A Simple Amish Christmas by Vannetta Chapman ~ review

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press; Original edition (October 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426710666
• ISBN-13: 978-1426710667

This book is also available as an ebook.

Annie Weaver always planned to return home, but the 20-year old RN has lived in Philadelphia for three years now. As her time of rumschpringe is about to come to an abrupt end, bringing for Annie an overwhelming sense of loneliness. She returns home and finds herself face-to-face with a budding romance with an Amish farmer and important choices to make.

To read an excerpt click here.


I loved this book. The author writes these characters in a very down to earth real way, they come off as real people with real problems. The protagonist Annie, was a girl that was very easy to relate to. Going to live with her aunt during her rumspringe allowed her to become a part of the English world for a bit, she trained to be an RN, a secret she felt she needed to keep from her family back home. When she got the call that her father was sick she quickly goes home and judged a bit critically by Samuel Yoder in the beginning, although because of the backstory we got about Annie, I could understand where Samuel was coming from. Because of the loss of his wife and child I felt like he was trying to shield his heart from more hurt, but that didn't stop the feelings that he started having for Annie, and he soon realizes that Annie is all grown up and not the flighty girl she was when she left for her rumspringe.

While this book is a Christmas book I feel like it would be a great read anytime of the year. Vannetta Chapman writes with a style all her own, she does a great job of drawing out the emotions and feelings of the characters. While this story was an "Amish" story, she doesn't continually point that out, instead, I felt like I was reading a story about a family, a community, that just happened to be Amish! She draws you into the world of Annie and Samuel, giving the reader a glimpse of their daily lives, and their willingness to help others in need. The way that Annie's family and community embraced the skills she learned while in the Englisch world made it plain that it was God's plan for Annie to be able to help her people.

Whether your a fan of good wholesome reads, or enjoy a great Amish story, or like a slow, sweet romance, then you definitely need to pick up this  novel from Vannetta Chapman, but be warned once you start reading you wont be able to put this one down!

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.