It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Reads) GIVEAWAY: The Christmas Visitor (+ guest post)

today’s book: The Christmas Visitor

Welcome to another post in my annual blog series spotlighting new and recently-released Christmas reads! (Over 50 this year – And I’m SO EXCITED about it!)

Christmas is only 20 days away (Hooray!!!) and I think we all could benefit from some extra Christmas cheer this year, right? Continuing through just before Christmas, I’m going to spotlight several new/recent Christmasy releases. So… snuggle in, grab your fave hot beverage and comfiest blanket, turn on some Christmas tunes and start your bookish Christmas list! Oh… and did I mention there are GIVEAWAYS with EACH POST in this series??!! (Because authors are awesome!)

Today’s next book is a sweet Amish Christmas romance novella set on Prince Edward Island – and author Amy Grochowski shares a yummy recipe from the book!

THE CHRISTMAS VISITOR
SERIES: Amish Dreams on Prince Edward Island #0.5
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary Romance / Amish Fiction
PUBLISHER: Ambassador International
RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2020
PAGES: 223

An Amish Dreams on Prince Edward Island Novella

Every so often, first love lasts a lifetime—and what seems impossible is made possible with God.

Mattie Beller is confident God’s plan for her life does not include marriage—ever. Her poor health has kept her an outsider, even in her close-knit Amish community. But when a visitor comes to the New Hope church district for the Christmas season, Mattie’s ideas about her future are turned upside down.

Amid a growing concern over her twin brother’s choices, even as her own heart tugs in two very different directions, Mattie learns that love comes in unexpected ways and can be a truly wonderful thing.

affiliate links used

Amish Christmas with an Island Twist

by Jill Kemerer, author of The Cowboy’s Christmas Blessings

Mattie Beller and Winston Stolzfus are among those blessed few for whom first love is destined to last a lifetime—if they recognize the value of their love before it’s too late. Wrapped around their unfolding love story are the sights, sounds, and flavors of an Amish Christmas along with some unique Prince Edward Island experiences.

No spoilers here, of course, only a hint—those special PEI moments involve unexpected snowstorms and the thrill of a snowmobile ride along the Confederation Trail.

At Christmastime, Amish culture isn’t overcome with an outward change. Homes are not christened with strands of lights, although candles may glow from each window. Christmas trees and glittering ornaments are absent, instead nature’s evergreen boughs may adorn a windowsill or mantle. Frantic holiday shopping is unknown. Gift-giving is quiet and laced with personal meaning rather than expense or show.

The joy of the season is found in the giving of one’s self to others and the peace of reflecting on God’s gift of His Son. From this spirit of giving, the tradition of caroling continues in many communities, along with the custom of sharing plates filled with homemade treats. Often church members fill baskets with household items and leave them with families in need.

While the traditions surrounding Christmas vary widely from community to community among the Amish, most do recognize the holiday to some extent. One tradition to be found almost anywhere is the making of sweet treats. Thanks to a dear Mennonite friend, my personal favorites are the caramels.

Last Christmas she passed along her caramel making secrets to my boys, invited them to her kitchen and taught them step-by-step. Oh my, we had caramels enough to share with our neighbor and entire family in abundance. The boys’ cousins were thrilled!

And so, caramels weaseled their sweet way into the Beller’s dairy-farm kitchen right before my manuscript sailed through cyberspace to my editor. Maybe they’ll sneak their way into your own Christmas traditions this season as well.

Perhaps a little visit with the Amish of New Hope in their fictional community on Prince Edward Island will cheer you at the beginning of this Christmas season with a touch of romance. I wish most of all this December you may be blessed by a generous spirit of humility and peace through Christ’s love for us all.

read the scene in The Christmas Visitor
where Mattie makes this recipe!

Amy’s deep appreciation for the Amish faith and way of life stems from six years of living and working with a Beachy Amish family, as well as her own Anabaptist roots. Her debut novel, Forever Home, was a pre-published winner of Romance Writers of America’s Maggie Award and a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest. She is a member of ACFW and Word Weavers International.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Amy Grochowski is offering an ebook copy of The Christmas Visitor to TWO of my readers! (Open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What about you? What makes you want to read The Christmas Visitor by Amy Grochowski? Have you ever made homemade caramels?