Good Morning Sweet Friends :)
I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so thankful you've take the time to drop on by The Preppy Book Princess today for another book review.
I adore Amish fiction. I love reading about the Amish culture, and learning more about their customs and traditions, and I love how heartwarming these stories always are.
I recently had the chance to read a wonderful Amish fiction Christmas novella collection, and today I can't wait to tell you guys all about it.
It seemed fitting to get to share about this sweet collection during my Christmas in July series on my blog, and I hope you'll all keep reading down below for today's full review.
An Amish Christmas Gift by Amy Clipston, Ruth Reid and Kelly Irvin:
Source: Gift From My Hubby
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: October 6th, 2015
Genre: Amish Fiction/Christian Fiction/Christmas Read/Novella Collection
Synopsis:
Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston
Naomi has started to think that she isn't meant to find love, but she might receive more than she ever hoped for this Christmas.
Twenty-four-year-old Naomi King, who has been burned twice by love, has all but given up on marriage and children. As Christmas approaches, a time of family, faith, and hope for many others, Naomi is more certain than ever her life will be spent as an old maid, helping with the family's quilting business and taking care of her eight siblings. Then she meets Caleb, a young widower with a 7-year-old daughter, and her world is once again turned upside-down.
An Unexpected Joy by Ruth Reid
Abigail has driven other suitors away, but can Micah find a way to show her he cares?
Abigail Kemp has managed to frighten off every bu who's ever driven her home from a singing. Sure she will live to be an old maid, Abigail starts saving her money to buy a horse so she can at least have some independence.
Micah Zook is looking for a caregiver for his grandmother, and Abigail needs a new job. He never expected that Abigail would talk so much . . . or that his grandmother would keep finding ways to set the two of them up.
Despite Abigail's constant chatter, she and Micah become friends until Micah makes a decision that leaves Abigail feeling betrayed. With Christmas in their midst, can Micah find a way to reconcile with Abigail and to reveal what's on his heart?
A Christmas Visitor by Kelly Irvin
Frannie Mast returns to Bee County for Christmas, but her heart stays back in Missouri with an Englisch farm boy.
Frannie knows her parents have the best of intentions when they send her back to Bee County, Texas, to live with her aunt Abigail and her husband Mordecai. After all, she knows nothing can come of a relationship with Rocky, the handsome but Englisch farmer boy back in Missouri. It's best to put those feelings aside, no matter how hard it is. But all bets are off when Rocky follows Frannie to Texas to plead his case. Could he be the Christmas gift to end all gifts?
(synopsis from goodreads)
My Review:
An Amish Christmas Gift is a delightful and heartwarming collection of Amish fiction novellas penned by three of the genre's absolute best.
I'd read Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston a few years ago, and it was wonderful to get to reread this lovely novella again. It's been a favorite ever since I first read it, and it definitely ended up being the one I loved the most from the collection. A heartfelt story about a young widower with an adorable daughter who feels an instant connection with a lovely young woman named Naomi. However, circumstances and people's well meaning intentions seem determined to keep them apart. Can they trust that God can work miracles if we're willing to let Him, and prepare themselves for the season of love where anything is truly possible.
I loved this one just as much this time as I did the first time around, and I can't possibly recommend it enough. Amy Clipston is truly the queen of Amish fiction, and I can barely bring myself to put her titles down from this genre whenever I pick one up.
5/5.
An Unexpected Joy by Ruth Reid:
I enjoyed how this one was a tad different than your usual Amish fiction title, and the main character Abigail was truly a hoot. A lot happens within this shorter novella word count, and I was impressed with how well the author put the story together.
Micah Zook hires Abigail Kemp to care for his ailing grandmother against his better judgement. He can't stand her constant chatter, and doesn't think she'll be the right woman for the job. However, the two find they have more in common than first meets the eye, and both are carrying around insecurities that they need to learn to let go and let God.
A lovely and heartwarming read, and I especially enjoyed the presence of Micah's grandmother. She was wise and insightful, and had such a big heart for those around her.
4/5.
Lastly was Kelly Irvin's contribution, A Christmas Visitor:
Once again, I did enjoy the fact that this title ended up being a little different than what I was expecting. Frannie has been sent to live with her aunt and uncle's family since her parent's want to get her away from the Englisch farm boy she's grown much too attached to. However, no one was prepared for that boy (Rocky) to follow her to Texas. What seems an impossible situation to navigate, soon serves as the never ending reminder that not everything is as it seems at first. Rocky and Frannie's journey is tumulotous and heart wrenching, but it's also the perfect illustration that God loves to work with all the broken pieces, if we're only brave enough to give them to Him.
I did enjoy this title, but it ended up being my least favorite of the three as I didn't personally enjoy the writing style.
3.5/5.
Overall, this is a wonderful collection and one I would wholeheartedly recommend for anyone who enjoys Christmas and/or Amish fiction novellas.
Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
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