I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and I loved how the characters settled their differences.

I highly recommend this book.

Thank you netgalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

Although I have an ebook copy of this title, I ended up listening to the audio book version and really enjoyed both the story and the narrator.

The Beiler and Burkhalter families felt very real to me. They had their issues, yet they loved each other and knew the importance of family.

I really liked the way the second chance romance gently grew in this novel. Josiah had hurt Leah terribly a year earlier when he flirted with another girl and seemed to choose her over Leah. I felt badly for Leah as she worked to be civil with Josiah, while feeling a mix of confusing emotions. I appreciated that Josiah seemed to have truly grown and matured over the past year, realizing how much he cared for Leah and hoping to change her mind about giving him a chance to at least be a friend, and maybe more.

It was nice that this story was low angst. There were plenty of wonderful emotions flowing through the pages and an uncomfortable situation with Leah’s aunt that needed to be resolved, but overall it was a story about friendship, love, and family.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Leah thought she’d be inheriting her Aunt Miriam’s plant/herbal business in upstate New York, but instead she’s back home in Promise Glen. Her family is unaware of the circumstances, but it was parting that left Leah shaken and hurt. On the bright side she’s setting up her own business on the land adjacent to her family’s property. The dilapidated little cottage needs work, but with some work and a little love and care it’s the perfect place for her new business. Unfortunately, her father asked Josiah, the man who broke her heart, to do the work. Determined to show she’s moved on Leah agrees.

Being home makes Leah realize just how much she missed her big, boisterous, and loving family. Losing that future in New York is starting to feel like a blessing in disguise. This closeknit, loving family filled me with joy! I liked learning about their Amish ways and holiday traditions.

Josiah was a fool when he courted Leah, too immature to recognize what he had with Leah until she was gone. With the work on her cottage, he hopes to mend their friendship and maybe win her trust and heart again. Also, it gives him a chance to prove himself to his father in the family business.

Working together in the cottage gives Leah and Josiah time to mend fences and remember that they were friends first before any romantic feelings developed. They shared confidences and support, something they fall back into. Leah helps Josiah see the situation with his father a little more clearly and Josiah helps Leah work through her feelings of shame and betrayal over her aunt’s reaction. He couldn’t help but be outraged for her.

The Second Christmas was a heartwarming second chance romance that gave me all the Hallmark-holiday romance vibes! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute!

It was nice to return to Promise Glen in THE SECOND CHRISTMAS. This is the fourth book in the series, and I’ve read them all except the first one (which I hope to soon rectify.) But you don’t need to read the others to get into this fun romance.

This is Leah and Josiah’s story. They have been neighbors and friends a long time until a year ago when he became smitten with another. When Leah returns home after a year away, Josiah is hoping to be friends. But Leah seems to want no part of his friendship.

When Leah decided to open her own business at the cottage on her parent’s land, little did she know who her father had in mind to do the renovations. As Josiah works on the cottage, their relationship changes. But is it enough to solve hurts from the past?

I liked the depth of the story. Every detail was important, and everyone gets closure. The story was filled with strong relationships and the importance of their Amish beliefs. Food and family, as well as friends and neighbors, played important roles in this book. There was a good flow and terrific closure, especially with the epilogue. I just wished it went on a little longer. I loved the details on the cover.

I rated the book 4.5 stars but rounded to 5 stars here and on other sites.

Marta Perry never fails to make me smile with her Amish romances. I really enjoyed this one, since it focuses on the celebration of Second Christmas, a holiday I've never heard of. This was sweet!

The Second Christmas by Marta Perry is a heartwarming story. It is the first An Amish Holiday Novel which is set in Promise Glen. I like Marta Perry’s writing style. It is engaging and friendly. The story has a good flow as we go between Leah and Josiah’s point-of-view. It allowed me to see things from each person’s perspective. Leah is busy getting items ready for her new business and helping the family get ready for Christmas. Leah has a secret that she has not shared with her parents. She is hoping to keep it to herself, but she soon learns there is no escaping the Amish grapevine. Josiah is doing the carpentry work on Leah’s little shop. Josiah feels he does not have his father’s trust and he worries about this younger brother who loves to play pranks. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of how the Amish prepare and celebrate Christmas plus Second Christmas. I like how all the storylines came together to make a sweet story. There are good life lessons that include forgiveness, trust, and leaving your worries with God. Unburdening yourself to Him will always lighten your load. The Second Christmas is a story that will tug at your heartstrings. I look forward to the next An Amish Holiday Novel. The Second Christmas is a touching tale with a shameful secret, ex-beau troubles, crafting Christmas gifts, a prank predicament, colorful Christmas cookies, a difficult letter, and curative clemency.

I just love Marta Perry's books and they always teach us such an important lesson.
This one deals with forgiveness.
This is the fourth book in the Promise Glenn series.
In this one upon returning home Leah Beiler imagines herself starting an herb shop with the knowledge she's earned from working with her Aunt at her upstate New York herb shop.
Josiah Burkhalter insists on helping her set up her new shop. Now that would be all fine and dandy but he was her childhood sweetheart and her broke her heart when they were childhood sweethearts.
Time has changed and matured them both. Those old feelings flare again, can she trust him to not hurt her and can she trust her own heart?
Life is full of disappointments but to trust and forgive is so important. Sometimes what we think we really want isn't what we get but we realize what we have is so much better and we are grateful for it. I love the author's writing style and important lessons learned. This is a joyful and heartwarming Christmas story.

Published September 27, 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5/5 - The Second Christmas by Marta Perry,book four in her Promise Glen series, is an inspiring and heartwarming tale of forgiveness and holiday celebrations in the Amish community. Leah Beiler left her family with her heart in pieces to begin a new life, thinking she was going to inherit her Aunt Miriam’s herb business. A painful misunderstanding caused her to return home where she began to set up her own business. She is happy to be back with her family, especially during the Christmas season. Being back, though, throws her together with her old boyfriend more than she wants. Miscommunications and jealousy caused the break between Leah and her childhood sweetheart, Josiah Burkhalter. Now that Leah is back, Josiah will do anything to convince her to give him another chance, including help finish the building for her business. Clearing up the misunderstanding with her aunt will take the support of her family and an inner strength for Leah in order to confront her aunt and clear the air. The journey to forgiveness is not easy, but sometimes it is quite difficult that it takes awhile to come to terms in your own mind.

Ms. Hubbard wrote a wonderfully sweet and moving story that had me feeling all the emotions; smiling, tearing up, crying of heartbreak, and frustrated with some of the characters. The message of love, faith, and forgiveness stood strong; making this sweet and inspirational read one I could not put down, drawing me in, making me forget it was fiction. I highly recommend The Second Christmas to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Title: The Second Christmas
Author: Marta Perry
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Series: The Promise Glen # 4
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Second Christmas" by Marta Perry

My Assessment:

Leah Beiler had left home in Promise Glen to live with her Aunt Miriam from Upstate New York, working in her herb business. However, after being accused of being a thief, she returns home to open up her herb business. Being back home, will she be able to pick up her life of an old boyfriend, Josiah Burkhalter, a childhood sweetheart, during this Christmas season and clear up this mess with her aunt, who had accused her of stealing? Will Josiah be able to get a second chance while he is helping her work on her shop, and how with this 'Second Christmas, December 26, come into play during this time? Will there be 'magic for Leah to confront her fears and reach for the love that she so deserves, and will Josiah be able to grow up and get what he wants finally?' To find out, pick up "The Second Christmas' and see how this story will all come together, giving the reader a beautiful read.

Leah Beiler took her broken heart and moved to Upstate New York to learn about her aunt’s tea shop business.

Leah has returned home to Promise Glen and hopes to take what she has learned and start a herbal tea shop of her own. Christmas is approaching and she is looking forward to spending time with family and friends.

The man who broke her heart, Josiah Burkhalter, wants to help her. While both have changed a lot, Leah is hesitant to trust him. But Josiah sees this as a second chance and he truly wants to help Leah. He now knows how special she is.

My review …
Second Christmas is celebrated by the Amish, et al, on December 26th. It’s a day to give gifts, visit families and friends and eat! The Amish know how to cook delicious food.

Read more about the Amish Second Christmas here. Not all Amish celebrate Second Christmas.

Josiah had a lot of growing up to do. He is not the same man that hurt Leah. And Leah’s aunt delivered a verbal blow that made her New York exit painful — and one she is not willing to talk about, not even to family.

Characters … I like the way characters are introduced. Not too many at one time and with tidbits about each to make them memorable.

Plot … Not that unusual.
— Boy hurts girl.
— Girl leaves.
— Girl returns.
— Boy has seen the light but girl can’t forget what happened before.

Pacing … a little slow but acceptable.

All in all, a nice Christmas story with an Amish setting. Two recipes are included at the end: Festive Snickerdoodles and Candy Jar Cookies, the latter made with dates. Yes, I recommend "The Second Christmas".

I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of “The Second Christmas” via NetGalley from the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 4 stars
#TheSecondChristmas #NetGalley #MartaPerry

Beautiful Story

A year ago Leah Beiler left Promise Glen for two reasons: to mend a broken heart and to learn how to run an herb business. Now she's back home, and her father has given her a cottage where she will be able to start her own business. While Leah is excited about starting her business, she's not excited about the fact that Josiah Burkhalter, her former boyfriend, will be doing the repairs on the cottage. Both Leah and Josiah harbor situations that require them to work toward forgiveness: forgiving themselves and forgiving others. As Leah and Josiah work together and rekindle their friendship, the question becomes whether or not each will be able to find true forgiveness and in the process find love. The result is a beautiful story that is sure to tug at your heartstring.
Release date: September 27, 2022

Thank you to Berkley Publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All comments and opinions are strictly my own.

Forgiveness is so prevalent in this read, and one of the cornerstones of Amish faith. Leah Beiler left her family with her heart in pieces and hoping to begin a new life and hopes of taking over her aunts herbal tea business, but as this book opens Leah is back home and now her Dad has recruited her old friend and former boyfriend to help repair and build her own shop.

The journey to forgiveness is not easy, but sometimes it is so very hard that it takes awhile to come to terms in your own mind.

I loved how the author dealt with this tough topic, and we get to see, or read, how this all works out! Will it be as you hoped?

Now I'm looking for more reads by Marta Perry!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Berkley, and was not required to give a positive review.

I really enjoyed Leah and Josiah's story. He had to grow up and face what he wants and she had to stand up for herself to have their future