The Gist:
Annie has always dreamed of
visiting New York City, ever since her mother brought her a snow globe when she
was younger.
At a
time in her life, when young Amish adults are made to decide whether they want
to be baptized into the church or leave the simple life behind, this dream trip
could tip the scales. On the other
hand, there is Aaron, the man who has grown up with Annie and, in adulthood,
come to believe that they are meant to be.
As Annie, her
family, and Aaron wonder through the sites of New York at Christmastime, she is
forced to examine whether she should follow her career ambition of writing, or
give a second look to an old friend who might be the central piece in the
future she could have.
Readers journey
from Amish country, Paradise Pennsylvania, to the big city with the Bontrager
family, in this fourth book in the Quilts of Lancaster County series.
What I Thought:
This
novel was an incredibly refreshing read.
So often it seems as though we get caught up in things that do not matter,
and neglect the blessings that we receive all of the time. Reading about the Bontrager family,
with their “simple” beliefs, made me open my eyes to all of the wonders in my
community, and in my life.
I have read the
first book in this series a while ago, so I was familiar with the Bontrager
dynamic, however it did take me a little bit of time to readjust to the
characters, and place all of the family members with the amount of back story I
need. Although I do believe that
there is enough background given on the previous stories, I would suggest
reading at least the first novel, A Time to Love, since this family did
not form in a traditional way, you will not be disappointed, it is also a
fabulous read. I personally am
looking forward to reading the second and third book in the series to see what
I have missed!
Miss Cameron has
a way of writing about the Amish community, that makes readers feel as though
they are an invited guest, sipping hot tea in the kitchen as a family that is
not caught up in the trappings of modern day society works, plays, dreams, and
loves. You really get a sense of
this religion, not so much in the specifics, or history, but more in the way
you’d get to know what it is really about by living it, or watching members
live, without them knowing you were there.
I left this book feeling as though I would miss the
characters. Annie is very
relatable in the sense that everyone goes through a struggle in their young
life, where they need to decide who they want to be, and what sacrifices that
they are willing to make to get there.
Jenny, Annie’s mother, is the mother that I strive to be; she is caring,
warm, and genuinely interested in her children’s thoughts and feelings. Aaron is a genuinely good guy; readers
will root for him, as he tries to open Annie’s eyes to a future that could
fulfill more dreams than one.
If you are looking for a good clean story, that puts
the emphasis of Christmas back on God and family, I highly recommend this
book. Grab a cup of tea, cuddle
under a blanket, and let yourself be overtaken with the Christmas Spirit with Annie’s
Christmas Wish available now!
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