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A Plain & Simple Christmas (Kauffman Amish Bakery -- Christmas Stories #1)
by
Amy Clipston (Goodreads Author)
In the tradition of her widely popular Kauffman Amish Bakery series, author Amy Clipston tells the tale of Anna Mae McDonough who was shunned by her family four years ago when she left her Amish community in Lancaster County, PA, to marry an -Englisher- (non Amish) man and move with him to Baltimore. Now, eight months pregnant when her first child, she longs to return home...more
Kindle Edition, 193 pages
Published
(first published September 3rd 2010)
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Disappointing. There's no sense of Gelassenheit in this story at all--the family reasons and functions like an English family. Shunning is something to be decided at a personal level after weighing your own feelings on the issue versus a community rule that is enforced.
I feel like the entire book would have much better ground to stand on in Anna Mae had left the community BEFORE baptism. Then you could understand her sister-in-law's instant acceptance of her, the desire to mend fences, and the...more
I feel like the entire book would have much better ground to stand on in Anna Mae had left the community BEFORE baptism. Then you could understand her sister-in-law's instant acceptance of her, the desire to mend fences, and the...more
Anna Mae McDonough left the Amish faith three years ago to marry her husband Kennan. While she doesn't regret her decision, the impending birth of her first child has her wanting to reconnect with her Amish family. Thing is when she left three years ago, she was put under the Bann and some harsh things where said by her father who is also the Bishop for their community. Will the spirit of Christmas and the impending birth of her child help bring her family back together?
I read this book in one s...more
I read this book in one s...more
Title: A PLAIN & SIMPLE CHRISTMAS
Author: Amy Clipston
Publisher: Zondervan
September 2010
ISBN: 978-0-310-32736-3
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Three years ago, Anna Mae McDonough had joined the Amish church, but then she met Englischer, Kellan McDonough and married him. As a result, Anna Mae was shunned. But now she’s expecting her first baby and her only Christmas wish is to be reconnected with her family.
Katherine Beiler married Anna Mae’s brother, David, and she is thrilled when she receives a...more
Author: Amy Clipston
Publisher: Zondervan
September 2010
ISBN: 978-0-310-32736-3
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Three years ago, Anna Mae McDonough had joined the Amish church, but then she met Englischer, Kellan McDonough and married him. As a result, Anna Mae was shunned. But now she’s expecting her first baby and her only Christmas wish is to be reconnected with her family.
Katherine Beiler married Anna Mae’s brother, David, and she is thrilled when she receives a...more
Amish themed books have long been best-sellers and with the holiday season in full swing, A Plain & Simple Christmas will no doubt join the list. This book would make a wonderful gift for the reader on your Christmas list, especially if they are fans of Amish fiction.
Anna Mae McDonough left her home four years ago and married Kellan McDonough against the wishes of her family and the tenets of her faith. Because of her choice, she has been shunned by her family and the Amish community she gre...more
This is another Amish book with a different twist. I have read Amy's first book "A Gift of Grace" and loved the author and the way it was written, well here is another one. Amy takes the Amish Faith and writes in a more modern way than some of the other writers.
Anna Mae McDonough was born and raised by Amish parents and in the Amish community, but when she met Kellan, "who was not Amish" and fell in love with him, he was not accepted by her community. Anna Mae had already joined the church so if...more
Anna Mae McDonough was born and raised by Amish parents and in the Amish community, but when she met Kellan, "who was not Amish" and fell in love with him, he was not accepted by her community. Anna Mae had already joined the church so if...more
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In the tradition of her widely popular Kauffman Amish Bakery series, author Amy Clipston tells the tale of Anna Mae McDonough who was shunned by her family four years ago when she left her Amish community in Lancaster County, PA, to marry an 'Englisher' (non Amish) man and move with him to Baltimore. Now, eight months pregnant when her first child, she longs to return home for Christmas to reconcile with her family, especially her stern father, who is the religious leader for her former Amish ch...more
Dec 03, 2010
April
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
amish-inspirational-christmas
A PLAIN & SIMPLE CHRISTMAS by Amy Clipston is a heartwarming, sweet inspirational fiction/general. it is well written with strong characters,details and depth. It has Amish,faith,love,forgiveness,birth of a babe,separation of a family member,family,shunning,an Amish marrying a Englisher, following God's will no matter the consequences, and the miracle of Christmas.This is a sweet heartwarming story of faith and family differences and the coming together of a family. Anna Mae is shunned by he...more
Oct 10, 2010
Molly
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Molly by:
Amy Clipston, Zondervan
Shelves:
book-review
Okay. Can I just say that I REALLY, REALLY want to spend Christmas in Lancaster?! Amy Clipston is a fantastic author of Amish novels and never disappoints with her ability to use wonderful detail and description, leaving her readers thirsty for more of her novels! When I FINALLY (yes, FINALLY...I waited what felt like YEARS for this amazing little book ;-)!) received this book, I couldn't WAIT to read it! The is just adorable....plain and simple-PERFECT for the story!
When you open A Plain and S...more
When you open A Plain and S...more
Do you believe in Christmas miracles? Anna Mae McDonough is hoping to get her Christmas miracle this year, raised Amish, she left home three years ago to marry her English husband. Now, 8 months pregnant with their first child, Anna Mae dreams about reuniting with her family. She knows this will be very difficult because once she left, she became shunned.
Anna decides to write her sister in law, her brother’s wife, Kathryn to ask for her assistance. Kathryn’s husband is against this idea. He doe...more
Anna decides to write her sister in law, her brother’s wife, Kathryn to ask for her assistance. Kathryn’s husband is against this idea. He doe...more
A Plain and Simple Christmas is my first experience with author Amy Clipston. Her writing style is exactly what this title implies--plain and simple--but don't let that discourage you from reading this book. She has created very likable characters (with the exception of Henry, the dad), and the plot draws the reader in very quickly.
Even though I knew there would be a happy, tidy ending, that did not stop me from reading this book from cover to cover in one sitting. When I reached the mid-way po...more
Even though I knew there would be a happy, tidy ending, that did not stop me from reading this book from cover to cover in one sitting. When I reached the mid-way po...more
Wanting to get "in the Christmas mood" I decided to pick this book up as I had read several other reviews boasting how great it was.
Amy Clipston has written a story based upon Anna Mae, an Amish girl, who left her family to marry and Englisher. Having done so she is now shunned by her family, mostly her father. After three years of marriage to Kellon and expecting their first child after the Christmas holiday, Anna Mae yearns to reunite with her family. Enlisting the help of sister-in-law Kathr...more
Amy Clipston has written a story based upon Anna Mae, an Amish girl, who left her family to marry and Englisher. Having done so she is now shunned by her family, mostly her father. After three years of marriage to Kellon and expecting their first child after the Christmas holiday, Anna Mae yearns to reunite with her family. Enlisting the help of sister-in-law Kathr...more
This is my book club pick for December. We wanted to read something Amish and Christmas. So this book was picked. This is a new author for me. I really liked this book lots. There is no commercializing of Christmas. It is what the title implies. A plain and simple Christmas. All Anna Mae wants for Christmas is to see her family. Her sister-in-law, Kathryn sets this all up, even though her husband is against it. Anna Mae and her husband arrive and everyone is happy except for 3 of her sisters and...more
Anna Mae is a former Amish woman who left Lancaster County to marry an "Englisher" and live in Baltimore. Having been gone from the community and the family that shunned her for 4 years, she yearns to mend the rift in her family when she is 8 months pregnant with her first child. She writes to her sister in law in hopes she can arrange a visit for Christmas, but her homecoming isn't as welcoming as she had hoped, and her father is the most stubborn, but she is determined not to give up.
I really...more
I really...more
I love books about Christmas and this one adds two other topics I enjoy reading: Amish and family. It is a short read and is a little look into the Beiler family. As you read the book look for characters who are trying to balance (and keep happy) their spouse, their own children and their extended family of parents and siblings. The main theme of the book is forgiveness. So like real like when we are easy to forgive others but harder to our own families. I will definately look for other books wr...more
Anna Mae and her Englisher husband, Kellan, want to visit Anna's family at Christmas. They are expecting their first child and wants the child to know her family. After being shunned from her family for three years, she longs to see all of them and have them back in her life. She contacts her sister-in-law, Kathryn, to discuss the idea and to make plans for their visit. Will her family welcome her with open arms? Will it be a Christmas miracle to reconcile?
I loved this story! I have read several...more
I loved this story! I have read several...more
Despite being shunned for leaving her Amish community four years earlier, Anna Mae longs to reconcile with her family. As the birth of her first child approaches, she begins to correspond with her sister-in-law Kathryn, making plans for Anna Mae and her English husband Kellan to visit the Amish community for Christmas. Kellan remembers that way that Anna Mae's father, the bishop, treated her when she announced her decision to marry an outsider, but this doesn't deter her from her plans to return...more
This was an amazing story. I enjoyed the entire Kauffmann Bakery Series, and had heard mention of Anna Mae so it was nice to see a story about her. Amy Clipston has a way of words and describing the Amish Culture/Religion. Every time I read one of her books I find myself learning more and more.
This was such a fascinating story, Anna Mae's family had to face her for the first time since she was shunned. It's very much a story of acceptance as well a family's love.
This was such a fascinating story, Anna Mae's family had to face her for the first time since she was shunned. It's very much a story of acceptance as well a family's love.
This book was ok... The story is about Anna Mae who was shunned for leaving the Amish to marry an Englisher. Five years later she is expecting her first baby and wants to see her Amish family in Lancaster. She is hoping they can reconcile so her baby can know her family and her roots.
Because its a short book, there was not much character development and the plot was definitely predictable. It was a quick read and a nice Christmas story.
Because its a short book, there was not much character development and the plot was definitely predictable. It was a quick read and a nice Christmas story.
A wonderful story about Anna Mae, an Amish girl who leaves her community to marry an Englishman. She is shunned . After a few years of marriage she finds herself pregnant with her first child and has a desire to return home and mend the heart break she has caused her family. Will she be welcomed home? Will her stubborn Father ever forgive her??? Great read!
Nov 18, 2010
Susan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
inspirational-fiction
A very good book. I love Amish stories, and this one was an excellent addition to the ones I have read. It is the story of an Amish woman who left the community to marry an Englisch man, and her desire to mend fences with her family. It shows the closeness of the Amish people, while also showing how difficult it is for the people who leave. I liked the way that Kathryn stood up for herself and her desire to heal the rift between the two families. There was a lot of faith, some tears, and a happy...more
This book was about Anna Mae and former Amish women who left the faith to marry her husband. Her family was very upset with her and they shunned her. With the help of her sister in law and God she returns home and tries to restore her family. I really liked this book. I would recommend this book.
I think for a novella, A Plain and Simple Christmas, was an excellent read. It really made you feel for Anna, who wants to get back into speaking terms with her Amish family. A family that turned her out after she chose to marry and live with an ‘Englisher’.
You can really tell that Kellan really loves her, and would do anything for her. When she goes back to her family, it really makes you believe the story is true with their conflicting emotions and reactions to Anna.
Very good read!
You can really tell that Kellan really loves her, and would do anything for her. When she goes back to her family, it really makes you believe the story is true with their conflicting emotions and reactions to Anna.
Very good read!
Anna Mae was shunned by her Amish family when she married an Englisher. Now expecting her first child, she longs for a reunion with her family. But will her stiff father receive her? With the help of her sister-in-law she plans a Christmas surprise. But are her expectations too high?
This was a cute little book that I picked up at Lifeway Christian Bookstore on Black Friday for $1.99 and it was the first time reading from this author and I really enjoyed Amy's style. I am a huge fan of Amish living so I knew I would love the book before I even started reading it.
Clipston weaves a beautiful tale that brings to light the power of God to create miracles in our lives even when it seems all hope is lost. She has created an unforgettable cast of characters that embody the qualities of the human spirit. Brings together two very different worlds that show the true meaning of family has no boundaries. The overwhelming healing power of God like forgiveness leaps off the pages. Will have you dreaming of a white Christmas and a trip to lovely Lancaster County Penns...more
Such a heartwarming Christmas story. This was my first read by Clipston. I would like to read another one of her books soon. I actually felt like I was there with the characters. I am very glad that I spent my time reading this book.
This was okay. I usually enjoy reading books about the Amish and their community, but this one was not true to life, even though it is fiction. It was more of a religious book than an Amish story. This being said, I did enjoy the story.
Another great story from Amy Clipston. I think I have read all of her books and loved every one. I am looking forward to her next one.
Sweet...somewhat predictable. The recipe at the end of the book is a nice add. Thought for a bit that Anna Mae's pregnancy could be a breech by the agony she experienced. Major ouch alert conveyed well through the pages. It's a nice story.
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Nov 23, 2012 08:50am