All she wants for Christmas is her memories An Indiana Amish Brides book When a young Amish woman collapses in the snow shortly before Christmas, Caleb Wittmer rushes to her aid. Only, “Rachel” remembers nothing of who she is. Now his family has taken in the pretty stranger, disrupting Caleb’s ordered world. He’s determined to find out where she belongs…even if Rachel’s departure means saying … departure means saying goodbye to his old-fashioned heart forever.
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Rachel and Caleb’s love story is beautiful and shows us that unexpected things happen in life to get you where you need to be.
Chapman again shows why she is a best selling Amish author. Her stories are full of faith, love and hope. I applaud her for highlighting the fact that yes, even the Amish suffer from seasonal affective disorder (sad) and that there is nothing taboo or wrong about that. So many people suffer from this and think they have to hide it.
If you can only choose one Christmas book to buy then I heavily suggest Amish Christmas Memories. You won’t be sorry.
A young man seems to be watching a young woman walking down his street or lane. When she is wobbling or weaving across the road and then falls. He springs into action. What happens to her. She has no coat on or hat?
How did she get to where she is? Caleb is worried about her once she falls into the snow. When she wakes up does not know how she got where is? All she remembers is Caleb holding her to him. He does take her to his parent home. They welcome her and try and help her. Who is she? The only thing that she has that tell anything about her is that of a book. Her name is in the book. Well her first name.
Things are hard for her and she want to remember? It will take some time, in the meantime, she gets to know Caleb and his family. As they get to know her. Will Caleb learn change is good as well as bad? Rachel seems to want to get Caleb to understand her. Will they find love together? It seems that Rachel really wants her memories back. Will she get them for Christmas?
Vannetta Chapman does a sweet and wonderfully good job of pulling you along for the journey. She takes your heart for a ride. Will they receive what they need and will god provide where they are to belong. Vannetta seems to be able to bring new illnesses through the eyes of Amish. This book about love but also learning to deal with amnesia. We can sometimes forget that our brains and Amish family deal with the same kind of injuries as everyone else. Will Caleb and Rachel both get what they need?
Loved this book from beginning to end. I didn’t want to put it down. Loved the characters.
Amish Christmas Memories was a cozy and heartwarming tale, while at the same time, it contained the worrisome absence of memories for the main character, Rachel.
Caleb’s family provided a warm and accepting home for Rachel to rest in and wait for her memories to return, yet Rachel battled feelings of sadness and concern over those missing parts of her life.
Caleb’s fear of change frustrated me for a good portion of the book, however, I really liked him by the end of the story. I felt that he learned a lot through his interactions with Rachel. This was a sweet Christmas story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Caleb was hard at work the day Rachel wondered into his life . He had been busy mending fences when he seen someone walking the road that ran parallel with his parents property. The day was cold and snowy. He first noticed someone at a distance. Something didn’t seem right. The person kept crossing the road back and forth again and again. As she drew closer Caleb noticed it was a woman who was not dressed for the cold. In fact she wore no coat at all.
As the confused woman drew closer to Caleb she collapsed to the ground . Caleb wasted no time scaling the fence and running to her rescue. She was unconscious and almost frozen. He quickly carried her to his parents house in hopes that it wasn’t to late to save her. Who was she? She wasn’t dressed like the Amish from his community. She wore a plain dress but the color was a light blue. Where had she come from and what was she doing out in the country on a cold winter’s day without a warm coat? Would his parents be able to help her and find out who she was?
I loved this story because it kept me guessing and turning pages to find the missing pieces of the puzzle of Rachel’s life. With each chapter a new memory would surface that revealed some part of her past life. I liked that Caleb’s parents where so helpful and made Rachel feel so welcome in their home. Refusing to send her away they made her a part of their family. I have always been a fan of Vannetta Chapman and love all her books that I’ve had the pleasure to read.
I recommend Amish Christmas Memories to all readers of Amish Fiction , fans of the author and those who read Love Inspired Amish books. This is a very nice Christmas read .
You wake up suddenly, and you look around, absolutely bewildered. Where are you? Panic starts to set in, but quickly dissipates and is replaced with relief as you realize exactly where you are. Except what happens if you just can’t remember…anything?
Such is the situation that Rachel finds herself in. She figures she’s Amish by the ways she’s dressed, and believes her name is Rachel, because she recognizes it written in the book she was carrying. Nothing else is familiar, and no one around her recognizes her either. She would love to recover her memories and be home for Christmas, wouldn’t she?
Caleb Wittmer was repairing a fence when he saw a young woman collapse in the snow. He carries her home, saving her life. He judges her for the color of her dress, because those colors just aren’t worn in his community. Despite his judgmental attitude, Caleb feels a pull of attraction toward this lovely young woman. But is Rachel free to give her heart? Until she knows who she is, she doesn’t believe that she can let herself begin to care for him.
I can’t imagine what it would be like to not even know who I was. Even though I have times that I would just rather forget, I treasure my memories of family and friends, celebrations and victories, and even the hard things, because they have made me who I am. But Rachel has an even harder time, because her community isn’t so connected through social media, like mine is. Her family wouldn’t be likely to involve law enforcement. And with photographs being discouraged, only written descriptions would be circulated. I would have become discouraged, and Rachel was too. At the same time, she wondered if she really wanted to remember what she was unable to—was there something absolutely awful that she had blocked out?
I confess that I didn’t care much for Caleb in the beginning of the story. Other than saving her life, he seemed too uptight and self-righteous, but he came around as the story went on and I found myself liking him a lot. He worked so hard to help Rachel remember and find her family. Would he be able to find them in time to get Rachel home for Christmas?
I don’t want to write any spoilers, but I will say that I was very happy with the ending. Once again, Vannetta Chapman has written a sweet, clean story that drew me in. I look forward to her next offering in the Indiana Amish Brides series. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys Amish romances or Christmas stories. I was given a copy of this book by the author, but the opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Amish Christmas Memories by Vannetta Chapman is the second of her Indiana Amish Brides series. Like the first in the series, A Widow’s Hope, this story is a delightful read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Caleb Wittmer, a young Amish man, is working outside on the family one cold and snowy early winters day, when he spies someone staggering from the road and across the field some distance away. When the figure collapses, Caleb rushes to their aid only to discover the person is a young Amish woman, unconscious and not appropriately dressed for such cold weather.
Carrying the unconscious young woman to his family home, his parents immediately begin attending to her care. Regaining consciousness, it is realized that the young woman has a rather large bump on her head, and even more, has no clue of her own name, where she is from or where she was going!
After being treated at a local hospital, she is released with the Wittmer family taking her home to care for her during her recuperation and attempt to get her memory back.
It can be rather slow going after such head trauma to regain one’s memory, and as “Rachel” heals, only bits and pieces come back. Confused and uncertain, one thing becomes clear to both Caleb and Rachel, despite the situation, they are attracted to one another. Caleb is almost Old Order Amish; Rachel is a bit more conservative. Question is, will these differences bring them together or keep them apart before a relationship can begin?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein, are solely my own.
Amish Christmas Memories ( Indiana Amish Brides #2 )
By: Vannetta Chapman
Amish Christmas Memories is book two by Vannetta Chapman in Indiana Amish Brides Series. This is a Love inspired Heartwarming Inspirational Romance, which I loved very much. The story and the characters both was well written. Caleb watches as a young woman collapse near where he is working. Something strange about this woman. A wonderful heartwarming story about a young woman who has lost her memory at Christmas time and having to trust Caleb and his family . This is a story about trust , kindness, faith, and love. I was drawn in at the start and did not want to put it down. I was not disappointed. It would be very stressful to not know your name or anything about yourself. Can Caleb and his family help her? Does Caleb trust this woman with no memory? I caught myself with tears in my eyes several times, then other times I was laughing. I was trying to read faster to see what was going to happen next. I can’t wait for book three .
I was given a complimentary copy of this book , but was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.
What a lovely story to start the holidays off with. Rachel is a complicated character because she has lost her memory. I can’t imagine how cold and scared she was laying on the side of the road. When she is found by Caleb, I could just imagine the startled look on his face. It isn’t everyday he finds a young Amish woman laying in the snow.
I loved following Rachel as she tried to remember who she was and where her family was. Can you think of a time when you forgot where your keys were and you were late for an appointment? That feeling of panic as you look around for them is nothing compared to what Rachel is going through. It was nice for Caleb’s family to take her in and care for her. There were times when Caleb seemed to be upset that Rachel was there. I think maybe he didn’t trust her.
The author writes a very realistic story and I liked that she didn’t have Caleb immediately like Rachel. It made the story interesting to read how they had to learn to trust each other. Caleb is a man who likes things in their place, and no bumps in the road. Rachel may have upset his comfortable life, but there must be a reason he was the one who found her.
The story moves at a good pace and there are a few laughs when Rachel tries to find work. I don’t know how to sew, cut fabric or other things she tried to do. I have to say thanks for allowing Rachel’s favorite ice cream to be peppermint, which is my favorite. I admired her for trying to find a job in hopes she would remember who she was. The compassion the town had for her was so nice and if I ever get lost, I pray I am found by someone like Caleb or his parents. I won’s say anymore about the story because it is one you need to experience for yourself. The lesson in the book is a wonderful reminder about us never being lost. We may feel lost, but God is always there to lead us to safety. The other lesson I liked was about trusting. Rachel needed to trust that God was taking care of her when Caleb found her. Memories we each have are part of our life. When we forget them, it can be a bit unsettling. As Rachel worked through trying to remember things, I found that Caleb was also remembering things from his past. The most important thing I got from this story was how God reminds us of memories that we sometimes forget. They pop up at just the right time to bring peace and comfort. Our home is where we feel safe and our home is where God is always at.
“Home is where you belong. It may not be where you always stay, but it’s the place that fits-like an old shoe . It’s why we keep returning to it over and again, no matter how old we become or how far away we move.”
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.
Heartwarming story showing kindness between strangers. Faith, trust and hope are found in this sweet story. What would happen if you lost your memory? Would you be able to trust strangers? Love is found as two unlikely people begin to learn about each other and begin to follow their hearts. I received a complimentary copy of this book. This is my personal honest opinion. No review was required.
“Find a job. Earn some money. Remember who she was. It was a short list, and suddenly Rachel was sure it was one she could conquer.”
If you’ve lost your memory, how do you know who you truly are and where you belong? This is the challenge facing Rachel as she recovers from an accident. It’s obvious that Rachel is Amish, but why she was walking near Caleb Wittmer’s farm when she collapsed is a complete mystery.
In this lovely story by Vannetta Chapman, Rachel pieces together who she is and where she belongs. Caleb’s family gives Rachel a place to stay as she’s recovering and working to restore her memory. But all does not go smoothly. Caleb is very faithful to follow the traditions of the old Amish order. Rachel loves her Amish faith, but is willing to embrace changes to discover her identify. Their two viewpoints clash several times through the storyline. I loved the characters of Rachel and Caleb. There were times I was quite aggravated with Caleb and his stubborn ways, but I also loved reading along as Rachel tried to discover her abilities and find a job that suited her.
I enjoyed following Rachel and Caleb’s story as they discover if a happily-ever-after includes each other. Although this is not a long book, the author did an excellent job with the pace of the story and making it feel complete. The theme of trusting God with our unknown future shines brightly all throughout the book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
There’s something about a Vannetta book that draws me in. Regardless of whether she’s writing a cozy mystery with a touch of romance or just a sweet romance with a twist of mystery. Even a dystopian novel in her hands just walks away special. There’s something about her voice that draws me in and keeps me settled. Her voice brings people to life and even in the unbelievable I believe. I’m going to admit a flaw of my own here, I might occasionally be a little judge-yish. When Vannetta started writing for Love Inspired I was worried about losing something. Overall a shorter life span of the story and heavier on the romance while being lighter on the cozy mystery suspense thing, I wasn’t completely sold. Romance is a secondary genre for me ya know. Here’s the thing, I’m two Vannetta Love Inspired in and that voice is still there. That ability to take anything and make it enticing. I’m pretty sure if Vannetta wrote a technical something that is obviously over my head, I’d enjoy it. That may be why she’s one of my favorite authors. Perhaps. At least part of it.
OK, enough about me, let’s talk about book. How in the gravy does an Amish girl end up with no coat, no memory, on a deserted snowy road, in a strange town? And fall almost literally at the feet of Caleb Wittmer. Caleb who is so legalistic in the separateness of his faith that he can’t see the lost and frightened woman behind the dress that is too brightly colored and the missing kapp. Rachel only remembers her name since it was written in the front of a book she was carrying, but the rest of her memories are scattered at best. As Christmas approaches she gives up her dream of returning to her home and embraces the family who found her, and cares for her, and supports her. To be fair though, I think that Bishop Amos is by far my favorite minor person. His subtle wisdom, his willingness to guild his district toward what is best for them not necessarily what is best for tradition, and his general kindness in the face of drama.
‘My problems seem kind of small compared to those.’
‘They’re not small when you are the one dealing with them everyday.’
One thing that Vannetta did amazingly in this book, besides skating the edge to avoid insta-love, was the seamless inclusion of topics that even the Englisch world sidesteps. You don’t often see the Amish seeking the assistance of a mental health professional, or even the bishop pushing for it. You don’t often see people suffering from, and talking about, depression in an Amish novel. Seasonal Affective Disorder isn’t something that is addressed in mainstream fiction either to be honest. I appreciate that inclusion of the fact that depression isn’t something that cares about what faith you have, how strong your faith, or even where you live. Depression is a biological disorder that affects a person at the emotional level. There is nothing I did not love about this book, even the almost insta-love didn’t turn me off. There is such a sweetness of finding your past at the same time you are finding your future. There is such a generosity in finding your strength in your weaknesses. True love courts a family. True love overlooks dress color. True love picks you up in the snow. True love builds sunrooms.
‘Home is where you belong. It may not be where you always stay, but it’s the place that fits – like an old shoe. It’s why we keep returning ti it over and over again, no matter how old we become or how far away we move.’
True love is home.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Love Inspired. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.