"CHRISTMAS IN SUGARCREEK," by Shelley Shepard Gray, Harper Collins, $16.99, 239 pages (f)
“Christmas in Sugarcreek” by Shelley Shepard Gray is a sentimental novel that has a touching yet sappy storyline that will appeal only to a female audience.
Part of the “Seasons of Sugarcreek” series, this is a book that pays homage to the Christmas season. Taking place in an Amish community, the story follows Judith Graber, a young woman who always does what she is told.
Dedicated to her family, Judith often forgets to take care of her own needs. But when bad boy Ben Knox starts to work in her family store, she starts getting ample amounts of attention from him. Will Judith ignore his obvious flirtations? Or will she reciprocate?
Ben is also in the midst of a personal crisis. Will he be able to escape the memories of his past and move on? With the help of Judith and her family, he begins to make the necessary steps for a new and fulfilling life.
A story of love and forgiveness, Gray paints a stirring picture of Christmas time and the magic it can have on people.
While truly heartwarming, this book has many over-the-top moments. Corny phrases like “he brushed by her” and “he held her gaze” describe the moments when the characters fall in love.
What is unique about the book is the fact that it takes place in an Amish community. Few fiction books dare to venture into this unknown and unfamiliar territory. Gray is able to show her respect to the community with her precision to detail and her complimentary tone.
A light book, “Christmas in Sugarcreek” will put you in the Christmas spirit.
Shelby Scoffield is a graduate of Brigham Young University and a graduate student at California State University, Stanislaus.