Title: A Simple Christmas Wish
The Gist:
Rachel is enjoying spending time with her
seven-year-old niece Holly in a Chicago sky-rise, while her brother and
sister-in-law are on an anniversary trip.
When the heartbreaking news of their plane crash is delivered, Rachel
assumes that she, being Holly’s only known relative, will be awarded full
custody. Unfortunately her
brother’s will was written at a time when Rachel was estranged from the couple,
and custody was granted to Aunt Lydia, Holly’s mother’s sister, a women who
Holly had not only never met, but never even knew existed.
Rachel is given the task of delivering this fragile
little girl to her new home on an Amish farm in Ohio, but she will not hand her
over unless she is sure it is for the best. Ready to give it everything she has to convince Lydia that
she and Holly belong together, Rachel is forced to examine what really is the
best thing for the child.
Head to Amish country, and witness a simple Christmas
full of sometimes forgotten joys like riding in a horse-drawn buggy, board
games with family, the birth of a calf, and even a touch of possible romance.
What I thought:
Melody Carlson’s Novella’s never disappoint! Give me a wonderful, warm Christmas
story, and I’m a happy girl; also include an Amish aspect, a child, and a
budding romance? You’ll probably
be able to hear me sigh! This
story will pull on your heartstrings, making you cry on one page and smile on
the next.
I am always amazed when an author can convey such a
depth of emotion in such a limited amount of pages, but my heart broke for
Holly and for Rachel a couple of times over the course of this read. That being said, this story was written
so beautifully that I couldn’t bear to put it down and leave these characters
for a second, I had to know how it turned out.
It was very easy for me to identify with Rachel, and
not see the situation from Lydia’s point of view, but Miss Carlson even
remedied that with a conversation between Rachel and Lydia’s mother asking
Rachel (and readers), to think about what is truly best for the child. The romance aspect of this book is
incredibly subtle so as not to take away from the central storyline of the
“fight” for Holly, but entirely refreshing, sweet and sincere.
Please pick up a copy of this book, it will make you
feel real emotions for characters that you will quickly love, and leave you
feeling satisfied and happy.
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