A Simple Amish Christmas

Title: A SIMPLE AMISH CHRISTMAS
Author: Vannetta Chapman
Publisher: Abington Press
October 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4267-1066-7
Genre: Inspirational/Amish

Annie Weaver left home during her rumspringa to live with an aunt. While there, she got her GED and her RN. She has a good job at a Children’s hospital when she gets a call that her dad was in an accident. Annie drops everything and rushes home to care for her dad.

When she gets there, she discovers that Amish “doc” Samuel Yoder has questions about her ability to care for her dad. Annie doesn’t want to admit that she has an RN and as much training as he does, but she doesn’t want him to treat her like an irresponsible child either.

Samuel isn’t prepared for Little Annie to be all grown up. His best friend is her father, and while Samuel is attracted to her, the age difference between them causes him to hesitate. But will it be too long, to lose her to a man closer to her own age? And will Annie find her place in the Amish world again?

A SIMPLE AMISH CHRISTMAS is the debut novel by Vannetta Chapman. It has a different approach to many of the Amish books I’ve read, but it is no less good. I really enjoyed getting to know Annie and Samuel and learning about the community they live in.

Annie is a realistic heroine, but I was a little surprised at how easily she gave up her job at the hospital. I was also a little confused because the prologue indicates she was sent away unwillingly, but later it says that she went away. There were also portions of the book that encouraged skimming. Still, this was an excellent debut novel and I would look for more by this author. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book, making it ideal for discussion groups. $13.99. 275 pages.