A Plain and Simple Christmas

Kauffman Amish Bakery Christmas Stories #1

by Amy Clipston

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.

Genres: Christmas, Amish, Fiction, Amish Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Romance

Audiobook

First published September 3, 2010

About the author

Hi! I'm a bestselling author of heartwarming romance and happily ever after.

Contemporary Romance (Non-Amish)
The Heart of Splendid Lake (2021)
The View from Coral Cove (2022)
On the Way to Christmas (Anthology) (2022)
Something Old, Something New (2023)
Starstruck (2023)
Finding You (2024)
With This Ring (2025)
Second Chance at Sunshine Inn (7/2025)
The Lighthouse at the Cove (12/2025)

Stand Alone Amish Fiction
Caring for the Amish Family (4/2025)

Guideposts Amish Suspense
A Heart Set Free (9/2025)


An Amish Legacy
1. Foundation of Love (2022)
2. Building a Future (2022)
3. Breaking New Ground (2023)
4. The Hearts of Shelter (2023)

An Amish Marketplace
1. The Bake Shop (2019)
2. The Farm Stand (2020)
3. The Coffee Corner (2020)
4. The Jam and Jelly Nook (2021)

An Amish Homestead
1. A Place at our Table (2017)
2. Room on the Porch Swing (2018)
3. Seat by the Hearth (2018)
4. A Welcome at Our Door (2019)

An Amish Heirloom
1. The Forgotten Recipe (2015)
2. The Courtship Basket (2016)
3. The Cherished Quilt (2017)
4. The Beloved Hope Chest (2017)

Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel
1. A Hopeful Heart (2013)
2. A Mother’s Secret (2014)
3. A Dream of Home (2015)
4. A Simple Prayer (2015)

Kauffman Amish Bakery
1. A Gift of Grace (2009)
2. A Promise of Hope (2010)
3. A Place of Peace (2011)
4. A Life of Joy (2012)
5. A Season of Love (2012)

Amish Anthologies
• An Amish Kitchen (2012) – Spoonful of Love (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Cradle (2015) – A Son for Always (This story complements A Mother’s Secret)
• An Amish Market (2016) – Love Birds (This story complements The Forgotten Recipe)
• An Amish Harvest (2016) – Love & Buggy Rides (This complements The Courtship Basket)
• An Amish Home (2017) – Home Sweet Home (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Summer (2017) – Summer Storms (Stand-alone story)
• Amish Sweethearts (2018) –Complements The Kauffman Amish Bakery Series and also has a sequel to my story in An Amish Summer
• An Amish Heirloom (2018) – Complements A Place at our Table
• An Amish Homecoming (2018) – Complements A Place at our Table
• Seasons of an Amish Garden (2019) – Complements The Christmas Cat, novella included in An Amish Christmas Love
• An Amish Reunion (2019) – Complements Room on the Porch Swing
• An Amish Christmas Bakery (2019) – Cookies and Cheer (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Singing (2021) (Collection of four stories by Amy Clipston)
• An Amish Christmas Wedding (2020) –Evergreen Love (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Barn Raising (2021)
• An Amish Schoolroom (2021)
• An Amish Quilting Bee (2021)

Young Adult
1. Roadside Assistance (2011)
2. Reckless Heart (2012) (Kauffman Amish Bakery young adult book)
3. Destination Unknown (2014)
4. Miles from Nowhere (2015)

Non-Fiction
A Gift of Love (2014)

Seasonal
• A Plain and Simple Christmas (2010) Naomi’s Gift (2011)
• Kauffman Amish Christmas Collection (2012)
• An Amish Christmas Gift (2015) includes Naomi’s Gift
• An Amish Christmas Love (2017) –The Christmas Cat
• An Amish Christmas Bakery (2019)
• An Amish Christmas Wedding (2020)
• On the Way to Christmas (2022)

Reviews

[Melanie Kilsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Amy did an exceptional job at the fine dynamics of broken families and the heartache that can sometimes be apart of the holidays--bringing a real sense of forgiveness and the beauty of a family mending through tense religious differences that can sometimes pull families apart, even at Christmas.

A beautiful story of how a baby can change everything, most of all, Christ's birth!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice Amish Christmas story involving a daughter who has been shunned for marrying outside of the faith wanting to come home for Christmas and make things right with her family. There is much drama and heartbreak but it ends on a happy note.

I enjoy Amish stories and the simplicity of their lifestyle. I actually visited the town Anna Mae was from this summer, so I loved being able to picture it in my mind.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three years ago Anna Mae married Englischer Kellen McDonough, resulting in her shunning. Now expecting her first child, Anna Mae wants to reunite with her family to bring healing and so the boppli will know her parents. She enlists the help of her sister-in-law Kathryn to arrange the visit. Although a remark by her mother-in-law makes Kathryn certain it is God's will, her husband David is not so certain. David and Anna Mae's father Henry serves as bishop to the Amish community, and his heart seems hardened. Although the doctor said travel was fine, Kellan asks Anna Mae to think twice about the visit because of the approaching due date and concern for her should things not go well. Will the family reunite and heal, or will they continue to hold Anna Mae at a distance? I enjoyed this in the audiobook format. Clipston's feel-good Christmas story features characters from her Kauffman Amish bakery series which I have not read yet but plan to enjoy in the future.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

A contemporary Mennonite Christmas novella.
Anna has been shunned by her family (dad) for marrying and English man. After three years and expecting their first baby, she wants to return home for Christmas.

Even though they have a loving, Christian marriage her father lives by law as a church bishop. Forgiveness and a Christmas miracle help heal. The women in the family come around them and help conspire the visit and redemption.

Narration was o.k.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

{Merry CHRISTmas everyone! Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday in honor of our Savior’s birth there’ll be a new Christmas book review! With a couple giveaways sprinkled in, it’s going to be so much fun! Let’s start!}


About this book:

“Just in time, or just too late?
In the tradition of her widely popular Kauffman Amish Bakery series, author Amy Clipston weaves this tale of Anna Mae McDonough—shunned by her family four years ago when she left her Amish community in Lancaster County, PA, to marry a non-Amish man in Baltimore.
Anne Mae has longed to return home the holidays, but she worries her visit will cause too much stress. With the help of a friend who believes it is God’s will for the family to heal. Anna Mae arrives in Lancaster just in time for Christmas. But is it too late for a miracle?
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.”

Or also:
“An Inspiring Amish Tale of Faith, Family, Forgiveness…and the Miracle of Christmas.
Four years after being shunned for marrying an “Englisher” Anna Mae McDonough wants to reconcile with her Amish family. And what better time than Christmas? But when her surprise visit doesn’t go as planned, she begins to question her place in the family.
Is Anna Mae determined enough to fellow God’s will so the family can heal?”


Series: This novella is connected to the "Kauffman Amish Bakery" series and is the first book is the Christmas Stories line. You can see our review of the second book, “Naomi’s Gift”, Here!


Spiritual Content- Talks about God’s will, forgiveness & trusting Him; ‘H’s are capital; Prayers & Blessings over food; Bible reading; Scriptures are quoted.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘stupid’s. Keeping secrets.


Sexual Content- Not-detailed kisses & 6 barely-above-not-detailed kisses between married couples; Touches between them too (barely-above-not-detailed); Labor & pains (borderline barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed).

-Anna Mae McDonough
-Kathryn Beiler
P.O.V. switches between them, David, Mary Rose & Kellan
178 pages (with a recipe!)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
While “A Plain and Simple Christmas” isn’t the best book for this age range on here, it really was a cute story with a good message of forgiveness.



Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...



*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Lisa Beachy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely dreadful. Cannot recommend at all.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet! A moving coming home story. The perfect plot for a Christmas setting in my humble opinion. Clipston captures the emotions of her characters so well that they can't help but rub off on the reader so this is an angsty, infuriating but ultimately joyful read.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Christmas Story

An Amish man returns from being a medic in the Middle East war. He is given 3 days to repent or he will be shunned. This is a very emotional book. Amy Clips on did a fantastic job of handling this controversial issue

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet Christmas story about love and forgiveness. The main character has been shunned after marrying a man who is not Amish, but wants to come home for a Christmas visit. Her father is the bishop who has never forgiven her for her choice.

I really liked how this all came together. Anna Mae and Kellan were really sweet together. (I would love to see a story about their courtship!) I also enjoyed learning a bit about how the Amish celebrate Christmas.

Kathryn was so sweet to orchestrate the meeting and I was glad she was able to stand up to her husband David who was against the meeting at the start.

Another well done Amish novella by Amy Clipston. I’m happy I found this author. :)

[Kimberly Allgaeuer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun whimsical Christmas story. :)

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and sweet.

[Nanette Meza · Rating 5 out of 5]

plain and simple read. I liked it

[Kelli V Spann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas in July . . .

Sweet Amish Christmas story concerning a daughter who has been shunned for marrying outside of the faith, wanting to come home for Christmas, and make things right with her family. The story includes much angst and drama yet, like most stories of its kind, resolves itself and ends on a happy note.

I enjoy Amish stories and the simplicity of their lifestyle. Include a holiday Christmas vibe and let those good endorphins run free! A good, wholesome story - what’s that? Hallmark calling?

[Mary O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you believe in Christmas miracles? Anna Mae McDonough is hoping to get her Christmas miracle this year, raised Amish, she left home three years ago to marry her English husband. Now, 8 months pregnant with their first child, Anna Mae dreams about reuniting with her family. She knows this will be very difficult because once she left, she became shunned.

Anna decides to write her sister in law, her brother’s wife, Kathryn to ask for her assistance. Kathryn’s husband is against this idea. He doesn’t want Christmas to be ruined for his parents. Going against her husband’s wishes, she arranges this meeting anyway, believing this is what God wants her to do.

Arriving in Lancaster, Anne didn’t receive the “open arms” she was hoping to. Her mother was ever so happy to see her; however her father wouldn’t even look at her. Now, Anne is wondering if she made a mistake. She is beginning to question her place in her family. Will she receive the Christmas miracle that she is hoping for or will her dreams come crashing down?

I couldn’t put this book down. It was shorter than other books I read, however just as enjoyable. I can’t imagine having to choose between the one you love and the family and way you were raised. In this case, Anne didn’t choose one or the other. You can’t help who you fall in love with. She was shunned because she left.

I was so excited for Anne to reunite with the rest of her family. I was a little worried about how it was going to go to be honest. The first encounter with her brother and sister in law, Kathryn went well so I thought. Her brother seemed to open up as soon as her saw her.

I wish I could say that the second encounter with her family went just as well but I can’t. The next night her parents were there. Her mother took her in with open arms; however her father couldn’t stand to look at her. In fact, he ordered his wife to get in the buggy. Anne was ready to throw in the towel but Kathryn said to give it one more chance and come the next day for Christmas Eve dinner.

That is exactly what they did. However, that didn’t go as planned either. I was so upset with Anne’s father. I don’t understand how he can just act as if his daughter wasn’t there. It took Anne’s husband confronting the man to change anything.

Who would have thought that Anne would give birth in her parent’s home? Who would have thought that her father would apologize for his behavior and welcome them back into their lives? Not only did Anne receive a Christmas miracle, but she received two! She was reunited with her family and gave birth to their first son.

This story was an emotional roller coaster of emotions. I found myself yelling at my book one minute and crying a river the next. Family is extremely important. The bond between a parent and their child should never be broken.

[Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

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, she doesn't receive the welcome she expects and her world begins to fall apart, leaving her to question her place in her family -- and her faith in God. 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 2 cents:

I adored this book, I thought Anna Mae was a great character. I felt for her through out this story and for her family too. She was shunned when she chose her English husband and her family took it hard. After 3 years, she writes to her sister in law to about coming out to visit. Kathryn was thrilled to hear from her and got things rolling. Everyone was worried how Anne Mae's dad was going to take the news since he is the bishop for the community. Kathryn's husband and Anna Mae's brother David, was not happy at first about the visit as he knew his dad was not going to take it well. Anna Mae is pregnant with her first child and wants to mend the relationship with her family so they can be a family again. Kellan her husband is very supportive and loves her very much. It is a touching story of love and healing. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It is an easy read.
I liked the fact that the story is not all sugar coated so to speak. Anna Mae is not as welcomed as she thought she would be. There are some tough times along with the good. It all makes the book more realistic.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok at best, I wanted to try something light and different after reading several books with difficult topics. This book was too sweet and simple for my taste, also the ending was not great for a very pregnant lady to read 😬

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. I know that there is another book after this one and I will definitely be reading it sometime. Perhaps I'll save the second one for next Christmas!

What I Liked: There were several things that I enjoyed about this story. The book was very well written and I was drawn into the lives of these characters.

Another thing that I really liked were the strong marriages in this book. Kellan was SO incredibly sweet and kind to Anna Mae and always treated her with kindness and respect. David and Kathryn's marriage was also really strong. That's something I appreciated with this book.

I really liked the storyline of this story. Anna Mae's desire to restore the relationship with her family and Kathryn's desire to help her arrange a visit was very neat to read. I enjoyed reading the letters between the sister and sister-in-law. Their close relationship was very sweet.

What I Didn't Like: Although I really enjoyed this story, it lost a star for me with all the deception in it. I especially didn't like how Kathryn went behind her husband's back and went against his wishes. Deception is a sin, and I didn't like how Kathryn felt it was "God's will" to go against her husband like she did and invite Anna Mae and Kellan for Christmas. But, I think that's the only think I really disliked about it, though.

I give this sweet Christmas story 4 stars and I look forward to reading the second book in the series sometime in the future!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I enjoy this book? I did, but it wasn’t as good as I had hoped. It was very predictable.

The characters were likable. I thoroughly enjoyed that Anna Mae’s husband wasn’t anti-Amish. So often in these books when an Englischer marries an Amish girl, that man wants the woman to disconnect completely from her upbringing. Kellan was not like that at all. And he stood up to Anna Mae’s father, the bishop. (I enjoyed that scene.)

Would I recommend it? If you like this author, then go ahead and read it. But this should not be your first book by this author. You may not want to read anymore by her.

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been four years since Anna Mae left her Amish community to become English and marry Kellan. Now expecting their first child, she longs to return home for Christmas. However, being shunned, she knows she may not be welcome, especially by her father, a strict bishop. How author Amy Clipston handles this difficult situation in which two different lifestyles clash makes for some interesting reading. Anna Mae’s sister-in-law has much compassion and love for Anna, and commits herself to healing the rift in the family, even if it means going against the wishes of her husband and his father. Well-developed characters round out this enjoyable Christmas tale.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Christmas story gets off to a slow start--the central conflict, about whether a young Amish woman who married an "Englisher" and so was shunned by her family will be welcomed if she and her husband go home for Christmas--is repeated a lot in the first 25 pages of this 125-page story. After that, it becomes pleasant but inevitably predictable. The story doesn't have room to develop some characters who just come across as mean and unyielding. Not really worth it.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars!! (Wish i could rate it 10 Stars!!)
Review:
This was my 2nd time reading this book and i still love it as much as i did the first time i read it.

The characters are still so interesting to get to know and the setting was so beautifully described!!

I do wish there was a sequel to this story tho cause i'd love to see how Kellan and Anna Mae are doing now!!

Can't wait to read more Christmas Books by Amy in the future!!

[Paula-O · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure when I read this book but when starting to read noticed ,"I had already read", did not review or put on goodreads. I love to read christmas stories so have been reading those lately ,getting ready for the season.

[Julie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book! Both stories tug on your heart strings. The first story I cried it was such an emotional ride. The second one made my heart swell with love and forgiveness. Thank you Amy for writing such beautiful novels!

[Sharon Paavola · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title describes the book well. An Amish tale of reconciliation.

[Lanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this one... too cliche and not as many of the bakery characters I've come to know.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet Christmas story. I enjoy many Amish stories but this isn't my favorite. Dialogues are cheesy at times.

[Kristi Drillien · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read, this novella left me with a lot of problems. I didn't care for most of the characters, felt that very little happened overall, and found the plot to be all too predictable.

I'll start with that last one first, because the synopsis for this book literally says that this story is "an inspiring page-turner that will keep you guessing what happens next...right to the very last page." That is a tall order for any story, be it book, movie, or television show. Christmas stories especially tend to be a bit more predictable, generally speaking, because we expect them to end on a good note. And this book in particular...well, I can't really think of anything that happened that I couldn't predict. Maybe one thing:

Though Anna Mae is the one wishing for a family Christmas, I'd say Kathryn really becomes the main character, as she was Anna Mae's contact in the Amish community, and her partner-in-crime, so to speak. Not that there was anything criminal about it. And in fact, I have to go on a tangent here and explain that I know little to nothing about Amish ways, but this book eventually explained that those who are shunned were, indeed, allowed to visit, but simply had to stay apart from the others during meals and church services. Yet Anna Mae's dad, bishop of the community, treated her as if shunning meant she didn't exist at all. It was harsh and yet explained and dissolved all too easily.

Now back to Kathryn...she grated on my nerves. For one thing, the narration tells us that she's not a proud person, but we sure do see a lot of her thinking how Anna Mae's family will have her to thank for their reunion. Plus, her husband--Anna Mae's brother--insists that she not bring Anna Mae there for Christmas for various legitimate reasons, but she does it anyway, betraying his trust and involving other family members, including her own daughter. For a Christian family, and moreso, one where it's clear the man is usually the head of the household, it really bugged me that in the end, she was seen to be right, and there were no real consequences to their relationship. I also disliked Anna Mae's father and strongly disagreed with some of his beliefs and traditions.

And finally, what made this short novel really drag on for me was that everything that happened in the book was basically repeated. By this I mean that we'd see something happen, and then the next scene would be a character recounting what had just happened for another character. But where most of us would condense that with a line like, "She explained the events to her mother," we see the entire conversation rehashing the event we'd just seen happen. This happened multiple times, which led me to start scanning to get through it more quickly.

I know that Amish fiction is an entire sub-genre within the genre of Christian fiction, and I've wondered what the appeal is for a long time. I realize that this might not have been the example to base my opinion on, but there were some things that came up that weren't part of what I didn't like about this particular book that lead me to think it won't be my cup of tea as a whole. I don't really think I could recommend this book to readers of Amish fiction either though. It just didn't have much substance.

[Keira-- OLD ACCOUNT · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 stars
That was a sweet novella. This was my first Christmas book of this year, and I didn't actually put together that it was a novella until I was halfway in, but that's fine. It made for a very light read. Last year, I read an Amy Clipston Christmas Amish short story (The Christmas Cat), and it wasn't my favorite. However, since then I've read her Roadside Assistance trilogy, so I'm definitely a fan of hers. As always, her simple writing style was amazing, and there were definitely parts of this clean little book that I very much enjoyed.
Other parts, not so much.
I liked the fact that our main character was not Amish, but had been Amish. You don't see this much in Amish fiction, but I found it very nice. Since she had previously been Amish, she understood things and didn't ask a lot of silly questions, but she wasn't a part of the Amish culture, so she didn't just accept everything going on. I also liked the themes of this story, as it was very focused on coming together and moving on. It made for a very nice, Christmas-y read, and I loved that.
Now, for the things I didn't like.
Firstly, her family, especially her dad and brother. You all know I'm not Amish. I don't believe in Amish beliefs, and I don't really like reading all that much about it, just because I quickly find myself sighing at all of the parts that I consider to be ridiculous. The disrespectful way her brother treated his wife's opinion drove me slightly crazy, although her lying and deception seemed ridiculous to me, also. Anna Mae's dad was so filled with anger and hatred that I couldn't stand it, and her mom wanted to be a respectful wife, so didn't spend time with her daughter (then came home and was rude to her husband about it, so not sure how respectful that was).
The other thing that I didn't love wasn't actually the book's fault. Anna Mae is pregnant in the book, and she kept getting upset and lying about how she was feeling, and I was so worried about that baby. I heaved a huge sigh of relief when the baby was born and doing alright! On the whole, though, I just kept worrying that things were going to take a bad turn, which took away from my enjoyment level.
All in all, I would say that it was a cute, sweet Christmas read, although I probably won't be adding it to my every-year rotation. However, if you enjoy Amish books, this one could definitely be for you! Thanks so much for reading this review, sorry it was a little long!

[Laura Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay okay okay!
I'm hopelessly addicted to Christmas year round!
Christmas music...Christmas gift making...Christmas stories...
and of course
Jesus Christ himself.
It's August and time to start thinking of Christmas publicly. ~grin~
And so, here is my first Christmas book review.

Enjoy!



Synopsis from Zondervan:
"In A Plain and Simple Christmas, from the author of the widely popular Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, shunned Anna Mae doesn’t receive the welcome she expects when she pays a visit for Christmas and her world begins to fall apart, leaving her to question her place in her family – and her faith in Amish tradition."

My take on it....

Amy Clipston, author of the Kaurffman Amish Bakery series, has baked up a delicious confection in A Plain and Simple Christmas. It is a tale of love, heartache, discernment, deceit, and hope for a Christmas miracle.

The characters are alive and real. The emotions are raw and at times unchecked. Anna Mae, a young Amish woman who left the faith to marry an Englisher, longs to be reunited to her family in Paradise. Her mother, Mary Rose, aches for her youngest daughter in the deep way only a mother can ache. Both seek Father God in prayer. Kathryn, Anna Mae's sister-in-law, longs also to see the family reunited. Will God answer her prayer for confirmation?

What about the men? Kellan, Anna Mae's husband, fulfills Anna Mae's desire to visit her family; but, how committed to reconciliation is he? Henry, Anna Mae's father, bishop of the district, has shunned his daughter for leaving the family, the faith, and him. What can soften his hardened heart? Will Anna Mae's brother, David, find it in his heart to forgive?
Is anything to hard for God?

Enter into this world of blizzards, chocolate cake, and Christmas miracles. It's a cool way to enjoy some warm hours...
even on a hot day.

Five stars.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will seek out more of Amy Clipston's books.

* I received this book from Zondervan for free in exchange for an honest review.
Written by Laura Lane at 11:10 AM