A Christmas Haven by Cindy Woodsmall, Erin Woodsmall

A Christmas Haven

by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall

ECPA BESTSELLER • For fans of holiday romances and Amish life comes a new Christmas tale of surprising expectations and discovering miracles.

Old Order Amish Ivy Zook is wrestling with her need to shed her community's ways so she can grow the business of her dreams: planning parties. As long as she's stuck living without modernization, she can barely get her business on its feet. But if she leaves too soon, she'd cause trouble for her sister, Holly, who is planning her wedding to Joshua Smucker. All of their plans become twice as complicated when an old car crashes into the storefront of Greene's Pharmacy, carrying a Swartzentruber (ultra-conservative sect) Amish man, Arlan, and his very ill sister.

The Zooks take in Arlan and Madga, tending to the woman's illness and Arlan begins helping around the family farm. Ivy and Arlan are on different tracks, one wanting to leave her community and the other to return to his. But both young people are trying to discover what God has in store for their futures and what miracles might lie around the corner this Christmas season.

Reviewed by Molly J(Cover To Cover Cafe) on

4 of 5 stars

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I have been a long time fan of Cindy Woodsmall and was so excited to learn of another collaboration she did with Erin Woodsmall. I loved reading The Christmas Remedy last year and this year, they've brought us the next Zook's story. This time we get to see Ivy and Arlan, the Amish man who has piqued her interest!

I loved seeing Ivy and Arlan's story play out. We get to go back to the heart of where we met Holly Zook and see all the fun loving characters from The Christmas Remedy. But, I was really drawn to Ivy's story. She has her heart set on a plan for her life, planning parties, yet, she knows she will cause trouble. Then Arlan and Magda come along and Ivy's just not so sure anymore!

Arlan. Bless his soul, I loved him! His love for his sister, and getting her the help she needed, really shined bright. I felt for him, though, for him doing what he knew in his heart was right, and being disowned his father. He endured such heartache with that but I loved seeing him stand his ground and stay strong to God's word no matter what.

This story is filled with heartache and pain, happiness and love, forgiveness and hope, as these characters come to know where their haven really is. This story is filled with beautiful, 4 star worthy characters that quickly become a part of the reader's soul. Both Cindy and Erin Woodsmall have a God graced talent to create stories that are filled with Heavenly messages from above, characters that become family, and a plot line that will have you turning page after page. I can't wait to see what collaboration these talented ladies have in story for us next!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher, Waterbrook & Multnomah and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

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  • 22 September, 2019: Reviewed