This three story collection seeks to celebrate the joys of Christmas and the traditions of the Amish heritage. Authors Shelley Shepard Gray, Charlotte Hubbard, and Rosalind Lauer have combined their efforts in crafting this celebration of coming home for the holidays and being with friends and family.
*Buggies, Trains, and Automobiles by Shelley Shepard Gray tells the story of John and Ellie trying to make their way from Florida to Ohio, and along the way, they meet quite an interesting cast of characters. From a missed bus to train sickness, to finding themselves sheltering in a church for the evening, these two are in for an adventure. And perhaps find loving in their misadventures.
*In Star of Wonder by Charlotte Hubbard, Raymond has set off to find his own way as an artist when he meets Mennonite Lizzie, an over enthusiastic store clerk. But when he faces opposition from his Old Order Amish bishop, will love and grace find a way to restore relationships?
*Starlight Everlasting by Rosalind Lauer shares the story of Luke and Rachel, struggling to help her family after the devastating loss of Rachel's mother. Facing their first Christmas apart, the couple must wrestle with the challenge of moving and starting over.
All three stories shared the common themes of family, God's will, and finding romance. And they were all connected with a star theme as well. My favorite of the three was certainly Buggies, Trains, and Automobiles as the storyline was fresh and original, and the characters of John and Ellie were well-written. Each novella was unique in its own right and made for a nice collection just before the holidays. Collections like this make for a refreshing read during the holiday season as they can be read in short snippets of time and refocus the reader on the joys of the season. Overall, I enjoyed this title and was delighted to be introduced to a couple of new authors.
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this title from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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