ABOUT THE BOOK
In this endearing Christmas tale, a bookmobile librarian knows just the novel to help an Amish bachelor woo his next-door neighbor in the latest installment of the “charming” (Carla Laureano, RITA Award–winning author of Five Days in Skye) Berlin Bookmobile series.
A solitary sort, forty-two-year-old Atle Petersheim spends his time hard at work in his wood shop. But as the days get long, he realizes just how lonely he’s become. When his longtime crush, Sadie Mast, a widow and mother of three, asks him to help her build a room in their barn for her son Cale, Atle can’t say no. Eager to pursue Sadie at last, he turns to bookmobile librarian Sarah Anne Miller for courting advice. More than happy to help, Sarah Anne decides the best way to learn about love is through books—romance novels to be precise.
Between completing holiday orders for her flourishing food business, helping Cale navigate a dramatic new relationship with his boss’s daughter, and coming to terms with the trauma her late husband had inflicted upon her and her children—not to mention Atle showing up at her door with flowers—Sadie is in over her head. Though Atle’s efforts are initially clumsy and his declarations a bit awkward, Sadie can’t help but be charmed by him. He’s patient and kind...and at times even seems to know far more about romance than he’s let on.
Another delightful romance about the “transformative powers of love, hope, and faith” (Publishers Weekly), A Christmas Courtship is the perfect holiday read.
A solitary sort, forty-two-year-old Atle Petersheim spends his time hard at work in his wood shop. But as the days get long, he realizes just how lonely he’s become. When his longtime crush, Sadie Mast, a widow and mother of three, asks him to help her build a room in their barn for her son Cale, Atle can’t say no. Eager to pursue Sadie at last, he turns to bookmobile librarian Sarah Anne Miller for courting advice. More than happy to help, Sarah Anne decides the best way to learn about love is through books—romance novels to be precise.
Between completing holiday orders for her flourishing food business, helping Cale navigate a dramatic new relationship with his boss’s daughter, and coming to terms with the trauma her late husband had inflicted upon her and her children—not to mention Atle showing up at her door with flowers—Sadie is in over her head. Though Atle’s efforts are initially clumsy and his declarations a bit awkward, Sadie can’t help but be charmed by him. He’s patient and kind...and at times even seems to know far more about romance than he’s let on.
Another delightful romance about the “transformative powers of love, hope, and faith” (Publishers Weekly), A Christmas Courtship is the perfect holiday read.
MY THOUGHTS.....
Shelley Shepard Gray has outdone herself! I thoroughly enjoyed book 2 of the Berlin Bookmobile series but this book is now my favorite! We get to revisit bookmobile librarian Sarah Ann, catch up with some of her patrons that we've already met, and glimpse Sarah Ann with her new husband, Pete. A Christmas Courtship introduces us to Atle Petersheim. Sadie Mast, Sadie's three children, and fun pets Bonnie the mare and pygmy goat Gwen! Atle wants to learn how to court a woman, but how many men, let alone Amish men, would be willing to read a romance novel to achieve their goal? Sadie is a loving mother but she's never known a truly happy marriage, and even her children have been affected by their late father's erratic moods. Atle is the complete opposite of Marcus, and Sadie is soon captivated by this gentle man who was so interested in everyone and everything around him! It's very sweet to watch Atle and Sadie as they advance from a business arrangement, to friendship, and finally something deeper, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen. Atle may want a wife, but is he willing to take on a ready-made family? Will Sadie's children accept a new person into their family? Can she learn to trust another man?
I appreciate that Gray once again shows the importance of libraries and librarians, and an added treat is that she begins each chapter of this book with an excerpt from the romance novel that Sarah Ann suggests for Atle to read. I do believe that Finding Love's Focus would be a great romance on its own!
A Christmas Courtship satisfies the desires of so many readers! There are wonderful characters, unforgettable romance, the emotions associated with the Christmas season, and many references to prayer, faith, and hope. I highly recommend this lovely, heartwarming book to all who enjoy Amish fiction and Christian romance.
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s degree in English literature and elementary education and later obtained her master’s degree in educational administration. She currently lives in Colorado Springs and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two young adults and she is an active member of her church.
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Check out my review of Book 2 in the Bertlin Bookmobile Series
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