Loved reading this book. Amazing story and the characters lend to the charm of this book. I would highly recommend this book. You would not be disappointed.

Three short stories centered around the local bakery Rebecca’s Porch in Lancaster, PA and around Christmas time.

Each story is a 2nd chance at love. Lessons learned from the first chance and applied at the 2nd chance. These stories are a nice change of pace for me. Slow things down and reflect in faith, love, and the simplicity of it all.

A special thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

A CHRISTMAS CAKE FOR REBECCA BY SHELLEY SHEPARD GRAY

I could smell the baked goods as Rebecca worked at her shop. She has done well for herself and is content. Christmas is drawing near which means it is time for her to start prepping for her famous Christmas Cake. People order the famous cake starting in October just to make sure they get one. I would love to have a taste of that cake as the author describes it so vividly. When Rebecca spots someone from her past she can’t believe her eyes. Aden is in town doing some remodeling work and is excited to see her again. Old memories for Rebecca surface as she remembers that Aden broke her heart.

After twenty-five years Aden is hoping he can be forgiven by Rebecca. The story is a great look at pride as well. Rebecca has always made these special cakes all by herself. She doesn’t allow anyone to help her and takes great pleasure in seeing her cakes all lined up on Christmas Eve to picked up. This year turns out differently and Rebecca learns that it is okay to ask for help. Her cakes will always be special but she has to allow others to help her and share in the enjoyment of those special cakes. I liked how Aden stepped up and helped Rebecca which opened her eyes to see that he has changed over the years. The ending is sweet and Christmas cakes are enjoyed by all.

BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER BY RACHEL J. GOOD

Oh my was this a great and touching story. Lizzie is such a kind hearted person. She may be a bit clumsy but she would do anything for anyone. I love how she found her way to Rebecca’s bakery shop and started working there. I loved how Rebecca was so patient with Lizzie and encouraged her to make her special cupcakes. My heart went out to Lizzie when she took over the care of her aunt. All alone she dies her best to work and care for her aunt.

Christian has his hands full with a young daughter who is in the hospital getting ready for brain surgery. He tries to work and be with her as much as possible. When he meets Lizzie there are a few sparks between them. When they discover they were childhood friends we watch them start to renew that special bond they have. Christian is such a nice man and goes out of his way to take Lizzie to work everyday along with her aunt.

I loved the beautiful story of grace, kindness and helping others. The author writes a story that gave me tears as I witnessed two people who both have big hearts and are always looking out for others. It was a Christmas to remember as Lizzie and Christian grow closer and thank Hod for His blessings.

THE CHRISTMAS CUPCAKE BY LOREE LOUGH

I have to first thank the author for shining a light on a subject I find very important. There are many people who do not know how to read. The author illustrates how a young teacher is dedicated to helping those who never learned to read. It is never to late to start learning and Tessa shows Asher that reading even as an adult can be achieved.

Tessa and her brother Noah are very protective of each other. Their father is not kind and there has been rumors that he use to beat his wife before she passed away. I like how the author talks about domestic abuse in a gentle way and shows that it can happen to anyone. I love how Noah is always watching after his sister and worries about her being around their father.

Asher begins to slowly have feelings for Tessa and is very upset when he notices a bruise on her face one day. He contains his anger but is determined to be near Tessa as much as possible to keep her from harm. Their relationship grows and I like how gently their feelings were shared by a sweet and innocent kiss. This story may be a trigger for sone with the mention of abuse, but it is important to note that we should not turn our back in those who need help. The ending is very nice and I liked how Tessa found peace and security.

Cute Christmas story!

Description
USA Today bestselling authors Shelley Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good, and Loree Lough celebrate the spirit of the season, the warmth of simple traditions, and of course, the joy of holiday treats, with this faith-affirming collection of three connected holiday novellas about the Christmas surprises in store for those who work and shop at a charming Amish bakery.


As the most joyful holiday draws near, three couples discover the recipe for love includes faith, hope, and the sweetest blessings…

A CHRISTMAS CAKE FOR REBECCA by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Shelley Shepard Gray
When carpenter Aden returns to Lancaster after twenty years away, bakeshop owner Rebecca is dismayed to find he’s still as handsome and kind as ever. He broke her heart when he left the community back then. Will a holiday emergency provide a second chance at love, this time forever?

BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER by USA Today Bestselling Author Rachel J. Good
When a lonely widower with a sick daughter and a new cake decorator meet at the bakeshop, they discover they were once childhood playmates. But as each of them helps the other care for family, their neighborly kindness inspires a gift that only love could make possible…

THE CHRISTMAS CUPCAKE by USA Today Bestselling Author Loree Lough
A builder who never learned to read believes he must hide his fond feelings for a kind schoolteacher. But after they run into each other at the bakeshop, she offers to teach him—and as Christmas approaches, each of them learns a lesson about the great gift of love…

Three stories, one bake shop = falling in love, Amish-style. As an added bonus, all three authors are among favorites of mine, so there was little doubt I'd enjoy the stories.

A Cake for Rebecca brings her former sweetheart, Aden back to Lancaster after more than 20 years away. Now a widower, he went away and made a name for himself as a carpenter, married, and had a family. Rebecca stayed in Lancaster, and made a name for herself as the best baker in town. Her Christmas cakes are especially renowned. His leaving nearly destroyed her, so how can he still be as compelling to her? Can Aden convince her that he needed to grow up before he could fully commit his heart to anyone, even her? Now that he's ready, can she look past the man who left her to the man who wants her back?

Rachel Good's story, Best Christmas Present Ever, was the longest of the three, and had so much emotion. Lizzie is fired after having one mishap too many in her job as a waitress. She's broken more glassware and dishes than her salary can cover, and unfortunately, her current housing is dependent on being employed in the cafe that just fired her. When she receives word that her great-aunt is succumbing to dementia, she packs up everything and heads for Lancaster. Cleaning the disaster her aunt's house has fallen into is an almost full-time job, but Lizzie needs employment in order to pay her former bosses back. Finding a job in Rebecca's bakery seems heaven sent, until her mishaps start all over. When Christian stops for coffee, her heart goes out to the widowed father whose daughter is hospitalized. When she decorates a cupcake for his daughter, she finds her niche. Can her kind heart help heal a family's grief, and make a place for herself in their hearts?

Loree Lough introduces teacher Tessa and builder Asher. Each has a sensitive secret that is gradually revealed as their relationship progresses. Can they help one another to forgive themselves in order to make room for the love they're meant to share?

Each of these stories was a quick read, and each told of a sweet romance. The same bakeshop features in some way in all three, but the characters don't really overlap from one to the other - except for Rebecca and Asher who appear in all three. These authors did not disappoint with these stories! Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down and finished in about a day and a half. I highly recommend!

A fantastic novella collection. The last novella was a bit different and although enjoyable, it seemed a bit odd in this collection.

Overall, it was a very good collection.
I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Such a sweet story! I loved this book so much. It was the perfect feel good Christmas read. I grew up near Lancaster County and so many of the details in this book took me back!

Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop is a wonderful collection of Christmas novellas centered around Rebecca's Porch, an Amish Bakery. The stories and characters within each of the novellas are connected, but each novella focuses on a different set of characters and their stories. This is a great book to settle in with and unwind from the hectic Christmas season, escaping for a few minutes into another world and being drawn into the lives of the Amish characters.

A Christmas Cake for Rebecca reunites Rebecca and Aden. Aden had moved away to find work, leaving his love Rebecca behind. Aden returned to the town in which he grew up to complete a construction contract. Rebecca and Aden rekindle their relationship as they work together to fill the numerous orders Rebecca has for her much-loved Christmas Cake.

Best Christmas Present Ever finds widower Christian trying to be strong for his young daughter Johanna who is in the hospital for surgery to remove a brain tumor. Lizzie, who has moved home to care for her aging aunt. As Christian and Lizzie interact they discover that Lizzie was the childhood friend whom Christian lost track of when Lizzie and her family moved away. Christian, Lizzie and the folks from Rebecca's Porch help give Johanna the best Christmas present ever!

Lastly, The Christmas Cupcake centers around Tessa and Asher. Tessa and Asher have known each other for a long time, however their friendship grows as Tessa, the local schoolteacher, teaches Asher to read and write. Asher is very worried about Tessa, as she lives at home with her brother and widowed father, who is suspected of being abusive. Where does the cupcake come into the story? Tessa and Asher bump into each other one morning at Rebecca's Porch when Tessa is picking up her monthly birthday cupcakes for her students.

This is a great collection of stories, a great read for Christmas or any time the reader needs to escape. Even though the characters face real life issues - lost love, cancer, abuse and illiteracy - their experiences make them stronger in the end and bring about a happy ending.

This is three stories written by three of my favorite Amish authors, They are all different but a common theme of Christmas baking.. I loved each story. Read it, you will not be disappointed. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley but it did not affect my review.

Such a lovely Christmas story. A lovely mic of characters and storyline. Truly love these stories. Clean abd beautiful.

This is a beautiful collection of Christmas-themed stories written by three favorite Amish authors.
These stories are as sweet as the Christmas season itself, and I enjoyed reading each one of them. By the time you finish this book, you’ll wish you could enjoy one of Rebecca’s delicious Christmas cakes or Lizzie’s beautiful cupcakes. Although the characters deal with difficult issues in each of the stories, each one highlights the power of faith in dealing with heartache and tragedy. I loved the characters in each story and how the community rallied around to help in any way they could. If you love reading Amish fiction, or enjoy books with a faith-themed story, you’ll enjoy reading this collection.

Please note: There is a mention of child and spousal abuse in the story by Loree Lough. It’s handled appropriately, but if this is a trigger for you, please be aware of this before you read the story.


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

A Christmas Cake for Rebecca

I am a big fan of Shelley Shephard Gray’s work and when I found out that she was a contributor to Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop I knew I had to read it! After being separated for many years, Aden and Rebecca are reunited through the circumstances of life. When Aden sees how hard Rebecca works at her shop, Rebecca’s Porch, he offers to help any way he can. Through Aden’s help, Aden and Rebecca’s relationship and the feelings they had for each other are rekindled.

Ms. Gray’s A Christmas Cake for Rebecca is sweet, while predictable at times. The predictableness is easy to overlook, because it is a Christmas story and Ms. Gray’s writing is so good. The description of Rebecca’s famous Christmas cake is mouthwatering. I loved the characters and reading A Christmas Cake for Rebecca.

Best Christmas Present Ever

Rachel J. Good is a new author to me. Ms. Good’s story Best Christmas Present Ever has made me a fan. Best Christmas Present Ever centers a round Christian, a widow taking care of his daughter, Johanna, who has cancer, and Lizzie, a young down-on-her-luck Amish woman who has moved back home to take care of her ailing Aunt. The primary setting for the story is Rebecca’s Porch, just like it was in the previous story, A Christmas Cake for Rebecca. While getting to know one another, Christian and Lizzie realize they were childhood best friends (which actually surprised me a bit).

I really liked Best Christmas Present Ever. Like the story before, it was predictable in some parts (but not the childhood best friend part–at least to me), but the story was sweet and Christmassy enough to overlook it. I enjoyed that the story had included characters from A Christmas Cake for Rebecca. I loved how caring, sweet, and understanding the characters were with one another and genuinely cared for the people around them. I love that Christian and Lizzie did not realize that they had grown up together until halfway through the story–it was a pleasant surprise as the reader.

The Christmas Cupcake

Loree Lough’s The Christmas Cupcake is a sweet story that centers around Asher and Tessa. Tessa is the school teacher for her Amish community and Asher is a furniture builder. Tessa has a rough home life that hardly anyone knows about and Asher has trouble reading and writing. After bumping into one another at Rebecca’s Porch, they start getting to know each other. As Asher does his best to protect Tessa and Tessa teaches Asher to read and write, their friendship and feelings deepen.

In The Christmas Cupcake, real life issues (abuse and illiteracy) are more center stage than the previous stories and Rebecca’s Porch is not a major part of the story like it had been in the previous stories, in my opinion. I appreciated how The Christmas Cupcake dealt with real life issues, in the midst of a seasonal story, and it was still able to have an uplifting ending. I enjoyed reading about Asher and Tessa and am happy with the story’s outcome.

Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop (as a whole):

I really enjoyed Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop as a whole. Each story was a really nice read that I could escape into. I know I said that it was predictable in some parts to me and that is true, but I don’t see that as a bad thing necessarily. When I read a Christmas read, I want to know that everything will be wrapped up in a tidy bow and will have a happy ending. I want to be able to escape into a Christmas read and destress. Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop did that for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads and my blog, Leslie's Library Escape.

Three stories written by good amish authors, I enjoyed reading them.
1)A Christmas cake for Rebecca - Shelley Shepard Gray
Rebecca, a 42yo woman, owns and cooks sweats at Rebecca's Porch bakeshop.
Her Christmas cake is very popular and every years people request and book it.
2) Best Christmas present ever - Rachel J. Good
Lizzie leaves Fort Plain to assist her aunt Miriam, after receiving a letter from Miriam neighbor about how ill and mind-forgetting is her aunt.
A new life, a new work await her.
3) The Christmas cupcake - Loree Lough
Miss Beachy works as school teacher, she has a dear brother and a violent father.

Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop is a collection of three stories. The stories include:
A Christmas Cake for Rebecca by Shelley Shepard Gray
Best Christmas Present Ever by Rachel J. Good
The Christmas Cupcake by Loree Lough
I enjoyed them all and my favorite would be Rachel J Good's Best Christmas Present. I recommend this book for those who enjoy quick Amish tales. Four stars.

Great book to put you into the holiday spirit! These three authors did a great job of writing their own stories but building upon each other to make one great book. I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction or stories that have a touch of romance to them.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

My thoughts: this was a delightful tale told by three different authors about a Amish bakery. Shelly gray wrote the first one introducing the bakery in the main characters. Rachel good wrote the second and longest. This was also my favorite story in the bunch. I love the older lady and the dog and the sick little girl. So sweet. Lori love wrote the last one involving a set of twins. That one was really good too. This is a winning collection that will be sure to delight Amish Christian fiction readers and those who like Christmas themed books. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own

Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop by Shelley Shepard Gray, Rachel J. Good and Loree Lough is a collection of three novellas. all set at Rebecca's bakeshop. Each story will have you in the Christmas spirit and wanting to visit the bakeshop.
There is family, friendship, romance, faith, reconnecting and humor.
I was given an ARC from Kensington via NetGalley for an honest review.

Christmas at the Amish Bakeshop contains stories by three different authors. They are tied together by a common thread, a bakeshop called Rebecca's Porch, which is described in the first story. The thread is not as strong in the remaining stories. Each story contains a romantic element,although a different conflict situation forms the heart of each story. Themes include lost love, illness, family hardships, aging, abuse, and overwork, as well as friendship, kindness, and recovery.

Although the stories are set at Christmas time, each one could be set at a different time of the year with a few adjustments, and would retain the same quality of writing and interest for the reader. Each story is a standalone. (Who can resist cute dogs, little kids, and baked goods, besides a good love story?)

This collection is appropriate for readers who enjoy a clean read, lacking strong language, graphic violence, or overt sexual scenes. The Christian message comes across clearly in each story, without seeming preachy.

I received this story collection from the publisher and from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

A Christmas Cake for Rebecca was the perfect introduction to the book. While each of the three stories could stand alone, Shelley's story sets the stage as well as creating a backdrop for the other two stories.

I loved Rebecca's determination, in spite of being overwhelmed with over 150 orders of her famous Christmas cake. Aden is the perfect addition to the story. I loved how he is brought into the very female setting. You have to love a guy that will jump outside of his comfort zone to help the woman he loves succeed!

What a wonderful book! My favorite authors have come together to write three novella length Christmas stories revolving around Rebecca’s Porch, a bakery shop in Lancaster County,Pennsylvania.
All the stories have some of the stress and business of Christmas in them but with help,tenderness,kind words,understanding,forgiveness and a community coming together the stories have wonderful,happy endings. This really put me in the holiday baking mood and made me feel good while reading it. I was actually smiling while reading it, I had a warm happy feeling. I made a connection with the characters and am looking forward to reading much more from these talented authors.

Pub Date 28 Sep 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.