An Amish Christmas Match

Sweetbrier Creek #1

by Winnie Griggs

Can one Amish woman give a struggling widower with five rowdy boys a helping hand—and chance at love—this Christmas season?

Phoebe Kropf knows everyone thinks she’s a bit odd—and more than a little accident-prone. She doesn’t understand why they fuss over her at home rather than see her as a bright, independent Amish woman. So when a friend asks Phoebe to help care for a house full of young men in nearby Sweetbrier Creek, she leaps at the chance to prove she’s more than her shortcomings . . .

Widower Seth Beiler is in over his head with his five orphaned brieder to care for and all the Christmas orders his woodworking shop needs to fulfill. When he asked for help with some cooking and cleaning, he wasn’t expecting a housekeeper as unconventional—or lovely—as Phoebe. Yet her warm care and holiday traditions win their hearts one by one. And soon the farmhouse finally starts to feel like home again. When the Christmas season and Phoebe’s time there is nearly at an end, will Seth convince her that the greatest gift would be her staying . . . as part of their familye?

Genres: Amish Fiction, Christmas, Amish

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published September 24, 2024

About the author

Winnie Griggs grew up in south Louisiana in an undeveloped area her friends thought of as the very back of beyond. With her two younger siblings and another family of two siblings for playmates, she spent many an hour exploring the overgrown land around her home, cutting jungle trails, building forts and frontier camps, and looking for pirate ships on the nearby bayou.

Once she ‘grew up’ she found other outlets for dealing with all those wonderful, adventurous imaginary friends by filling notebooks with their stories. And somewhere along the way, those scribblings gave way to full length stories.

Eventually she found her own Prince Charming, a rancher whose white steed takes the form of a tractor and whose kingdom is situated in a small rural community that she loves to call home, and together they’ve built their own storybook happily-ever-after. Their lives together expanded to include four now grown children who share Winnie’s vivid imagination and her husband’s steadier influences and are now out in the world pursuing their own adventures.

Winnie shares her stories with readers through her writings for Love Inspired and Love Inspired Historical books. You can learn more about Winnie at www.winniegriggs.com

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet story. I liked how we were introduced to Phoebe at her family home, so we could see how she was treated there as a contrast to how Edna treated her, and how the Beiler brothers interacted with her as well.
That said, I was frustrated with Seth a lot of the time, not only with how he ended up treating Phoebe after learning of her struggles, but with how he held himself apart from his younger brothers. Especially heartbreaking were the assumptions he made about Jesse, his youngest brother.
I really liked how Phoebe came into her own and essentially taught the others (those who were willing to listen, at least!) how to treat her, and how she became a blessing not only to the Beiler household, but to the brothers themselves.
I have a sneaking suspicion about a few of the characters that might feature more prominently later in the series, and I look forward to seeing if I'm correct.
3.5 stars

[Sarah Woodhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, what a truly wonderful Christmas book this is!! I haven't had the pleasure of reading Winnie Griggs' books before but what a treat! I loved this slow burn romance between Phoebe and Seth. The whole book you find yourself longing for the time when they would finally tell each other, besides being so hardheaded and stubborn. Each one thinking that the other one already knows. People have to be told, you cannot assume that anyone knows anything, especially when it comes to hearts and feelings.

Phoebe, you just really come to admire her fiery spirit and the fact that she is just not willing to give up. I love that she tries so hard, even amongst the people who love her, who end up giving her the most criticism about her efforts. Yes, she is sometimes less than graceful and drops things but that doesn't change her spirit or her intelligence. She is a lovely young woman who certainly knows her own mind. She is a joy to watch blossom and bloom.

Seth has had a rough life, his parents have passed away and unfortunately so did his young wife, leaving him with a fragility of spirit that only Phoebe's carefree and spontaneous actions can help him heal. He has had to raise his five brothers some of them from infancy and because of that, he is extra cautious about his heart.

Everyone ends up loving Phoebe, and just when it seems like the end is nigh, you get the biggest Christmas surprise ever. I truly loved this book as you can quite literally see two souls coming together as they work together on themselves and on caring for their families. An absolutely beautiful book. I am completely enchanted. I recommend.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Winnie Griggs for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are mine and are completely honest.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The young Amish woman, Phoebe, knows everyone thinks she is a bit odd. After all, she can't read or write and is a bit clumsy. We do learn the most likely reason for her issues.


Widower Seth Beiler is in over his head. He has his five orphaned brothers to take care of, along with his business and their farm. He had someone helping him until she broke her wrist; now, he needs another housekeeper.

Phoebe is asked to come help out at Seth's farm, and despite her misgivings, she takes on the job.

This story is set just after Thanksgiving and during the rest of the Christmas holidays. While Phoebe is taking care of the brothers, she gains a lot of confidence and brings a lot of joy to this family. During these few weeks, Phoebe and Seth learn to care about each other, yet they don't show it until it is almost too late.

This excellent novel is filled with humor, joy, and a big helping of learning about Amish life. I'm looking forward to reading the next novel in this trilogy (?), and I'm assuming that it will be about the next oldest brother, Levi.

*ARC is supplied by the publisher Forever/Grand Central Publishing, the author, and NetGalley.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming and faith-stirring. A holiday romance centred around change and how difficult it can be to let go of what you’re used to in order to embrace something better.

Both Phoebe and Seth have misconstrued ideas of who they are in relation to their families and their communities. She’s an accident-prone free spirit who doesn’t quite fit in. He’s all structures and rules with not an ounce of spontaneity. When their worlds collide, the sparks begin to fly in this opposites attract slow burn romance. And I do mean slow burn, they have to learn to like each other first! 🙂

Loved both these characters, flaws and all. Their heartbreaking back stories make it easy to understand their thoughts and actions — even when I wanted to shake some sense into them. And I enjoyed Seth’s Auntie Edna’s sly matchmaking machinations. The Beiler brothers add laughter and chaos to the mix while providing a sympathetic backdrop to Seth’s and Phoebe’s blossoming romance.

A satisfying cozy Christmas read.



https://kavsbestreads.ca/2024/12/05/a...

[C Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amish Christmas Match by Winnie Griggs

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for allowing me to read AN AMISH CHRISTMAS MATCH by Winnie Griggs that will be released, September 24, 2024.

This is a delightful story with strong interesting characters and a wonderful storyline. The story is a page turner.

Ms. Griggs does not hesitate to discuss issues that plague our society. Showing that just because disabilities exist, they do not make you incapable of being a wonderful, productive, person.

It is wonderful to watch Phoebe become a strong independent woman as she helps Seth and his brothers co-exist together while still being themselves. Phoebe and Seth learn together and grow together in this story. They are surprised to learn that you can find love In the most unexpected places.

I was given an ARC by the publisher through NetGalley and was not required to give a positive review. This is a wonderful 5-star read.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Amish Christmas Match by Winnie Griggs is a cute story. I enjoyed getting to know Phoebe, Seth, Edna, and Seth’s brothers. I liked that the characters were realistic with flaws. I felt for Phoebe who is smart as a whip but feels dumb because she is unable to read. I can just imagine what school must have been like for Phoebe. The opportunity to work in the Beiler home will get Phoebe away from her well-meaning family and give her a chance to prove she is an independent adult. It may help her gain some much-needed confidence as well. Edna, Phoebe’s friend and a Beiler’s relative, is a sweet and helpful woman (she is wily as well). I liked reading about how the Amish decorate for Christmas and celebrate the holiday. The story has humor, family, friendship, romance, faith, and joy. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Sweetbriar Creek series. An Amish Christmas Match is a sweet story with tumbling baked goods, boisterous brothers, orders galore, mouthwatering meals, creating cards, helpful tips, and a happy holiday.

[Irene S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance that can be enjoyed any time of year. Phoebe is asked to be a temporary housekeeper to Ben and his younger brothers. This will give her a fresh start since her family treats her like a child. Ben is overwhelmed with his responsibilities to his family and his chess set carving business and likes to make lists. Phoebe will bring a fresh breath of air to Ben and his family with her fresh approach to their home and her sweet cookies. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I love the story, Phoebe, Ben, and all his brothers. I like how Edna takes an unconventional approach to opening both Ben's and Phoebe's worlds.

[Vicky Sluiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The Beiler brothers were so much fun, and so caring of Phoebe. And then there was Seth, trying to be dad to everyone. Such well developed characters, I’d love to see more of this family.

Phoebe just wanted to be treated “normal”. Edna was trying to bring confidence to her. I loved both of these women. It would be great to sit down and have coffee with them.

Full of fun, family, friendship, and laughter, only one thing kept me from giving it 5 stars. It’s a Christmas story but didn’t have a lot of Christmasy stuff in it. Just a bit towards the end, But if you enjoy Amish fiction do read this book. You won’t be sorry!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved An Amish Christmas Match by Winnie Griggs! It was one of those books that I didn't want to put down, but I also didn't want to finish it because I was enjoying it so much.

Phoebe's family believes her to be incapable of anything more than the simplest of tasks. She has the opportunity to prove herself by running a household for a friend's family which consists of six brothers a few hours away. Not only does Phoebe run the household well, but she brings out the best in everyone who lives there. The romance that develops between Phoebe and one of the brothers is well done and faces complications of a possible matchmaker and Phoebe's inability to read and write.

If you like Amish romance, I highly recommend this book!

[Dali Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Wonderful!

This story is not at all what I expected. For one, I expected to read a little and then set it aside until I could read more. However, once I started, I could not put it down until I'd read the last page. The second unexpected was the wonderful characters in the story. Each one added such a special touch to the story. It was absolutely wonderful!

And what did I love? I loved seeing Phoebe become her own person by overcoming her past and the limitations her family had placed on her. She is extremely unique, loving, intuitive, caring, and such an overcomer.

I also loved seeing Seth's transformation, especially how it happened without him noticing. Watching him go through the changes, along with the impact of those changes and Phoebe's influence on him and the brothers, was just sheer joy.

I can't say enough about this wonderful story. I can only add that it is a definite must-read that you don't want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoebe's family coddled her because she is clumsy so she left to help the Beiler family who all welcomed her and never made her feel "less than." With the help of her friend, Edna, Phoebe became more independent and confident.

Seth, who has been the father figure since the death of their parents, learns to loosen up thanks to Phoebe.

This was my first time reading a Winnie Griggs book, but it won't be the last. I didn't know this book was part of a trilogy and I'm looking forward to reading the other books and hoping the series will expand and each brother will get his own book.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amish Christmas Match is such an inspiring story written by Winnie Griggs. I enjoyed this story for several reason but watching Phoebe overcome her disabilities and the way people receive her was inspiring. I enjoyed each character within the story as well. This author has a unique writing style that draws the reader in and keeps them wanting more. The cover of this book really puts you in the holiday mood.

I received an advanced complimentary copy of this book to read through Netgalley but was not expected to post a favorable review.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amish Christmas Match is a fun start to the Sweetbriar Creek Series. Phoebe Kropf knows that everyone feels she is a bit odd and accident prone. When the chance to prove herself comes around, she jumps at the chance. Seth Beiler is in over his head with christmas orders for his shop and caring for his five orphaned brothers who can be quite the handful. Will two souls find each other? I loved this start and look forward to the next. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

[Sherry Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet story of how even someone with disabilities, as other people viewed Phoebe, can learn to find their place in this world. She is asked to help a young widower, Seth, with his five orphaned brothers. Set during the holidays, Seth and Phoebe learn to care for each other, but will it be too late before they share their love?

I enjoyed this book very much and would highly recommend it to those who enjoy reading Amish people.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the advanced copy of the book. The opinion expressed is my own.

[Michelle Rhoden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always find Winnie Griggs books to be refreshing and fascinating and this one did not disappoint. Such a delightful story just in time for Christmas which would make a great gift for the book reader in your life. I enjoyed seeing how Phoebe and Seth grow in their confidence throughout the storyline. They come to rely on each other for encouragement and strength as they boost one another’s weakness the longer they spend time together. Such a sweet book, you will not want to put it down.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher. All words are my own.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet story. Phoebe has been treated differently by her family since she was a young girl. All because she had a hard time learning to read and write. She can barely do either. She has no confidence in herself. Then she becomes a temporary housekeeper for Seth and his brothers and she blossoms. Becoming the woman she was meant to be. Sweet , lovable and a little quirky.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know Phoebe, Seth, Edna and Seth's brothers. I loved how close they grew together and became a family. Such a wonderful story with a Christmas theme.

[Samantha Worley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick easy read that can teach everyone a thing or two about life and how to treat people.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed book, too bad there was a sort of conflict at first. But in solving the problem, it fits in more with how treatment of others should be faced.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

very very good book

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN AMISH CHRISTMAS MATCH is filled with twists and turns. I had to know where Winnie Griggs was taking us and what would happen to all the people in this wonderful community. I love how Phoebe moves in within this family and takes over their crazy and chaotic lives. Seth starts to see Phoebe in a whole new light. She wins over the brothers, five brothers I might add, as well as Seth. There is so much heart in Winnie’s writing that I was left with a huge smile on my face and my heart very happy. All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I had known them for a long time. Fans of Amish fiction will love this book! After finishing this heartwarming story, I had an overwhelming need to play a game of chess.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Fresh Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

You can read my complete review at:

https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...

[Miranda Okleberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet tender love story. Pheobe was so earnest and endearing that it was impossible not to love her. Seth was so funny with his rigidity and refusal to admit he was in love. The character development of these two was outstanding. Love truly changed them for the better.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amish Christmas Match by Winnie Griggs, book one in the Sweetbrier Creek series, tugs at your heart, holding you hostage until the very last page; I could not put down, reading it in one day. Phoebe Kropf knows that everyone feels she is a bit odd and accident prone. Her mother is not comfortable letting her work in her kitchen. When a chance to prove she is competent arises, she jumps at the chance. Seth Beiler is in over his head between Christmas orders for his shop, taking care of their farm, and caring for his five younger orphaned brothers; who can be quite the handful.

Phoebe is quite intelligent, having learned how to cope because of her inability to read. Unfortunately, she is criticized and made to feel stupid because others did not understand her disability; including her mother. The opportunity to work in the Beiler home will get Phoebe away from her well-meaning family and give her a chance to prove she is an independent adult. It may help her gain some much-needed confidence as well. Edna, Phoebe’s friend and a relative of the Beilers, is a sweet and helpful woman.

It was heartwarming watching Phoebe become stronger, confident, and independent as she helps Seth and his brothers live together, while still being themselves. Phoebe and Seth learn together and grew together while finding love in the most unexpected places.

I enjoyed this story with its humor, family, friendship, romance, faith, joy, tumbling baked goods, boisterous brothers, orders galore, mouthwatering meals, creating cards, helpful tips, and a happy holiday.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Forever