For those of us who are feeling that winter is long, these two brand new tales will bring a delightful spring closer. The novella length is good if you are busy or can’t concentrate, while the kindly characters and sweet romances mean there are no unpleasant surprises in AN AMISH WINTER.  

Vannetta Chapman’s Stranded in the Snow dumps Faith Yoder and her baby girl Hannah at the bus stop in a gathering snowstorm. She’s on her way north to gain work, but hadn’t bargained for being set afoot in the rural area. Elijah King can’t believe his luck, and thinks their meeting was meant, as he gives Faith a buggy ride to shelter with the bishop’s family. Especially as Faith is a young widow, and not a relative. But Faith intends to move on, and anyway, people here are too staid to want a business analyst in the community.

Caring for the Amish Baby by Carrie Lighte is the second novella, and again, people live with more snow, tons of it in fact, night after night. Leah Zehr is delighted to be booked on a bus trip to sunny Florida. I believe I would go there myself. Jonathan Rocke needs such a break, but doesn’t know it, as he copes with what immediately made me think of Seasonal Affective Disorder. He’s not doing so well, and this means when his relatives fall ill with the flu and he has to care for them, Leah feels obliged to stay too. She’s single but both she and Jonathan are well accustomed to bathing babies in the child-friendly community. They can take turns. And despite the bus trip being put off, maybe they can find some fun.

The first novella is my favourite, as we get positive thinking, a company that installs solar panels to brighten Amish homes, and winter turning to spring. The second tale is more about the depths of winter, people feeling burdened and experiencing cabin fever. But a writer’s job is to communicate the reality of situations, and I have no doubt living on the wintry farm would feel this way. In both cases, two young people start to feel respect, affection and understanding, which leads to a possible future for them. I love this message, that life can work unexpectedly but still have the best outcome for us.

Vannetta Chapman has previously written the ‘Pebble Creek Amish’ series, which I enjoy. Carrie Lighte has written several Amish romances including the ‘Serenity Ridge’ series. AN AMISH WINTER will serve as a great introduction to their works. Just make some cocoa and light the fire first.