Review of “Amish Christmas Twins”—a collection of Christmas stories by Shelley Shepherd Gray; Rachel J. Good; and Loree Lough

Publisher Description

In these heartwarming, faith-affirming stories, three Amish families face the joys, and challenges, of the holidays—with fruitful results . . . 

THE CHRISTMAS NOT-WISH New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Shelley Shepard Gray

When the foster parents they’ve cautiously grown to love discover they’re expecting, orphaned Roy and Jemima Fisher, ages six and seven, are secretly devastated by the certainty they’ll be given up. With Christmas around the corner, their only wish is for new foster parents as nice as Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz. Meanwhile, the Kurtzes have wishes of their own—and with faith, they all may be gifted with twice the blessings . . .

 NEW BEGINNINGS * Rachel J. Good

Still grieving the loss of her husband and unborn baby in an accident several months ago, Elizabeth Yoder is oblivious to her neighbor Luke Bontrager’s deepening affection for her. But while she bleakly faces Christmas alone, it’s Luke who reminds her it’s the season for giving. And when Elizabeth donates her handmade baby clothes to New Beginnings, a home for teen moms, she soon finds her gifts repaid beyond measure, with Luke’s love—and new beginnings of their own . . . 

TWINS TIMES TWO * Loree Lough

Spirited twins Priscilla and Leora Schwietert have each been blessed with mischievous twins of their own—all born on Christmas. Nearing their fourteenth birthdays, their sons have asked for horses. Their parents can fulfill their wish—but worry they’ll be rewarding unruly behavior. The solution: A contract requiring hard work and an anonymous gift for someone in need. After thoughtful prayer, the boys surprise their parents—as each husband and wife rediscovers their joy in Christmas and their love for each other. 

Click here to purchase a copy:

 My Review:

This collection of Amish Christmas stories was written by three excellent authors:  Shelley Shepard Gray; Rachel J. Good; and Loree Lough.  It’s no surprise that these three stories are heart-touching and entertaining.  Even though these are shorter novella length stories, the stories felt complete and the endings were not rushed.  As I finished each one, I felt as if I’d read a full length novel.  The length of each story is perfect for reading during a busy holiday season.

The “twins” theme works very well in this collection, especially because each set of twins is of different ages and in very different situations.  I loved the characters in each story, and smiled when I recognized some “old friends” from previous books. There were things that I enjoyed about each individual story. If you love Christmas fiction, Amish fiction, or both—-you’ll enjoy these inspiring stories that reflect the true meaning of the season.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

About the Authors:

Shelley Shepard Gray:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Rachel J. Good:

Rachel J. Good grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for her Amish novels. Striving to be as authentic as possible, she spends time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events.

Rachel loves to travel and visit many different Amish communities. In searching for the best Amish soft pretzels, she’s visited many Amish markets and mud sales. Because of her love of Amish food, she tries to include recipes in her books. 

When she’s not traveling, she spends time with family and writing. In addition to her Amish novels, she’s written more than 40 books, including children’s educational books, adult nonfiction, and fiction for children and teens under several pen names.

Loree Lough:

With more than 14M copies of her books in circulation, USA Today bestselling/award-winning author Loree Lough has 125 books in print (contracts for 6 more), 7 book-to-movie options, 68 short stories and 2,500+ published articles. She and her real-life hero split their time between a home in Baltimore’s suburbs and a cabin in the Alleghenies. She loves interacting with readers and answers every letter personally.