English and Amish worlds collide for a few days to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas!

Click on the above to view information about the Amish Holiday Book Tour coming up soon.

We will be giving away the following in honor of the book tour which will be NOVEMBER 11-19 a wunderbar collection of Amish goodies:

2 autographed books – one from each author on tour (Amy Clipston, Vannetta Chapman and Shelley Shepard Gray)

2 tour t-shirts, AND

2 tour bags

The pictures of each are below.  In order to win one set of each, put in one sentence what you love about Amish fiction.  The prizes will go out the week of November 7.  We will have a random drawing on November 4 and let you know who the winners are. You must be a resident of the United States to enter and leave a valid email address so we can contact you.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

My Comments:

Great book to get you started into the holiday season.  Amy has an engaging writing style and although Amish Christmas books don’t always “feel” Christmasy to me, this one does more so.  This book is part of the series the Kauffman Amish Bakery, but can definitely be read on it’s own because I haven’t read all of the books in that series, yet I enjoyed it.  This is a great book if you believe in love at first sight, and second and/or third chances.  I feel these Amish books must be somewhat idealized, but that is some of the appeal to me – a great escape that is clean and sweet!   As you can see from my last several posts, I’m on a roll! You might want to wait until the weather cools down a tad bit to read it, but I would definitely recommend reading it!

My Comments: 1225 Christmas Tree Lane is the last book in Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove series.  So sad!  I loved this series – the stories were always warm and fuzzy!

Of all things, Debbie used puppies in this book to wrap up this engaging series based on her hometown.  Almost every family in the town received or requested a puppy from a litter of black labs.  What a great way to finish a homesy type series of stories – especially to us dog lovers!  Most of the characters had happy resolutions to their issues from previous books.  The resolutions were both satisfying and joyful.

I had to see this series end, however, this is a GREAT holiday read including all the feel-good elements of a Debbie Macomber book.  I highly recommend this series and this book!

I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley.  Thank you!

Beth Cardall has a secret. For eighteen years, she has had no choice but to keep it to herself, but on Christmas Eve 2008, all that is about to change.

For Beth, 1989 was a year marked by tragedy. Her life was falling apart: her six-year-old daughter, Charlotte, was suffering from an unidentifiable illness; her marriage transformed from a seemingly happy and loving relationship to one full of betrayal and pain; her job at the dry cleaners was increasingly at risk; and she had lost any ability to trust, to hope, or to believe in herself. Then, on Christmas Day, as she rushed through a blizzard to the nearest 7-Eleven, Beth encountered Matthew, a strikingly handsome, mysterious stranger, who would single-handedly change the course of her life.

Who is this man, and how does he seem to know so much about her? He pursues her relentlessly, and only after she’s fallen deeply in love with him does she learn his incredible secret, changing the world as she knows it, as well as her own destiny.

My Review: Ever since “The Christmas Box,” I can’t let the season pass without reading the newest book by Richard Paul Evans.  This book, as the others is an excellent read, although  quite unrealistic.  I suppose we look for that somewhat in Holiday books – unrealism and happy ever after in the form of a Christmas miracle.  I enjoyed this book quite a bit until it took an unexpected turn.  I still liked it, but wonder where these ideas come from which seemingly change the course of history and could never happen in real life although I suspect sometimes we dream that they might.  If you want a good escape and a great read with a feel-good happy ever after tone, this is your book!

Abbey senses something special about the little man tending to the reindeer who, along with a century-old farmhouse, a barn full of animals, and fields abounding in woods and pasture, was a gift to Abbey from a stranger. Abbey and her husband, Steve, move in just before the holidays. They have been together since the ’60s, eloping when Steve returned from Vietnam. Now with Abbey’s cancer in remission, they’re looking forward to their boys coming home for Christmas.

Turns out this Christmas proves to be more magical than anticipated as Abbey realizes an understanding never thought possible through the rekindling of a belief rooted in childhood. Of course it’s who delivers this gift on Christmas Eve that gives Abbey and Steve the strength to face their greatest challenge.

My Review: The Reindeer Keeper is a mix of realistic fiction and fantasy.  I enjoyed this book because it was so different.  I usually don’t like books or movies that focus on Santa, but this book may be an exception to that.  The story takes place over about a year’s time.  In that time, lots of things changed – some for the better and some not so much.  I could easily relate to the main character for three reasons: she was a kindergarten teacher (I’m second grade), she had a long-term successful marriage, and she married a man named Steve.  The book is magical, yet bitter-sweet.  If you are looking for something sweet, Christmasy yet different, I recommend this book.

It’s never too late to go home

It’s Christmastime at the Brenneman Bed and Breakfast, and everyone is excited about closing down for the holidays. But when two unexpected visitors appear seeking shelter, the family’s commitment to hospitality is tested. First Levi arrives, sullen and angry . . . but insisting on staying for five days. Next Melody shows up. She’s almost nine months pregnant, but won’t say a word about why she traveled all the way from Kentucky by herself. As the two strangers settle in, the Brennemans try to make the best of an uncomfortable situation, except for Katie, who and knows a thing or two about keeping secrets. She is determined to learn the truth about these two strangers . . . all while keeping her own secret safely hidden away.

All is revealed when a snowstorm traps them at the inn.

My Review: I read this book over Thanksgiving break on my nook.  I downloaded it from NetGalley (thank you!).  The book was somewhat predictable, but since I love books about the Amish, I love Christmas books with a touch of romance, and I love redemptive plots, I enjoyed this book!  I have never read Shelley Shepard Gray’s books before, and this won’t be my last.  She captures even yet a different view of the Amish from previous books I have read.  These Amish may be just a wee bit more progressive, yet their faith is as strong as ever as they seek to live their lives for the Lord.  I was reminded of lessons I needed to be reminded of at this season of the year and that’s always a good thing!  I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but this is a good, fast holiday read!

In Christmas with Tucker, Greg Kincaid  shares the moving story of George, a young boy dealing with the loss of his father, and the dog that comes into his life to offer him hope and a touch of courage.

It is the winter of 1962, and Kansas is hit with one of the worst blizzards in its history. It is during this cruel season that twelve-year-old George is called upon to endure more than even most grown men could withstand—the death of his father and the upkeep of the family farm that is his legacy.

When his mother and sisters leave for Minnesota, George has only his grandparents and the companionship of Tucker, an Irish setter, to help him persevere through these most difficult challenges. Can he find the strength to walk the road that leads to healing, finding his true self and ultimately becoming a man? A coming-of-age story for readers of all ages, Christmas with Tucker is a classic Christmas story about a young man’s love for his dog, his family, and his farm.

My Review: Animal stories at Christmas time are the best!  This story is no exception.  Last year I loved “A Dog Named Christmas,” and this year I wondered how this book could top that one, but it was at least as good a read if not better.  The characters are realistic, the setting is believable (snowy Kansas), and my emotions got completely involved.  If you are an animal lover – especially dog lover and enjoy stories about people overcoming hard times, you will enjoy this book as I did!

Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless, and nearly hopeless. She is trying to restart her life after false accusations landed her in prison, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent. When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret? This tender story about fresh starts will charm readers as all of Melody Carlson’s Christmas offerings do. Full of redemption and true holiday spirit, Christmas at Harrington’s will be readers’ newest Christmas tradition.

My Review:  Christmas at Harrington’s is a classic Christmas story.  Each year Melody Carlson tops her previous year’s story and this is no exception.  This is a story that can easily put you into the Christmas spirit.  I am thinking about shopping and SOON!  This story has it all, redemption, interesting characters, children, magic, the supernatural, and it just makes you feel good on  the inside.  The only thing this story doesn’t have is romance – but it hints at it at the end.  Santa and Jesus are the star characters of Christmas in Christmas at Harrington’s, and the real story of Christmas is clearly given.  This book is a great, quick, engaging read and I recommend it!