Vikki McCombie
Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of An Amish Holiday Courtship by Emma Miller. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this delightful novel prior to publication. My opinions are mine alone, and no one has influenced them. An Amish Holiday Courtship is a lovely Amish fiction romance with endearing characters and a satisfying plot. Ms. Miller brings her amazing understanding of Amish life to this highly enjoyable Christmas tale. The pacing of this book pulled me in from the start and kept my attention until the end. Ginger Stutzman is a loveable heroine with the traditional values of an Amish young girl, ready to become a wife and mother. She sets her sights on a handsome and charming Amish man, but while he is dating her, it’s less than satisfactory because he still flirts with other girls, but she clings to her dream. She agrees to help out a widower, Eli Kutz, with his little children. As she watches his tender care toward his kinder, she longs to have that with her Amish young man. While at times I wanted to shake sense into the heroine, I could understand why Ginger fancies herself in love with boyfriend and her confused feelings toward Eli. I love how she opens her heart to Eli’s young children and her determination to do a “gut” job. I truly wanted her to find her heart’s desire, something she doesn’t understand at the start of this tale. Eli is a wonderful hero. As a widower, he’s determined to raise his children and honor his late wife’s memory. When Ginger becomes his nanny, he meets the first woman he wants since he lost his wife. I ached for him when he believes he is too old for Ginger. This kind Amish man is perfect for her. The romance between them grows from their mutual respect and their love for his children. Their strong faith pulls them together and gives the couple a much stronger bond than either of them had ever imagined. If you enjoy Amish novels with plenty of engaging characters and a wonderful Christian message, then you will love An Amish Holiday Courtship as much as I did. Amish fiction has become my recent fascination and has me searching for new novels in this genre, whether in eBook form or audio. Happy reading!
Kristina Anderson
An Amish Holiday Courtship by Emma Miller is a charming Amish novel. I thought it was well-written with realistic, endearing characters. Eli was a kindly man with a big heart while Ginger was full of life with a loving heart. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Hickory Grove, Delaware. Kent County sounds like a beautiful area. The story moves along at a steady pace which is helped by the humor. I found myself laughing often while reading An Amish Holiday Courtship. Eli has some mischievous boys and it was funny that Eli somehow ended up with holey socks when it mattered most (at his sister’s house where a guest would see his toe sticking see through the hole). There are good life lessons in this story. I like the advice and help that Mrs. Stutzman provided Ginger. Just like in real life, the path to true love is not a smooth one. Ginger learns some valuable lessons along the way and so does Eli. It will make them both stronger and better able to handle situations in the future. There was just the right amount of Christmas in the story. We get to learn about Amish traditions and how families keep to them while adding new ones. I enjoyed reading this sweet Amish tale. It is a story that took my mind off what is happening in our world. An Amish Holiday Courtship is a heartwarming story with busy boys, a cornucopia of cookies, unstitched socks, a meddlesome mama, and an arrogant lothario.