An Amish Christmas Kitchen ~ A Great Gift For The Season

I love to read and I read a lot. I always have a book with me when I go places since I don't know how long I will be waiting at the places I go. This current book was perfect for that.

About the book:
An Amish Christmas Kitchen: Three Novellas Celebrating the Warmth of the Season written by Leslie Gould, Jan Drexler, and Kate Lloyd , is the perfect gift for an avid reader in your home.

As the weather grows cold and the nights grow long, the cheer and warmth of the Christmas season is one thing all readers can find comfort in. This collection from bestselling Amish fiction novelists Leslie Gould, Jan Drexler, and Kate Lloyd finds the beating heart at the center of the holiday and offers three novellas that celebrate family, faith, and especially the sights and smells of a bustling holiday kitchen.

Leslie Gould tells the story of how, in the wake of a heartbreaking loss, a young Amish woman finds unexpected comfort and hope in a yearly baking tradition surrounding the local Lancaster Christmas market. Jan Drexler offers a sweet tale of a shy Amish woman who decides to use her gift for sweets to woo a local Amish boy with her beloved Christmas cookies. And Kate Lloyd offers a heartwarming tale of a woman's unexpected discovery about the truth of her past, and the warm and welcoming Amish family table she finds herself invited to on Christmas.

What I thought about the book:
An Amish Christmas Kitchen is a lovely book with three novellas that you can easily read in an afternoon. I loved how quickly I could identify with the characters and how sweet the stories were. Each story was set in the same time period and you could sense the area of the country where they took place, along with the simple lifestyle of the Amish. The sweet romances that took place were very touching and helped you root for the main characters to find happiness, especially during the Christmas season. This would make a great gift for a friend or loved one for Christmas! Fair warning, reading this will make you want to go bake or visit a bakery.

You can find the book on Amazon and in local book stores!

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

A Book You Won't Want To Put Down

Starting from Scratch
by Kate Lloyd


I was never a big fan of Amish books, but this one is so different from others I have read. I was genuinely surprised at how wonderful this book was. It was hard to put it down.

The book was written in first person, drawing you into the world of Eva Lapp. She is a very believable character, and you are drawn into her life quickly, caring about what happens to her and those she loves. Things happened in her past that others twisted into painful gossip, something most everyone has experienced.

Eva was sure she would spend the rest of her life alone; no husband, no children. It was not what she wanted, but she was determined to make the best of things alone. Little did she know how much her life really was going to change.

The characters in the book are all people you can relate to, albeit some are a little eccentric, and it was enjoyable to see how each brought something special, although not always enjoyable, to Eva's life. Her faith and trust in God is stretched and she grows in ways she never expected.

This is a book I can recommend with no reservations. It is the second in the Lancaster Discoveries series, yet is an excellent stand-alone book.

You can purchase your own copy HERE!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.

One Of The Nicest Recipe Books I Have Ever Received

I was so excited to receive this book to review. I grew up in an area of Western NY where many Amish and Mennonite lived. When I got married, I moved to an area of Indiana where many Amish and Mennonite live. You can imagine the chances I have had to try their fabulous, down-home cooking over the years.

This cookbook is absolutely wonderful. It is full of traditional recipes we all associate with Mennonite cooks. The book is divided into sections, making it easy to find a main dish, side dish or specific kind of dessert. What I really like are the wonderful memories you get to read that are associated with specific recipes. It makes them more personal. I can relate to that as I have many recipes that are special to me and my family.

The photographs in the book are just lovely and makes me think of the many drives we have made through the Mennonite and Amish communities near us. But the best thing are all the wonderful recipes. They are easy to read and follow. There are even extra little tips included in some. Many are simple and traditional and a few things are thrown in that we "English" may not know much about.

This is a wonderful cookbook and I think it would make a great gift for a new or old bride!

About the book:
Gather Around the Amish Table (MennoMedia, September 2015) Straight from Amish kitchens to yours, this cookbook offers favorite family recipes and charming stories from Amish and Mennonite cooks. Bake the pecan rolls that taste best after an ice-skating party, or try the hoagies that a community sold to help an Amish family with hospital bills. Discover the cocoa cupcakes with instructions to "stir by hand" that one young cook took literally, or whip up the whoopie pies that one Amish woman took to market in her horse and buggy. These cherished recipes speak of comforting traditions, lively communities, and strong Christian faith. Gather your family around the table to sample the nourishing fare and trademark charm of the plain people. In the words of one cookbook contributor: "Bake someone happy!"

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/1NfOVUi

About the author:
Lucy Leid is an Old Order Mennonite wife, mother, and cook in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

(there is no photograph of Lucy in compliance to the wishes of her faith. They believe having their photograph taken is a form of graven image and would be a sin.)

The reviewer has been compensated with receiving the product free in order to bring you an honest review. All opinions are those of the reviewer.