Christmas comes to the 'North Country Amish' series by popular author Patricia Davids. AN AMISH WIFE FOR CHRISTMAS is the first book in this series. Bethany Martin and her brother and sister Ivan and Jenny lived with their grandfather, but the old man, a clockmaker, passed away and now she is in charge. The community here is small, and the bishop has several worries about the situation. One of the kinner, maybe Ivan, has been misbehaving, playing tricks on neighbours and running off unseen. Also, Bethany might end up an old maid if she plays mother to her siblings. He decides that Ivan should go back to Pennsylvania with their uncle who is paying a Christmas visit to the little family.

Michael Shetler visits the New Covenant Amish community which has recently formed in Maine. The snow is deep already but animals still need care, and Bethany has to do it at the little homestead. Michael arrives from the Pennsylvania community looking for work, but Bethany can't hire him. As someone living with PTSD from an armed robbery, he wants to be out in the open, away from towns. Bethany decides to rent him a cabin, for now, and see if they can work together on watches and clocks. Just possibly, they can come up with an idea to keep Ivan in his home.

I really enjoyed the winter activities, sledges, and cooking, depicted in the story. With isolation and quiet, people have to work around one another, make time to chat and hear about troubles and hopes. The children work hard to create a Christmas play. We can take the lesson that we shouldn't be too busy, too wound up in our personal tech and social media, to help others and just be there to listen. Farm animals and especially a lively dog are part of life here, and the dog acts as a therapy in herself.

Patricia Davids excellently recreates the scenes and characters for us, with an understated relationship turning gradually to trust and more. This romance is suitable for any age. AN AMISH WIFE FOR CHRISTMAS will give you an excuse to sit down with a warm drink, open a book and take a rest. You deserve it!