Review: A Christmas Engagement: An Amish Romance

A Christmas Engagement: An Amish Romance by Linda Byler

It is important for you to understand that this book recap is not the correction. I've posted the correct one just after my review!

This book is exactly what I've come to expect from Amish romances. Sweet, religious but not overly religious, and with this book letting us Englishers know that even the Amish are trying to understand why some things can't stay the same! found that although I understood Liz's predicament, she was having too difficult of a time trusting. I guess that even for some religious people, "turn the other cheek" must mean something different than it means to me. Yes, Lix got dumped in a most spectacular way, and yes, her esteem suffered a huge hit. But, I just didn't enjoy totally the fact that she thought so little of herself. That she couldn't seem to trust Matthew.


This book made for a good traditional romance in that it exhibited some behavior that I thought was forbidden to the Amish. Well, like it was pointed out, everything changes!

I recommend this book to those that love clean (nonsexual) romance and a well-written story. However, if you are like me and have no true Deity, there should be no issues with this book because the author doesn't overly dwell on God.

*ARC supplied by the publisher, the author, and Edelweiss/ATTL.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Until Goodreads fixes this, I would like you to know that the book synopsis that you read HERE is incorrect.
THIS IS THE TRUE SYNOPSIS:"Liz had been in love once, had even been engaged. In fact, the wedding had been planned, the barn cleaned, and the celery was set to be harvested to make the traditional wedding soup. Just two weeks before the day she was to exchange vows with her beloved, he changed his mind, and that was that.

The humiliation was almost as bad as the heartbreak. The whole community had celebrated her engagement, had participated in the wedding planning, had started giving her advice on keeping a home and raising children. When the wedding was canceled, no one knew what to say. She had to bear the pitying looks and awkward glances for many months. She vowed never to be such a fool again, never to trust her heart to a man who could just up and leave her with hardly an explanation. She'd rather be an old maid than go through that again.

Years pass, and Liz has made peace with her life as a single woman, a "leftover blessing" as the Amish say. She can admit to herself that Matthew, the owner of the Amish restaurant at the market where she works, is handsome. And she is aware that he is single. But she reminds herself over and over that it's not worth feeling anything for the man. He's her boss and that's it. So why does she look forward to work so much every day? And why can't she make her heart beat at a normal pace when he comes near?

Linda Byler is beloved for her skillful story telling and true-to-life descriptions of Amish food, faith, and culture. As an Amish woman herself, she can share details of Amish life that few can replicate. In this charming novel, Byler shares intimate details of day-to-day life in an Amish community while spinning a sweet tale of love and hopes fulfilled at Christmastime."

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