"A wonderfully gut selection of four festive novellas full of hope, forgiveness and festive joy!"
Reviewed by Audrey Lawrence
Posted November 16, 2019
Inspirational Romance | Amish | Holiday
Winter is coming. The days are getting colder, and we dream of festive food. Almost the only thing more heartwarming and delicious than stepping into the sweet smells of an Amish bakery on a cold day in the Advent season is reading and inhaling AN AMISH CHRISTMAS BAKERY!
Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Irwin - all four wonderful writers of Amish novels have made a delicious and delightful readers’ treat by collaborating together around the central theme of festive baking and Amish bakeries. Having reviewed other books by these four authors, I can attest they are all terrific writers each with their own unique styles as well as having authentic knowledge about Amish customs, beliefs and their interactions with their Englisch neighbours, friends and work colleagues.
All the novellas in AN AMISH CHRISTMAS BAKERY also can easily be enjoyed as a standalone novellas; however, they are truly delightful read together as they each magnify the themes of love, hope, honest, and forgiveness in addition to the wonderful Christmas spirit of peace.
Amy Clipston leads off with Cookies and Cheer, a wonderful story that just had me wanting to get started on making my own sugar cookies and cinnamon buns. In this novella, the artistic Alyssa Byler decides to design a Christmas Nativity scene, but needs special cookie cutters. Where can she get some? Full of plans and successes, Alyssa soon gets caught up in the busyness of business and almost forgets what is truly the reason for the season.
Beth Wiseman sets her story about Loaves of Love in Orleans, Indiana. Young Katie Swartzentruber singlehandedly takes over managing the family bakery after her mother becomes very ill. Trouble starts when she moves away from the traditional to faster ways of baking. Her experiences soon give her better insights into what really matters in love and with Christmas.
Melting Hearts by Kathleen Fuller whisks you in the door of Yoder’s Bakery in Birch Creek to check out the wunderbaar Snickerdoodles where the young and pretty Mattie Shetler has been helping her Aunt Carolyn with baking and serving customers while she is shorthanded during the busy Christmas season. Mattie is definitely not thrilled when Peter Kaufman arrives to help her uncle. While vowing to never forgive him for his shabby treatment to Lizzy, her best friend, what can change her hardened heart so she can have peace at Christmas?
Nicely wrapping up this wonderful collection is Kelly Irvin’s Cakes and Kisses. This last story, set in Jamesport, Missouri, is both bittersweet and heartwarming. Martha Ropp goes to the aid of Ambrose, a man whose honesty and kindness speaks more words than he does as his mental abilities are not as sharp as others his age. Ambrose has a smile that melts Martha’s heart, but what can she do for him?
AN AMISH CHRISTMAS BAKERY is sure to win hearts and easily can become a Christmas classic. This wonderful book of collaboration by four well-recognized and wonderful authors truly can also be read any time of the year to remind us of the values that are important to building and maintaining relationships. If you also happen to be a foodie, you will soon find yourself drooling over the food lovingly described in each of the four wunderbaar stories! Buy a copy for a friend and one to keep for yourself. AN AMISH CHRISTMAS BAKERY is truly an appetizing delight to enjoy and savour!
SUMMARY
From bestselling authors in the Amish genre come four delicious stories perfect for celebrating love, joy, and the holiday season.
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.
Loaves of Love by Beth Wiseman
Katie Swartzentruber has been left in charge of her family’s bakery, but she soon finds herself overwhelmed with orders during the holiday season. She is tempted to move her Old Order family into the modern world by using propane ovens. Meanwhile, her childhood friend Henry Hershberger is trying to find the courage to tell Katie that he’s harbored a secret crush on Katie for years. As the demands at the bakery intensify, both Katie and Henry must find the courage to go after what’s important.
Melting Hearts by Kathleen Fuller
When her aunt Carolyn begs for help during the busy Christmas rush, Mattie Shetler eagerly packs her bags and heads to Birch Creek. She doesn’t know her uncle has also asked for help with the bakery’s new expansion from Peter Kaufman, Mattie’s sworn enemy. As the two work together, Mattie discovers not all is as it seems. With Christmas just around the corner, Mattie and Peter open their hearts for the greatest gifts of the season: forgiveness and maybe even love.
Cakes and Kisses by Kelly Irvin
Martha Ropp works hard at her family’s bakery, making cakes and pies for community celebrations. To help during the busy Christmas season, Martha’s mother hires Ambrose Hershberger to make deliveries. Martha remembers Ambrose as a gentle giant from her school days. But the more they work together, the more they want to spend time together outside of the bakery. When both are too timid to make the first move, the town matchmakers step in.
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