Snowfall Book Review

I reserved a bunch of books at the library that I was interested in and I gave them all different times to come off reserve.  I got an email that two books were waiting for me at the library so I went to get them.  Snowfall: A Days of Redemption Christmas Novella by Shelley Shepard Gray was one of the books that was waiting for me.  It was the one that I decided to pick up first to read when I finished the book that I was reading while I was at the library.  I knew that it seemed a little familiar so I figured out that I read the teaser from another one of the Shelley Shepard Gray books that I read previously.  The book has a NEW sticker on the back which means that it is new to the library so I guess I was just lucky that I finally got to read it since they bought it at the library!

Twenty-year old Ruth Stutzman is a wonderful caregiver—but she has no experience with kinner (children). Laid off from her job at a retirement home due to budget cuts, she’s relieved to find work—even if it means temporarily watching widower Martin Rodes’ brood of six!  Martin has done the best he can since his wife’s passing, but he and the children need help. Their house, once full of laughter and light, has been darkened by sadness. Soon after Ruth arrives, the children are drawn to her warmth and gentleness, and so is Martin, even though he feels it’s wrong. But the harder he tries to ignore her, the deeper he begins to care for this attractive young woman who has brought joy back into his children’s lives . . . and his own.  Each passing day brings the Rodes closer to Ruth . . . and closer to Christmas, when she will have to say goodbye. Ruth, too, cannot deny the bond she feels with the children and with Martin.

I love these Amish fiction books that include great characters and the ever present setting of the Christmas snow.  The book gets you from the beginning with the similarities to Sound of Music where there are six children in need of someone to watch them while their widowed father is working.  The children have trouble getting along with anyone and run off the previous caregiver but Ruth knows what it is like to not belong so she quickly gains the trust of the children.  It is so easy to fall right into the lovely story and characters that you will also love this book.  The short 222 page book is a great quick read that will leave you wanting more of these characters and more books in the series!!  I hope that you pick it up the next time you are at the library or bookstore.