An Amish Second Christmas

August 12, 2019
In these touching novellas from a trio of bestselling authors, struggling couples rekindle their love as Christmas approaches. In “Their Second Chance,” Shepard Gray tells the story of Hannah Eicher, an Amish girl who breaks off her relationship with Englisher fireman Rob Prince because of her parents’ objections. But months later, just before Christmas, Rob saves Hannah’s life when her apartment catches fire. Realizing they are still in love, the pair must decide if they can bridge their different worlds. In Johns’s “His Amish Angel,” outspoken Magdalena Lapp has been labeled unmarriageable by her conservative community. After the bishop discovers she is writing an advice column for Englishers, she is ordered to stop. But when she learns that Atley Troyer—her first love and the boy who jilted her—divulged her secret, he breaks her heart again. Ashamed of his actions, Atley realizes he must make amends. In Wise’s “An Heirloom Christmas,” two former schoolmates, the cautious Rachel Miller and reckless Joseph Webber, are forced to work together when Joseph is hired as a caregiver for Rachel’s mother, who has been diagnosed with cancer. The two begin to see past their childhood missteps as they spend the holiday season in close proximity. Fans of the authors will relish these sweet tales of reconciliation.

October 1, 2019

In three novellas, couples face relationship challenges during the holidays. In Gray's "Their Second Chance," Amish Hannah and Englisher Rob were in love but had serious differences, so they parted. Circumstances bring them back together for a second chance at love. In Patricia Johns's "His Amish Angel," Maggie pens a newspaper advice column answering Englisher questions with Amish solutions. She and her mother need the extra income, but this public display causes controversy. When her old flame Atley returns home for a visit, sparks fly. In "An Heirloom Christmas" by Virginia Wise, Rachel survived bone cancer but is now in a wheelchair. Joseph is hired by Rachel's parents to help her run her greenhouse, and, after plenty of prickly encounters, love blooms bright for the pair. VERDICT A strong sense of family, community, and respect for the Amish way of life is present on every page. Germanic words and phrases appear naturally, adding a realistic touch to the dialog. These stories will please readers looking for a quiet interlude during a season that can feel overwhelming.

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.