Nothing heals the soul better than a good book, and that’s exactly what A Christmas Remedy is. A little bit of medicine for the soul!
This new-to-me co-author duo have crafted a story so unique, and full of so much hope – perfect for the impending holiday season! The story follows Joshua Smuckers and Holly Zook, Holly being a young woman who doesn’t quite fit in to her very traditional Amish community.
Holly has a deep calling to bring health care to her people, but it’s taken her a lot to get to a point where the people trust her and the local pharmacy. When a horrible health-scare mysterious incident occurs at the pharmacy, the doubt of her people and the doubt of the Board of Pharmacy threaten to undo all of her hard work.
To get to the bottom of it all, Holly must team up with Joshua, the young man who’s offer of a relationship she’d denied some time before believing that there was no way she could have a relationship and fulfill God’s calling for her life, given the strict rules of her faith.
As they work together, their feelings for one another only grow stronger, but there are still old wounds that need to be treated. Misunderstandings about matters of the heart need strong medicine, and there’s no better place to fulfill that prescription than Greene’s pharmacy. In the end, the characters have more to celebrate on Christmas day than just good tidings and cheer!
Personally, I’ve never really delved into the Amish fiction world. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this book which blended both the Amish community and the outside world so well. I very much identified with Holly’s feelings of being a misfit and not knowing where she belonged. Throughout the story she wrestles with conflicting emotions and messages about God’s will for her life, and I think that’s something that we can all relate to at some point or another.
The novel deals with themes of trust, brokenness, grief, and fear in a way that is so hopeful, and so perfect for the magical holiday backdrop of the story! Christmastime is a time where we celebrate the hope that is Jesus Christ, who is a light of hope for all of the characters involved in this story. I loved how each arc blended together to create a timeless tale of forgiveness, the Amish way!
* Note: while I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, that has in no way affected my opinions or rating of the book itself. Thank you.
This is one book you’ll want to have on your reading list for Christmas vacation! Until next time,
