A Plain & Simple Christmas

Title: A PLAIN & SIMPLE CHRISTMAS
Author: Amy Clipston
Publisher: Zondervan
September 2010
ISBN: 978-0-310-32736-3
Genre: Inspirational/Amish

Three years ago, Anna Mae McDonough had joined the Amish church, but then she met Englischer, Kellan McDonough and married him. As a result, Anna Mae was shunned. But now she’s expecting her first baby and her only Christmas wish is to be reconnected with her family.

Katherine Beiler married Anna Mae’s brother, David, and she is thrilled when she receives a letter from Anna Mae asking about coming home for a visit. But David is vehemently against it. Believing she’s doing the right thing, Katherine agrees to help Anna Mae with arrangements, even hosting the couple for meals.

Anna Mae’s her father is a bishop, and told Anna Mae when she left that she was no longer his daughter. He won’t change his mind. Is there any hope for a Christmas miracle?

A PLAIN & SIMPLE CHRISTMAS is set in the backdrop of Ms. Clipston’s Kauffman Amish Bakery series and has some secondary characters that readers of her books are familiar with.

I enjoyed getting to know Anna Mae and her husband Kellan, and was glad that Anna Mae didn’t regret loving her husband, but yet she did want restoration with her family. I was also glad that one family member was receptive to her reconnecting. I enjoyed this novella and will be keeping it on my shelves to enjoy during other Christmas seasons.

Discussion questions and an Amish Fruitcake recipe (it sounds more like applesauce cake) is included at the end of this book. $14.99. 190 pages.