A Plain And Simple Christmas by Amy Clipston ~ review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (September 13, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310327369
• ISBN-13: 978-0310327363
• Review copy provided by Zondervan Publishing
• Want to purchase a copy of this book? Click here.
• About the book:
• Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you'll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County. As each woman's story unfolds, you will share in her heartaches, trials, joys, dreams ... and secrets. You'll discover how the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle can clash with the 'English' way of life---and the decisions and consequences that follow. Most importantly, you will be encouraged by the hope and faith of these women, and the importance they place on their families. In the tradition of her widely popular Kauffman Amish Bakery series, author Amy Clipston tells the tale of Anna Mae McDonough who was shunned by her family four years ago when she left her Amish community in Lancaster County, PA, to marry an 'Englisher' (non Amish) man and move with him to Baltimore. Now, eight months pregnant when her first child, she longs to return home for Christmas to reconcile with her family, especially her stern father, who is the religious leader for her former Amish church district. So Anne Mae writes a letter to Kathryn Beiler, her brother's wife, to enlist her help. Kathryn asks her husband, David, if she should arrange Anna Mae's visit. David cautions her that a visit would cause too much stress in the family and instead suggests they visit Anna Mae and her husband in the spring. However, Kathryn arranges the visit anyway, believing in her heart that it's God's will for the family to heal. When Anna Mae arrives in Lancaster for Christmas, the welcome she receives is nothing like what she had hoped for. A book filled with love, the pain of being separated from one's family, and the determination to follow God's will regardless of the outcome, A Plain and Simple Christmas is an inspiring page-turner that will keep you guessing what happens next ... right to the very last page.

My take on this book:

Anna Mae McDonough left the Amish faith three years ago to marry her husband Kennan. While she doesn't regret her decision, the impending birth of her first child has her wanting to reconnect with her Amish family. Thing is when she left three years ago, she was put under the Bann and some harsh things where said by her father who is also the Bishop for their community. Will the spirit of Christmas and the impending birth of her child help bring her family back together?

I read this book in one sitting, and easily connected with the characters in this book. I thought the Amish in this book were a bit more liberal when it came to the shunning of Anna Mae, and it was so very easy to understand why she wanted to reconnect with her family after being away for four years. I was a bit surprised that Kathryn went against her husband David in helping set up Anna Mae's visit.  I was so glad the author included a glossary for the words the Amish used, because there were several that I wasn't familiar with. Since I have read a few of the Kauffman Amish  Bakery Series books it was nice to reconnect with the characters from those stories, although this book could easily be read as a stand alone work.
Even though this book was pretty predictable I found it an enjoyable read that certainly has put me in the mood to start reading a few more Christmas stories!


rating 4/5