A Simple Christmas Wish, by Melody Carlson, 2013, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

Rachel is a city gal, a flight attendant who has traveled the world, and the aunt of a sweet little girl who she is caring for while her brother and his wife are away celebrating their tenth anniversary. Christmas is coming and the two of them have their own fun in their own way while Holly’s parents are away, putting up a Christmas tree that Rachel knows Holly’s mother would not have chosen. Suddenly there is a phone call with shocking news. A plane has gone down and Holly’s parents have not survived. In that instant their lives are changed forever. But just as Rachel begins to wrap her mind around being Holly’s permanent caregiver, which she is actually truly enjoying, she receives another call informing her that there is another aunt on the mother’s side of the family who is to have custody. Neither Rachel nor Holly have ever met this aunt or any of the other relatives of Holly’s mother, who live in an Amish community. What should Rachel do? She seems to have no choice in the matter. She decides to take Holly there herself and meet the people who Holly is supposed to live with. This book is a nice light read and an interesting way to learn about the Amish way of life from the viewpoints of these two main characters who knew nothing about it before being plunged into Holly’s new family.  In some ways they find it quite likeable, this tightly-knit family farming community. But will Holly really have to stay here permanently, away from everything and everyone she has known up till now?  And what about Rachel?  Holly is her only family and at 35 years old she fears she may never have children of her own. There is an element of mystery as to what made Holly’s mother leave the community to begin with and an element of romance when Rachel meets Holly’s uncle.  A range of emotions are experienced with all the changes being encountered.  How does each character handle their new relationships?  What is attributed to the Amish protocol and what is due to personality traits of the people in Holly’s new family?  You’ll have to read it yourself to find out. www.revellbooks.com