Christmas in Sugarcreek: A Seasons of Sugarcreek Christmas Novel [Hardcover]

Shelley Shepard Gray (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 25, 2011 | Series: Seasons of Sugarcreek

The beloved characters Shelley Shepard Gray created for her bestselling Seasons of Sugarcreek series are back in Christmas in Sugarcreek—a heartwarming story of the magic of Christmastime and the blossoming of an unlikely love in a close-knit Amish community. Obedient daughter Judith Graber finds herself becoming uncomfortably enamored of the help her father has hired to assist in the store during the holidays: Ben Knox, as scandalous a bad boy as they come in staid and quiet Sugarcreek. Author of the immensely popular Sisters of the Heart novels, Shelley Shepard Gray is one of the true masters of Amish inspirational fiction, and Christmas in Sugarcreek is a delightful holiday treat for all lovers of Christian romance—especially fans of Beverly Lewis, Wanda Brunstetter, and Cindy Woodsmall.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[A] feel-good winner.” (Library Journal (starred review) )

“An Amish community backdrop adds homespun sweetness, with a focus on simplicity and family that’s never heavy-handed...new readers will have no trouble starting the series here.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )

“A story of love and forgiveness, Gray paints a stirring picture of Christmas time and the magic it can have on people.” (The Deseret News )

“A sweet, straightforward story about how love can be tested by family, faith, and personal insecurity. Enjoyable and heartwarming.” (USA Today )

From the Back Cover

Judith Graber has always been the obedient daughter. When her older brother Josh struggled with his love life, she offered wise counsel. When her younger brother Caleb flirted with the idea of leaving their order, she firmly told him he was wrong. Over the years, she’s watched her younger siblings, helped around the house, and worked in her family’s store during her spare time. Judith feels overworked, overlooked, and underappreciated this holiday season.

But everything changes when her father hires Ben Knox.

Ben Knox is the “bad boy” of Sugarcreek. Though he’s never considered jumping the fence, he’s certainly never tried to be anything close to dutiful. Two years ago he left Sugarcreek under a cloud of shame. Rumors circulated that his rumspringa had been filled with more than the usual harmless explorations.

Now he’s back and working side by side with Judith.

As the chaos of the holiday season threatens to sap all joy, sparks fly between Ben and Judith. But Judith steels herself to ignore her infatuation. The last thing she wants to be is just one more girl who falls under Ben’s spell. Ben, on the other hand, wants Judith to realize there’s more to him than his bad reputation. When he fled Sugarcreek, he was running from a disruptive home life. Now that he’s back, he wants a fresh beginning.

Could this Christmas season bring love and a new life for the unlikeliest pair in Sugarcreek?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Avon Inspire (October 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062089765
• ISBN-13: 978-0062089762
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #353,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shelley Shepard Gray lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. A busy wife and mother of two, she spends her days writing and keeping track of her two teenagers. Her two dogs keep her company when she writes in her basement.

Shelley enjoys writing about the Amish and visits Amish communities in Adams and Holmes counties several times a year. When not spending time with her family or writing, she serves on several committees in her church.

She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.

Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news...or become her friend on FaceBook.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#88 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

#88 in Kindle eBooks > Religion & Spirituality

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Story September 5, 2011

By Avid Mystery Reader VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I have not read any of the Sugarcreek novels before, so this is my first. The writing is simple. I know that many people reading this will not specifically care about the writing style but as an educator, that is one of the first things that I notice.
The story is also a sweet love story. The only thing off-putting for this reader is the use of the Amish dialect that makes some of the reading a bit difficult. Many books use language as it is spoken in a certain community or country and often times I find this makes the reading a bit "hard going" at times. Maybe the word "tedious" might be more appropriate.
There is only one innuendo that is of an adult nature in that there is a reference that makes one think that one of the characters had a baby out of wedlock. Otherwise, the story of somewhat innocent love and the details of Amish everyday life are enchanting. I think that this would be a good book for anyone regardless of age from tweens on up. Even my 74 year old mother enjoyed the story.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Christmas Miracle August 23, 2011

By Shelly Itkin VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Judith Garber has always been there to help her family whenever they needed her and little thought was given to what Judith really needed. Love, attention and a man of her own. Well less then two weeks before Christmas Ben Knox who had disappeared from Sugarcreek suddenly returns and with ten days left till Christmas winds up working in the store with Judith and her father and other family members. Thru those ten days we learn about the life the loves and the events that take place in there family and with other relatives.

Christmas is a time for thanks and this is one year Judith will not only give thanks but truly appreciate the true meaning of the season and not only for Jesus' birth. Now she will have all the things she always wanted plus a feeling of belonging and having found love the town and people of Sugarland look even better and to make the story even more interesting there is a Gift of the Magi story intertwined a truly enjoyable book and hopefully you wont have to wait till Christmas to read it.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Amish Christmas book September 2, 2011

By C. Yates VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Christmas In Sugarcreek is a most predictable story line. Boy meets girl. Boy and Girl fall in love. As predictable as the story is, insight into the Amish values and way of life is shown through the Christmas holiday season. Amazon made this book possible for me in my search to better understand the Amish community.Christmas in Sugarcreek: A Christmas Seasons of Sugarcreek Novel