A Simple Christmas Wish

Title:  A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS WISH

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell

September 2013

ISBN: 978-0800719654

Genre: Christmas / Amish

Rachel Milligan is caring for her seven-year-old niece, Holly, at her home in Chicago when she receives devastating news: Holly's parents have been killed in a plane crash. Because Rachel is Holly's only known relative, she assumes that she will be her beloved niece's guardian. However, custody is awarded to Lydia, a distant aunt who happens to be Amish.

Just a week before Christmas, Rachel takes Holly to the Amish community in the hopes of persuading Aunt Lydia to relinquish custody. Instead, Lydia sets out to teach Holly to live according to the Amish way. As family secrets emerge and old wounds are healed, Rachel realizes that she will do whatever it takes to ensure that Holly has the loving family she needs.

Combining an Amish family saga with the anticipation of Christmas cheer and the promise of a budding romance, this newest Christmas story from beloved author Melody Carlson is sure to please.

A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS WISH is Ms. Carlson’s newest Christmas book. I look forward to her Christmas novellas every year. This story combines Christmas, English and Amish in a story that is sad at times, but wonderful to see Christmas and living with Amish through the eyes of the child.

Ms. Carlson’s stories that I’ve read this year seem to be more told than shown, so there is a distance between the reader and the story. I would have loved to see more of the budding romance in A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS WISH, but the promise of one was nice.

If you are looking for a new Christmas book, then A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS WISH is one to consider. $15.99 hardcover. $8.76 kindle. 176 pages. 4.5 stars.