Twice Blessed: Two Amish Christmas Stories

Barbara Cameron

Sep 2015 · Abingdon Press

About this ebook

About Her Sister’s Shadow
Katie and Rosie Stoltzfus work part-time in an Amish store and part-time in Two Peas in a Pod, their own business raising vegetables and fruits and canning them for sale. Although they are identical twins, their personalities are very different: while Katie has always been more outgoing and attractive to boys, Rosie has always felt in her sister’s shadow. It will take an unexpected business opportunity and one very special man to help Rosie see that she’s a unique woman of her own.

About His Brother’s Keeper
Ever since they were boys, Ben Fisher has trailed after his brother, Mark. Ben has always envied Mark because he’s always been more adventurous, but he's even more jealous now that Mark is engaged to Ruth, a woman they both love. When a terrible accident on Christmas Eve results in their mistaken identity, Ben suddenly has an opportunity to create the life he’s always wanted. While everyone believes he is his brother, who’s still in a coma, Ben finally has a chance with Ruth. But how can he realize an opportunity for real happiness if it means deceiving his kin?

Ratings and reviews

Twice Blessed by Barbara Cameron is two Christian Christmas stories in one book. The first story is Her Sister’s Shadow. Katie and Rosie Stoltzfus are identical twins who live on their family farm. They have started their own business called Two Peas in a Pod. They take the items from their large kitchen garden (also items they buy) to make jams, jellies, and preserves. Katie is the more outgoing sister while Rosie is quieter and prefers working in the garden. Katie has always made the big decisions for the pair. Rosie, though, has decided it is time to live her own life. She would like different things. It will be a test to their relationship, but there will be more strain on their relationship as Rosie finds a beau. His Brother’s Keeper is the second story in the book. Mark and Ben Fisher are twenty-two years old and they do carpentry work (make beautiful pieces). Mark is engaged to Ruth Stoltzfus (no relation to Katie and Rosie). Ben met Ruth first and fell in love with her. The couple had a little disagreement and Mark was there to comfort Ruth. A few days before Christmas Mark and Ben are doing the last of their deliveries when a snow storm hits. A truck veers over into their lane and they are tossed into a ditch. Neither of them had their wallets in their pockets, so the hospital staff were unable to identify them. Ruth identifies Ben as Mark because he was wearing the gloves she knitted. When Ben wakes up, he does not clear up the dispute. He wants to be able to spend time with Ruth (he loves her). Mark is in a coma. What will happen when Mark wakes up or when Ruth figures it out? I enjoyed both of these short stories, but they were really too short. The characters were not fully developed and both stories ended abruptly. In the first story we do not get many details on the girls (including their last names). I think an epilogue would have been great to finish off the stories and see what happened after Christmas with the two set of twins. I thought the first book had very little to do with Christmas. It happened before Christmas and some people were doing Christmas shopping, but that was about it. His Brother’s Keepers had more Christmas (took place before and during the holiday season) in it which made it more enjoyable. The book was nicely written and was easy to read (just flowed beautifully). I give Twice Blessed 3.75 out of 5 stars. I just felt that both stories needed a little bit more work (a little more character development and eliminate the abrupt ending). I received a complimentary copy of Twice Blessed from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are my own.

A simply wonderful Christmas story

About the author

Barbara Cameron has a heart for writing about the spiritual values and simple joys of the Amish. She is the best-selling author of more than 40 fiction and nonfiction books, three nationally televised movies, and the winner of the first Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. Her books have been nominated for Carol Awards and the Inspirational Reader s Choice Award from RWA s Faith, Hope, and Love chapter. Barbara resides in Jacksonville, Florida.