Showing results by author "Brenda Maxfield" in All Categories

Mary Sutter couldn’t get away from Hollybrook fast enough.... Her former fiancé and his new wife are expecting their first boppli by Christmas, and she doesn’t want to be there when it happens. So when she gets the opportunity to go to Ohio to help her aenti after she broke her leg, Mary goes immediately. Once in Ohio, Mary also takes over her aenti’s responsibilities with the annual Christmas bazaar. She is paired up with Daniel Bender to organize it.

Every day, Miriam Peachey forces a smile, trying to act natural. But since her Rumspringa, nothing is right, and she fears it never will be again. The secret she hides threatens to suffocate her. She can never publicly claim the tiny baby she left in her barren friend’s barn. For Amanda and Caleb Ebersole, the discovery of a newborn in their barn is nothing short of a miracle—a divine answer to their prayers. However, with the baby comes a mystery as deep as the night sky. Where did she come from? And can they safeguard this unexpected blessing from being taken away?

Chloe Smucker and her blind sister, Rachel, are to manage their late aenti’s raspberry farm. They will need help, and help they get—though in an unexpected way. Asher Ropp can no longer tolerate how his father makes his money. If he stays, isn’t he a party to it? He leaves home abruptly, taking refuge in what he thinks is an empty raspberry farm, planning to offer his help to maintain the place.

Melita Otto wants more than anything to get away. She’s not fond of the beau her aunt and uncle are pushing on her, nor is she fond of her routine life. But she has no idea what she’s getting into when she takes the job as housekeeper for three brothers who run an Amish horse farm.

Ellen Kauffman’s younger sister Nancy is walking a dangerous path. Smitten with the divorced father of one of her nursery school students, Nancy has become deaf to Ellen’s warnings. Ellen will do anything to save her sister from being shunned. So, when Mark Otto, the man Ellen secretly loves, declares his interest in Nancy, Ellen sets aside her feelings and does all she can to help him.

Mary Hartzler runs her shop, Bits & Bites, making just enough profit to take care of herself and her elderly aenti and onkel. When newcomer Mark Bontrager opens a bakery across the street, he unwittingly takes many of her customers, and Mary wonders how she’s going to survive. Mark Bontrager has been shunned, but he yearns for his Amish roots. When he meets Mary, his heart is stirred in a powerful way. But he’s no longer Amish, and he’s quite certain Mary has a beau. But he can’t ignore his growing feelings for this gentle Amish woman.

Doris Glick’s Amish beau was convicted of car theft and is in prison. Her parents are distressed about their relationship; indeed, the entire district is upset with Jordan. But Doris is undeterred. She loves Jordan Lehman and is determined to remain loyal to him. She’s sure that when they hear the complete story of what happened, everything will be cleared up. She only prays Jordan will be released by Christmas. After all, isn’t Christmas the time to be together?

After her best friend dies immediately after childbirth, Amy Yoder cares for little Susie like her own. When Susie's grandmother appears on the scene, ready to take over Susie's complete care, Amy tries to be gracious and bow out. But how does a person bow out of a situation like that? How can Amy give up the baby she loves like her own? How can she leave Andrew's home where she's stayed since Susie's birth?

Doris Glick’s beau has been released from prison - and just in time for Christmas. Doris is sure that now everything will be fine. Life can return to normal, and she and Jordan can continue their courtship, with Christmas promising to be especially dear. But Doris is wrong. Dreadfully wrong. Nothing goes as she hopes. Jordan has changed - and not in a good way. She hardly knows him anymore. Matthew Wanner, Doris’s best friend and adopted cousin, begins to court his girlfriend in earnest. Doris wants to be happy for him, but she struggles.

After unearthing her sister's heart-wrenching secret, Elaine Peachey refuses to embark on Rumspringa. The Englisch world seems too perilous. But when Bobby, the man she's always harbored feelings for, announces his engagement, she seeks refuge with her Englisch cousin, vowing not to repeat her sister's mistakes. Little does she know what awaits her.

Caleb Ebersole listens to his dying grandfather’s words in utter shock. The buggy shop is to be left to his brother Ephraim? Caleb is the one who has given his heart and all his energy to the shop. Caleb is the one who helped his grandfather run the store for years. His brother couldn’t care less about the shop. And to make matters worse, Caleb’s grandfather asks him to school his brother in the running of the business.

Becky Kauffman loves her nanny job. Little Tommy Bookman is a charmer, with his toothy grin and mischievous eyes. His father, Englischer Travis Bookman, is also a charmer - something Becky tries her best to ignore. However, it is hard to ignore her handsome boss, who seems to appreciate her for more than the excellent care of his son. But there is Daniel Flaud, her Amish friend, who is intent on courting her. When things come to a head during a Sunday preaching service, Becky discovers where her love truly lies. But has she burned bridges beyond repair?

Tamara Zehr struggles to keep her late husband’s Amish furniture business going while tending to her four young children. She depends heavily on her husband’s two employees, but it quickly becomes impossible to keep up—especially during the Christmas season. Isaac Hochstetler is more than happy to help in any way he can, but Tamara suspects he wants more than friendship from her.

Kathryn Wittner has made a mess of everything. Her father calls her disobedient, rebellious, and even evil. Kathryn supposes he’s right and isn’t surprised when she’s banished from the house before Christmas. Help comes to Kathryn through a totally unexpected, and at first, totally unwanted, friendship with a Mennonite man. Isaiah shows her a truth she’s never before seen or experienced. Soon, she is rethinking her complete rejection of God and her Amish roots. But she fears she’s too late. Is there truly hope for her this Christmas?

Martha Yoder moves to Hollybrook to help her sister Sarah with her three young sons. Sarah is alone now since her husband’s efforts at farming failed, and he went north to work at the factories. At Sarah’s home, Martha’s days are filled with housework, helping to care for her nephews and tending the animals. She even goes so far as to take a job in town.

Timothy Studor barely makes it through his former fiancée’s wedding. When it’s finally over, he’s ready to flee when he overhears his friends talking. Pausing to listen, he learns that the Amish district in Green Valley, Ohio, is calling for young Amish men from Hollybrook to move there and court their women. It’s the perfect chance for Timothy to get away. Though not interested in courting again, he nevertheless volunteers.

Elaine Jutzi has a God-given gift—she knows just what to say to someone who is hurting. So surely, she can help her sister, who recently suffered a stillbirth. But things don’t go well. Christina yearns to join her boppli in heaven, and Elaine can’t seem to reach her. And then Elaine’s longtime beau decides to call it quits, thrusting Elaine into her own world of sadness.

Katie Smucker didn’t set out to break the rules. The first time she saw her shunned sister and spoke to her, she nearly buckled with guilt. But every time after that, it got easier and easier. Both Katie’s sisters have left their Amish roots. Katie’s heart breaks every time she thinks about her mother never seeing her two grandchildren. Is there any way Katie can intervene? But how, without taking even more risks…

Single and Amish, Grace Wittmer cares for three elderly Englisch ladies in her home. At first, it was to make enough money to survive. But now, she loves them as if they were kin. Thaddeus, Grace’s hired hand, takes care of the animals and the land. He’s a mysterious sort, silent and reserved, yet Grace relies on his steady and solid character.

Nearly three years ago, Collette Schmucker lost her husband to a car accident. Since then, she and her two young sons have lived with her in-laws. But Collette is ready to move on - she wants to court again, find a new love, make her own home. Her mother-in-law Ruby has a different opinion. Collette has been married once, and to Ruby’s precious son. Why would Collette want another man? Why would she not be satisfied with what she had?