The commercialism of Christmastime is rampant and arrives earlier every year. No sooner have we handed out our last Halloween treat to neighborhood children and we’re bombarded by holiday ads.

One particular culture immune to the commoditization of Christmas is the Amish. Throughout these hectic days, they pledge allegiance to their core values, which includes loved ones, gratitude and adore.

Christmas in Sugarcreek is a new fiction book, chronicling ten days just before Christmas in Sugarcreek, Ohio, a popular Amish community:

Judith Graber has always been the good girl of the Graber clan, agreeing to close the household store when relatives have plans. Secretly she yearns for a a lot more fulfilling life, which includes getting a romantic partner.

Enter Ben Knox, the former negative boy of Sugarcreek, who returns to town soon after a two-year absence. He plans on spending a single final Christmas in Sugarcreek ahead of selling the household residence and moving on to his unknown future.

At 13, his mother abandoned the family. His father raised each him and his sister Beth, three years his elder. Ben’s father took his frustrations out on him with verbal abuse. Beth left town at eighteen to escape her unbearable home life. Ben followed suit thereafter.

Unbeknownst to Judith, her father hires Ben as seasonal aid at the store. Ben and Judith attended grade school together. Now, operating side-by-side day-to-day, they’re forced to confront their long concealed attraction for one particular another. Judith finds herself asking, “What had it been about him that had struck her fancy, all over again? Nicely, other than his handsomeness, his confident attitude…” Ben realizes, “To him, she was perfection. Not in a polished, too shiny type of way, like the fancy Englischers in the gift shop.”

Escorting Judith property nightly by horse and buggy, breaking bread with her family, and discovering her essence, strengthens Ben’s attraction. The feeling is mutual. Judith learns of Ben’s dysfunctional upbringing and is drawn to him instinctively, not out of pity. She also knows most folks misunderstand Ben.

Newlyweds Robert and Lilly Miller face traditional marriage challenges and faith-based ones too. Robert, raised Amish, met and married Lilly Allen, an Englischer, right after his 1st wife, Grace, died unexpectedly. The couple compromised and joined a conservative Mennonite church. Robert now has access to vehicles, electricity and phones. Lilly relinquishes make up, jeans and wearing brief hair.

The Miller family members shuns Robert for abandoning his Amish faith and marrying outsider, Lilly. It pains Lilly to see Robert’s ousting, which only adds to her doubts that she can ever measure up to Robert’s first wife.

Eighteen-year-old Caleb Graber is becoming wiser beyond his years. Ever since confirming his Amish faith following experiencing his rumspringa, he’s smitten with Rebecca Yoder. Collaborating on the Care and Share project, they prepare and deliver baskets to the town’s needy. Regrettably, Rebecca by no means invites Caleb to her home, insisting they meet and depart from public areas. Caleb soon learns the cause for her actions.

As Christmas Day arrives, the characters’ stories conjoin to illustrate the correct meaning of the season, including household, gratitude and enjoy.

Concerns for discussion and a holiday greeting from the author, complement Christmas in Sugarcreek. Besides today’s perfunctory invitation to connect on Facebook, Shepard Gray welcomes residential correspondence, a refreshingly authentic method in today’s digital age.

If you are searching for short, really feel-very good holiday narrative, add Christmas in Sugarcreek to your should-read list.

For all items Amish, check out: http://AmishAmerica.com.