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A Plain and Simple Christmas

(Kauffman Amish Bakery -- Christmas Stories #1)

Amy Clipston (Goodreads Author)

4.25 · Rating details · 1,772 ratings · 147 reviews

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Kindle Edition, 193 pages

Published (first published September 3rd 2010)

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4.25 ·

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· 1,772 ratings · 147 reviews

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Dec 20, 2015 Angie rated it liked it

Shelves: christmas, amish, kindle

Nice Amish Christmas story involving a daughter who has been shunned for marrying outside of the faith wanting to come home for Christmas and make things right with her family. There is much drama and heartbreak but it ends on a happy note.

I enjoy Amish stories and the simplicity of their lifestyle. I actually visited the town Anna Mae was from this summer, so I loved being able to picture it in my mind.

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May 04, 2013 Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) rated it liked it

Shelves: own, read-reviewed

{Merry CHRISTmas everyone! Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday in honor of our Savior’s birth there’ll be a new Christmas book review! With a couple giveaways sprinkled in, it’s going to be so much fun! Let’s start!}

About this book:

“Just in time, or just too late?
In the tradition of her widely popular Kauffman Amish Bakery series, author Amy Clipston weaves this tale of Anna Mae McDonough—shunned by her family four years ago when she left her Amish community in Lancaster County, PA, to marry ...more

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Nov 08, 2018 Joleen rated it really liked it

Shelves: christmas, amish, pregnancy, forgiveness

Contemporary Christian fiction book about Anna Mae, an Amish woman who fell in love and married a non-Amish man. Her father, being a bishop, had to set the example of discipline. Anna Mae is shunned.

But her life with her very loving husband, Kellan, in Baltimore has been idyllic, except that she misses her extended family. This year her greatest desire is to be reunited with her them in Lancaster County. This proves to be harder than she'd hoped.

********************************************

Pretty ...more

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Dec 17, 2017 Natalie rated it really liked it

Shelves: cq-2017, read-in-2017, the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year

Such a sweet Christmas story about love and forgiveness. The main character has been shunned after marrying a man who is not Amish, but wants to come home for a Christmas visit. Her father is the bishop who has never forgiven her for her choice.

I really liked how this all came together. Anna Mae and Kellan were really sweet together. (I would love to see a story about their courtship!) I also enjoyed learning a bit about how the Amish celebrate Christmas.

Kathryn was so sweet to orchestrate the ...more

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Dec 20, 2017 Kav rated it it was amazing

Short but sweet! A moving coming home story. The perfect plot for a Christmas setting in my humble opinion. Clipston captures the emotions of her characters so well that they can't help but rub off on the reader so this is an angsty, infuriating but ultimately joyful read.

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Dec 24, 2018 Gail rated it it was amazing

Great Christmas Story

An Amish man returns from being a medic in the Middle East war. He is given 3 days to repent or he will be shunned. This is a very emotional book. Amy Clips on did a fantastic job of handling this controversial issue

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Nov 26, 2011 Mary O'Brien rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle-books

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 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 doesn’t want Christmas to be ruined for his parents. Going against her husband’s wishes, she arranges this meeting anyway, believing this is what God wants her to do.

Arriving in Lancaster, Anne didn’t receive the “open arms” she was hoping to. Her mother was ever so happy to see her; however her father wouldn’t even look at her. Now, Anne is wondering if she made a mistake. She is beginning to question her place in her family. Will she receive the Christmas miracle that she is hoping for or will her dreams come crashing down?

I couldn’t put this book down. It was shorter than other books I read, however just as enjoyable. I can’t imagine having to choose between the one you love and the family and way you were raised. In this case, Anne didn’t choose one or the other. You can’t help who you fall in love with. She was shunned because she left.

I was so excited for Anne to reunite with the rest of her family. I was a little worried about how it was going to go to be honest. The first encounter with her brother and sister in law, Kathryn went well so I thought. Her brother seemed to open up as soon as her saw her.

I wish I could say that the second encounter with her family went just as well but I can’t. The next night her parents were there. Her mother took her in with open arms; however her father couldn’t stand to look at her. In fact, he ordered his wife to get in the buggy. Anne was ready to throw in the towel but Kathryn said to give it one more chance and come the next day for Christmas Eve dinner.

That is exactly what they did. However, that didn’t go as planned either. I was so upset with Anne’s father. I don’t understand how he can just act as if his daughter wasn’t there. It took Anne’s husband confronting the man to change anything.

Who would have thought that Anne would give birth in her parent’s home? Who would have thought that her father would apologize for his behavior and welcome them back into their lives? Not only did Anne receive a Christmas miracle, but she received two! She was reunited with her family and gave birth to their first son.

This story was an emotional roller coaster of emotions. I found myself yelling at my book one minute and crying a river the next. Family is extremely important. The bond between a parent and their child should never be broken.

...more

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Nov 29, 2015 Bekah rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-in-2016

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. I know that there is another book after this one and I will definitely be reading it sometime. Perhaps I'll save the second one for next Christmas!

What I Liked: There were several things that I enjoyed about this story. The book was very well written and I was drawn into the lives of these characters.

Another thing that I really liked were the strong marriages in this book. Kellan was SO incredibly sweet and kind to Anna Mae and alw ...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Brenda rated it really liked it

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

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Dec 09, 2015 Lisa rated it it was ok

Shelves: christmas

This Christmas story gets off to a slow start--the central conflict, about whether a young Amish woman who married an "Englisher" and so was shunned by her family will be welcomed if she and her husband go home for Christmas--is repeated a lot in the first 25 pages of this 125-page story. After that, it becomes pleasant but inevitably predictable. The story doesn't have room to develop some characters who just come across as mean and unyielding. Not really worth it.

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Dec 02, 2010 Paula-O rated it really liked it

I am not sure when I read this book but when starting to read noticed ,"I had already read", did not review or put on goodreads. I love to read christmas stories so have been reading those lately ,getting ready for the season.

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Aug 29, 2016 Lanette rated it it was ok

I didn't like this one... too cliche and not as many of the bakery characters I've come to know.

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Nov 29, 2018 Betty Strohecker rated it it was amazing

Shelves: amish-stories, christmas, christian-fiction

This is a wonderful story, good at any time of the year, but especially as we enter the Christmas season. I love reading Amish literature and always learn so much when I do. This time I learned more about the practice of shunning, which has very specific guidelines regarding people who choose to leave the Amish faith and community. Anna Mae, the youngest of five siblings, has followed her heart and married an Englisher. She left her Amish home and family in Lancaster County, Pa., and followed he ...more

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Dec 01, 2018 Audrey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: amish-and-mennonite, inspirational-fiction

Anna Mae wants so badly to be reunited with her family. Three years ago she left the Amish faith to marry an Englisher. Even though she is happily married the shunning is painful for her. Finally she writes her sister-in-law and asks if she could make arrangements for her to come home for Christmas. At first there is discord but at last peace and harmony reunite the Byler family. This is a very special story. It brought tears to my eyes while I listened.

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Nov 15, 2017 Celestria rated it it was ok

I've read several of Amy Clipston's books and liked them all, but this one was a disappointment. Very boring. (And it was upsetting me the way Kathryn went behind her husband's back like she did after he'd repeatedly told her no about inviting Anna Mae for Christmas!)

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Dec 19, 2017 Kay rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: amish, audiobook, christmas, fiction, hoopla

A sweet Christmas story. I enjoy many Amish stories but this isn't my favorite. Dialogues are cheesy at times.

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Jul 23, 2017 Ann Fleming rated it it was amazing

Nice, sweet, thoroughly enjoyable Christmas story

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Dec 08, 2017 Dawn rated it it was amazing

Heartwarming story of forgiveness...the greatest CHRISTmas gift of all.

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Feb 09, 2019 Melinda rated it it was amazing

A Plain and simple Christmas

I so loved this book it was a great story about family and forgiveness and how God answers prayers great story.

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Dec 14, 2018 Adora Teodosiu rated it really liked it

This is such a nice comfortable read. You have done it again, Amy Clipston!!👏

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Nov 22, 2018 Rene Crowder rated it it was amazing

Nice simple Christmas story

I gave this book five stars because it was a great story. It is full of hope and the love of family.. isn't that what Christmas is all about

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Nov 07, 2017 Roberta L. Adolphsen rated it it was amazing

Sweet story of forgiveness

I found this book to be a good read and gave insight to the Amish life and customs. Reminds all of us the need to forgive.

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Dec 11, 2018 Kim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks-read

A cute visit back to the Kauffman Bakery series, though it was rather predictable.

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Nov 12, 2018 CAROLE rated it liked it

Good easy read.

Great easy read. Great story of forgiveness, togetherness and love. Good for Christmas or anytime you need to zone out for a couple hours.

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Dec 03, 2018 Kimmie rated it it was amazing

A beautiful story of family, love, and forgiveness.

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Jan 29, 2019 Brenda T. rated it it was amazing

This was the best Christmas story I’ve read in a long time. Full of hope and forgiveness. Shows how our gracious Heavenly Father can touch an old cold, stubborn heart and make it whole again.

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Jan 05, 2018 Virma rated it really liked it

A sweet Amish Christmas story. Filling your heart with a warm fuzzy feeling.

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Jan 23, 2017 Amy rated it it was ok

Shelves: amish-stories, audiobook

Seemed very repetitive but nice HEA :) 2.75

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May 15, 2010 Rachel Brand rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: amish, christmas, christian, 2011, novellas

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 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 home. Kathryn also experiences similar difficulties with her husband, David, who thinks Anna Mae's visit will bring too much pain to his already hurting parents. But Kathryn feels that God is calling her to bring the family back together in order to celebrate their Saviour's birth. Will Anna Mae and Kathryn's desire for reconciliation bring happiness on this joyous occasion, or will Anna Mae's baby grow up without knowing about its Amish heritage?

I adore Amy Clipston's Kauffman Amish Bakery series, so when I heard that she was releasing a Christmas novella I immediately put it on my wishlist. Although I didn't receive this book until I met up with my grandparents this month to exchange late gifts, it still seemed close enough to Christmas to read it.

While I felt that this novella didn't have as much substance as Amy's full-length novels, it was still a sweet story of forgiveness and reconciliation. A lot of Amish novels give the impression that once someone has left the community, they cannot return unless they plan to rejoin the faith. This is always something I've had a problem with, as it doesn't seem like a particularly Christian way of treating others. So I was pleased to see that Anna Mae was allowed to visit her family, even if certain members were too hurt to talk to her. Kathryn, her daughter Amanda and her mother-in-law Mary Rose were incredibly welcoming and had come to accept the fact that while Anna Mae was no longer Amish, she still shared their Christian faith, was happy with her loving husband and was starting a family of her own. It's a cliche, but a baby always makes everyone happier!

However, I found it difficult to read Kathryn and David's arguments about whether Anna Mae should visit. David refused to let Kathryn put across her opinions and would actually leave the room in the middle of a discussion. Maybe it's just because I've been reading marriage-preparation books recently and discussing these issues with my fiancee, but I don't think it's right for one person to see their views as superior refuse to listen to the other, especially in marriage. While David eventually admitted to Kathryn that he believed that she had had the family's best interests at heart in her plans for Christmas, a lot of hurt and anger could have been avoided if he'd originally listened to his wife's ideas instead of immediately dismissing them. Personally, I believe that marriage is an equal partnership and a husband should not be allowed to make a decision and force his wife into it, especially not if he's not even considered other options. I've witnessed this many times in Amish books and it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.

Of course, everything comes together in the end, but the characters experience a difficult journey of healing before they are fully reconciled. As can be expected, members of Anna Mae's family are still hurting from when she left the community, and her father in particular is adamant that she is no longer welcome at home. There are many sad points in this novella, and some of the characters begin to lose faith in the Beiler family ever all being together again. This is an endearing story of forgiveness, which not only finishes in a happy ending, but also a Christmas miracle!

While I didn't feel that this was up to the standard of Amy Clipston's previous books, this was a refreshing and sweet story. This tale of a family coming back together, healing past hurts and learning to forgive is perfect for the Christmas season. I think my main problems were merely that it is difficult to get any true depth of character development in a novella so I didn't really get to know any of the characters, and I felt a bit uncomfortable with the overbearing husbands in both Kathryn's David and Mary Rose's Henry. Maybe if parts of the story had been written from the points of view of the male characters I would have understood their behaviour better. But I won't let this spoil what is ultimately a pleasant Christmas story, and I hope to read more about the characters introduced in this novella, particularly Kathryn and Amanda. 7/10 ...more

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Dec 10, 2010 Babs rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Amish, Christian, Romance

Shelves: amish, fiction, romance, favorites

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 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 church district. So Anne Mae writes a letter to Kathryn Beiler, her brother's wife, to enlist her help. Kathryn asks her husband, David, if she should arrange Anna Mae's visit. David cautions her that a visit would cause too much stress in the family and instead suggests they visit Anna Mae and her husband in the spring. However, Kathryn arranges the visit anyway, believing in her heart that it's God's will for the family to heal. When Anna Mae arrives in Lancaster for Christmas, she doesn't receive the welcome she expects and her world begins to fall apart, leaving her to question her place in her family -- and her faith in God. A book filled with love, the pain of being separated from one's family, and the determination to follow God's will regardless of the outcome, A Plain and Simple Christmas is an inspiring page-turner that will keep you guessing what happens next...right to the very last page.

My 2 cents:

I adored this book, I thought Anna Mae was a great character. I felt for her through out this story and for her family too. She was shunned when she chose her English husband and her family took it hard. After 3 years, she writes to her sister in law to about coming out to visit. Kathryn was thrilled to hear from her and got things rolling. Everyone was worried how Anne Mae's dad was going to take the news since he is the bishop for the community. Kathryn's husband and Anna Mae's brother David, was not happy at first about the visit as he knew his dad was not going to take it well. Anna Mae is pregnant with her first child and wants to mend the relationship with her family so they can be a family again. Kellan her husband is very supportive and loves her very much. It is a touching story of love and healing. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It is an easy read.
I liked the fact that the story is not all sugar coated so to speak. Anna Mae is not as welcomed as she thought she would be. There are some tough times along with the good. It all makes the book more realistic.
...more

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About Amy Clipston

Amy Clipston

1,069 followers

Hi, I’m Amy Clipston. I am an author of Amish and Christian fiction with HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Most of my books focus on the Amish community, faith, and love. I also write romance novels and young adult inspirational stories.

My books include:

Kauffman Amish Bakery Series
• A Gift of Grace (3/2009)
• A Promise of Hope (3/2010)
• A Place of Peace (2/2011)
• A Life of Joy (1/2012)
• A Season ...more