Survive the Holidays Like the Amish By Amanda Flower

The Christmas and holiday season is a hectic time for everyone with extra commitments, parties, family gatherings, recipes, decorations, and shopping. The Amish may live a simpler life than most of us do, but they aren’t complete spared from the stress of the holidays. Here are some tips from the Amish that can help you make your holiday season simpler.

  • Remember that the holiday season is about family. It’s easy to forget why you’re running around, shopping, baking, and decorating. Try to focus on your family and not all the things to do. I know this is easier said than done.
  • Don’t over decorate. The Amish don’t even put up Christmas trees at Christmas. They may string some greenery over their fireplaces and doorways, but that’s about it. I’m not advocating for no Christmas trees. I love Christmas trees, but if your decorations feel like more like a chore than a show of merriment, try to scale back.
  • Focus on the children in your life. During the holiday many of the Amish schools have presentations and play put on by the children. This is one the biggest events that happen around the holidays for the Amish. Even if you don’t have children of your own, you can appreciate the children’s hard work to make the season even brighter.
  • Limit your gift giving. The Amish aren’t ones to go all out for Christmas gifts. In fact, they usually only give each other small handmade gifts and this is to close members of the family. I love gift giving, so I definitely can understand going overboard. Sometimes, I have remind myself that time with a person is more important than presents.

However you spend your holidays, remember if the stress is getting to you, simple is better.


Someone’s sweet on revenge . . .

Christmas is Bailey King’s favorite time of year. For her first Yuletide in Harvest, Ohio, the former big-city chocolatier is recreating a cherished holiday treat: peppermint combined with molten white chocolate. But her sugar high plummets when her former boyfriend walks into the candy shop she now runs with her Amish grandmother. New York celebrity chef Eric Sharp and his TV crew have arrived to film an authentic Amish Christmas. Bailey’s not about to let her beloved town—and Swissmen Sweets—be turned into a sound bite. Unfortunately, she gets more publicity than she bargained for when Eric’s executive producer is found strangled to death—and Eric’s the prime suspect.

With Bailey’s sheriff deputy boyfriend out to prove Eric’s guilt, her bad-boy ex tries to sweet-talk her into helping him clear his name . . . and rekindle their romance to boost ratings for his show. Now, between a surplus of suspects and a victim who wasn’t who she seemed, Bailey’s edging dangerously close to a killer who isn’t looking to bring joy to the world—or to Bailey—this deadly Noel . . .

Recipe Included!

Praise for Amanda Flower and her Amish cozies

“As it turns out, Amanda Flower may have just written the first Amish rom com.” —USA Today

“Flower has hit it out of the ballpark . . . and continues to amaze with her knowledge of the Amish way of life.” —RT Book Reviews

“At turns playful and engaging . . . a satisfyingly complex cozy.” —Library Journal