MY REVIEW:
“An Amish Second Christmas” is a compilation of four novellas by authors known for their Amish fiction. Each of the novellas stands alone with different settings and characters. The common thread is that each one highlights a way the Amish of that community celebrates the day after Christmas which they call “Second Christmas”.
“When Christmas Comes Again” by Beth Wiseman is somewhat different than the usual Amish novel. The story is a bit mysterious with a bit of humor and a touch of romance. It is also a touching example of family reconciliation and healing that might just bring the reader to tears.
“Her Christmas Pen Pal” by Ruth Reid is also a bit unexpected. A story that begins with an expected engagement gone wrong, a misdirected package and letter, and a correspondence that develops as a result, this novella is thoroughly delightful and entertaining in its entirety.
“A Gift for Anne Marie” by Kathleen Fuller tells the story of lifelong best friends Anne Marie and Nathaniel who are soon to be separated when Anne Marie’s widowed mother remarries and moves the family to another state. Anne Marie cannot imagine her life without Nathaniel and both of them realize possibly too late that their friendship has developed into much more.
“The Christmas Aprons” by Tricia Goyer is another story set in Kootenai, a place Goyer’s readers have come to love. Esther is a shy young woman who has always lived in the shadow of her more outgoing twin and has developed a pretty good case of low self esteem as a result. When her mother finally shares her famous pie recipe for Esther to bake for an auction, the young man who buys her pie discovers just how special Esther is.
All four novellas are quickly read and each is special in its own way. I enjoyed all of them and would find it difficult to choose a favorite. “An Amish Second Christmas” is just the right book for those who love Amish fiction and Christmas novels. 
This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing..
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Celebrate Second Christmas, a treasured, lighthearted time of community, with four Amish romances.
“When Christmas Comes Again” by Beth Wiseman
Katherine knows the first Christmas without Elias will be hard for her and the children. But when a mysterious Englischer appears with photographs of her late husband, Katherine begins to wonder what other blessings Christmas could have in store.
Read a preview from When Christmas Comes Again HERE.
“Her Christmas Pen Pal” by Ruth Reid
Joy was expecting a wedding proposal from Henry; what she got instead was news of another woman. But when her heartfelt letter to a cousin ends up in the hands of a young cabinetmaker, an unexpected correspondence between two strangers gets interesting fast.
“A Gift for Anne Marie” by Kathleen Fuller
Anne Marie and Nathaniel have been best friends since they were kids. Now things are evolving . . . in ways everyone else predicted long ago. But when her mother suddenly decides to remarry in another state, Anne Marie’s new chapter with Nathaniel looks doomed to end before it begins.
“The Christmas Aprons” by Tricia Goyer
Vanilla crumb pie has been Esther’s mem’s calling card for decades. But when Esther finally gets her hands on the secret recipe, she discovers that vanilla crumb pie is more than just dessert . . . it’s bachelor bait.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
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Beth WisemanAward-winning, bestselling author Beth Wiseman is best known for her Amish novels, but she has also written several successful contemporary novels, set primarily in her beloved Texas, including Need You Now and The House that Love Built. Both have received glowing reviews. Beth’s The Promise is inspired by a true story. |
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Kathleen FullerKathleen 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. |
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Ruth ReidRuth Reid is a CBA and ECPA best-selling author of the Heaven on Earth series. She’s a full-time pharmacist who resides in Florida with her husband and three children. |
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Tricia GoyerUSA Today best-selling author Tricia Goyer is the author of 35 books, including the three-book Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series. She has written over 500 articles for national publications and blogs for high traffic sites like TheBetterMom.com and MomLifeToday.com. Tricia and her husband John live in Little Rock, Arkansas where John works for FamilyLife. They have six children. |
