Vannetta Chapman is a New York times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over t0 novels. She has sold over one million copies and writes in a variety of genres that include dystopian, suspense, dystopian, romantic suspense, romance, and cozy mystery.
Chapman has 25 years educational experience as an English teacher at the high school and collegiate level. She currently resides in the Texas Hill Country where she writes full times.
Let's deal with the elephant in the room right from the start. Another Love Inspired amnesia story! Seems I've been reading a ton of them this year and while I do enjoy a well-written one that brings a fresh twist or insight to this plot device, I'm beginning to feel a tad overwhelmed.
Having said that I LOVED Amish Christmas Memories so I guess that proves you can never have too much of a good thing. Though, honestly, if it hadn't been written by Vannetta Chapman I might have given it a pass. So glad I didn't though! Chapman handles the amnesia aspect of the story really well -- from the moment Caleb spots Rachel staggering down the road to the page-turning mystery of who she is and how she came to be in her present situation. (FYI -- when I say mystery, I don't mean suspense, just the kind of rabid-reader-wants-to-know-everything-now kind of mystique that surrounds Rachel.)
And can we all pause for a moment of appreciation for those difficult, brooding, bordering-on-grumpy heroes we so adore? Mind you, if I met Caleb in real life I might have clobbered him with the business side of a frying pan! But I find him so alluring in fine print! lol. I guess because a reader can see his thoughts so we understand that he's more bumbling and inept than downright crabby. And when that man starts talking it doesn't take long for him to stick both feet in his mouth which did have me grinning. Especially when it riled Rachel's feisty up! Great dynamics between these two. I love how their romance unfolded in fits and starts and wary advances. Delicious!
Caleb was hard at work the day Rachel wondered into his life . He had been busy mending fences when he seen someone walking the road that ran parallel with his parents property. The day was cold and snowy. He first noticed someone at a distance. Something didn't seem right. The person kept crossing the road back and forth again and again. As she drew closer Caleb noticed it was a woman who was not dressed for the cold. In fact she wore no coat at all. As the confused woman drew closer to Caleb she collapsed to the ground . Caleb wasted no time scaling the fence and running to her rescue. She was unconscious and almost frozen. He quickly carried her to his parents house in hopes that it wasn't to late to save her. Who was she? She wasn't dressed like the Amish from his community. She wore a plain dress but the color was a light blue. Where had she come from and what was she doing out in the country on a cold winter's day without a warm coat? Would his parents be able to help her and find out who she was? I loved this story because it kept me guessing and turning pages to find the missing pieces of the puzzle of Rachel's life. With each chapter a new memory would surface that revealed some part of her past life. I liked that Caleb's parents where so helpful and made Rachel feel so welcome in their home. Refusing to send her away they made her a part of their family. I have always been a fan of Vannetta Chapman and love all her books that I've had the pleasure to read. I recommend Amish Christmas Memories to all readers of Amish Fiction , fans of the author and those who read Love Inspired Amish books. This is a very nice Christmas read .
I have always been fascinated by the phenomenon of amnesia, and Vannetta Chapman just happens to be of my favorite writers of Amish fiction, so this book was eagerly pre-ordered, and devoured soon after it hit my mailbox. The characters were realistic and likeable, and I was especially glad that the plot wasn't "sensational." Chapman used Rachel and Caleb's unexpected relationship to examine the everyday ups and downs of dealing with mental/emotional issues. In addition to losing her memory, Rachel struggles with depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder, while Calebs clings to a narrow view of life and his ability to obsessively control it. Neither is really happy or confident, and can hardly believe s/he deserves to be loved unconditionally. Good thing for both of them that there's a wise old bishop Amos in the wings! *Spoiler alert: Both find healing and direction when Rachel's identity is discovered, and their tentative friendship is tested by time and distance apart. A happy ending for all, including Chapman's readers.
I read the paperback edition of this Love Inspired book, but found the smaller size hampered my enjoyment somewhat. As my eyes and hands get older, I prefer a larger page and brighter paper. But this small copy was easy to tuck into purse or pocket.
Amish Christmas Memories ( Indiana Amish Brides #2 ) By: Vannetta Chapman Amish Christmas Memories is book two by Vannetta Chapman in Indiana Amish Brides Series. This is a Love inspired Heartwarming Inspirational Romance, which I loved very much. The story and the characters both was well written. Caleb watches as a young woman collapse near where he is working. Something strange about this woman. A wonderful heartwarming story about a young woman who has lost her memory at Christmas time and having to trust Caleb and his family . This is a story about trust , kindness, faith, and love. I was drawn in at the start and did not want to put it down. I was not disappointed. It would be very stressful to not know your name or anything about yourself. Can Caleb and his family help her? Does Caleb trust this woman with no memory? I caught myself with tears in my eyes several times, then other times I was laughing. I was trying to read faster to see what was going to happen next. I can’t wait for book three . I was given a complimentary copy of this book , but was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Amish Christmas Memories was a cozy and heartwarming tale, while at the same time, it contained the worrisome absence of memories for the main character, Rachel.
Caleb’s family provided a warm and accepting home for Rachel to rest in and wait for her memories to return, yet Rachel battled feelings of sadness and concern over those missing parts of her life.
Caleb’s fear of change frustrated me for a good portion of the book, however, I really liked him by the end of the story. I felt that he learned a lot through his interactions with Rachel. This was a sweet Christmas story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Amish Christmas Memories by Vannetta Chapman is Book two in the Series Indiana Amish Brides (Love Inspired) Another wonderful book by Vannetta Chapman, When a young Amish women (Rachel) shows up wondering along the road on Caleb’s Wittmer’s property while he is out repairing fencing, then suddingly faints Caleb rushes to see what’s going on only to find her out cold and with no coat in the snow and bone cold. What do you do when your calm world is turned upside down because you have no idea who you are, where you belong, and what happened to you. What you do know is the one person who saved you wants nothing more than to get rid of you too. Caleb likes order which is why he makes the perfect Amish man, he hates change loves his life and wants nothing to do with anything that disrupts his life. Problem is God may have different plans for both Caleb and Rachel, how do you heal a heart when that heart has no idea what or where it even was or wants, and how do you bend a branch to change when it’s so stiff? Vannetta has created a wonderful look at how God works through our life to bring us to where we need to be if we keep the faith and trust in ourself at the same time. I highly recommend this book.
Chapman knows how to turn out these formulaic love stories in a way that makes you care about the characters and what happens to them.
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT: I had to question the timeline in this one. Only a week after she is found and the community she has stumbled into is treating her as if she should just forget her past and settle in with them. Also, the local newspaper only comes out once a week and any notice of her missing would have needed at least 3 issues to show up, but Caleb claims to have been scouring the paper for weeks for news of a missing girl when he finds it three weeks after she stumbled into their lives.
This is a great read...and if you love Amish fiction you will not be disappointed. Very well developed story line and characters. Left me wanting to read a sequel.
Amish Christmas Memories is a heartwarming story! The dynamic between Rachel and Caleb is delightfully entertaining, as is the development of their relationship. Chapman is a wonderful wordsmith, sharing a message of faith and love. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet story and look forward to continuing the Indiana Amish Brides series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.
You would think by the title this book was just about Christmas memories and nothing else. It's far more then that as Rachel struggles with her amnesia and her long road to recovery. I liked Rachel a lot could relate to her struggle with the winter blues too. This book is a love story but one with a bit more layers to it.
This book is part of the Indiana Amish Brides series.
Rachel Yoder is wandering after a head injury and collapses on a snowy day outside Caleb Wittmer’s parents farm. Rachel has no memory of who she is or where she lives or how she got there. Caleb’s family takes her in and disrupt’s Caleb’s orderly life. His only goal is get this woman out of his parents home and back to her family where she belongs. The problem is she captures his heart in a very short time.
Review: Amish Christmas Memories by Vannetta Chapman A young man seems to be watching a young woman walking down his street or lane. When she is wabbling or weaving across the road and then falls. He springs into action. What happens to her. She has no coat on or hat? How did she get to where she is? Caleb is worried about her once she falls into the snow. When she wakes up does not know how she got where is? All she remembers is Caleb holding her to him. He does take her to his parent home. They welcome her and try and help her. Who is she? The only thing that she has that tell anything about her is that of a book. Her name is in the book. Well her first name. Things are hard for her and she want to remember? It will take some time, in the meantime, she gets to know Caleb and his family. As they get to know her. Will Caleb learn change is good as well as bad? Rachel seems to want to get Caleb to understand her. Will they find love together? It seems that Rachel really wants her memories back. Will she get them for Christmas? Vannetta Chapman does a sweet and wonderfully good job of pulling you along for the journey. She takes your heart for a ride. Will they receive what they need and will god provide where they are to belong. Vannetta seems to be able to bring new illnesses through the eyes of Amish. This book about love but also learning to deal with amnesia. We can sometimes forget that our brains and Amish family deal with the same kind of injuries as everyone else. Will Caleb and Rachel both get what they need?
In the last week, I've read two stories by this author, and the writing has been brilliant in both. I love the way she pulls my attention in immediately and holds it captive until the very end. One thing I particularly admired about this story was how the leads could have an honest conversation about whatever issues they were dealing with. Some books keep the secrets and lack of communication going for chapters upon chapters, but these characters communicated well despite their fears of losing each other. Because of that, it felt like no word was wasted, no space blithely used up, nor my time squandered.
On top of that, I found the amnesia angle and the way the memories began to return to be exquisitely written in a way that seemed natural and fresh to the memory-loss sub-genre. The characters were charming and entertaining. I liked that the leading man didn't know what to do with the leading lady's spunky personality. That made me laugh and keep flipping pages to see if he'd ever figure her out. I loved it!
I'm tracking down more of this author's books, as I'm able, because she's quickly becoming a favorite for me.
What a lovely story to start the holidays off with. Rachel is a complicated character because she has lost her memory. I can't imagine how cold and scared she was laying on the side of the road. When she is found by Caleb, I could just imagine the startled look on his face. It isn't everyday he finds a young Amish woman laying in the snow.
I loved following Rachel as she tried to remember who she was and where her family was. Can you think of a time when you forgot where your keys were and you were late for an appointment? That feeling of panic as you look around for them is nothing compared to what Rachel is going through. It was nice for Caleb's family to take her in and care for her. There were times when Caleb seemed to be upset that Rachel was there. I think maybe he didn't trust her.
The author writes a very realistic story and I liked that she didn't have Caleb immediately like Rachel. It made the story interesting to read how they had to learn to trust each other. Caleb is a man who likes things in their place, and no bumps in the road. Rachel may have upset his comfortable life, but there must be a reason he was the one who found her.
The story moves at a good pace and there are a few laughs when Rachel tries to find work. I don't know how to sew, cut fabric or other things she tried to do. I have to say thanks for allowing Rachel's favorite ice cream to be peppermint, which is my favorite. I admired her for trying to find a job in hopes she would remember who she was. The compassion the town had for her was so nice and if I ever get lost, I pray I am found by someone like Caleb or his parents. I won's say anymore about the story because it is one you need to experience for yourself. The lesson in the book is a wonderful reminder about us never being lost. We may feel lost, but God is always there to lead us to safety. The other lesson I liked was about trusting. Rachel needed to trust that God was taking care of her when Caleb found her. Memories we each have are part of our life. When we forget them, it can be a bit unsettling. As Rachel worked through trying to remember things, I found that Caleb was also remembering things from his past. The most important thing I got from this story was how God reminds us of memories that we sometimes forget. They pop up at just the right time to bring peace and comfort. Our home is where we feel safe and our home is where God is always at.
"Home is where you belong. It may not be where you always stay, but it's the place that fits-like an old shoe . It's why we keep returning to it over and again, no matter how old we become or how far away we move."
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.
You wake up suddenly, and you look around, absolutely bewildered. Where are you? Panic starts to set in, but quickly dissipates and is replaced with relief as you realize exactly where you are. Except what happens if you just can’t remember…anything? Such is the situation that Rachel finds herself in. She figures she’s Amish by the ways she’s dressed, and believes her name is Rachel, because she recognizes it written in the book she was carrying. Nothing else is familiar, and no one around her recognizes her either. She would love to recover her memories and be home for Christmas, wouldn’t she? Caleb Wittmer was repairing a fence when he saw a young woman collapse in the snow. He carries her home, saving her life. He judges her for the color of her dress, because those colors just aren’t worn in his community. Despite his judgmental attitude, Caleb feels a pull of attraction toward this lovely young woman. But is Rachel free to give her heart? Until she knows who she is, she doesn’t believe that she can let herself begin to care for him. I can’t imagine what it would be like to not even know who I was. Even though I have times that I would just rather forget, I treasure my memories of family and friends, celebrations and victories, and even the hard things, because they have made me who I am. But Rachel has an even harder time, because her community isn’t so connected through social media, like mine is. Her family wouldn’t be likely to involve law enforcement. And with photographs being discouraged, only written descriptions would be circulated. I would have become discouraged, and Rachel was too. At the same time, she wondered if she really wanted to remember what she was unable to—was there something absolutely awful that she had blocked out? I confess that I didn’t care much for Caleb in the beginning of the story. Other than saving her life, he seemed too uptight and self-righteous, but he came around as the story went on and I found myself liking him a lot. He worked so hard to help Rachel remember and find her family. Would he be able to find them in time to get Rachel home for Christmas? I don’t want to write any spoilers, but I will say that I was very happy with the ending. Once again, Vannetta Chapman has written a sweet, clean story that drew me in. I look forward to her next offering in the Indiana Amish Brides series. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys Amish romances or Christmas stories. I was given a copy of this book by the author, but the opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Amish Christmas Memories by Vannetta Chapman is the second of her Indiana Amish Brides series. Like the first in the series, A Widow’s Hope, this story is a delightful read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Caleb Wittmer, a young Amish man, is working outside on the family one cold and snowy early winters day, when he spies someone staggering from the road and across the field some distance away. When the figure collapses, Caleb rushes to their aid only to discover the person is a young Amish woman, unconscious and not appropriately dressed for such cold weather.
Carrying the unconscious young woman to his family home, his parents immediately begin attending to her care. Regaining consciousness, it is realized that the young woman has a rather large bump on her head, and even more, has no clue of her own name, where she is from or where she was going! After being treated at a local hospital, she is released with the Wittmer family taking her home to care for her during her recuperation and attempt to get her memory back.
It can be rather slow going after such head trauma to regain one’s memory, and as “Rachel” heals, only bits and pieces come back. Confused and uncertain, one thing becomes clear to both Caleb and Rachel, despite the situation, they are attracted to one another. Caleb is almost Old Order Amish; Rachel is a bit more conservative. Question is, will these differences bring them together or keep them apart before a relationship can begin?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein, are solely my own.
“Find a job. Earn some money. Remember who she was. It was a short list, and suddenly Rachel was sure it was one she could conquer.”
If you’ve lost your memory, how do you know who you truly are and where you belong? This is the challenge facing Rachel as she recovers from an accident. It’s obvious that Rachel is Amish, but why she was walking near Caleb Wittmer’s farm when she collapsed is a complete mystery.
In this lovely story by Vannetta Chapman, Rachel pieces together who she is and where she belongs. Caleb’s family gives Rachel a place to stay as she’s recovering and working to restore her memory. But all does not go smoothly. Caleb is very faithful to follow the traditions of the old Amish order. Rachel loves her Amish faith, but is willing to embrace changes to discover her identify. Their two viewpoints clash several times through the storyline. I loved the characters of Rachel and Caleb. There were times I was quite aggravated with Caleb and his stubborn ways, but I also loved reading along as Rachel tried to discover her abilities and find a job that suited her.
I enjoyed following Rachel and Caleb’s story as they discover if a happily-ever-after includes each other. Although this is not a long book, the author did an excellent job with the pace of the story and making it feel complete. The theme of trusting God with our unknown future shines brightly all throughout the book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Amish Christmas Memories is the second book written by Vanetta Chapman in her Indiana Amish Brides series. This book is so full of emotions, mystery, and faith. It is a great mix of all three. I enjoyed this storyline because it shows us how to reach out and help those in need.
I enjoyed the characters Rachel and Caleb because they defintely were opposites who could disagree but still remain friends. Even tho Rachel has amnesia I loved seeing how remembering small bits of her memory could light up her day. Caleb was very strong in his beliefs and this caused many tifts between them. I enjoyed how this story plays out and the suthor has done an amazing job telling this story.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached by anyone to post a favorable review. I have rated this book with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.
Congratulations to Vanetta Chapman for writing another fantastic story for her readers to enjoy. I will be anticipating the next book in this series in the future.
This is the second book in the Indiana Amish Brides series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first.
Rachel Yoder mysteriously is walking up the road when she is rescued by Caleb Wittmer. She is suffering from amnesia and is taken in by his family.
Caleb"s parents Ida and John are glad to have another person in their home leading up to the Christmas holiday.
In a journey to restore her memory these two young Amish people clash over their different perspectives. Caleb is very traditional and set in his ways. Rachel is easy going and has a more adventurous spirit.
This story is full of love, hope, faith and trusting God. It also addressed the issue of depression and also seasonal depression.
A sweet Christmas Amish holiday story that will warm your heart.
OK, I have to admit that this is the first time in ages that a book brought some tears to my eyes. It defiinity hit me a few times. I have been so lucky to read such wonderful books. This one was so good and I absolutely loved this.
The story was good and the feelings of love for family and friends and those around you at the time of Christmas was deeply felt by this book. It was a book of caring, love and the Spirit of the holiday and the birth of Christ.
It showed you can be different in many ways, yet you can still care about each other. It was just plain good. Read it!
I received an ebook copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own.
Vannetta Chapman is one of two of my favorite authors. Generally, I find her books inspiring. Her characters well defined. In this book, I did find the characters well defined. It seemed the story was too short and didn't explain in detail how Caleb and Rachel came to love one another. These characters were very different.
I did enjoy the visit to the herbalist and broke out in laughter and smiles. It was one of the funniest in any book I've read!
Caleb Wittmer finds a woman in the snow. His family takes her into their home. She has a book of poetry with her but no idea how she got there. She remembers her name is Rachel and she finds out that she likes to knit.
Finally, a newspaper has an ad about a missing young lady, it may be Rachel. Read the book to find out what happens.
I picked this book up as a joke and although I didn't relish the evangelical portions of the book, I appreciated the story and the unexpected mental health bits.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
My only complaint was that sometimes it felt like paragraphs were added to add space. They didn’t seem necessary. Other than that, they storyline was fantastic!