Christmas in Sugarcreek is an easily read, sweet Amish romance that is just right for a lazy afternoon by the fire with a warm beverage. In this story, the reader returns to the small town of Sugarcreek where Judith Graber might just receive a Christmas surprise she never expected.
Judith is the quintessential “good girl”. In her opinion, everyone in her family depends on her way too much and seem to take her for granted. But being the good girl that she is, she stuffs her dissatisfaction and continues to help where needed without complaint. Just when she thinks she cannot handle another extra responsibility, her father hires a temporary employee to help her in the family store. Unfortunately that helper turns out to be Ben Knox, the former “bad boy” of Sugarcreek before he left town. Although they have both matured, Judith is not sure she can trust Ben because of everything she has heard about him. But as the two are forced to spend many hours working together, Judith slowly begins to realize that Ben is not the person she thought he was.
Yes, this is one of those “good girl” falls in love with the “bad boy” romances but it is one with a difference. Christmas in Sugarcreek teaches a valuable lesson about judging people by appearances or actions without looking to see the true inner person. Although the outcome of the story is obvious from the beginning, it is a charming and delightful read.
This book was provided for review by the Amazon Vine™ Program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Judith Graber has always been the obedient daughter. When her older brother Josh struggled with his love life, she offered wise counsel. When her younger brother Caleb flirted with the idea of leaving their order, she firmly told him he was wrong. Over the years, she’s watched her younger siblings, helped around the house, and worked in her family’s store during her spare time. Judith feels overworked, overlooked, and underappreciated this holiday season.
But everything changes when her father hires Ben Knox.
Ben Knox is the “bad boy” of Sugarcreek. Though he’s never considered jumping the fence, he’s certainly never tried to be anything close to dutiful. Two years ago he left Sugarcreek under a cloud of shame. Rumors circulated that his rumspringa had been filled with more than the usual harmless explorations.
Now he’s back and working side by side with Judith.
As the chaos of the holiday season threatens to sap all joy, sparks fly between Ben and Judith. But Judith steels herself to ignore her infatuation. The last thing she wants to be is just one more girl who falls under Ben’s spell. Ben, on the other hand, wants Judith to realize there’s more to him than his bad reputation. When he fled Sugarcreek, he was running from a disruptive home life. Now that he’s back, he wants a fresh beginning.
Could this Christmas season bring love and a new life for the unlikeliest pair in Sugarcreek?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado. She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children. When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town’s scenic bike trail.
Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado. She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children. When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town’s scenic bike trail.
One of today’s most beloved authors of inspirational Christian fiction, Shelley Shepard Gray completes her acclaimed Families of Honor series with The Survivor—a poignant and beautiful story of love and faith in a small Amish community. Delving once more into the lives of these devout and fascinating folk, as she did in her popular Sisters of the Heart and Seasons of Sugarcreek novels, Gray tells the story of a young Amish woman who has survived the ravages of cancer, but now longs for the love of the one man who can heal her lonely heart. Like Beverly Lewis, Wanda Brunstetter, and Cindy Woodsmall, Shelley Shepard Gray introduces readers to characters they will never forget as she masterfully depicts a world of simple living, abiding faith, and honest emotions.
If you would like to read the first chapter excerpt of The Survivor, go HERE.
Learn more about Shelley and her books on her Website.
MY REVIEW:
The third book in Gray’s Families of Honor series, The Survivor features Mattie Lapp, a young Amish woman who has battled cancer and has indeed survived. As she regains her strength and her life begins to return to normal, Mattie’s heart desire is to find love, marry and have children. But Mattie has to wonder if it is presumptuous for her to expect another miracle. So far she has not met a man who can compete with her very best friend Graham but they have been friends for so long Mattie fears that he cannot see her in any other role. Graham has his own problems, he has been falsely accused of fathering a child and the entire town is talking about it and judging him harshly.
The Survivor brings old friends from the first two books back for a visit. New babies, new friends, and new romance fill its pages. With tragedies and triumphs the story has both highs and lows but as can always be expected, everything works out in the end. Graham’s young sister Katie adds her own brand of humor as in the previous novels. The Survivor ties up the series nicely with happy endings for more than one couple.
If you enjoy Amish fiction, The Survivor and the previous books of the Families of Honor series are must reads.
Harvest of Grace is book three in the Ada’s House series so if you have read the previous installments, you will renew acquaintances with old friends. Sylvia Fisher was a new character to me although Aaron Blank did make a brief appearance in The Bridge of Peace.
As I have always found in her books, Cindy goes beyond the surface lifestyle of the Amish and digs deep into the human relationships within their community. In Harvest of Grace, the reader gets an intimate look at the raw pain of betrayal suffered by Sylvia and the high personal standards that sent her running from temptation. Then there is the relationship between Aaron and his father. Aaron is a young man who has worked hard to overcome his addictions and has returned home hoping to help his parents and prove himself to his father only to face repeated rejection. So we have the story of two broken young people who find themselves working together on the Blank farm but for entirely different reasons. Despite their differences and initial dislike of each other, both Sylvia and Aaron become increasingly attracted to the other but nevertheless see no future together.
Harvest of Grace is a beautiful story of forgiveness and restoration. As can be expected with books of this type, everything works out for the best at the end but even knowing that ahead of time, half the fun is getting there. Once again I heartily recommend another book by Cindy Woodsmall. Her writing is top notch and her stories touch the heart.
This book was provided for review by Blogging For Books.
Reeling from an unexpected betrayal, can Sylvia find relief from the echoes of her past…or will they shape her future forever?
Although Sylvia Fisher recognizes that most Old Order Amish women her age spend their hours managing a household and raising babies, she has just one focus—tending and nurturing the herd on her family’s dairy farm. But when a dangerous connection with an old beau forces her to move far from home, she decides to concentrate on a new start and pour her energy into reviving another family’s debt-ridden farm.
After months in rehab, Aaron Blank returns home to sell his Daed’s failing farm and move his parents into an easier lifestyle. Two things stand in his way: the father who stubbornly refuses to recognize that Aaron has changed and the determined new farmhand his parents love like a daughter. Her influence on Aaron’s parents could ruin his plans to escape the burdens of farming and build a new life.
Can Aaron and Sylvia find common ground? Or will their unflinching efforts toward opposite goals blur the bigger picture— a path to forgiveness, glimpses of grace, and the promise of love.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. Her ability to authentically portray her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. Cindy lives in Georgia with her family. Visit her website at CindyWoodsmall.com.
Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado. She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children. When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town’s scenic bike trail.
When her mother passes away, Ella’s forced to auction off her family’s farm. Her father died years ago, and she could never manage the fifty acres on her own. But after she moves to town, she can’t deny the pain she feels watching the new owner, Loyal Weaver, repairing her family’s old farmhouse—everything Ella had once dreamed of doing.
What Ella doesn’t know is that Loyal secretly hopes she will occupy this house again…as his wife. He begins inviting her over, to ask her opinion on changes he wants to make. As their friendship blooms, Ella starts to wonder about Loyal’s intentions, especially when her best friend, Dorothy, hints that Loyal is not who he seems. There’s no way the golden boy of their close-knit Amish community could be interested in Ella, long the wallflower, hidden away caring for her ailing parents.
Should she trust the man she’s always yearned for, or the friend who’s always been by her side? When one of them threatens to disrupt the independence she’s finally achieved, Ella is faced with a choice. She can protect her heart and keep things the way they’ve always been. Or she can come out of her shell, risk everything for the love she’s always wanted, and finally have a place to call home.
The Protector is the second book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s Families of Honor series. Revisiting the town of Jacob’s Crossing, The Protector features Ella Hostetler and Loyal Weaver and continues several subplots that began in The Caregiver, the first book of the series.
“Plain Ella” has spent most of her life on the fringes due to her shyness, lack of confidence, and later the isolation of caring for her ailing mother. After her mother’s death, the property was sold to Loyal, one of the most popular young men in the area. When Loyal begins to seek out Ella’s companionship, she doubts his motives and even he is surprised by his own actions. As their friendship grows, Ella’s friend and landlord Dorothy becomes increasingly agitated and Ella’s newly gained peace turns to fear.
The Protector is another fine example of Gray’s writing gift. Her characters are real with believable emotions and reactions. The story is laced with just the right amount of drama, action, humor, romance, and faith and a pinch of suspense thrown in for good measure. Stories like this are one reason I will continue to read Gray’s novels even when I become weary of much Amish fiction.
Although I sometimes grow weary of all the Amish fiction that arrives in my mailbox for review, I always enjoy Beth Wiseman’s books. Her stories usually approach the Amish life from a different angle without disparaging it. Her honest depiction of characters, the choices they face, and their ultimate decisions add a fresh dimension to this genre.
Plain Proposal features two young women – one who is Amish but loves a young man who plans to leave the Amish community and the other is an Englischer whose father left the Amish before she was born. As Miriam’s love for Saul grows, she faces the difficult decision of whether to go against her family’s wishes or to give him up. Troubled Shelby finds peace and the love of the family she always wanted and is reluctant to leave them for her old life.
Interesting characters and a clever plot kept me turning the pages and several surprises were appreciated. Plain Proposal is an excellent story about love, acceptance, loyalty, and family that clearly illustrates the series theme of what it means to be a Daughter of the Promise – a lesson that applies to all daughters of Christ.
This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Miriam secretly vows to follow Saul no matter what the future holds. She never thought that future might take them away from their Amish community.
Miriam Raber could have her pick of any of the eligible bachelors in Lancaster County. But she only has eyes for one . . . Saul Fisher. He captured her heart years ago, and she’s never looked back. Even when rumors circulate that Saul may leave their Amish community to pursue a once-in-a-lifetime apprenticeship, Miriam makes a bold assertion: she will stand by him, whether he stays or goes.
Saul Fisher has experienced an inordinate amount of loss in his short life. Raising his two brothers and caring for a grieving father who privately seeks solace in the comfort of his homemade wine, Saul has kept his father’s drinking from the community. But if he leaves Lancaster, the burden of secrecy will be left to his young brothers. How does he balance this with the dream that burns bright within him?
As Miriam and Saul consider leaving their lives behind, God starts revealing things to Miriam that make her think twice about what it means to be a Daughter of the Promise, and what it means to make a home.
Experience this love story with a surprising resolution by one of the most popular voices in Amish fiction.
To read the first chapter of Plain Proposal CLICK HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Beth is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series — Plain Perfect, Plain Pursuit, Plain Promise, Plain Paradise and Plain Proposal. Her new series–Land of Canaan– debuted in the fall of 2010 with Seek Me With All Your Heart which has been selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Novel of the Year. She is contracted with Thomas Nelson Publishing and is currently working on her first non-Amish novel due for release in the spring of 2012. All of her books have held spots on both the CBA (Christian Book Association) bestseller list and the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) bestseller list.
Despite the fact that A Place of Peace is very similar to many of the other popular Amish themed books on the market, it was easy to read and had a fairly good plot. Most of the story centered on Miriam, a young woman who had left the Amish after she was blamed for the death of a baby and subsequently learned that her fiance Timothy was seeing another woman behind her back. After learning of her mother’s death, Miriam returned to her hometown for the funeral, hoping to renew her relationship with her family. Naturally, she encountered Timothy frequently.
This story made several twists and turns as secrets of the past were revealed. Eventually both Miriam and Timothy learned that each had been told lies about the other. Unfortunately that did not stop either of them from continuing to make poor decisions. At times I grew frustrated with just how stubborn and silly they both were acting. I also wondered how anyone could make such drastic decisions based on what they were told by one person.
As in most books of this genre, the prodigal Amish character finally decides that Amish life is the only life for them. I can understand somewhat the feeling of being a part of two very different worlds but not really fitting in either. I suppose the place of our roots may have the strongest call on us which would explain the decision to return to the Amish life. I just wish the authors wouldn’t imply that the Amish way of life is superior.
There are frequent scenes with vivid descriptions of food that are very tempting. Fortunately, the author has included a number of recipes for the dishes mentioned in the book; however none of them are appropriate for my current diet.
This book was provided for review by the Amazon Vine Program.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you’ll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County. As each woman’s story unfolds, you will share in her heartaches, trials, joys, dreams … and secrets. You’ll discover how the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle can clash with the ‘English’ way of life—and the decisions and consequences that follow. Most importantly, you will be encouraged by the hope and faith of these women, and the importance they place on their families. Miriam Lapp, who left the Amish community of Bird-in-Hand three years ago, is heartbroken when her sister calls to reveal that her mother has died suddenly. Traveling home to Pennsylvania, she is forced to face the heartache from her past, including her rift from her family and the breakup of her engagement with Timothy Kauffman. Her past emotional wounds are reopened when her family rejects her once again and she finds out that Timothy is in a relationship with someone else. Miriam discovers that the rumors that broke them up three years ago were all lies. However, when Timothy proposes to his girlfriend and Miriam’s father disowns her, Miriam returns to Indiana with her heart in shambles. When Miriam’s father has a stroke, Miriam returns to Pennsylvania, where her world continues to fall apart, leaving her to question her place in the Amish community and her faith in God.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amy Clipston is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery novels. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and currently works for the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. Amy lives with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled-rotten cats. Visit her on the web at www.amyclipston.com.
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Judith Graber has always been the obedient daughter. When her older brother Josh struggled with his love life, she offered wise counsel. When her younger brother Caleb flirted with the idea of leaving their order, she firmly told him he was wrong. Over the years, she’s watched her younger siblings, helped around the house, and worked in her family’s store during her spare time. Judith feels overworked, overlooked, and underappreciated this holiday season.
Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado. She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children. When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town’s scenic bike trail.
