"A Christmas Haven " by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall is an Amish Christmas story. Ivy Zook is from the Amish Old Order. She wants to leave and start a business in which she would put on parties. It is hard to start her business there since she needs the internet and the Amish do not use the internet and other modern conveniences. The problem is her sister Holly is close to get married to Joshua Smucker and then their widow mother will be left alone. In the midst of all of this an older car crashes into Greene's Pharmacy . The driver of the car is Arlan who is from Swartzentruber (ultra-conservative sect) and his sister who is ill and pregnant. The Swartzentruber sect has lots of strict rules and regulations. Arlan and Magna stay with the Zooks while Magna recovers and Arlan helps with farm labor. Ivy and Holly's Mother really needs the help with the farm. What will become of Arlan and Magna as they live at the Zooks. How will Ivy get her business going? How will the marriage of Holly and Joshua progress with everything else in conflict.? Thank you to the publisher , netgalley and the author for allowing me to read and review this book. I am not obligated to give a positive review. I will post my review on Goodreads, Facebook,Amazon, CBD.com,my blog, and our church staff.

"Who I am can't be defined by breaking bonds with my family. It can only be defined by blooming right where He planted me."

Erin and Cindy Woodsmall have coauthored four books together including this their third Christmas one.
I look at this book as a sequel to The Amish Remedy, last year's Christmas book by these authors.
In this one we see an update to the character's and situations we encountered in this previous book.
This book can be read as a stand alone but you'll have a better understanding of the characters having read the first one before this.
An Old Order Amish character's parents turn their backs on her and her needs when they believe she brings shame to them in their community.
To the rescue, her brother who is willing to give up everything he knows for her, the sister who got a little too comfortable in the Englisher world and experienced what she should not have.
A beautifully written Christmas romance that will fill you with hope.
Full of grace,forgiveness,surprises and a miracle.
I especially enjoyed reading the epilogue as we see and update for the characters a year in the future. I have a feeling next Christmas time there will be another Christmas romance released with some of the characters and I'll look forward to reading it.

Expected publication: September 24th 2019 by WaterBrook.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I love when I learn something from the books I enjoy to read, this was an interesting Amish story of Faith, Hope and Love. Not just romantic Love but sibling love and the love you have for people that are willing to land a helping hand when you require it the most. I have read many Amish books before never by this author, I must say this is one of the best I have read. The only issue I have with this book is the title as most of the book takes place from the second half of the year I felt it was not a Christmas story, as It just ended at Christmas time. I learnt as I was about to write this review that this is book two of a series of book with the first book being about Holly Ivy's sister, this in no way affected the way I read or understood this book.

Would you be willing to risk your beliefs and possible future for a sibling who needs you at a very low point of her life? This is what Arlan is faced with as the rules of the Swartzentruber Amish community he lives in. If he does what is best for his sister he will be effecting place in this community and his beliefs Swartsentruber follow.

Ivy Zook lives with her mother and sister of their dairy farm in the Old Order Amish community but her wish is to leave the order to which she feels is not fitting for the dreams of being a party planner in the English world. She has made plans to leave but her plan will affect more than just herself and take her on a journey to discover her faith and future.

Wil both get what they want one to return to his Amish community and I to flee hers?

Or will the two different foundations bring these two a place of contentment and faith?

When there is a car accident at her sister's workplace Ivy, Holly and their mother help the two occupants of the car and offer them a place in their home. In return for the Zook's hospitality Arlan works milking and repairing the farm. But both Arlan and Magda in a place with the Zook's but Arlan will fight the most with his beliefs of returning to his family and the Seartzentruber world and the responsibility he feels to protect his sister.

This book gave us a good look at the differences between the Swartzentruber and the Old Oder Amish very well showing us the conflicts, differences, rules and beliefs that rule both. It also gives a very good view of how a female is view and dictated within this belief and how the more modern female has to fight and sacrifice to chance any rules they must follow.

I received an ARC copy of this books from WaterBrook & Multnomah thru Netgalley to which I am giving my honest and voluntary review of. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and hope it about Magda.

A Christmas Haven brings us back to the Zooks. Old Order Amish Ivy Zook has only ever wanted to plan parties. However, not Amish parties but elaborate Englisher parties. To do this she must leave her community. Her timing couldn't be worse. With Holly planning her wedding, Ivy cannot jeopardize her sister's big day. When a car crashes into Greene's Pharmacy, circumstances change. Driven by a Swartzentruber Amish man, Holly, Ivy and her family take he and his ill sister in. Will caring for them make life even more complex? When Arlan and Ivy begin to sort out their lives, confusion abounds. One wants to leave and the other wants only to stay. Will they find their paths?
The characters in this book are so fun to read. I love when we get to find new favorites while visiting with the old ones. I do hope that there will be a third or more books in the series. I received a copy through Netgalley. A positive review was not a requirement.

Another excellent read by Cindy Woodsmall. I loved the characters and that they were each searching for God’s plan for their life. A wonderful message for us all.
Many thanks to Waterbrook and Multnomah and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love Amish fiction and this book didn’t fail to disappoint. A lot of love, twists, and surprises led to a satisfying end.

A Christmas Haven is a charming and heartwarming holiday story that focuses on the importance of faith, family and friendship during whatever hardships come to light.

Surprisingly, this was my first experience with a Cindy Woodsmall novel, but she's for sure an author that I will be picking up again in the future, especially her Christmas stories. I didn't actually realize before I picked this one up that it's technically a sequel to Cindy and Erin's novel, The Christmas Remedy. However, it read beautifully as a stand alone, and I never truly felt like I missed out on anything by not having read the first book.

I've read quite a few Amish fiction novels over the years, but this is the first one I've ever personally read that highlighted the conflicts, differences and often tensions between the Swartzentruber Amish and the Old Order Amish. Ivy and her sister Holly have been raised Old Older Amish. Holly has been granted special permission from her Bishop to receive education and training in the health care industry in order to provide better medical care for the Amish community. However, her future within the medical industry remains unclear, as her fiance Josh's Bishop is more traditional and set in his ways, and Holly is unsure if she will be able to continue the work she enjoys doing once her and Josh are finally married. Ivy, on the other hand, is struggling to fit in within the strict guidelines expected of the Old Order Amish, and she's decided to leave the faith in order to start a party planning business with her Englischer best friend.

Arlan and his younger sister Magda have both been raised in the stricter Swartzentruber Amish faith, and have grown up without a lot of the conveniences that are permitted within the Old Order Amish. Arlan has worked hard to be exactly the man his father has expected him to be, and soon he will be permitted to leave the family's farm in order to run a dairy farm in New York with his brother, and finally be reunited with the girl he wants to marry. When Arlan discovers that his younger sister Magda is pregnant, extremely sick, and being denied proper healthcare by their parent's, he knows he can't stand idly by and watch. Instead, he and Magda choose to run away to give her the help she needs, and a chance encounter put them in the pathway of Holly and Ivy Zook. Tensions arise between the siblings who come from different faiths, but a friendship also slowly begins to emerge.

As Ivy and Arlan both wrestle with questions regarding the faith they've been raised in, Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall illustrate that above all what's truly important is the answers that are given to each child in His teachings in the scriptures. At the end of the day, each of us is where we are by God's never ending grace, not man's.

I enjoyed this lovely story for the well developed characters, the plot that focuses on real issues and tensions, the developing friendships, and the important messages about faith and letting go and letting God.

I loved curling up with this heart warming story in front of the fireplace, and am so thankful I finally had the chance to pick up a novel by the Woodsmall women. I loved it from start to finish, and I can't wait to read more books from these authors in the future.

Final Rating: 4/5


Thanks so much to Waterbrook/Multnomah and NetGalley for allowing me to advance read this!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Waterbrook/Multnomah) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

I loved A Christmas Haven. I highly recommend this sweet Amish Christmas Romance. I give it five plus stars.

A Christmas Haven is the second book in the series, An Amish Christmas Romance, and another great feel good story of how the Amish approach life and deal with issues that come up within their church community. In these stories, the young adult women want to have a life that is non-traditional in their faith. In The Christmas Remedy, Holly wanted to become a medical professional to help the Amish and got it approved by her bishop. Now, she is engaged but will Josh's bishop approve? Her sister, Ivy, wants to leave the Amish to live as an Englisher as a party planner. But she and her mamm work their dairy farm. What will that do to the farm? The family is of the Old Order faith but when a young brother and sister of a stricter order come into their lives with desperate needs, the family welcomes them into their home. They soon realize the two sects are so different in their views.
A Christmas Haven is a lovely story of faith and family during the special celebration of Christmas. It is time of seeing God's purpose through scripture, Carols, and love of family and friends-in particular to bloom where you are, where God planted you. There are many scriptures used throughout the story that is so appropriate and meaningful to the situations that make this such a special read.
I received a complimentary ARC from WaterBrook & Multnomah through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

I loved this story. The contrast between the two types of Amish lifestyles was fascinating, as was the contrast between Arlan and Ivy’s decisions to leave their own Amish orders. I loved this story, but the thing I loved the most as the author’s view of grace versus a list of rules to follow. This book is also a good look at seeing clearly the importance of family and how the decisions they each made affected those around them. As in all of Cindy Woodsmall’s books, the characters are very easy to connect with and the storyline completely holds your attention to the end. All, in all, it’s a heart-touching book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I'm a sucker for a good Christmas love story and this one was no exception. Any lover of a good clean Christian romance or Amish fiction will be sure to love this adorable tale.

Love these stories, I love feel good makes you think that positive and good things can happen to those who are good people. I loved the book, easy to read. Would recommend for a book club book.

A Christmas Haven is a beautifully written inspirational romance. I really enjoyed the touching plot and the well developed characters. A must read for fans of Amish fiction. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

I am a huge Cindy Woodsmall fan. A Christmas Haven is a sweet Christmas Amish novella. I read the book in one setting and enjoyed it. Its the second book by the authors with the same characters. Look for The Christmas Remedy and enjoy.

There was something frustrating about this book. It feels like I did in high school when I was trying to write a paper and the deadline was approaching and I just tied everything up in a tidy bow and left out important bits of information. Cindy Woodsmall and her daughter-in-law, Erin, have been collaborating on books for a bit now and they do a wonderful job together. This one "flub" won't keep me from reaching for their books, but it's one I can't truly endorse.

A Christmas Haven starts in the summer months and describes the life of Ivy, Holly, Sarah, Arlan, and Josh. Ivy and Holly are sisters, Sarah and Arlan are siblings, and Josh is Holly's fiance'. The five people come from three different Amish groups in varying degrees of strictness, with Sarah and Arlan being the ones from the most strict group.

Ivy has been running a party planning business with her Englisch friend, Tegan, and wants to leave the Amish. Holly has gotten special permission to go to school to get a degree for being a Licensed Practical Nurse, to help with the Amish people who take medications and need to understand them better. Josh's bishop won't marry Holly and Josh unless she gives up her training. Sarah is young and pregnant, and very ill, but her father won't let her seek medical attention. Arlan is beyond aggravated with his father and runs away with Sarah. Because of all the differences of opinions, it seems as though Arlan and Ivy will never have a civil conversation.

It takes most of the book to get this all laid out, and in the last couple of chapters, it is all resolved and put to rest. I'm sorry that this is at best a two-star book.

I wish to thank NetGalley.com and Waterbrook/Multnomah for allowing me to read and review this book.

Lovely festive feel good read. Enjoyed it very much. This is one to curl up in front of the fire with in the winter. Flowed well. Was easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable

A heartfelt story full of faith, hope, and love! An unwed pregnant teen on the run with her brother find a haven in the compassionate care of an Amish community. This story follows the Zook family from the previous novella, A Christmas Remedy, featuring Holly's younger sister, Ivy. It easily reads as a stand alone though.

I enjoyed this story from start to finish! It is well written with relevant topics, especially for young adults. The crisis of faith and major life decisions that both Arlan and Ivy are dealing with adds interesting dialogue. Some sparks fly at first. but they help each other see more clearly the direction they both seek. I liked the point that real freedom comes through genuine faith in Christ, with an emphasis on grace and compassion over rigid rules; also the sacrifice of love for others and trusting God with the future. "...for by grace you have been saved...", as it says in Ephesians 2.
Recommend for any reader who enjoys a hope filled story with family and faith at the center. 4.5 stars

Raised Old Order Amish, Ivy Zook dreams of leaving the community. Although she loves her family, party planning is her passion... one the requires modern conveniences like WIFI and websites. When she shares her plans with her mother, Ivy finds that her timing can be tricky for her sister Holly's impending wedding.

At the same time, Arlan and his sister, Magda, arrive in town. Brother and sister seeking refuge from a strict sect, the two find themselves a haven with the Zooks. There Magda begins to recover from a difficult pregnancy and Arlan helps on the farm. While both Arlan and Ivy wrestle with the guidelines of their religion, they also struggle to understand the other's viewpoint. How can one sect differ so much from another? And what does God want for both their lives?

Although this book is written as a sequel to The Christmas Remedy, A Christmas Haven reads well as a stand alone book, the characters beautifully brought to life and the storyline engaging. Cindy and Erin Woodsmall did a great job illustrating the differences between the Swartzentruber Amish and the Old Order Amish, something that I didn't know about prior to this book. It was interesting to see how the different orders view life, God, and religion. I was drawn into the book pretty quickly, especially when I realized what a desperate situation Arlan and Magda were in. Although there were parts of the story that were predictable, the authors did keep me guessing on a few key points and I thoroughly enjoyed A Christmas Haven right up to the end.


*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This genre is one of my guilty pleasures. I love Amish Christmas romance and I can’t explain why. A Christmas Haven was an excellent addition to the genre! Definitely one I would recommend to others.

received a complimentary copy of this book through netgalley.
I loved it finshed in one siting.
Cindy is one of my favorite authors.
Her books always hold me captive.
If u love Romance Christmas novels. It full of surprises and miracles.
Your going go love this one.