Amish White Christmas Pie

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Step into Amish country for this bittersweet holiday romance. Here you'll meet Will Henderson, a young man tortured by his past, and Karen Yoder, a young woman looking for answers. Add a desperate father searching for his son, and you have all the ingredients for a first-class romance that will inspire and enthrall.

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

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda's stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.

Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

Reviews

[Sally Lindsay-briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable Christmas Amish story with a White Christmas pie recipe at the end. Karen and Will are engaged but he still wonders why his father left him at 6, and he never returned or communicated. Will’s father wants to reconnect but is reluctant to do so. Relationships and forgiveness can be very complicated. There is an abundance of old time religion: Bible verses, salvation plan and how to use prayer. Lovely! There was not much in the novel about Christmas just a little bit towards the end. It was still very inspirational.

[Sharon Chance · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll have to say that I got a little impatient with this book - lots of angst and whining by the father who had abandoned his son, and by the son himself. I usually like Wanda Brunstetter's books, but this one was a disappointment.

[Wendi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a nutshell: A wonderfully written book surrounding the Amish culture. Through the interactions and conversations of the characters in the book, we see how important faith and supportive relationships are, as well as communication and honesty. A very enjoyable and easy read (once you get used to a few of the harder Amish words, which were fun to try and say ;) ). This book provides the reader with small insights into the Amish life and character. I love what Ms. Brunstetter does near the end of the book to wrap the story up. As a special bonus, she DOES include a recipe for White Christmas Pie at the end of the book.

My Review:
Meet Will Henderson, who has lived with his Amish "parents" for the past 16 years, after his father mysteriously leaves him to find a more stable job.

Mark and Regina have raised Will as their own son. He is on the cusp of marriage to Karen Yoder, a wonderful Amish girl. With thoughts of his real father, and feelings of abandonment, he becomes moody, causing his loved ones to wonder if the marriage will happen, and if Will will choose remain among the Amish.

As a reader, we discover that Will's father Frank has remarried and now has two daughters. With the support of his family and Karen, we find that things with his real father may not be as straight-forward as Will thought.

Will a life-threatening buggy accident pull the family, including Frank and his new family, closer, or will it tear the family apart?

Characters: The characters are wonderfully written, with depth of character and personality.

Story-Line: There are a lot of children today who do not know what happened to their birth parents, or why they aren't with them. This book gives perspective to the fact that our assumptions aren't always correct. I loved this story! I especially like that I was able to learn a little about the Amish that I didn't already know.

Readability: This was a very enjoyable and easy read.

Overall: A very nice story, with touches of faith, holiday spirit, and romance. A book that everyone should find enjoyable.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly what I was expecting due to the name...I had anticipated a Christmas themed story but it really wasn't. More Thanksgiving if you had to choose a holiday. I felt a bit short changed because I enjoy reading mostly Christmas themed books in December. It was pretty good overall but it
was a touch preachy and felt more "surface" to me. Not a lot of depth.

Will was abandoned as a child to an Amish family and has personal problems regarding his feelings with what happened. His birth father is still missing him 16 years later and hopes to contact him in some way. Meanwhile, Will & his fiancée Karen are experiencing a little jealousy of each other. Tons of misunderstandings and missteps surround the story until it comes to its conclusion.

[Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very frustrating at times. I thought the story premise was good, but Will is one of the most frustrating characters I've ever read. He is constantly running out on people when all he would need to do is stay and listen a little longer and miscommunication would stop happening. The miscommunication between him and Karen was very annoying. Also, is it just me or was there hardly any chemistry between the two of them? All their relationship is, is him running out on her because of a dumb argument. 🤦

"Pop" (or Frank) also had his frustrating moments too as well as his wife Megan.

I liked how it all worked out in the end, but this book was just ok. I will probably be donating it.

[Patricia Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHITE CHRISTMAS PIE WANDA BRUNSTETTER

Sixteen years ago, Will Henderson was left in the care of an Amish couple, while his father left to make a better life for the both them.
During this time, Will has joined the Amish church and is about to be married to Karen Yoder.
When Will reads in the paper about an abandoned child, old memories start to surface about the time his father left him.
The one thing that weighs on Will's mind is will he destroy his family, like his father, Frank , did to him.
Frank Henderson searches for his son, Will, whom he left in the care of an Amish couple. Frank wants to make things "right" with Will.
When Frank is finally reunited with his son, can Will find it in his heart tor forgive his father. Will a recipe card for White Christmas Pie contain the truth that will release Will of all the bitterness that he has had towards his father all these years.
If you are looking for a heartwarming story of romance and forgiveness for the holiday season, I suggest that you get a copy of Wanda Brunstetter's White Christmas Pie. It is a very good story of how a father and son reconcile and forgive each other.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: White Christmas Pie This story is about Will Henderson and his troubled past. What happen to Will that he feels like he could not feel loved. Will he find answers about what happen to him. We also meet a young woman that is Amish. Will their be a romance between Karen and Will? We also have a desperate father looking for his son. Who this father and is search for his son. Was ever happen that created Will feel abandonment. The couple that Will is living with seem to have decided to adopt him. Karen is looking for answers but what kind of answers. When she starts looking it seems to have her run into Will Henderson life. What will Karen decide and Will Henderson decide to do? Will Henderson become Amish or will they not. This sweet story is lovely and done well. Their seem that the White Christmas Pie recipe has a message and the key to this lovely mystery Will Henderson past. This recipe seem to help Karen as well. This is wonderful for the holiday season and how it ends.

[Tina Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

is book is another must read this Christmas and is not to be over looked any longer.

I can say now that I have read all of Wanda E. Brunstetter's books.
Wanda E. Brunstetter doesn't disappoint her readers with her books and what God wants to write to get a message acroos.

The message in White Christmas Pie was plain and clear through out the book.

This book is another must read this Christmas and is not to be over looked any longer.

[Melissa (christianbooksandcoffee)]

DNF
Well I went to page 67 and I’m going to quit. I’m just not interested enough in it and it’s pretty cheesy at times with the drama. I just don’t think I’m the target audience for this book.

[kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story, a bit preachy for my taste and somewhat heavy-handed. Will's sadness/anger of being left with the Amish couple sixteen years ago followed by his father's disappearance from his life is understandable, but it's mentioned over and over and over by everyone; his adoptive parents, his fiancee, his best friend. There's no subtlety and the dialogue feels very stilted, doesn't seem to flow the way people normally speak.
The story itself, is an intersting tale and I wanted Will's heart to be healed and for him to find peace with his life.
I've read other books about the Amish so it isn't the subject matter, I think it's possibly the writing style that I didn't enjoy so much. This isn't the worst book I've read, but it also isn't the best.
The pie recipe is included which is nice.

[Sheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Functional but inept. The prose is clunky, the characterization thin. I had problems keeping track of some of the minor characters because they all seemed to have the same personality (minor female to male differences). One character is repeatedly described as being an annoying jokester, but he never really acts that way. Way too much telling, not enough showing when it comes to a lot of stuff, actually. The plot hinges on characters ignoring the obvious and on highly unlikely timing. The foreshadowing beats you over the head. The main character and his father are both whiners.

Read it all and didn't hate it, but don't recommend it, either. If you've got a lot of time on your hands and are craving an Amish romance, not a terrible choice, because heaven knows there are worse ones out there.

[Morgan Giesbrecht · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had heard great things about this book for years, but I was majorly disappointed. The writing style was rather weak, and the characters were flat. However, my major qualm was all the red flags in the romantic relationships in the story - the idea that marriage will fix a couple’s issues; an engaged couple that can’t communicate; jealous/borderline possessive lovers (who are getting married in 2 months) constantly blaming each other of being in love with someone else; comments about a woman being able to fix her fiancé; and that’s just scratching the surface. I don’t like DNFing so I stuck the book out, but I was rather annoyed by the end. I’ve read other books by the author and enjoyed them, but sadly, this was not one of them.

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice story about forgivenessd

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a nice story and had a little bit of a different story line compared to other fictional Amish stories. However, I did find the book a little slow particularly at the beginning. Overall, was an enjoyable, easy read.

[Patsy Irvine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. Recipes at the end of the book for food and hot chocolate they had on the book. Neat

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just in time for the holidays--Thanksgiving and Christmas--we've got a new book by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Set within the Amish community, White Christmas Pie is the story of a young man on the verge of marriage who is haunted by his past. When he was six years old, his father abandoned him. He left him in the care of an Amish couple. It's not that Will had an unhappy childhood. His new parents treated him well. Better than "well" in fact. It's not that Will is unhappy as an adult. He's happy being Amish and balancing life on the farm with life behind the counter at the family's health food store. He's even happy in love mostly. He's engaged to marry Karen Yoder. But whenever he thinks about his father, his biological father, he gets angry--very angry, very bitter. He's been repressing his emotions obviously all these years.

Mark and Regina are his adoptive parents. When they see an ad from Will's father, Frank, in the paper, Regina decides to go against her son's wishes and contact him. Turns out that his father does love him--did love him--but circumstances prevented him from returning for his son earlier.

But just because Regina reaches out to Frank doesn't mean Will will...he's stubborn, angry, and determined to keep his father out of his life.

If I ended the review there, I'm sure some would be happier with me. I felt White Christmas Pie was dinky. Didactic or preachy in a few places. Implausible and far-fetched in others. Everything resolves around a few key plot elements that are just corny and over the top.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story of love and forgiveness. Its many twist and turns kept turning the pages for the answers as to why his non-Amish father never contacted his Amish family about him. Did he not care?
This book is a bit different than most Amish stories I have read in that Willie Henderson has been left with an Amish Couple by a non-Amish father and nothing else has been heard from him. Now a young man in his twenty’s have embraced the Amish faith and about to be married to a young Amish girl Karen Yoder. All he knows is his Mom had died earlier but what of his father, why did he leave him with Mark and Regina and never contacted them again?

Mid story we are introduced to Will's biological father, Hank who is bitter with not being able to find the family he had left his son. Although he has started a new family has never stopped look for this son even when he has started a new family. I love how his wife to be took on a search without his knowledge giving him a gift of his past.

I enjoyed reading this book and its ending (hope other readers will enjoy as well). Of course the recipe of the Christmas Pie was an added bonus for trying on a snowy day.

[Sharon Huether · Rating 3 out of 5]

White Christmas Pie by Wanda E. Brunstetter This is a story of love and forgiveness in the Amish community. An English boy was lefgt at an Amsh couples home, while his real father left to find a better job so he could spend quility time with his son. The father was hurt in a bad truck accident which took him a year to recover. He went back to the Amish couples farm, they had moved to another states unknown to him. Sixteen years passed and the boy grew up Amish all the while he wondered what happened to his father. The Father always felt guilty for not finding his son. Through intervention of the fathers new wife, they were united.

[Lauralee Bliss · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this book were geared toward early teens, I would give it four stars. But since it is listed as an adult novel, I had to give it two. The story was okay but it lacked in depth, description, and dialogue for an adult-type read. And I must say I was quite perturbed at the hero's lack of maturity for one about to be married. Makes me wonder how the marriage will go after the fact.
Also, I was concerned about the recipe for the pie that calls for using uncooked egg whites and possible salmonella issues. Just something I noticed.

[Adrienne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was awful! Written just terribly! It wasn't the Amish theme or even lack of more gritty plot elements that made me rate this book so low. It was the corny, unrealistic dialogue and "shocking" plot turns that I found most irritating. Was this written for a second grader or an adult? Plus the interspersing of Amish words and then their forced and contrived definitions in the next character's response was distracting and annoying.

[Agnes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good premise - a man leaves his 6 year old with an Amish couple, then disappears. 16 years later, they are reunited. He had tried to find them earlier, but they moved. Didn't try very hard though, a simple ad in a Amish newpaper and bingo, he's found.
I hated the "jealousy" episodes - an engaged couple gets very jealous on numerous occasions when their fiance/ee is seen talking in public to another person. Seriously??
Good message though - pray, trust in God not yourself.

[Lynda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love to read Amish stories. And I love to read Christmas stories. So I was sure this book was going to be a winner. Sadly, it was not. Weak on Amish knowledge and story felt thrown together. Cannot recommend.

[Marris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but it seemed to end rather abruptly.

[Rhonda McCoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first Wanda Brunstetter book that I couldn't wait to be over. Will is a whiney ballbag and his Pop isn't much better. Predictable ending preceded by much angst. Disappointing.

[Shannon McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A winter wedding is planned for the Amish couple Will and bride-to-be Karen. Will was originally born in the English world, but at 6, his real father left him with an Amish couple, Mark and Regina. His father had meant to come back for Will after a couple of months but terrible circumstances happened that kept him from writing or physically getting him. When he finally did come for him Will and his adoptive family moved and his father had no way of finding him. Will now an adult and soon to be married still has abandonment issues. After 16 years his father has found him and wants to reconnect. Will must find a way to deal with his anger and find a way to forgive.


I am a fan of Amish fiction for two reasons: One is because they are light-hearted, cozy, and don’t need much brain power. Two my mother really liked them and now that she has passed away they make me think of her. This one was one of the last ones she had read. It was a comforting read. The back and forth between the Amish families and then Will’s English family felt different than some Amish fiction and I liked it because of that.


I was hoping for it to take place during Christmas but in reality, it doesn’t get to the holiday until the end of the book. I was also surprised there was no recipe in the back of the book for the pie because I have seen books that do put the recipes in the end.


Even with the holiday misdirection I still like Wanda Brunstetter’s Amish fiction more than others because I feel her books are always lite.

[Joe-lisa Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanda Brunstetter has taken us through another heart-warmer (and page turner!) in White Christmas Pie. In this story, we are introduced to Will, a young man about to marry his Amish girlfriend, Karen Yoder. As a young boy, Will's father left him to be looked after by an Amish couple, Mark and Regina Stotlzfus, until he could find a better job. Through a series of misunderstandings and tragic events, Will's father doesn't return and Will is raised by Mark and Regina to become the young Amish man he is today. When an event occurs that reminds him of his abandonment, he is thrown into an emotional tailspin, and the only way to come out of it is for Will to have answers to the questions that have haunted him for most of his life. Will he get the answers he needs, and will they be enough? Will he marry Karen Yoder? Can he move forward, or will he be lost forever in the hurts of his past? I really liked the way all the loose ends were tied up, with a few surprises thrown in at the end that I didn't see coming, but that made the story complete. I don't want to give the story away, you'll have to read it yourself, but I will tell you that for the last three chapters in the book, I was reading through my tears, and I couldn't put the book down and read it in record time. Wanda Brunstetter has delivered another great story! The recipe at the end was an added bonus!

[Staci Kinman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a heartwarming story! It takes place in the fall and Christmastime, though it's not overly Christmasy! I enjoyed this book, right in the middle of Spring. It's a great read for any time of year! I find it interesting that even with all of my knowledge about Amish and traditional Amish dishes, White Christmas Pie is one I had never heard of, so it was neat that the story unfolded around this special holiday dish. And, as is true with so many of Wanda's books, the recipe for the pie is included at the end of the story. The main character certainly has his share of turmoil, and is hesitant to accept good things in life because of the pain he carries from his past. He is a relatable character, and works through a lot of deeply personal issues as he attempts to move on from boyhood to manhood. There are Englisch (non-Amish) and Amish characters that interact together in the story, which makes the story very realistic! Make sure that you have enough time to sit and finish the story by the time you reach Chapter 26, because you will not be able to put it down until you know how the story ends! It's a wonderful, inspirational book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Amish fiction, Christian fiction, or books that just make you feel good. It's a great reminder that there is room in our lives for all kinds of family!

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

White Christmas Pie is a very heartwarming story written by Wanda Brunstetter. This story is so full of emotions that it will tug at the readers heartstrings. The characters are very likeable and become like family. At the end of the story the author has included the recipe for White Christmas Pie and it really sounds delicious.

Will Henderson was abandoned by his father sixteen years ago. Will was left with an Amish family who raised him within the Amish faith. Will has been baptized and preparing to marry Karen Yoder. But when Will starts putting up walls Karen is at a loss as to what to do. When Will's father starts feeling guilting for abandoning him he begins to search for him. When Will discovers the truth about who he really is will he be able to forgive his father and still marry Karen?How does a recipe card for White Christmas Pie play into Will's decision?

I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.

Congratulations to Wanda Brunstetter on writing another inspiring story for her readers enjoyment.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the Amish White Christmas Pie to be a satisfying and heat-touching read. Will Henderson, the major character, was left with an childless Amish couple to be raised after his mother passes away and his father can't care for him while working as a truck driver. Will's father had meant to return for him, but why didn't he? After being raised in an AMish household, Will joins the Amish church and meets a wonderful girl he is engaged to marry. While Will is happy that he had a good life, he has internal feelings about his father that affect his faith and trust. Can he move past these feelings and forgive his father? Unbeknowst to Will, his father has issues of his own and guilt for leaving Will all those years ago. Both parties must face their feelings and regrets when the chance to meet comes. But when Will is hurt in an accident, both his Amish and English families must come together, and faith and forgiveness are the keys to the future. This book was a wonderful story that I really enjoyed. I loved seeing the characters grow in their faith and for them to find an ending that brought everyone happiness and a future they could look forward to together.

[Shelly Hammond · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)
This is a sweet story about a boy (Will) who is left with an Amish family when he is young. He is raised Amish and finds his life to be very good. He loves his 'parents', is set to marry in just a short while, and enjoys his Plain life. The only thing that haunts him is the father who left him all those years ago. Why did he not leave a note like he said he would? Why did he never come back for him? These things are a constant in the back of his mind.
On the other end, the father who left him is also constantly thinking of his son. Things may not be as they seem and both of these men may need to work towards finding peace.
A lot happens in this book but it is a little slow moving in some ways. It's excellent in showing the way the Amish live, work, and act. A lot of the story is focused around Will and his wife to be, Karen. They have ups and downs as their nuptials approach and you get to follow them. I don't want to give anything away so I won't go in depth with the story but it's got a lot in there.
It's a good book and a solid story. Worth reading.