Series: Kauffman Amish Bakery Series Christmas Stories #2
Published by Zondervan on September 20th 2011
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Fiction, General
Pages: 144
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.
Twenty-four-year-old Naomi King has all but given up on marriage and children. As Christmas approaches, Naomi is certain that 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.
This is a fantastic novella, I actually own it as a standalone as well as in the Kauffman Amish Bakery Christmas Collection. When I was gifted the collection for Christmas I thought it was the perfect time to read A Plain and Simple Christmas (which I had never read) and Naomi’s Gift (One that I had read but couldn’t remember as it had been a long while) and review them individually.
Before I get to the review, I do want to go back to the fact that you can get these books as standalone novellas or you can purchase them in a single collection which I linked above.
Now, on to my thoughts…
There were people in this novella that I took as being catty and mean. Catty is not a trait you usually think of in the Amish but I love this because they’re just like us–they’re human with faults and shortcomings. I’m sure they have their share of grumpy people and I think it gives a nice element because a lot of Amish fiction is very idealistic and everyone is just perfect. Sometimes I get bored if everyone is just peachy and have no problems. So, this is an element to the story that I appreciated.
I really liked Naomi and I adored Caleb–both of these characters were just so well written. When I really like a set of characters I’m often not satisfied with a short story because I want to spend more time with them and that was certainly the case in this story. Now, it’s not a bad thing…it’s a really good thing! It means I enjoyed and connected with the characters and their story.
This story could be enjoyed any time of the year in my opinion. Yes, it’s set during the holiday season but with the Amish stories the commercialism is missed so they’re easier to enjoy year around. Which, if you’re like me it could be read to you by Old St. Nick and you’d still enjoy it (yes, I’m a Christmas freak–sue me.)
Anyway, if you’re looking for a sweet little romance in an Amish setting. This one is really good! I did enjoy it a lot.
About Amy Clipston
Amy Clipston has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her fiction writing “career” began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series with Zondervan, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats.
I so should add this to my tbr list :) sounds like a good read