Mercy Lapp is ready for a fresh start. Having lost her fiancé in a fishing accident during his rumschpringe, she escapes the painful memories by moving from her community in Shipshewana, Indiana, to Seymour, Missouri, where she takes a job as a mother’s helper. She isn’t exactly shy, but she’s hesitant to get involved with the youth in the community because she isn’t going to stay. She … especially doesn’t want a new romance.
Abner Hilty is excited to see his twin brother, Abram, for the first time in years. The two fled their hometown of Shipshewana when their witness of a murder put their lives in danger, Abner heading to Montana to work on a ranch and hunt big game, Abram meeting a girl in Missouri, marrying, and settling down there. Abner decides to spend the holidays with them in Seymour, but he has every intention of returning to Montana, maybe even for good.
At a chance encounter, Abner is immediately drawn to Mercy, and even more so when he realizes that they’ve met before, back in Shipshewana. Initially alarmed, Mercy soon warms to his attentions. She also branches out and begins attending youth functions, forming new friendships that are solidified during a rare snowstorm. Just when Mercy and Abner are beginning to think about a long-term relationship, Mercy gets a phone call that changes everything. The information would have been welcome months ago, but now that she knows Abner, she’s torn, and she will have to do some serious soul-searching to decide how to act on it.
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A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN WEBSTER COUNTY by Laura V. Hilton is the fourth and final book in the Amish Of Webster County series. It is the story of Mercy Lapp and Abner Hilty and takes place in Seymour, MO.
Upon answering a want ad for a mother’s helper in “The Budget”, an Amish newspaper, Mercy moved to Seymour after being hired by Shana. She took the job to escape the painful memories of her fiancée’s death in a fishing accident a year earlier and to get away from the pity stares and her overbearing father. Mercy didn’t plan on staying long enough to make connections and she sure wasn’t looking for someone to break her heart again.
Abner came to Seymour to spend time with his twin brother and his family. After they were forced to flee Shipshewana in separate directions for their own protection and now that the danger was over, it was time to reconnect with his family starting with Abram while on vacation from his job in Montana. The last thing he needed was to fall head over heels in love anyone.
From the first time Abner laid eyes on Mercy in a chance meeting at the grocery store, he was a man determined to win over the woman of his dreams. He declared on their first meeting that he would make her his frau. And if nothing else, as a God fearing man, he was a man of his word and never broke a promise. Although hesitant, telling her heart it would not – could not allow anyone else in, there was a mutual attraction almost from that first meeting. But he had to return to Montana right? And her job would soon be over and where would she go then? Not back to Shipshewana – she just couldn’t. It seems everyone in Seymour realizes that they were meant to be a couple – but the two of them who couldn’t see how it could work out.
Just when you think it’s headed to a happily ever with Abner buying the farm next to his parents, the phone rings with news no one ever expected. How will that phone call or the coming days change their feelings, their plans – or will it? Will they have the faith to give their problems to God and know that all will be according to his will? Are they being told the whole story or is it like Swiss cheese – full of holes? Will the whole truth sit the course to true happiness?
Laura V. Hilton manages to write an amazing Christmas story that will have you feeling the cold of the snowball thrown, the rapid heartbeat of a person in love, the tears of a broken heart and fear that things won’t ever work out. She shows us through use of scripture and example that it’s through faith and prayer that God’s will is opened up to us. A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN WEBSTER COUNTY takes you on a roller coaster ride that starts off slow, has lots twists and turns sometimes turning your world upside down and then ends with you being ecstatic that you took the ride. You learn that some of the best Christmas presents aren’t wrapped or placed under a tree.
A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN WEBSTER COUNTY may be a Christmas story, but I recommend it for any time of year for a story that will touch your heart, bring a smile to your face and have you telling others what a great book it is. It did me!