, Kelly Long has mastered the art of Amish Fiction. I highly recommend this book for Amish and non-Amish fans alike!

About the Author: Kelly Long is the author of the Patch of Heaven series and the historical Amish Arms of Love. She was born and raised in the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania. She’s been married for twenty-six years and enjoys life with her husband, children, and Bichon.