Diana can’t face another lonely Christmas in her Manhattan apartment. When a coworker invites her on a last-minute trip to visit her Mennonite family in Lancaster County, Diana jumps at the chance.
Arriving in Amish Country in the middle of a snowstorm, Diana discovers a world that couldn’t be more different from her life on the Upper East Side. She is fascinated by the sprawling farms and buggies on the roads, but what she really notices are the welcoming families, cozy kitchens filled with home-cooked meals…and the two handsome men who may or may not be vying for her attention.
But every community has its secrets. Jesse, the rakish young Amish farmer, is hiding more than just a forbidden cell phone. And then there’s handsome Brett, the guarded Mennonite craftsman who harbors a dark secret of his own.
A Lancaster Family Christmas by Kate Lloyd takes readers from New York City to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
in December. Diana Manzella is invited
by her co-worker, Betsy Yoder to spend a few days with her Mennonite
family. Diana feels welcomed by Betsy’s
warm family and loves spending time with their horses. She is introduced to Betsy’s brother, Brett
who she finds handsome and their neighbor, Jesse whom Betsy has harbored a
crush on for many years. Diana ends up
spending Christmas with the family learning more about the family and the
community. A Lancaster Family Christmas
is a sweet Christmas tale with some good life lessons along with a heaping dose
of Christmas cheer. The story contains
good writing and it moved along at a good pace.
The characters are relatable, but I felt that they were not
developed. I felt like I barely knew
Diana, Betsy, Jesse, and Brett. I wanted
to know more about Diana besides she comes from a well-to-do family, lives in a
fancy apartment at a good address with a doorman, has a sweet dog named Piper,
has a dead-end job, and parents who have been bickering which has them heading
for divorce. Forgiveness, grace, mercy,
and community are some of the lessons in the story. There is a scene that is
tense and heartbreaking. I felt,
though, that the story was a little higgledy piggledy. It is a sweet story, but I wanted more depth.
I did enjoy the feeling of Christmas and the swirling snow. I would enjoy spending time in front of the
Yoder’s fireplace or snuggling under a homemade quilt in their guestroom. A Lancaster Family Christmas is a
lighthearted Christmas tale that will get you in the mood for the
holidays.
Kris
The
Avid Reader
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