About The Book
The Christmas Cradle
For the peaceful town of Willow Ridge, November presents an early holiday surprise. Stranded in the snow, 18-year-old Lena Esh and her boyfriend Josiah Witmer need more than a place to stay for the night. Lena defied her strict family and their judgmental beliefs to run away with Josiah and have his baby. But she's starting to wonder if he can prove as responsible as he is passionate. And she isn't sure how—or if—they can ever find a place to truly call home.
Expecting their own miracle baby, Miriam and Ben Hooley rally the town to help the young couple, and Lena draws strength from their unexpected support. Though trouble may come calling, in this season of joyous rebirth, a little child will lead them. And two couples will see their dreams of forever family come true . . .
For the peaceful town of Willow Ridge, November presents an early holiday surprise. Stranded in the snow, 18-year-old Lena Esh and her boyfriend Josiah Witmer need more than a place to stay for the night. Lena defied her strict family and their judgmental beliefs to run away with Josiah and have his baby. But she's starting to wonder if he can prove as responsible as he is passionate. And she isn't sure how—or if—they can ever find a place to truly call home.
Expecting their own miracle baby, Miriam and Ben Hooley rally the town to help the young couple, and Lena draws strength from their unexpected support. Though trouble may come calling, in this season of joyous rebirth, a little child will lead them. And two couples will see their dreams of forever family come true . . .
Please visit Charlotte Hubbards website
Buy "Christmas Cradle" from Amazon
Buy "Christmas Cradle" from Barnes&Noble
Read more reviews on Goodreads here
This book was released in September 2015
This book is part of my personal library that was used to review
My Review
“Christmas Cradle” by Charlotte
Hubbard is the final book in her 'Seasons of the Heart' series.
Though this is the final book it can be read by itself if someone
hasn't read the prior books, but I have to say that there is
something special being missed out by not reading the prior books.
There is one constant thread throughout the series and that is who
the bad guy is.
Not long ago I read a review on a book
(can't remember what book sorry about that) and it was the message of
forgiving a character who the reader just hates. This series is a
great example of hating a vile character who got nuttier and nuttier
with each book to the point where I couldn't stand this character and
wished for just deserts for this character. I wasn't sure what was
going to happen but I kept thinking that no matter what happened I
have to forgive this character even though they are just a fictional
character with no real person to forgive. In all honesty it was a
great exercise in forgiving in those who seem unforgivable. That is
all I am going to say about that for anything more and I would be
spilling the beans on what happens with the character.
This is a book with some pretty
important lessons such as forgiveness, overcoming mistrust and
hatred, learning to step up to do what needs to be done, to grow in
maturity, and how to handle the uncertain future with grace. Things
don't always work out the way one expects or hopes for but with the
support of family and friends, but above all else being in God's will
nothing is impossible for a person to have that peaceful, happy
ending. That is one thing that really seemed to be the most
important message in the story that if we are in God's will, even if
we want to be in control, things will work out in ways that we can't
even begin to understand.
Lena and Josiah are a young couple that
are facing an unknown future with so many unknown factors in their
future as well. This is really a story that gives hope to all those
young couples who are facing the same problems as this young couple
for together things can be overcome. With love and support of family
and friends nothing is impossible, but it always help to remember
that hard work is a major component in making things turn out for the
best. That is something that was never in question though for
neither Lena or Josiah were afraid of working hard and sometimes it
seemed as if they were working a little too hard at somethings and
not hard enough for other things.
To give my opinions on the young Lena
and Josiah would sadly give away something really special about them
for they go through so many changes throughout the story. As I said
they are not afraid of hard work in the slightest but at times work a
little too hard on somethings. There are plenty of changes that this
couple face and mistakes that they each made that they have to own up
to along the way. There are some pretty big changes that happen
which makes it so hard to describe this young couple without giving
away part of the plot so I am going to leave them as it stands with
what I said.
I loved seeing Ben and Miriam again
playing such a large part of the story for their strength is
something that was really needed in this story without a doubt. Ben
and Miriam have played such a large part in the entire series, even
though each book has been stand alone books, Ben and Miriam have been
important with the lessons that really fit the story itself. This is
no different but here they play a larger part and the lessons they
teach are just as important.
This entire series is going on my keep
shelf so that I can pull it out over the years to read time and time
again so that I can see what new message will be there for me to
discover. I hope all who have been reading this series will enjoy
this book as much as I did, and for those who haven't read the other
books, I hope with this book will entice those who haven't to pick up
the other books to do so. I look forward to the new series that will
be starting next year.
Other 'Season's of the Heart' Books and Novellas
found in An Amish Country Christmas
found in An Amish Christmas Quilt
