MY REVIEW:

A Lancaster County Christmas is an Amish Christmas novella that could be read in one sitting on a lazy afternoon. The reader will quickly find herself immersed in the deftly crafted story filled with well-defined characters. The author has not wasted her time on nonessentials but has made every sentence count.

Although Jaime Fitzpatrick and Mattie Riehl are from widely divergent backgrounds, each carries her own personal pain that influences every aspect of her life including her relationship with the Lord. Jaime’s grief after her mother’s death has resulted in a dependence on sleep medication and a desperate need to reconnect with the father who abandoned her as an infant. Mattie’s failure to have another child has sent her into a depression and the need to overprotect her one son. Little could either of them imagine that one small whistle left behind at the doctor’s office and a huge snowstorm could change their lives forever.

When the Fitzpatricks are forced to spend several days at the home of the Amish family of Sol and Mattie Riehl, each person in the home is touched by their encounter. Several plot twists keep the story moving along.  A Lancaster County Christmas may not be the typical story about a Christmas celebration but the intended message of “Emmanuel, God With Us” comes across very clearly.

A tender and touching story, A Lancaster County Christmas is one book that could be enjoyed each year during the holiday season. I would highly recommend it.

This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Jaime and C. J. Fitzpatrick began their married life as most couples do–in love and looking forward to a bright future together. But four years later they’ve drifted apart and are almost ready to call it quits.

Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband Sol the Christmas gift they have both longed for–news that a baby was on the way. But as usual, she is disappointed. The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big family isn’t likely to become a reality.

Then a winter storm raging outside blows the Fitzpatricks into the Riehl home–and into a much slower pace of life. Can these two couples from different worlds help each other understand the true meaning of love this Christmas?

With her trademark plot twists and attention to detail, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers readers a beautiful Christmas story of love, forgiveness, and what truly matters in life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. She has many, many Plain relatives living in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and travels back to Pennsylvania, as well as to Ohio, a couple of times each year for research.

Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. In both her fiction and non-fiction books, she has an underlying theme: You don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate many of their principles–simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily– into your life.

When Suzanne isn’t writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne’s way of thinking, you just can’t take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone’s underwear in its mouth.

Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.

 iPad Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of her first Christmas book, Suzanne Woods Fisher has teamed up with her publisher, Revell, to bring you the “Christmas in September” iPad Giveaway! The winner will be announced on 9/27 at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party! Details below. Tell your friends and join in the fun (9/7-9/27).

Oh and be sure to follow the blog tour HERE  – many of the bloggers have copies of the book to giveaway!

Suzanne and Revell will be presenting one merry winner with a Christmas Prize Pack (valued at over $600):

A Brand New iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
$25 gift certificate to iTunes
A copy of A Lancaster County Christmas

To enter, click HERE. But, hurry the giveaway ends on 9/26.

But, wait! There’s more! The winner will be announced at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27 at Suzanne’s author page. During the party she’ll be revealing something *BIG* – you won’t want to miss it. She’ll also be hosting a book chat, trivia contest and giving away a few early Christmas presents! Hope to see you there.