When Christmas Comes Again: An Amish Second Christmas Novella

By Beth Wiseman

Katherine knows the first Christmas without Elias will be hard for her and the children. But when a mysterious Englischer appears with photographs of her late husband, Katherine begins to wonder what other blessings Christmas could have in store.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Oct 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9780718027513

Beth Wiseman

Bestselling and award-winning author Beth Wiseman has sold over two million books. She is the recipient of the coveted Holt Medallion, is a two-time Carol Award winner, and has won the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award three times. Her books have been on various bestseller lists, including CBA, ECPA, Christianbook, and Publishers Weekly. Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying country life in south-central Texas. Visit her online at BethWiseman.com; Facebook: @AuthorBethWiseman; Twitter: @BethWiseman; Instagram: @bethwisemanauthor

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Katherine Zook fell into step with two Englisch women who were crossing the parking lot toward the Bird-in-Hand market. Normally, she would avoid the chatty tourists, but the tall man with the shoulder-length, salt-and-pepper hair and a limp was following her again.

It’s a lovely day, isn’t it? The middle-aged woman walking next to Katherine was a little thing with short, red hair and wore a blue T-shirt with Paradise, Pennsylvania on the front. Her friend had on the same T-shirt, but it was red.

"Ya, it is." Katherine glanced at the dark clouds overhead. There wasn’t anything lovely about the weather. Frigid temperatures and the snow had just begun to fall again. She picked up the pace and hoped the women would speed up too. She looked over her shoulder, glad they were gaining some distance on the stranger. She’d first seen him a week ago, loitering outside the Gordonville Bookstore, and she hadn’t thought much about it. Then when she saw him at Kauffman’s Fruit Farm and Market, she’d thought it was a coincidence. She’d also spotted him outside Paradiso’s when she’d stopped to pick up a pizza as a treat for the children. But this was becoming more than a fluke.

Katherine could feel the women staring at her, but she kept her eyes straight ahead and hoped they weren’t about to ask a string of questions. Do you have a telephone? Can I take your picture? Is this where you do your shopping? How many children do you have? Are your people Christians? And Katherine’s personal favorite: Do you know where I can get an Amish pen pal?

It wasn’t that she held ill will against the curious Englisch tourists, but she often wondered what their reactions would be if the situation were reversed. They’d most likely run from her or summon the police.

Ma’am, can I ask you a quick question? The redhead spoke loudly, as if Katherine might be hard of hearing, making it impossible to ignore her. She looked over her shoulder again, but she didn’t see the man anymore. She stopped a few feet from the entrance when the two women did. "Ya. What can I help you with?"

I-I was wondering . . . The woman blushed as her eyes darted back and forth between Katherine and the other lady. My friend and I were wondering . . . She pulled her large, black purse up on her shoulder. We—well . . .

Katherine waited. She was anxious to get in and out of the market, then back on the road. She’d left her two youngest kinner home alone. Linda was old enough to babysit five-year-old Gideon, but he could be a handful even for Katherine. She pulled her black coat snug, looking forward to a brief reprieve from the weather once she got inside the market.

Do Amish women shave their legs? the woman finally asked. Luckily, she hadn’t spoken as loudly as before.

This is a first. Katherine closed her gaping mouth and tried to find the words for a response. Before she could, the other Englischer spoke up.

And . . . you know . . . The woman was a bit taller than her friend with short, gray hair that was slightly spiked on the top of her head. She raised one of her arms and with her other hand she pointed under her arm. Do you shave here too?

The first woman touched Katherine lightly on the arm. We can’t find the answer to that question online, and it’s been an ongoing argument during our book-club gatherings. She stood taller and smiled. We only read Amish books.

Does that fact make it okay to ask such questions? Katherine considered telling the women that they were very rude, but changed her mind. She folded her hands in front of her and glanced back and forth between the ladies.

Only when I’ve planned for my husband and me to be alone. But he died six months ago, so . . . Katherine smiled and shrugged. That will give you something to tell your book club. Both of the women’s eyes went round as saucers. "Have a wunderbaar day," Katherine added before she walked into the market. She looked back once to make sure neither of them had fainted. She didn’t know any Amish folks who used the word wunderbaar, but the Englisch seemed to think they did, so she was happy to throw it in for good measure.

She held her laughter until she was inside the store. On most days, it was a challenge just to get out of bed in the morning, much less to find humor in anything. But as she made her way to the back of the market, she thought about Elias. Her husband would have gotten a chuckle out of Katherine’s response. I miss you, Elias.

She dropped off some quilted potholders for Diana to display in her booth. Katherine tried to make several per week for her Englisch friend to sell. The market in Bird-In-Hand catered to tourists mostly, and Diana had a permanent booth. Katherine and a few other local Amish women provided Diana with items to sell. And occasionally, when Katherine had time, she and Diana would sneak away and grab lunch and then split a dessert. They both suffered from an insatiable sweet tooth. But those times were getting more infrequent since she bore the entire responsibility of caring for the family.

Making small craft items used to be more of a hobby for Katherine, but now that money was tight, Linda and Mary Carol had been putting in extra hours sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Katherine hadn’t told the children that they might have to sell their house, or at least part of the fifty acres that surrounded their home. That would be a last resort because the land had been in her family for three generations. She grabbed the last thing on her list, and as she made her way to the checkout line, she caught sight of an Englisch couple walking hand in hand. She missed having someone to bounce the important decisions off of. Her oldest, Stephen, was sixteen and trying hard to assume the role of head of the household, even though it should have been a time for him to be enjoying his rumschpringe.

As she made her way toward the exit, she saw the two women from the parking lot. The ladies actually bumped into each other as they scurried to avoid Katherine, but Katherine smiled and gave a little wave before she walked out the door.

She stuffed her gloved hands into the pockets of her coat. The snow was beginning to accumulate, and the wind was biting. It was colder than usual for December. Somehow, Katherine and her children had managed to get through Thanksgiving, but this first Christmas without Elias was going to be hard.

When she felt the tears starting to build in her eyes, she forced herself to think about the two Englisch women, and it brought a smile to her face. She was going to bottle that memory and pull it out when she felt sad, which was most days.

As she hurried toward her buggy, she tipped the rim of her black bonnet to shield her face from the snow, but every few seconds, she scanned the parking lot for signs of the tall man with the gray hair. Katherine didn’t see him.

She stowed her purse on the seat beside her and waited for two cars to pass before she clicked her tongue and pulled back on the reins. She said a silent prayer of thanks when the snow started to let up. John Wayne was an older horse, and like so many others that pulled buggies in Lancaster County, he hadn’t fared well at the racetrack. And as a result, he was no longer any use to his owner. Elias had paid

Reviews for When Christmas Comes Again

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

These four novellas will definitely give you a warm fuzzy Christmas feeling. Though there is some strife in the lives of these Amish women, it’s a pretty safe bet it will all work out in the end. The stories are somewhat connected, written by different authors, and contain some of the same characters but having a different focus. The stories are sweet, almost to the point of being trite, and message that one must trust in God is foremost. The audio narrator was a bit over the top, but if you like a narrator is really performing the parts, this is the book for you.

[mrsjason · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As you know, Amish fiction is hit or miss with me. I don't mind Amish fiction that emphasis the way of life but I don't like reading stories where I feel as if I'm being preached at and made guilty because I don't want to live the way they do. This novella collection has none of that. I would describe this book as comfort reading. The stories, which are all connected, are written by three authors who are known for their Amish stories. I really enjoyed reading this books. What I liked best about this series was that there was no conversion to the Amish faith. It's a cliche I'm starting to abhor, that every Englischer who happens to wander in Amish land must become Amish. Thankfully none of that happens in this book. Instead what is shown is an introduction to the Amish way of life, which isn't pushy or preachy. There is also a lot of food mentioned which is always a plus.If there was any story I was iffy on, it would have to be Lydia's story. This is mainly due to her stubbornness and refusal to listen to explanations. I just felt it created unnecessary drama that the story didn't need. Other than that blip, I really had no problems as all with any of the stories. They all emphasized more on the story than trying to be Amish. Other than the obvious differences between their world and the Englisch world, I really didn't see any differences between these stories and those set in modern world.These three authors do very well with the novella situation. I don't normally like novella stories but I felt that all the stories ended well and the characters were fully developed. I liked how the stories are all connected yet each is distinctly different. The best part is that this book gives a taste of each author's style of writing and if you liked it makes you want to go and read the rest of their works. I feel that this team is good at writing together and I'll be looking forward to reading more works from them, both individual stories and more combined efforts. Amish fans will really enjoy this book and there's the added benefit of getting the reader into the Christmas spirit!

[reviewsbymolly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't think I could say this enough!!! It's WUNDERBAAR!!! These groups of stories relate so well and blend together so nicely. The three authors are outstanding in their own books but they really had it together when combining these 3 seperate stories for this one book. I love Amish stories to begin with, and I love Christmas, and I was super excited to hear about the release of this book! As with Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall, I don't want to make my review too long, else I give away too much of the book! Once I get started on talking about this book I won't stop! It is just that good! This is a must read book for all you Amish and Christmas lovers! MUST READ! It is a book that I will not get rid of! It is in my home to stay! I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars, for the ability to make me laugh, cry, and feel the movement of God through the words on the pages, but, I can not. So I will have to stick with rating this book with my normal 5 stars AND two thumbs up! Highest, highest praises to 3 amazingly talented authors for a job well done with An Amish Christmas!!! *This book was provided by Thomas Nelson Publishers for review*

[hjvanderklis_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Three authors (Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Barbara Cameron) wrote three novellas on Christmastime in Lancaster Country, Amish's Paradise, Pennsylvania. Timeless themes like a returned lover, inner & outer beauty and the longing for offspring, a place and family to belong to. Seth & Miriam deal with pretty on the outside versus inner beauty. Daniel's return to his Amish roots really upset his late brother's widow Lydia. The couple face tough choices. The storyline is enriched by other personalities. David and Sarah, both struggling without one child open their home for two 'lost in Paradise' guests. Kate & Jason appear to expect a child any day (a Christmas child?). These love stories are interwoven with Amish customs, dialect (Deitsch), faith and personal struggles and choices regarding love, envy, forgiveness, child expectancy and God's plan for your life. The stories are loosely connected, but can be read apart. Fortunately a happy end makes everything ready for Christmas. As an extra guidance for group reading and authentic old order Amish recipes are added to this threefold Christmas present.

[judyg54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a set of three stories written by three different authors, but all take place in Paradise, PA and are centered around a specific Amish family. I really enjoyed all 3 stories, but "A Miracle for Miriam" by Kathleen Fuller was my favorite.This is the first story in this Christmas Novella and what a good story it was. I was cheering for Miriam all the way through and so appreciated the change in Seth. I appreciated the fact that true beauty comes from within. Seth is no longer the arrogant young boy he once was when he made fun of Miriam and broke her heart at the age of 14. Now they have both grown up and after surviving an almost fatal car accident Seth is seeing life a little bit differently. I loved this section of the story when Seth is realizing the true beauty of Miriam, “Granted, there were women out there with curvier figures and prettier faces, but now that didn’t matter to him. At one time it had; he couldn't deny that. There was only one woman he was interested in, one woman who could drive him crazy one minute then sneak into his heart the next. Miriam Herschberger.” Seth must find a way to show Miriam he truly cares about her, and Miriam must come to learn to trust in Seth and in the fact that her beauty within can truly make someone like Seth see her as beautiful all over. Yeah for the way this author championed those young ladies who don’t think they are pretty. This was a good love story, very believable, and left me very well satisfied.Story number two was about Miriam's sister, Lydia who has lost her husband and must now learn to forgive and trust her deceased husband's brother, Daniel when he shows up 18 years later on Miriam's doorstep after leaving long ago on Christmas Eve. He was Lydia's first love and she never understood why he left so suddenly. When the truth is revealed, Lydia must learn to forgive not only Daniel, but her husband as well.I really enjoyed the way the last story was written. "One Child" was centered around David and Sarah, an Amish couple who lost their baby during the pregnancy last Christmas. Now they struggle through this one. But when a blizzard hits they find themselves taking in an "Englisch" couple, who are about to have a baby. I loved the way these two couples came to know one another, understand the different lifestyles and appreciate the simplistic way of the Amish. It was a heartfelt story as Sarah and David give of themselves when their own hearts are hurting and how the birth of a child can make a difference in each of their lives.This was a novella I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.