An Amish Christmas Kitchen

An Amish Christmas Kitchen
by Jan Drexler, Leslie Gould and Kate Lloyd

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; 3rd In 1 ed. edition 

(September 3, 2019)

ISBN-13: 978-0764233838

The Coziness of a Warm Kitchen Awaits . . .
As the weather grows cold and the nights grow long, the cheer and warmth of the Christmas season is a comfort for all of us. This collection from bestselling Amish fiction novelists Leslie Gould, Jan Drexler, and Kate Lloyd celebrates the heart at the center of the holiday and offers three novellas that rejoice in family, faith, and especially the sights and fragrant smells of a bustling holiday kitchen.

In "An Amish Family Christmas," Leslie Gould tells the story of how, in the wake of a heartbreaking loss, a young Amish woman finds unexpected comfort and friendship while selling her family's traditional baked goods at the local Lancaster Christmas Market.

Jan Drexler's "An Amish Christmas Recipe Box" gives readers a sweet tale of a shy Amish woman who decides to use her talent in the kitchen to woo a local Amish boy with her beloved Christmas cookies.

And Kate Lloyd offers "An Unexpected Christmas Gift," a moving tale of a woman's unforeseen discovery about the truth of her past, and the welcoming Amish family table she finds herself invited to on Christmas.

Includes three authentic Amish recipes for your holiday baking!

My thoughts (reviewed by Marilyn):  Any time of the year is perfect for a Christmas tale. Jan Drexler, Leslie Gould and Kate Lloyd created an enjoyable collection found in An Amish Christmas Kitchen. Each story is centered on baking during the Christmas season with one favorite recipe shared at the end of each novella. The novellas also bring out the beauty and reason for Christmas.

An Amish Family Christmas by Leslie Gould story found shy Noelle being required to fill in for her sister at their family’s market. She was not the outgoing sales person like Salome, her oldest sister. However, when she met Holly, an Englischer at the market, a friendship formed. Noelle and Holly interactions and kindness to one another could just be the answer for Noelle and her father to ensure their family would have their annual Family Christmas dinner.

An Amish Christmas Recipe Box by Jan Drexler explored the life of Ada Weaver who worked in her father’s furniture store and sold her baked good there. She hadn’t been courted by anyone with one employee making fun of her. A Christmas Cookie Campaign suggestion by her older sister might be the answer with Ada digging into her grandmother’s recipe box. There were some twists and turns with some unexpected events that brought out the true characters of the men in the workshop. Mothers realizing how they were hindering their young adult children brought a beautiful ending to this tale just in time for Christmas.

An Unexpected Christmas Gift by Kate Lloyd found Maria Romano in Lancaster County in the middle of a snow storm. She was on a quest to find answers to who she truly was after receiving the shock of her life. There’s a suspense element in this tale along with romance among several of the young people as they interacted together. Christmas is a time for family and with buried secrets being shared, forgiveness found it just might be the most memorable Christmas by discovering the pureness of the season.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and one of the authors. I was not required to write a positive review but have expressed my own sincere thoughts.