A Christmas Courtship by Shelley Shepard Gray

 A Christmas Courtship

Book Summary

A solitary sort, forty-two-year-old Atle Petersheim spends his time hard at work in his wood shop. But as the days get long, he realizes just how lonely he’s become. When his longtime crush, Sadie Mast, a widow and mother of three, asks him to help her build a room in their barn for her son Cale, Atle can’t say no. Eager to pursue Sadie at last, he turns to bookmobile librarian Sarah Anne Miller for courting advice. More than happy to help, Sarah Anne decides the best way to learn about love is through books—romance novels to be precise.

Between completing holiday orders for her flourishing food business, helping Cale navigate a dramatic new relationship with his boss’s daughter, and coming to terms with the trauma her late husband had inflicted upon her and her children—not to mention Atle showing up at her door with flowers—Sadie is in over her head. Though Atle’s efforts are initially clumsy and his declarations a bit awkward, Sadie can’t help but be charmed by him. He’s patient and kind...and at times even seems to know far more about romance than he’s let on.

My Thoughts

Sarah Anne Miller Canon is a newlywed at sixty-two and enjoying her career as a bookmobile driver.  Sarah Anne does more than dispense books in her compact vehicle.  Atle Petersheim has admired Sadie Mast for a long time, but as a bachelor at forty-two, he has no idea how to court a woman.  He asks Sarah Anne to find him a book that will help him with the task.  Sarah Anne come sup with an unusual solution.  Cale Mast is sixteen-year-old who works hard to help his widowed mother, Sadie.  He would like to court Hope Overholt, his boss’s daughter, but Cale is unsure how to go about it.  Cale also is pondering his future and the career that would be for him. 

   A Christmas Courtship by Shelley Shepard Gray is a sweet heartwarming story.  I enjoyed reading it very much.  I had just finished reading a couple of lackluster books and needed a pick me up, A Christmas Courtship did the trick.  A Christmas Courtship is the 3^rd tale in The Berlin Bookmobile Series.  It can be read as a standalone, but I do recommend the two previous books.  I thought the book was well-written with engaging characters.  The characters are realistic and developed.  The book moved along at a good pace and was over much too quickly.  There are some good life lessons about forgiveness and dealing with painful memories.  The story does discuss domestic abuse.  I like how the author handled this difficult subject. Gwen the goat was a delightful addition.  It was cute how Atle  took to her.  A Christmas Courtship is a story of faith, hope, and love.  I love A Berlin Bookmobile Series and I hope there will be more adventures with Sarah Anne.  A Christmas Courtship is a heartfelt, entertaining tale that made me smile and laugh. 

A Christmas Courtship publishes October 19 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon*.  The other A Berlin Bookmobile Series are A Perfect Amish Romance and An Amish Surprise.   You can find Shelley Shepard Gray's other novels here.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return tomorrow with my thoughts on In Hot Water by Kate Kingsbury.  It is the debut of A Misty Bay Tea Room Mystery series.  I hope that you have a joyful day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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