Welcome to Friday Reads!
Susan has offered to give away a copy of The Mending (paperback, US ONLY, or audiobook). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the bottom of this post. (Contest ends November 27, 2020.) Share on X If you’re the chosen winner, I’ll contact you for your information.
Amish Christmas Miracles novella collection blurb…
As snow falls softly outside the window, curl up by the fire with this collection of 14 stories by your favorite Amish fiction authors. Let them transport you to Amish communities all across the country. Travel to small towns where horses clip-clop down the road, farms dot the snow-covered landscape, and families gather to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas. Sigh over sweet stories that touch your heart. Laugh, cry, rejoice, and smile as couples renew their faith and find their perfect soul mates.
The Christmas Fudge Miracle blurb…
“The Christmas Fudge Miracle,” my story in the Amish Christmas Miracles Collection, takes place in the fictional Old Order Amish community of Cherry Hill in Southern Maryland. The ladies of the district are putting together a collection of recipes to sell at their annual Christmas market. They have gathered many favorite recipes and are almost ready to have the book printed. They only need Naomi Yoder’s chocolate cloud fudge recipe to make their book complete. Their only problem is that Naomi’s son, David, refuses to part with his deceased mother’s recipe.
BethAnn Byler has been conscripted by the ladies to coax David into relinquishing the prized recipe. Even though she tries every tactic she can think of to get out of the task, she eventually gives up and attempts to do the women’s bidding. Her scheme to elicit David’s cooperation backfires, however, leaving her and David embarrassed, angry, and hurt—just when it looked like a friendship might be blossoming.
Can BethAnn make amends? Can she discover the secret reason for David’s resistance? Will a simple fudge recipe be the miracle to restore hope and healing?
How the story came to be…
When considering ideas for my story, “The Christmas Fudge Miracle,” I thought of all the traditions most of us have for the holidays. We might hang up certain ornaments every year. We might always put up the Christmas tree in the exact same spot. We might have certain foods we make every single year. For our loved ones, it just wouldn’t seem like the holidays without the turkey and trimmings, or the marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, or the cranberry jello mold, or the rich, chocolate fudge.
Fudge! That’s what I decided my story would revolve around. But not any fudge. A special fudge that a departed friend made every year. That was the seed of my story. It grew and blossomed from there. I pondered what would happen if a family member didn’t want to part with that recipe, even for a community cookbook. But then I added a little “twist.” What if that family member had a secret reason for not sharing that recipe? You’ll have to read the story to find out what happens!!
My review…
I read an advanced copy of Christmas Fudge Miracle by Susan Lantz Simpson. Based on her story, I’m really looking forward to reading the rest of this novella collection!
Beth Ann is on a mission (courtesy of the cookbook cronies, as she refers to them) to gain possession of Naomi’s prize fudge recipe for their cookbook. The problem? David, Naomi’s son, refuses to turn it over. Will Beth Ann be able to convince him otherwise?
This is a delightful novella, perfect to get the reader in the holiday mood (especially for the holiday treats!). It’s a sweet romance, with a bit of mystery thrown in (behind David’s reasoning for refusing to give up the recipe). Characters and scenarios are realistic and relatable. You can’t help rooting for Beth Ann, hoping she’ll get her Christmas miracle. (But will it be the one she’s expecting?)
I’ve read stories by many of the other authors in collections. If those stories are as enjoyable as this one was (and I’m sure they will be!), I can’t wait to read the entire collection (which I just received)!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
About Susan…
Susan Lantz Simpson has been writing stories and poetry ever since she penned her first poem at the age of six. She has always loved the magic of words and how they can entertain and enlighten others. Her love of words and books led her to earn a degree in English/Education. She has taught students from Prekindergarten to high school and has also worked as an editor for the federal government. She also holds a degree in nursing and has worked in hospitals and in community health. She writes inspirational stories of love and faith and has published a middle-grade novel (Ginger and the Bully) in addition to her inspirational romances. She was a finalist in the OCW Cascade fiction contest. She lives in Maryland and is the mother of two wonderful daughters. She is a member of ACFW and Maryland Christian Writers Group. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, walking, and doing needlework.
Where to find Susan online…
Rules for giveaway can be found here.
My favorite holiday sweet treats are molasses cookies.
I love molasses cookies! My gram makes them with jelly in the middle, which is what I do, too. I haven’t made them in a year or so. I may have to hunt up my recipe.
Good luck, Danielle!
My favorite Christmas treat is my own homemade fudge, but my mom’s cookies are a close second. When I was little, I love my grandma’s fruitcake.
Yum! I enjoy fudge, too! Does your mom make sugar cookies?
You’re one of the only people I’ve ever heard mention they like fruitcake. My father-in-law was another one.
Good luck, Roxanne!
I love snickerdoodles, gingerbread men and thumbprint cookies
Snickerdoodles are some of my favorites 🙂
Good luck, Merry!
chocolate pie and my mom’s homemade sugar cookies. Thanks for the chance.
You’re welcome, Lynn.
Sounds yummy! I am quite fond of my grandma’s sugar cookies.
Good luck.
My favorite holiday sweet treat is my mom’s frosted cut out sugar cookies. They were the best ever, and I have her recipe ?. She had cookie cutters for every holiday and all the grandkids begged her to make them all the time.
Yum! Sounds like what I’d do with my gram when I was a child. Still my fave cookies 🙂
Good luck!
My favorite treat any time of year is chocolate chip cookies.
I agree! They’re great all year long.
Good luck, Lisa.
Oh my goodness, I have so many cookies that I bake for Christmas and during the year too.
Snickerdoodles, pecan tassies, oatmeal, almond, graham cracker & chocolate chip, peanut blossoms, and I bake a few other ones too. And I found some new ones I want to try out. ?
Yum, yum, and yum! I look forward to hearing what new ones you try out.
Good luck, Jean!
My favorite is fudge.
You definitely can’t go wrong with fudge. Do you have a favorite flavor? (I like chocolate and peanut butter.)
Good luck, Jan!
I like many, especially pumpkin pie and sugar cookies.
I love those, too. My husband’s favorite is pumpkin pie.
Good luck, Vivian!