Combination of Amish and English Christmases.
353167
I really enjoy Amish books but found this to be a slow read.  It was a mixture of English and Amish but for me personally there was too much English.
3578593
Was not your typical Amish book, had English ways and people in it and was a good drama. The author also did well in continuing the series. Look forward to more
1285596
Very good short story. A book that will show you the Amish life. Kinda like a love story type of book
2812283
I enjoyed this nontraditional Christmas book very much.  Christmas in New York City appeals to me a great deal.  Adding to that, the Amish element and the very non-traditional Amish mom makes this book a great combination for a holiday woman's read.  Barbara Cameron's writing always entertains me.  This story line "Quilts of Lancaster County" is interesting, entertaining, and most of all warm and cozy.  The characters are real, likable, and fun.  I wonder if  they are traditional Amish, but then what is traditional Amish?  Ms. Cameron you keep writing, and I will keep reading.

Thank you Abingdon Press for providing this book free of charge to me in exchange for my honest review, which this was.
4273759
This was a wonderful collection of Amish stories centered around their Second Christmas.  Three of the stories were romances, the other about dealing with grief over the loss of a loved one and finding joy again.  They all seemed more unique than typical Amish stories, from a strange man who seems familiar to pen pals to a surprise bachelor auction.  I liked the focus on prayer, asking God for help and seeking to know what He wants for their futures.  I liked that two of the stories had women really looking at the possible suitor with eyes wide open and not letting emotion sweep them away.  They wanted to be sure they knew what they were getting into.  There were some sweet romantic moments, a lot of baking along with some recipes supplied at the back of the book and a wonderful sense of community and family.  This is one of the best Amish books I've read!  I highly recommend it to lovers of Amish, romance or Christmas stories.

I received this book free from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.
3645797
I liked the combination of information about the Amish way of life plus recipes and hymns.  An easy reading book.
3562500
This is a very interesting book about Amish and their customs and life style.  I enjoyed the many clever ways this novel was put together and how warm the different people were portrayed.
2257692
This was a fun little two stories in one. Two friends who ba humbug Christmas find the true meaning of Christmas as they spend the holidays in two very different ways. It was a lot of fun to read.
3929765
I am very pleased with this Christmas CD,  I would highly recommend it to others.  It has a very good variety of styles.
1059185
These stories were very sweet and fun for the holidays.  I enjoyed reading them to see Christmas how it used to be, with a bit less commercialism.
2759643
Beautiful addition to my wife's Christmas Village collection.
276138
I like the pure wholesome  books about the Amish and their way of living are told. Faith and family!  Short but sweet.
83503
Breaking Amish Tradition was a quick read and an interesting premise since there were connected stories within the boxed set of nine stories in total. All were an enjoyable read and although some didn't have the closure I was looking for they did from the connected story. My favorite stories were the four Amish Zook stories that revealed the relationships between the siblings and their parents as well.

There wasn't a multitude of Amish words throughout as I find in other author's books - Amy Lillard and Molly Jebber as an example. But the simplicity of the stories was enriched by the doubts some of the characters raised in following in the Amish traditions or even remaining in their community. There was a depth to the characters that always shone through. The books were set in Pennsylvania and the descriptions of the land and the people along with their hard work and lives brought them to life.

There were family and friends, the elders, the Bishop, getting to know you moments, family squabbles although they were still always there for one another, Englischers, disagreements, struggles, fear, anger, tears, lies, laughter and prayer. There were a few twists and turns to the stories as well which added another layer. These were sweet romances that happened quickly along with love.

Becker is a new to me author and I look forward to reading more of her books since I find this genre an enjoyable read. I will be adding more of her books to my always growing TBR pile.
2999537
It's Christmas. Timothy takes Chloe on a romantic sleigh ride to get her alone to give her his special present. They stop at the Gundy barn, a long vacant structure. Timothy gives Chloe the present, but before they can climb back in the sleigh, Mabel, Timothy's dog, uncovers the corpse of an Amish girl, Katie Lambright.

Police Chief Rose, asks Chloe and Timothy, an Amish man who has left the church, to help solve the murder since she can't get information from the closed Amish community. As they begin to investigate the murder they discover unsavory things about several members of the Amish community, including Katie's parents. Billy, a friend of Timothy's, is also suspected because he's been using the barn to store auto parts and rolls of duct tape. When Billy disappears, the question is whether he's the murderer or another victim.

I enjoyed the book. The setting is lovely and appears to be faithful to the Amish traditions. I'd love to visit Appelseed Creek. Chloe and Timothy are delightful characters. He's very understanding of the her and her impetuous actions to solve the murder. She is intrepid, a strong character with her own demons.

They mystery is fairly easy to solve, but keeps your interest. My criticism is that the ending seemed rushed and not quite believable, but it doesn't detract too much for the enjoyment of the story.

I recommend this book if you are fascinated by the Amish and particularly if you enjoy mysteries.

I reviewed this book for Handlebar Publishing.
2463717
What a wonderful story. An actual love story with a little sex. Declan and Holly made a very good Christmas Story. I hope this sets a tradition for this time of year.
47367
I enjoyed this book because I like hearing of the Amish beliefs and what is expected of them to be Amish.  This was a good Christian book.
2304116
As a big fan of the Amish genre, I definitely was looking forward to this book as I enjoy these authors. The three stories are superfical, but that's to be expected in a collection. We don't get as deep into each personal story as you might like to. But this was an enjoyable collection for a weekend of reading and I'm looking forward to re-reading it when Christmas comes around!