I flew through this book during my work week, reading it in just a couple of days…and I was working overtime! Once I finished this one, I went right on to the next. I was emotionally connected to the characters; when they smiled, I smiled, when they cried, I cried. It was quite a lot to take on during a work week, but the late nights and tears were worth it.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions are my own.
About the Book
His Amish Christmas Surprise by Virginia Wise
Series: Sisters of Stoneybrook Farm – Book 1
Publisher: Love Inspired
Publication Date: September 30, 2025
Genres: Holiday Romance | Amish Romance
Pages: 208
Source: author
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon
A baby caught between her
Amish world…and his Englisch one.
Former Amish John Mast never expected to return to the community he left behind…or to claim a daughter he never knew he had. To give her the life she deserves, John will do anything, even accept help from Leah Stoltzfus. Resigned to a life of loneliness after a disastrous Rumspringa, finding an abandoned baby on her doorstep is Leah’s chance to experience the family she’s always wanted. Soon, unexpected love blossoms as they raise little Abby together. But when a new job opportunity in the Englisch world tempts him, John must decide if Leah is worth returning to the world he turned his back on…
My Review and Reflections
Geese, babies, rugged men, and an Amish woman…how could I not say yes to this book? Add in a cozy Amish romance, Christmas cheer, and thoughtful reminders of our Savior’s birth, and this story had my full attention right away.
What I Loved About These Characters
I love that this book is about Leah! And that Belinda the Goose is on page one! It’s wonderful to hear Leah’s thoughts, but I’m not liking that John is bringing out the worst in her. More than anything, Leah is afraid of opening her heart again and risking her faith and future on someone who could walk away. I can understand why, since she’s been in love with an Englischer before and was left for someone else. And, to top it off, Leah had taken that relationship “too far,” so it was incredibly painful for her. She is now living with a wounded heart and is doing everything she can to protect herself, including swearing off men, despite her desire for a family.
“She gasped, then froze for a moment. Their eyes locked. John felt a jolt zip through him as she stared up at him, her mouth slightly parted, her eyes wide with surprise.”
p. 60
John is honorable. He steps into his role as a single father without a thought, even though he had no idea about the baby until after the baby was born. That’s why taking a high paying construction job and leaving his only support, even if they were practically strangers, is tempting. The more time he spends with Leah and his family, the more he hears his Amish roots breaking through, like saying “For certain sure.” He fights this with all his being and corrects himself as soon as he hears the slip. Even though he no longer attends church, John still talks with God through prayer and trusts Him in the quiet, everyday moments of life. What holds him back most is not a lack of faith, but the deep fear that he is no longer welcome or seen with grace. Because of this, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing his Amish faith rekindled.
How This Story Made Me Feel
I love a close proximity book, but for this one, the timeline seems much too short to go from enemies to more. Even so, the emotional intensity between the characters was strong enough that I stopped worrying about the clock and focused on what they were working through instead. The story pulled me along so completely that I only noticed the short timeline later, after I went back and counted the days. I’m weird that way. Honestly, the emotional overload was so extreme that I almost had to put it down just to be able to keep going. I now understand how my cat feels when I pet her too much.
“A man who looked as big and tough as John should be rough around the edges. He shouldn’t go around holding babies in barns and looking sweet. It could make a woman start thinking things she shouldn’t.”
p. 96
All of the reminders about the simpler Amish life made me want to slow down and connect with others even more. John was reflective about his Amish upbringing and how he remembered the adults sitting on front porches in the evenings, neighbors coming by with pies, and the community coming together for barn raisings. Because his parents had left the faith when he was 12, he was able to weigh the pros and cons of both lifestyles. It points to how faith and intentional community can create space for rest, healing, and deeper connection with others. It made me curious about the things I could get rid of or reduce to get some of those same feelings, and it made me long for the days when I sat on the porch with my grandparents.
Why You Might Enjoy This Book
If you enjoy close proximity, enemies to more, or single parent books, you’ll love this one. It raises the question, “Can fear of rejection keep us from trusting God and stepping into the life He is offering?” It combines some of the best tropes with themes of spiritual growth, healing, and restoration. For me, the story gently shows that grace, faith, and obedience can lead us back to where we truly belong. I’ll be crushing on this book for a long time to come.
The Sisters of Stonybrook Farms is off to a good start. It’s warm, packed with emotion, and grounded in faith in a way that really makes me reflect on where I am in my own journey.
Wherever you are reading this, I hope your 2026 is filled with joy, blessings, and many opportunities to make memories.
Comments are my love language.