"A Simple Amish Christmas" by Vannetta Chapman

A Simple Amish Christmas

by  Vannetta Chapman

1.    Will Annie find acceptance in the Amish community she left behind?

Annie Weaver always planned to return home, but the 20-year old RN has lived in Philadelphia for three years now. As her time of Rumschpringe is about to come to an abrupt end, bringing for Annie an overwhelming sense of loneliness. She returns home and finds herself face-to-face with a budding romance with an Amish farmer and Annie has several important choices to make.

To read an excerpt go here :http://e2.ma/click/86oah/cisvtj/oz99pc


My Interview Questions:

1.      Will you tell us your favorite Christmas traditions? 

One of my favorite traditions is going to my in-laws on Christmas Eve. For over 50 years, they have held a sort of "open house" on Christmas Eve. They live in a small town, and it seems that most everyone from the town stops by. It's an evening of visiting, sharing, and wishing each other Christmas blessings. Paw, my father-in-law, has passed, but the tradition continues. It's a very special time for all of us.

2.       What is your favorite Christmas memory?

I remember wanting a kitten so badly that I could barely sleep. We had 4 children at home, and Christmas was slim but special. We each received 2 gifts, 3 if it was a good year. And always my dad insisted that we eat breakfast before we opened them. I think it was his way of prolonging the moment. That year, the year I wanted the kitten, I thought I was going to DIE if I couldn't go in the living room and check for that kitten. Then as I was walking to the dining room  to eat breakfast, I tripped over something yellow and furry--the sweetest little ginger cat you have ever seen. My parents had been keeping it in the garage apartment until Christmas morning. We named him Bowzie. He may have been the best gift I received as a child.

3.        What is your least favorite memory of a certain Christmas? 

That would be when I was a single mom. I was working 7 different part time jobs and I was going to school full time in order to finish my teaching degree. Christmas was looking to be a dismal affair rather than a joyous celebration. One day we came home from school to find over a dozen bags of groceries on the front porch and two friends from our church waiting. They helped us carry the bags inside and then insisted I open the envelope in one of the bags. It was filled with money, plenty to buy my son Christmas and take care of some necessities as well. I remember crying as my son divided the money into piles. He kept saying, "It's a GOOD thing, mom. Why are you crying?" Those were learning times for both of us. Above all, I learned that God does provide and that he often does so through our church family.

"A Simple Amish Christmas" by Vannetta Chapman is a 5 star book. If you don't read this book you are missing out on a Wonderful book ! I was drawn into the story from the first sentence of the prologue.  Annie Weaver is Amish but while on her Rumschpringe she had continued her schooling and is now a nurse.  One day she receives a call and is informed about an accident involving her father and rushes home.  She is greeted with harsh words from Samuel, her father's best friend and he is also the closet thing to a doctor that the Amish community of Mifflin Country, Pennsylvania has. 

Annie has to prove to him that she is still Amish and that she plans to remain at home in Mifflin Country. This book is also about Samuel learning to forgive himself and to learn to love again and to trust what his heart is telling him. Samuel's past is something that would be hard to let go of but he learns that he can still honor it and live in the future!

Can Annie and Samuel work together to heal the ill of Mifflin Country, and will they trust their growing feelings toward each other ?

Even through this book is a Christmas story I believe this story is a story that could be enjoyed anytime a reader wanted to enjoyed a heartwarming story about forgiveness and love! 

There is a glossary of Amish words at the end of the story to help with the words used in the story if a reader needs them. There are also discussions questions at the end and I think they would be great to answer for yourself or in a book club discussions!

I was given a free copy of this book by Abingdon Press Fiction  for my honest review to be in the 2013 Christmas Blog Tour! 

"30 Days: A Devotional Memoir" by D. M. Webb

"30 Days: A Devotional Memoir" by D. M. Webb is a five star book!

This book is a devotional memoir. D.M. Webb shares her three year spiritual  journey with the reader. This book was written for those that had endured the turbulent emotions that comes with divorce, widowhood, and single parenting. But I haven't experienced any of the these issues in my life but I have struggled with the thoughts of " Am I loved and am I good enough. So even through I am not in the normal "audience" this book was written for. I was encourage and am inspired to have faith and to keep placing my hand in the Lord's and to walk with Him.

This book is only 114 pages and the thirty chapters (only 2 or 2 1/2 pages each are set up for thirty days but once I opened the book I keep reading it. My book has something underlined on most every day(a reminder to me. I am including one such reminder from the book, (page 33)  " So why should I dwell on the small details of life? I shouldn't. The God who created a universe so vast that I can't even measure it is also the God who will have my dreams fulfilled when He wants them to be fulfilled. 

All in His time and in His way: having this little perspective on life helped in knowing that all is under control, as long as I follow Him. The God who created the vast universe down to the little fishes in the sea-He's the God who cares about me."  

There  is even a day on what books to read and not to read. No she doesn't list specific books but reminds the reader to focus on Philippians 4:8" Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

There is a chapter on what clutter can do to your mind and life also.

I really believe wherever a reader is or whatever they are going through in their life , this book can help, if they apply the simple truths D.M.Webb has shared.

I was given a copy of this book by the author for an honest review.

"Redeeming Grace" by George McVey

" Redeeming Grace " By  George McVey is another 5 star book.


"Redeeming Grace"  is the third book in the Redemption Tales by George McVey and I have enjoyed all three and looking forward to the next one in the series! 

Nathan Ryder in a sermon tells the congregation "  Are you aware that God has the right to change our lives without us complaining about it! I am; it's why I continue to wear this badge and to preach the Gospel. Yes, Nathan Ryder is an unusual preacher, one that carries guns and shots his mark every time but he is also a preacher who shows mercy and follows God.

In this book Nathan and Timothy are still hunting for Diamond Dale but a new outlaw comes to town and makes more trouble for Nathan. As if that isn't enough trouble for Nathan, his own father is adding to the trouble and has a secret he isn't telling to Nathan. There is also a lady from Grace's past who stirs up trouble and  Nathan is force to make a choice!  Did he make the right one, only time will tell.

I was surprised at some of the twists this story took but I am can't say I am really disappointed with the ending, it just took me by surprise, and left me with questions. Which is the reason I think I like this series and want to read the next one because it is like a cliff hanger in the movies, we cannot help but want to see what happens next! All the books in this series are like that!

I think everyone should read this series even if they don't like Christian fiction and/or westerns. Anyone that like Christian fiction and/or westerns would enjoy reading Nathan's story.
You should give yourself a treat and escape into the West for a while.

I was given a pdf file  by the author for my honest review!

"Indebted" by Braxton Degarmo

“Indebted” by Braxton Degarmo is a 5 star novel from beginning to end!  I will have to be honest and stay there are a few curse words but they are words that the characters would use. These words are not the F" bomb, taking God's name in vain and any explicit sexual content.

This book goes back and forth describing the life of Alice Cummings and the modern day life of the mega-selling author Myra Mitchell.

Alice Cumming is a daughter of an an an abusive, alcoholic father who sells her baby in the middle of the night. Alice runs away from home and tries to find him.I couldn’t put this book down because I wanted to get to the end to see if she would find her baby and if she and the child would live happily ever after!

Myra Mitchell liked to party and after receiving a life-changing diagnosis, wants to write a final book. She wants this book to be about her favorite cartoonist , Betsy Weston, who has disappeared from society.

I also wanted to finish this book to see if Myra Mitchell could finished this book!

This book is not your typical everything is happy and fairytale endings! But, I must say that I am happy with the ending! 

This book is a mystery that I didn’t see coming together the way it did!

I was given a copy of this book by Bookfun for review purposes.

http://www.deepershopping.com/item/braxton-degarmo/indebted/5948892.html

An Amish Family Christmas” by Murray Pura

An Amish Family Christmas” by Murray Pura is wunderbaar . I wish I could give it more than five stars.This book is a great book to read for entertainment but it is a book to make you really think. I have read it twice and it has made me think about my thoughts on several issues. And the money I spent to purchase this book was well spent. ( I added this in this review because I don’t like to spent more than a few dollars on a ebook, but since I really like Murray Pura’s books and he likes to give out copies of his books and I have won a few of his books, I decided to risk it and spend the money. I have to say again I was not disappointed.)  This was the book for an online book discussion and I will say anyone that hasn’t read this book is really missing out on a book that really touches on what is a really heartfelt subject for all people rather Amish or English, or any race or Nation. 

Naomi has just lost her parents and sister in a wreck caused by a drunk driver, and her brother Luke is in a catatonic stupor from head injuries. She is angry and confused and feels alone. Her sister-in-law is there to help her but at first Naomi want listen to her because even through she is married, she claims she has no husband. Why would she claim this? It is because Micah has joined the war and helped to save lives. The Amish do not believe in this this. Micah is shunned because he won’t repent and say he was wrong!

But Micah returns and does Naomi hold to the bishop’s rule of shunning or does she hold on to her wedding vows? This  book is truly a book of love and forgiveness and honest soul searching! 

But then a tragic happens to one of the community's own! And opinions are changed!

I just love the ending! I really wish real life was like fiction! But then again maybe I don’t because then fiction would not be able to teach us anything!

“What Once Was Lost” by Kim Vogel Sawyer

“What Once Was Lost” by Kim Vogel Sawyer is definitely a five star novel. I think this is my third book that I have read by her and they are all winners. They all make you feel that love is possible and that God wants the best for us. Her books are Christian fiction but I think even unbelievers will enjoy reading them as they are not “preachy” but in this story especially Kim Vogel Sawyer makes the readers aware that “ we are all in need of forgiveness and points out several truths that Christians aren’t anybody than others.

Christina Willems provides for a group of displaced individuals at Brambleville Asylum for the Poor until a fire breaks out. This fire is the beginning of a new life for all of the individuals as well as Christina. I had to keep reading this story to see what happened to them all. My favorite character in this story, beside Christina and one of the heroes, Levi,( a mill owner,)is Tommy. ( a blind boy, I just felt his pain throughout the pages). There is actually two heroes in this story.

This story had a ending I did not see happening! What the villain, Ham intended for harm backfired and all the individuals ended up with a happy outcome! 

I really recommend this book if you want to see what good can come from what seems impossible odds!

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”. 
http://www.deepershopping.com/item/kim-vogel-sawyer/what-once-was-lost/5421505.html

"Unforeseeable" by Nancy Mehl

"Unforeseeable" by Nancy Mehl gets five stars from me. 

'Unforeseeable" is the third and final book in the "Road To Kingdom Series" and it is my favorite book in the series! With that being said, I wish there were others books coming in this series. 

There is a serial killer in town. Callie is engaged to the new Mennonite pastor, Levi and he falls under suspicious. And Levi knows something but won't tell Callie. And Callie wonders if Levi is only marrying her to fulfilled the requirement that pastors are married.

Callie's begins to remember things from her past that she has blocked from her memories and begins to question "Who Am I really"

There is a new women in town, and there is something about her that has Callie afraid!

This book certainly had me fooled on who the bad guy(s) was or were! There are twists and turns in this story that kept me turning the pages to see how it all ended up

In ending this review I want to include some of life’s important life Callie learned and it applies to us readers as well.

On page 146 “ No matter what happens around us, we can rest in the joy inside our hearts. The fruit of the Spirit is alive in us. We just need to allow it to overpower our circumstances.”

On Page 222-223 “ Callie, a lot of people never find the people God created them to be. They’re too busy trying to live up to other people’s expectations, or they try to create themselves in the image of a person they admire or envy. Just because we respect someone or think their life might be more exciting than ours doesn’t mean God created us to be just like them. Sometimes we have to ignore the people in our lives so we can hear the voice of God.” “ That sounds rather selfish. Aren’t we supposed to prefer others before ourselves?” “Sure. But making a decision to put someone else first out of love isn’t there same thing as putting them first out of fear. Because you’re afraid they won’t love you if you don’t act the way they might want you to.”

On page 287 “ I’m beginning to see that we can’t substitute God for certain clothes, rules, church, or even towns. I’m not saying any of those things are bad, but I’m realizing that things and places don’t make us holy or safe. And they certainly don’t define us.”

I was really surprised to see these truths applied to this fictional story. That is what makes this such a great story, it has truth and fiction, and the ending isn’t want I expected either. This entire series is just fantastic. 

I was given a copy of this book by the author,Nancy Mehl, for my honest review.