~4 stars ****
A Wunderbaar Christmas Novella!
A Wunderbaar Christmas Novella!
In Naomi's Gift, Amy Clipston invites us on a delightful Amish vacation, to Bird-In-Hand, Pennsylvania; resplendent with buggy rides in the snow, children's Christmas programs, lighted Christmas candles in the windows, and romance in the air! Caleb Schmucker arrives in Pennsylvania with his little daughter, Susie, to visit his sister, Sadie, for Christmas. Caleb has a successful business in Ohio, but ever since the death of his wife, the only joy that life holds for him is his precious daughter, Susie. He feels a heavy burden of guilt that his wife was taken and he was left behind, and refuses to enjoy life. Then he meets the lovely, dimpled Naomi King!
Naomi King has had her heart broken by two ex-boyfriends, and feels that God's plans are for her to remain single and help her maam take care of her siblings. Caleb's sister, Sadie, feels that her brother is too good for Naomi, gossiping about her past relationships with the two other young men, and tries to hook him up with her friend, Irene. Will Caleb and Naomi let go of their broken hearts and fear of another relationship, and find love again? Or will Irene make a better mother to Susie?
I have read almost all of Amy Clipston's books and they truly are charming! Although her love for the Amish shines through her novels, she paints a realistic picture of them; an imperfect people with flaws just as any other. This was a novella, so of course it was shorter with less substance than her other novels, but truly a delightful, romantic page turner to snuggle up close to the fire with!
Note by CFP: Available in multiple formats through Amazon, including audio.
Giveaway: We are giving away surprise books every day, mostly Christmas books. Leave a comment for a chance to win.
Note by CFP: Available in multiple formats through Amazon, including audio.
Giveaway: We are giving away surprise books every day, mostly Christmas books. Leave a comment for a chance to win.
Thank you, Carrie. I think I'm suffering from a cake hangover (after all I did have two yesterday, Carrie); my get up and go has got up and went! What a wonderful birthday I had--at home and on the blog! I'm ready to do another Christmas book giveaway, though, wonder who will be the blessed winner today??
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your review of Naomi's Gift. I haven't read this one yet but am looking forward to reading it! You gave it a 4 star rating so it must be good!
ReplyDeleteBless me, Bless me today! :) lol
Blessings and Merry Christmas to you all!
Judy B
judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com
Amy's books are great! I bought this one when she came to our library last month. She's fascinating!
ReplyDeleteNow don't get too sick on all the cake...you want to be well on Christmas!
Sounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your contest.
wsmarple/at/gmail/do/com
Judy, I hope you get that blessing today! You surely deserve it! But if not, make sure you come back the rest of the week!
ReplyDeleteWendy, it's so great to see you, and I hope if you ladies don't win today, you will keep coming back, as we are giving away a surprise book every day 'til Christmas!
Anne, I will take your good sound advise! Sugar really brings down the immune system. We are having a BIG Christmas Eve party with our huge family...more sweets. :( Eat, drink, and be merry, for in January we diet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review Carrie. Diana it's not the cake, it's the yucky weather we're having here in good ole SC today, 4 days before Christmas, 66 degrees, and NO SNOW in sight. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like I need to read this book today so I can enjoy the snow, since there's no chance for it here.
66 degrees and no sun either, Teresa. Gloomy...definitely a good reading day. My little gson is sick today so everyone is home...no reading for me...sigh.
ReplyDeletethanks for the chance to read this wonderful christmas story :)
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Diana, No reading for me either, I'm baking up a storm...for some reason everyone wants me to bake the cakes, cookies, pies, lemon squares, brownies..etc. LOL! We have Christmas eve in Lake Lure, NC with Carlton's family then I rush back home about 10:00pm to start "real" food for my family for Christmas lunch. I wish I was READING, I like that a lot better. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Karen, got you entered!
ReplyDeleteTeresa, we are having Christmas eve with the whole bunch at Bobbie's and even though I'm sure they won't be as good as yours I'm doing the lemon squares, and Travis has requested wings, soooo....
Oh man, don't mention dieting! I need to start now :) Just looking at all the baked goods seems to add pounds! And the sugar is NOT helping my sore throat :(
ReplyDeleteI have had a sore throat for a week, too, Anne. Will be praying for you!
ReplyDeleteDiana, Thanks again for a wonderful review! I need to stay out of the cookies ANNE! They are very tempting.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Carrie, and as the Cookie Monster would say, "COOKIES!!! Did I hear someone say cookies???!!!"
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review. I love Amish stories and can't wait to read this one.
ReplyDeletemisskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Thank you, misskallie! I have a stack of newer Amish books in my TBR pile; I have to slip them in somehow...am getting behind in the ones that are series!
ReplyDeleteSo in the mood for a great Christmas story. Thanks for the review, Diana. Even though we have no snow and no fireplace, Curling up in front of the Christmas tree with a good book might do the trick. And I should probably do some editing on my Christmas story as well. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Kim, and thank you for dropping by! It's supposed to be in the mid 70s here today in SC, so I can identify. That's the wonderful thing about books, they can take us away to a place filled with knee-deep snow and we don't even have to shovel it out of our driveways! :) An imagination is a great thing! Blessings on your Christmas story!
ReplyDeleteDiana, I wish I knew what was causing our sore throats! Everyone here has the same thing, even the grand babies :( So Christmas day is supposed to cooler, around 50 with rain. Sure wish we had a blizzard coming like last year :) But, we will turn on the gas logs and enjoy our family!
ReplyDeleteCarrie, those cookies get us every time! I can't resist a good one :) And fudge, which I need to make tomorrow!
I would love to win this book! shondaet@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteShonda, been missing you! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteAnne, my dr said it was a little virus; sure does last awhile though! Thank the Lord no coughing; have already done the bronchitis thing this year, and if my memory serves me correctly, so have you!
ReplyDeleteFudge, did I hear fudge? That can be mailed easily, Anne! LOL!!
I have never felt moved to read an Amish fiction book and now I am being encouraged to give them a try. I love Christmas stories. This might be a good one to read. Would love to win a copy of this book. Thank you for the giveaways.
ReplyDelete