What do you think?
Rate this book
Christmas at the Mercantile
When Gabriel Esh suddenly becomes guardian to his brother's two young daughters after a tragic accident, the bachelor shopkeeper finds himself drowning in domestic chaos. Six-year-old Anna and eight-year-old Miriam are grieving, struggling at their new school, and desperately missing their mother's Christmas traditions—especially her famous cookies for the annual market.
Betty King, Gabriel's dedicated store assistant, steps in to help teach the girls their mother's treasured recipes. But Betty is engaged to Thomas Miller, and her evening baking lessons at Gabriel's home soon become the talk of their Amish community. As Christmas approaches and the girls prepare for their first market booth, Betty finds herself torn between duty to her fiancé and her growing love for Gabriel and his nieces.
When Betty discovers Thomas’s secret, she must choose between a secure but loveless future and the family that has captured her heart. But choosing love means facing scandal, family disapproval, and the possibility of losing everything she's ever known.
Set against the backdrop of an Amish Christmas market and filled with the warmth of cookie baking and found family, this heartwarming romance explores what it truly means to belong—and whether love is strong enough to overcome duty, gossip, and fear.
Sometimes the best families are the ones we choose for ourselves.
Betty King, Gabriel's dedicated store assistant, steps in to help teach the girls their mother's treasured recipes. But Betty is engaged to Thomas Miller, and her evening baking lessons at Gabriel's home soon become the talk of their Amish community. As Christmas approaches and the girls prepare for their first market booth, Betty finds herself torn between duty to her fiancé and her growing love for Gabriel and his nieces.
When Betty discovers Thomas’s secret, she must choose between a secure but loveless future and the family that has captured her heart. But choosing love means facing scandal, family disapproval, and the possibility of losing everything she's ever known.
Set against the backdrop of an Amish Christmas market and filled with the warmth of cookie baking and found family, this heartwarming romance explores what it truly means to belong—and whether love is strong enough to overcome duty, gossip, and fear.
Sometimes the best families are the ones we choose for ourselves.
121 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2025
38 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 26, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
December 18, 2025
Slander and Gossip!
I say this because it is indeed a wonderful story about overcoming loss, but I couldn’t get past the bad actors in an Amish setting. First off the bishop should have stood up for Gabriel and Betty, but he went with “people are saying” and it almost ruined a great family dynamic, and he blindly ignored the facts about her broken betrothal. Thomas cheated on Betty. Gabriel and his nieces love Betty, so I’m glad to see Gabriel stepping up and making it right. I honestly wanted more from this tale, so I was just a bit disappointed.
I say this because it is indeed a wonderful story about overcoming loss, but I couldn’t get past the bad actors in an Amish setting. First off the bishop should have stood up for Gabriel and Betty, but he went with “people are saying” and it almost ruined a great family dynamic, and he blindly ignored the facts about her broken betrothal. Thomas cheated on Betty. Gabriel and his nieces love Betty, so I’m glad to see Gabriel stepping up and making it right. I honestly wanted more from this tale, so I was just a bit disappointed.
December 31, 2025
Love
I didn't like Thomas from his first appearance. He seemed controlling and cold. When it came out that he was courting another woman while expecting Betty to plan their wedding I really detested him. Yet he never got the community gossip and dislike his behavior deserved.
I didn't like Thomas from his first appearance. He seemed controlling and cold. When it came out that he was courting another woman while expecting Betty to plan their wedding I really detested him. Yet he never got the community gossip and dislike his behavior deserved.
January 10, 2026
Great Christmas story
I enjoyed every page of this book and was happy I had chosen to read it. The young girls needed a mamm and the bachelor need a wife. Great story.
I enjoyed every page of this book and was happy I had chosen to read it. The young girls needed a mamm and the bachelor need a wife. Great story.
January 30, 2026
wedding
I felt that Betty and Gabriel would marry Betty showed Gabriel how to lovethe girls as his own Didn’t matter what the community saw and felt
I felt that Betty and Gabriel would marry Betty showed Gabriel how to lovethe girls as his own Didn’t matter what the community saw and felt
December 27, 2025
faith and love
I loved this story, what I don’t understand is why no one said anything about Thomas two timing her, not even the bishop, if anyone needed talking to it should have been him, what an A. Even after being caught he still tried to blame her.
I loved this story, what I don’t understand is why no one said anything about Thomas two timing her, not even the bishop, if anyone needed talking to it should have been him, what an A. Even after being caught he still tried to blame her.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews