An unexpected perfect match… An Amish single mother with a secret past…Searching for a fresh start at Christmastime. Caught up in a scandal in her Amish community, Phoebe Miller moves to her cousin’s farm in Delaware hoping for forgiveness and a second chance. The last thing Phoebe expects is to slowly fall for bachelor Joshua Miller. But Joshua doesn’t know the secret that made her leave … that made her leave her old life behind. Can their blossoming love survive the truth?
more
THE CHRISTMAS COURTSHIP by Emma Miller is the amazingly touching story of Phoebe Miller as she tries to find a place for a new life and a happy home for herself and her son – a second chance.
Sent away by her domineering and often cruel step-father for the disgrace and scandal he perceived she cause the family by giving birth to her son while being unwed, Phoebe is sent to a small Amish community in Delaware to Rosemary Miller’s farm, her mother’s cousin, in the hopes of finding a husband that would accept her, with all her flaws, and her son. She left her son, John-John, in the care of her mother until she could get settled into the community.
Phoebe was met at the bus station by Joshua Miller, Rosemary stepson, who is almost immediately taken with Phoebe. It isn’t long before the feelings start to bloom in the other direction as well. Knowing that Joshua is a couple years younger and never been in a relationship, she just knows she has to be sure in what she does since it will also involve her son. Joshua is patient and willing to move slowly, giving Phoebe all the time she needs.
Getting use to the Miller household it a totally new experience for Phoebe. She’s really never known a loving home where emotions are shown or expressed out loud. Happiness, kindness and love were in very little supply in her growing up years. It takes her a while to take it all in – and she likes how it feels. This is the type of home she wishes for herself and her son.
When Phoebe learns that Joshua doesn’t know about her past sins or her son, she is determined to set the record straight. She doesn’t want to hide her past and refuses to think of her son as a mistake. She has already acknowledged her sins both to God and publically in the church asking forgiveness and sees no reason to hide the facts. Will the truth draw them closer or tear them apart?
Can she find happiness in Hickory Grove? Could she find love again? Can Phoebe hope for a marriage based on love and not convenience? Will her past continue to be held against her? Can her step-father really believe she would give her son away to him? How will she get her son back into the safety of her arms? Is there really hope for true forgiveness and a second chance? Or are they just words people say but didn’t really mean?
THE CHRISTMAS COURTSHIP is an amazing, well-written story of what true forgiveness is and hopes of a second chances. Emma Miller will tug at your heart, in more ways than one, as she tells you about Phoebe’s bad childhood, Phoebe’s dreams of escape that ended when her intendant was killed in an accident leaving her to face the cruel judgment from her family and in the community, and the hope that the trip to Hickory Grove gives Phoebe. But will that hope be short lived? Is there a happily ever after for Phoebe and a father for John-John that he so rightly deserves? You will be quickly turning pages as you read this inspirational book to find the answers. It may even have you reexamining your own thoughts on what true forgiveness is and your willingness to extend someone that second chance.
I most definitely recommend THE CHRISTMAS COURTSHIP to anyone that loves a feel good Christmas story with a message that gives you pause to think of what is really important in life. I LOVED Phoebe’s story and think you will too.
I really enjoyed this read, and at times I had my heart in my throat that there would be some violence, and in Amish country, but you need to read to see what happens.
A young Amish woman has been sent to another community to find a husband, and why? Well, she has sinned, and been offered forgiveness, but that doesn’t mean that all will live their faith!
This story involves a family that I would love to live with, they genuinely care about one another, and offer kindness and a home to a distant relative.
While the story does take place over the Holidays, keep reading to the second Christmas!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.