It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas (Reads) GIVEAWAY: An Amish Christmas Bakery (+ guest post)

today’s book: an amish christmas bakery by amy clipston

Christmas is only 26 days away according to Google (if we get to Dec 25th and we have days left over, blame Google, not me lol.), BUT now ’tis the season when I start craving cozy Christmas reads. (Okay – I crave them all year round but now’s when I can get away with talking about them LOL) This year I’m continuing my annual blog series spotlighting new and recently-released Christmas reads, and I’m super excited! Christmas books make me happy!

So… snuggle in, grab your fave hot beverage and comfiest blanket, turn on some Christmas tunes and start your own bookish Christmas list! Oh… and did I mention there are GIVEAWAYS with EACH POST in this series??!! (Because authors are awesome!)

Today’s next featured book is an Amish fiction novella collection – plus some favorite Christmas traditions from author Amy Clipston!

AM AMISH CHRISTMAS BAKERY
GENRE: Inspirational/Amish Christmas Fiction
PUBLISHER: Zondervan
RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2019
PAGES: 416

From bestselling authors in the Amish genre come four delicious stories perfect for celebrating love, joy, and the holiday season.

Cookies and Cheer  by Amy Clipston

Alyssa Byler wants to build a sugar cookie nativity scene for her bakery’s Christmas window display—all she needs is the right cookie cutters. She turns to handsome blacksmith Kyle Smoker. Using Kyle’s handmade cutters, Alyssa created a striking display that brings more customers than she can handle. She soon realizes she’s been too busy to focus on the true meaning of Christmas—and too distracted to explore her feelings for Kyle. Together, they put aside the holiday rush to celebrate the season that brought them together.

Loaves of Love  by Beth Wiseman

Katie Swartzentruber has been left in charge of her family’s bakery, but she soon finds herself overwhelmed with orders during the holiday season. She is tempted to move her Old Order family into the modern world by using propane ovens. Meanwhile, her childhood friend Henry Hershberger is trying to find the courage to tell Katie that he’s harbored a secret crush on Katie for years. As the demands at the bakery intensify, both Katie and Henry must find the courage to go after what’s important.

Melting Hearts  by Kathleen Fuller

When her aunt Carolyn begs for help during the busy Christmas rush, Mattie Shetler eagerly packs her bags and heads to Birch Creek. She doesn’t know her uncle has also asked for help with the bakery’s new expansion from Peter Kaufman, Mattie’s sworn enemy. As the two work together, Mattie discovers not all is as it seems. With Christmas just around the corner, Mattie and Peter open their hearts for the greatest gifts of the season: forgiveness and maybe even love.

Cakes and Kisses  by Kelly Irvin

Martha Ropp works hard at her family’s bakery, making cakes and pies for community celebrations. To help during the busy Christmas season, Martha’s mother hires Ambrose Hershberger to make deliveries. Martha remembers Ambrose as a gentle giant from her school days. But the more they work together, the more they want to spend time together outside of the bakery. When both are too timid to make the first move, the town matchmakers step in.

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays are full of hustle and bustle as we rush to preparing for the coming of Christ. During this season, many folks keep certain traditions that have been passed down from generations. In my house, we have traditions that we keep, and while they may seem trivial to some, they are special to us.

Christmas Cards

Many of my friends and relatives have stopped sending out cards through “snail mail” and instead post a holiday update on social. I, however, have kept the tradition of sending out cards. I usually write out my cards in early December, and I always include a special family photo taken during the year, along with the most recent school photos of my two sons. I send cards out to old friends, former neighbors, and relatives, and I enjoy receiving them as well. Unfortunately, it seems that I receive fewer cards each year.

Advent Calendar

Receiving an advent calendar with a piece of chocolate for each day in December was a tremendous treat when I was a child, and I’ve passed this on to my children as well. Last year, I bought a calendar for each of my sons, and my older son stopped checking his in early December. So, guess who ate the chocolate for him? Yes, I did! I also shared with my mother. I plan to buy at least one advent calendar this year, since my younger son seemed to still enjoy it last year.

Decorations

We decorate both the inside and the outside of our house. The front yard is always adorned with a Christmas train I purchased when my oldest son was little, along with other cute Christmas items, including wire light-up trees and other lights. We put up our Christmas tree inside of our house in mid-December. While my husband would prefer a real tree, we switched to an artificial tree years ago after the last real tree we had welcomed ants into our house. Buying a new Christmas decoration for the tree each year is a tradition I started when my husband and I were first married. Each year, I buy at least one decoration for each member of our household, along with a decoration that includes the year on it. When we decorate the tree, I enjoy looking at the decorations and trying to remember someone special that happened he year we bought it.

Special movies

Another tradition in our house is to watch the first “Die Hard” on Christmas Eve. It was one of my father’s favorite movies, so it’s fun to sit down with my sons, husband, and mother to watch it.

Breakfast

Our favorite Christmas meal is the breakfast casserole that includes bacon, egg, cheese, and bread. My mom and I prepare the night before, and we slip it into the oven while we open our gifts and then eat it after the presents are open.

Gifts

When I was a little girl, we had the tradition of opening presents from my aunt and uncle who lived in Maine on Christmas Eve. We would open the rest of the gifts on Christmas morning. While my aunt and uncle have passed away, we have kept a tradition of opening one gift on Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas Day. We each take turns opening our presents, so we can enjoy what everyone has received.

While you prepare for Christmas, I hope that you and your family enjoy special time together and your special traditions. Merry Christmas!

My Favorite Christmas Morning Casserole:

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Casserole

9 slices white bread, crust removed, buttered, and cubed
½ lb. cheddar cheese, grated
½ lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled
6 eggs
3 cups milk
½ tsp salt

Butter 13×9 pan. Place bread cubes on bottom. Top with cheese and bacon. Combine eggs, milk, and salt and pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate until bread is soaked. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until golden brown.

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Other Authors Featured In This Collection

Amy Clipston is offering one of my readers this lovely prize pack which includes a copy of AN AMISH CHRISTMAS BAKERY, an Amish made Christmas potholder, pens, and bookmarks. (US only) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

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What about you? What interests you most about An Amish Christmas Bakery? Do you send Christmas cards?