Julia Kemp arrives in Charm, Ohio with her daughter Penny,
hoping to leave the past behind to start a new life. She's
been on the run for five years, and all Julia wants is to have
a little place of her own and to raise her daughter in the
Amish tradition. Charm seems like a perfect place. Of
course, a man to love would be a plus, but if it doesn't
happen, that's okay.
Julia meets her neighbor, Levi Kinsinger, while looking for
a rock in the snow to bust a window and break into her own
house. Julie forgot her key again. Levi is instantly struck
by her kind brown eyes and dimpled chin. He has his own
checkered past, leaving the family when his father died and
trying to come to grips with what direction his life is
heading. As they get to know each other better, each is
very careful of keeping their baggage safely stowed away.
But when Levi learns that Julia has been keeping a dark
secret from everyone, he's not sure what to do.
AN AMISH FAMILY CHRISTMAS is Shelley Shepherd Gray's fourth
book in her Charmed
Amish Life Series. It is a delightful
story about coming to terms with your past and moving
forward with your life. Julia and Levi have let the past
rule their lives, but have become stronger people for the
issues they've been through. All of the supporting
characters have been main characters in previous books,
having their stories told about finding love. Ms. Gray does
an excellent job of briefly weaving their stories into this
one and having them help Julia and Levi find their way. Ms.
Gray also incorporates helping single mothers and battered
women into AN AMISH FAMILY CHRISTMAS. Yes, it happens in
the Amish community too. If you're looking for a quick
Christmas read, this one is charming.
In Shelley Shepard Gray’s fourth book in her Charmed
Amish
Life series, an unlikely Amish romance reveals that
Christmas is a time for family, miracles—and love.
Ever since his father died in a tragic fire, Levi
Kinsinger
has felt adrift. Newly returned to Charm, Ohio, Levi is
trying to fit into his old life, only to discover he
seems
to have outgrown it.
But when Julia, his young widowed neighbor, asks for his
help with a Christmas project, Levi finds a sense of
purpose
for the first time in months. She and her daughter are
new
to Charm and could use a friend, a job Levi takes
personally. Soon enough, friendship grows into
attraction,
but Levi can’t help having doubts. There’s something
about
Julia that doesn’t ring quite true…
Like Levi, Julia Kemps has survived her fair share of
hardships—but only by hiding the truth of her past. Being
an
unmarried mother in an Amish community was unthinkable.
Feeling hopeless, Julia did the only thing she could do:
she
moved to a new town and pretended to be a widow. But
meeting
Levi, she’s hopeful for the first time. Little by little,
she begins to imagine telling him her darkest secret, and
eventually…perhaps even sharing her life with him.
Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws
closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts
together…in order to find the healing, support and love
they
so desperately desire.