Amish Christmas Twins by Shelley Shepard Gray, Loree Lough, and Rachel Good

 

Book Summary

Amish Christmas Twins by Shelley Shepard Gray, Loree Lough, and Rachel Good contains three heartwarming stories.  The Christmas Not-Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray has E.A. and Will Kurtz fostering siblings, Roy and Jemima.   The siblings have had a rough time the last three years since their parents passed and they just want a loving forever home.  They feel they have found it with the Kurtzes until Jemima overhears some news that will cause a major change in their lives.

New Beginnings by Rachel J. Good has Elizabeth Yoder still grieving the loss of her husband and unborn child.  It is almost Christmas and she feels the loss most keenly.  Luke Bontrager has loved Elizabeth since they were teenagers, but when his best friend, Owen started to court Elizabeth, he did not make his affections known.  Luke wants to help Elizabeth get through this difficult time.  When a local home for teen moms called New Beginnings needs donations, Elizabeth makes the ultimate sacrifice by giving them everything from her nursery.  On Christmas Day, Elizabeth receives an unexpected gift.  This is a chance for a new beginning for Elizabeth and for Luke.

Twins Times Two by Loree Lough has Jubal getting injured after the double trouble twins goad his bull.  As punishment, the four boys must help Jubal with the chores around his dairy farm while he is recovering.  They must also find a member of the community that is in need and take action by Christmas Eve.  Abigail has been a widow for three years and regrets the words she said to Jubal on the night of the accident.  It seems everyone in the community is aware of how Jubal and Abigail feel for each other.  Maybe they just need a little help which four boys are happy to provide.  

Twins Times Two by Loree Lough has Jubal getting injured after the double trouble twins goad his bull.  As punishment, the four boys must help Jubal with the chores around his dairy farm while he is recovering.  They must also find a member of the community that is in need and take action by Christmas Eve.  Abigail has been a widow for three years and regrets the words she said to Jubal on the night of the accident.  It seems everyone in the community is aware of how Jubal and Abigail feel for each other.  Maybe they just need a little help which four boys are happy to provide. 

My Thoughts

Amish Christmas Twins contains three heartwarming Amish Christmas stories with the theme of twins.  I found the tales to be well-written and engaging.  The Christmas Not-Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray is part of The Walnut Creek Series.  Fans of the series will be delighted with charming novella.  We get to see E.A. and Will Kurtz get their dream of children and in a way they never expected.  New Beginning is a touching story.  I could feel the pain that Elizabeth is experiencing.  I enjoyed the descriptions of the Christmas items at the shop as well as the beautiful Nativity sets that Luke carved.  Twins Times Two is a humorous story with two sets of twin boys from twin mothers.  The boys are more mischievous than their mothers ever were (and people thought it was not possible).  I enjoyed the faith messages in each story especially that we must let go and trust God.  I know that it something that I struggle with each day.  Christmas is a time for miracles, and we get to see one in each sweet novella.  The stories in Amish Christmas Twins will get you in the mood for the holiday season.    

Amish Twins Christmas can be obtained from Amazon*.  You can find the other novels in Shelley Shepard Gray's The Walnut Creek Series here.  You can find Shelley Shepard Gray's other novels here.  Rachel J. Good's Amish novels can be located here.  Check out Loree Lough's other stories here.  For more Amish Christmas short stories, you should check out Amish Christmas Miracles.  It contains fourteen stories by authors that include Jennifer Beckstrand, Rachel J. Good, Loree Lough, Kathleen Fuller, Adina Senft, Susan Lantz Simpson, and Laura Bradford.  Thank you for reading my review today.  I will return tomorrow with Twice as Nice Amish Romance Collection by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Jean Brunstetter.  I hope you enjoy the last day of September.  I am off to contemplate a difficult decision I must make.  I am praying for God's guidance on this one.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.

An Interview with Amy Clipston

Cookies and Cheer by Amy Clipston

Alyssa Byler wants to build a sugar cookie nativity scene for her bakery’s Christmas window display—all she needs is the right cookie cutters. She turns to handsome blacksmith Kyle Smoker. Using Kyle’s handmade cutters, Alyssa created a striking display that brings more customers than she can handle. She soon realizes she’s been too busy to focus on the true meaning of Christmas—and too distracted to explore her feelings for Kyle. Together, they put aside the holiday rush to celebrate the season that brought them together.

This nativity is made from gingerbread

An Amish Christmas Bakery by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Irvin comes out on October 1.  In anticipation of her upcoming release, I was able to ask Amy a few questions about her Christmas traditions plus Cookies and Cheer (her novella in An Amish Christmas Bakery).  

In "Cookies and Cheer" Alyssa came up with an incredible idea for a display. Have you ever seen a display like Alyssa's? What was your inspiration for the idea?

My mom and I brainstormed Christmas story ideas and together we came up with the bakery display. I hope readers enjoy reading about it as much as I enjoyed writing about it.

Have you ever seen a sugar cookie nativity scene like Alyssa wants to make in “Cookies and Cheer?” What are some other creative, yet simple, ways the Amish might use to celebrate the Christmas season?

No, I have never seen a display like it; however, when I was little, we had cookie cutters. I remember having a star, a camel, a tree, and an angel, which were part of my inspiration. The Amish don’t decorate like we do. They may have a poinsettia and then decorate with some evergreen branches. They do send out Christmas cards, and they buy practical gifts. My Amish friend talked about decorating the kitchen table with gifts for her children and giving gifts such as ice skates.

How did you come up with such a cute name for the story?

To be completely honest, I can’t take credit for the name for the story. My publishing team holds meetings to name books and stories, and they chose it. I do love it!

Did any of your own Christmas traditions get written into this novella?

The only tradition I included was writing Christmas cards, which the Amish do. I love to send out Christmas cards every year. Lately, I have ordered cards with cats on them. What a surprise, right? I send them out to friends and family members and I always include a family photo that we had taken that year, along with the boys’ school photos. I already have decided what photo to include in this year’s card.

What are your boys' favorite Christmas cookies?

They would probably say any cookies are their favorites.

What is your favorite Christmas ornament and why?

I don’t think I could choose one favorite. Each year, I go to the Hallmark Store and buy one new one for each member of my family. I also make sure I get one that has the year on it. When we decorate the tree, it’s so fun to see the older ones with photos of the boys when they were little, the ones that they made when they were little, and also the ones that Joe and I made when we were little. I also love finding the ones with the year on it and then trying to remember something that happened that year. Someday I hope the boys have special memories from their previous Christmases when they put the ornaments on their trees.

What is your favorite cookie to bake for Christmas?

Sugar cookies! It reminds me of baking with my mom when I was little. I loved decorating them.

Join Amy on October 1 to celebrate the release of An Amish Christmas Bakery (see graphic below for details).  You can keep updated on Amy's latest books and news by signing up for email updates (click here).  Remember that An Amish Christmas Bakery will be out on October 1.  You can pre-order now through Amazon. Thank you for dropping by today. Please ignore the funky spacing on this posting. I tried to fix it without success. I will return tomorrow when I feature Stitches in Time by Suzanne Woods Fisher. It is the second story in The Deacon's Family series. I hope you have a special day. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

A Christmas Haven by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall

Welcome!  Shot Through the Hearth by Kate Carlisle comes out October 29.  It is the seventh A Fixer-Upper Mystery.  Christmas with the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell releases October 31.  It is seventh book in The Shipyard Girls series.  Spy by Danielle Steel will be out on November 26.  There are so many new books coming out in the next three months.  

A Christmas Haven by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall takes us to Raysburg, Pennsylvania in June.  Ivy Zook is twenty-three years old and her plans are finally falling into place.  Ivy has joined with her friend, Tegan to start a party planning business.  But while she is Old Order Amish, she is unable to have access to the technology she needs to promote her business.  She also feels confined by the numerous rules of their community.  Ivy has put down a deposit on an apartment that she will share with Tegan, but now she needs to break the news to her mother.  Betty Zook does not understand Ivy’s party planning dream or why she feels the desire to leave their community.  Betty wants Ivy to wait until after her sister, Holly’s wedding.  Holly is marrying Joshua Smucker in December and she needs permission from her new bishop to continue working at Greene’s Pharmacy.  The Zook’s lives are upended when a car driven by a Swartzentruber Amish man careens into the front window of Greene’s Pharmacy.  Arlan Keim was bringing his sister, Magda to get medical assistance when the car malfunctioned.  Arlan and Magda move in with the Zook’s so Magda can get the care she needs.  Arlan helps around the farm and with their dairy cows which Ivy appreciates.  But then Arlan encourages their mother to increase the size of their herd which is the opposite of what Ivy wishes.  What does the future hold for Ivy, Holly, Arlan and Magda?

A Christmas Haven by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall picks up shortly after The Christmas Remedy ends.  While A Christmas Haven can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading The Christmas Remedy first. There is a cast of characters at the beginning of the book.  I found the book to be well-written with developed characters and thoughtful pacing.  Ivy Zook finds the rules of her community restrictive and she believes going Englisch will allow her to be free to pursue her dream of having a party planning business.  Arlan Keim gives up everything to help his sister, Magda get the medical treatment she needs and save her from the future her parents have planned for her.  I liked how Arlan saw Ivy’s way of life in a totally different light.  Someone from the outside can give you a different perspective as Arlan did for Ivy.  The story is filled with hope which I found uplifting.  I like that we get to catch up with Holly and Joshua from The Christmas Remedy as well as Red Zook.  There is a sweet epilogue that gives a look at Ivy, Josh, Magda, Red, Arlan, and Holly’s lives a year later.  A Christmas Haven has hope, love, heartache, joy, and forgiveness.  We see that you never know what God will have in store for you.  You just need to be patient, pray and follow His lead.  I like how Arlan and Ivy bonded over books.  I was shocked to learn the Swartzentruber Amish do not read fiction.   My favorite phrase from A Christmas Haven is “Who I am can’t be defined by breaking bonds with my family.  It can only be defined by blooming right where He planted me.”  A Christmas Haven is a fulfilling novel with party planning, an auto accident, a benevolent bishop, restrictive rules and a wonderful wedding.

A Christmas Haven is now out and can be purchased at major booksellers including Amazon (Amazon UK). The Christmas Remedy is also available through Amazon.  Thank you for dropping by today.  Tomorrow I am sharing an interview with Amy Clipston plus my review of Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson.  May you have a harmonious day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader