An Amish Christmas Gift

The strangest thing happen when I read these novellas--I loved the romances but hated almost all the secondary characters. They were small minded wereas the main characters were wonderfully big hearted and yet humanly flawed.

Amy Clipston writes an intersting romance about a young woman who is seen by the community as having had too many beaus. Her mother is awful. The love story is sweet but the issues with the community are never cleared up enough for me. 3 Stars

Ruth Reid finely crafts a wonderful romance which my favortie of the set. I really want to read more by this author. The heroine is so talktive she makes her possible suitors nuts. I love her. The hero really grows to change his mind about what a woman should be and sees the light that shines withing her. The secondary storyline of a young man come home with brain trauma is very compelling.

Kelly Irvin's contribution is pretty middle of the road but makes a nice read. 3 stars.

I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it.

I tried to decide which of the stories I enjoyed the most, but it was a toss up. I always enjoy a Christmas story and will recommend this book.

The Amish Christmas Gift

Three great authors of Amish books come together to gift their readers with delightful holiday novellas wrapped in one book.

Amy Clipston gifts us with Naomi’s Gift. Naomi’s heart has been broken before and she is certain she will never marry. When she meets a visiting young widower with a young daughter, is it possible she might get to know them better and receive a special Christmas gift? Is love really something that will be a part of her life, or is she destined to be alone forever?

Unexpected Joy is the gift given by Ruth Reid. When Abigail loses her job of supplying baked goods to a store because of a possible shunning of a cousin, she takes on the position of a caregiver for Micah’s grandmother. Micah dubs Abigail as “Gabby Abby” as she talks constantly, which has resulted in her never being able to attract any special young man. Micah’s grandmother tries to be a matchmaker for Micah and Abigail, but many obstacles come in the way of their friendship. Will the holiday season bring them together? Will understanding bring a family back to the “fold” and undo the possible shunning? What unexpected joy is in store for this holiday?

Kelly Irvin gives the gift of A Christmas Visitor. Frannie Mast is sent from her home in Missouri to stay with relatives in Texas in order to put distance between her and an Englisch farmer with whom she has developed a special friendship. In spite of the distance, Rocky follows her to Texas to continue to declare his feelings for Frannie. He soon realizes that this is an impossible situation since he is not Amish. Will they be able to come to any type of solution in order to be together? Will a special Christmas gift be the solution for their love?

I enjoyed reading these very much and would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to add joyful Christmas reading to their book list.

Publisher Thomas Nelson, in exchange for my honest review, made this book available to me.

"An Amish Christmas Gift: Three Amish Novellas" has three individual Amish novellas that each novella was written by one of three well known Amish genre authors, Amy Clipston, Ruth Reid, and Kelly Irvin.

Naomi’s Gift by Amy Clipston An Unexpected Joy by Ruth Reid A Christmas Visitor by Kelly Irvin

All three Amish novellas seem to tie together based on theme and that being Christmas, but there was something more than that that stuck out at me as I was reading each novella in "An Amish Christmas Gift: Three Amish Novellas". That other something was the topic, an unexpected chance at being properly courted by the less expected male.

Each of the main characters were young, unmarried Amish ladies. Each young ladies were twenty-three and older and for the Amish, depending on the district, each has their own age for calling young unmarried females "old maids".

All three Amish novellas that made up "An Amish Christmas Gift: Three Amish Novellas" were delightful reads. They each held their own excitement before getting to their Christmas gathering and the conclusion. I look forward to reading books by each of these authors in the future.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. No money was exchanged. This is my honest review in my own words.

What a pleasant surprise to find this is not just a single story. I loved all these Amish tales that wrapped themselves up in the ribbon of Christmas. Lighthearted and romantic read :)

Three couples come together around the Christmas season, taking chances, and opening their hearts.

Naomi King thinks that love has past her by, having already been in two serious, but failed courtships, she has accepted her fate as a spinster. But when Susie, a young girl comes into her life, along with her widowed father, Naomi is hesitant to make anything of it, but as her friendship with Susie and Caleb grows, so does her hope.

Abby believes that marriage has passed her by, and has decided that she wants to be more independent and buy herself a horse. So after the store where she sells baked goods tells her that they no longer will sell her cookies, she is pleased to hear that Micah Zook is looking for a caretaker for his grandmother, while he fills a big order for wedding centerpieces. Will Micah get past his annoyance with Abby to see her for who she truly is?

Frannie was sent by her parents to Bee County, Texas, to get her away from Rocky, the Englischer that she had been seeing back home in Missouri. Now her Aunt and Uncle are determined to find her a match, but when Rocky shows up on her doorstep, everything becomes more complicated. Do Frannie and Rocky have a chance despite their different cultures?

All well done and well told stories about Amish love at Christmastime, I think my favorite though was the first one, I just thought that Susie was so cute! I loved how quickly she and Naomi bonded with each other, and how sensitive Naomi was in regards to the situation.

Abby was a smart, and kind-hearted heroine, quick to help others out when she saw a need. And I really liked how she challenged Micah and brought him out a little bit more, than how he would typically keep to himself more.

Rocky was a really nice guy, and he adapted well to the challenges before him, even though he had grown up around the Amish, living among them must have been tough, but he really dedicated himself to it.

Overall, this was great collection with many great Christmas themed stories set among the Amish.

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Very sweet stories! Christmas hope shines through in each of these novellas. This will make a wonderful book for readers who want to take a break, relax and read a short story.

An Amish Christmas Gift is a compilation of three Christmas novellas. Each story is beautifully written and takes place within the different Amish communities. The characters are captivating and easy to sympathize with, and the setting is vivid. The language feels authentic, using Pennsylvania Dutch words, but there’s a handy glossary that shares their meanings.

Naomi has begun to believe that she isn’t meant to find love, but she might receive more than she has ever hoped for this Christmas. Naomi’s Gift, by Amy Clipston

This is a sweet story. I enjoyed getting to know Naomi and Caleb, in Naomi’s Gift. Sometimes we find what we’re looking for when we stop searching for it.

Abigail has driven other suitors away, but can Micah find a way to show her he cares? An Unexpected Joy, by Ruth Reid

Abigail, in An Unexpected Joy, is a fun character. She is single, independent, and given up on marriage. She has only the desire to purchase a horse.

Frannie Mast returns to Bee County for Christmas, but her heart stays back in Missouri with an Englishc farm boy. A Christmas Visitor, by Kelly Irvin

Frannie, in A Christmas Visitor, is the most diverse and interesting character. Her past followers her, but will it lead to a happy future?

I love Christmas stories—there’s nothing like holiday spirit, second chances, and unexpected gifts. Reading this trio has gotten me fired up for December, and it can’t get here soon enough.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a review copy.

Publisher: Thomas Nelson Pages: 416

An Amish Christmas Gift contains 3 novellas by three great authors. Each story revolves around Christmas as the couples received some very unexpected Christmas gifts. Each of these authors know how to develop well rounded characters that make a reader really start to care and worry about their futures. I enjoyed each of the stories alone curled up with a cup of tea and the rain sounding outside.
Amy Clipston's Naomi's Gift tells how 24 year old Naomi King as resolved herself to the fact that she is considered and will be an old maid in her community. However, when a widower comes to town with his daughter, will things change?
Ruth Reid's An Unexpected Joy tells of a young woman who really does want to be married but none of the suitors seem to want to take her out more than once. Can becoming the caretaker to Micah Zook's grandmother be an answer to more than one of her prayers or will they be too different to work things out?
Kelyy Irvin's A Christmas Visitor follows Frannie to Texas where her family has sent her to get over Rocky, an Englisher. When Rocky show up in Texas, will her family listen to his proposal? Three delightful novellas written by three very talented authors. A great read!

An Amish Christmas Gift: Three Amish Novellas Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston

Naomi has started to think that she isn t meant to find love, but she might receive more than she ever hoped for this Christmas.

Twenty-four-year-old Naomi King, who has been burned twice by love, has all but given up on marriage and children. As Christmas approaches a time of family, faith, and hope for many others Naomi is more certain than ever her life will be spent as an old maid, helping with the family s quilting business and taking care of her eight siblings. Then she meets Caleb, a young widower with a 7-year-old daughter, and her world is once again turned upside-down.

My review:
My personal favorite in this collection.
The characters were engaging and I quickly admired Naomi for her inner strength and her selflessness.
Her feelings for Caleb and his precious daughter were so heartwarming. I get very annoyed when a storyline feels too contrived and I never got that feeling while reading Amy's story.
The characters were believable and were not at all sugar coated to make us believe that the Amish are perfect people with perfect lives.
An abolute delight to read.

An Unexpected Joy by Ruth Reid

Abigail has driven other suitors away, but can Micah find a way to show her he cares?

Abigail Kemp has managed to frighten off every bu who s ever driven her home from a singing. Sure she will live to be an old maid, Abigail starts saving her money to buy a horse so she can at least have some independence.

Micah Zook is looking for a caregiver for his grandmother, and Abigail needs a new job. He never expected that Abigail would talk so much . . . or that his grandmother would keep finding ways to set the two of them up.

Despite Abigail s constant chatter, she and Micah become friends until Micah makes a decision that leaves Abigail feeling betrayed. With Christmas in their midst, can Micah find a way to reconcile with Abigail and to reveal what s on his heart?

My review:
I liked Micah very much and I fell in love with his grandmother.
At first I founnd Abigail to be a bit childish with her contant talking, but once I read more of this novella, I found her rather charming.
She's definitely one to go after her hearts desire, and that made me feel admiration for her.

A Christmas Visitor by Kelly Irvin

Frannie Mast returns to Bee County for Christmas, but her heart stays back in Missouri with an Englisch farm boy.

Frannie knows her parents have the best of intentions when they send her back to Bee County, Texas, to live with her aunt Abigail and her husband Mordecai. After all, she knows nothing can come of a relationship with Rocky, the handsome but Englisch farmer boy back in Missouri. It s best to put those feelings aside, no matter how hard it is. But all bets are off when Rocky follows Frannie to Texas to plead his case. Could he be the Christmas gift to end all gifts?"

My review:
I really enjoyed this novella.
I liked Frannie and Rocky and their relationship. There were some moments when I felt sad but Kelly has that effect on me. Her story is well written and I found myself rooting for this couple.
I enjoy this authors work.
I give this collecttion 5 stars I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Three wonderful quick reading novella’s that once you start you won’t be able to put down, of course, these are by three of my favorite authors and that made them even more special.
Amy Clipston’s story, Naomi’s Gift, brings us back with the Kauffman’s and we are reunited with Naomi King, and if you have read the previous books you are about to groan. This Naomi is a more mature and grown up version, and although she has a terrible reputation to live down, we find ourselves rooting for her this time.
The next story is An Unexpected Joy by Ruth Reid and again you are quickly drawn into this story. A young woman that doesn’t know when to shut up! She made me feel that she was a nervous, and need to hear her own words. Even her own mother would buzz her like a bunch of bees. You can see Micah groan as she runs her words on and on, and you wish this sweet girl would just hold her tongue.
This book has a bit of everything, including possible shunning, and war injuries, and living your life as you feel God wants you to.
The final story is by Kelly Irvin, A Christmas Visitor, and we are back in Texas and Bee County.
Fannie’s family has sent from Missouri to Texas to help her retain her faith and stay Amish, and not loose her who life to an Englisher Rocky.
You can probably figure out what happens, and much to her Aunt’s chagrin Rocky shows up in this rural Amish Community. Now what, will Fannie, finally leave what she loves and leave with Rocky, or will Rocky put down roots here?
Again a very hard story to put down, you need to keep reading to the last page for all the answers.
Three Christmas stories that will warm your heart!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson and was not required to give a positive review

I flew through this book!!! It was amazing!! I especially loved Niaomi and Abigail's stories. The third fell a bit flat for me. I adored the struggle for both of the female characters in the first 2 stories. Very real and relatable. AMAZING. Thank you for letting me read this!

These three books were wunderbar! The first story of second, even third chances, of the danger of gossip or appearances. The second a great story of forgiveness and mercy. The third of kindness, faith and hope despite suspicion or emotions, trusting Gotts will over our own desires. The amish faith intertwined in these stories was among the best and most encouraging I have seen. I have seen other stories where an English man converted, but it was mostly for love of the girl, nothing about him believing their God or following their faith, just their way of life. The third story here was the opposite, for love yes, but first for God. I am thrilled when I find amish stories of faith, not just a beautiful romance, for me, one makes the other. I would highly recommended this Christmas collection!

When the hectic pace of the holidays start to get a bit too much, take some quiet time and read An Amish Christmas Gift!

These three stories are short, sweet and the perfect way to find a bit of relaxation during the holiday season. I guarantee when you're done, you'll walk away smiling! :)

4 Stars!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Amish authors in this book are some of my favorite authors. The stories will make you laugh, cry and jump for joy. Wonderful stories in this book.