An Amish Gift: A Novel by Cynthia Keller

From the author of An Amish Christmas and A Plain & Fancy Christmas comes a heartwarming novel of marriage and family, new beginnings and poignant homecomings-just in time for the holidays.

After her husband, Shep, loses his latest job, Jennie Davis is grateful to be in a car en route to beautiful Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Shep has inherited a house from a distant cousin, along with the cousin's long-established bicycle shop. The move gives Jennie, Shep, and their two children a welcome chance for a fresh start.

While Shep dives into his new venture at the bike shop, Jennie carefully restores their broken-down house. She loves being a stay-at-home mom but yearns to find some fulfillment outside of her family-particularly as they struggle financially. On morning walks, she forges a friendship with her Amish neighbor, Mattie Fisher, who opens up about her modest way of life. Mattie's unswerving good character in the face of adversity encourages Jennie to seek practical solutions to her own difficulties. A passing remark by Jennie's son transforms desperation about their finances into inspiration, leading her to embark upon a candy-making enterprise.

Soon, Jennie's newfound purpose collides with Shep's growing stress at work and long-simmering tensions between husband and wife rise to the surface. As the holiday season approaches, their family is challenged as never before-until an unexpected visitor arrives to give Jennie the greatest gift of all.


About The Author

Cynthia Keller was born and raised in New York City, attended Hunter College High School, and then Brown University. I returned to New York after graduation, where I worked in video production for several years. I started writing for magazines and then moved over into nonfiction books and, finally, novels. Eventually, my husband and I decided to move to Connecticut. We've been here ever since.


My Review:

What an entertaining book...I read it in one afternoon. The story begins with what is a new beginning for the Davis familly..Jennie, Shep, Tim, Willa and their dog Scout. Can you imagine a relative you have never heard of leaving you their home, and business?
What we soon discover is that both the house and business need a lot of TLC. On several walks with Scout, Jennie meets an Amish family, first Mattie Fisher, and then the whole family and extended.
We travel through two Christmas's with the Davis Family, on the first there is so much anger and bitterness. As we travel along the next year, something changes. What an enjoyable read between the two cultures. Yes there are differences, but there are also many of the same problems. We see how things are handled within each family, and we come to love them all.
A really different story of Amish books...I for one Loved it, and didn't want it to end!

I was provided with a copy of this book through the Publisher Random House, and Net Galley, and was not required to give a positive review.