Saturday, January 23, 2016

Review: The Lopsided Christmas Cake by Wanda Brunstetter and Jean Brustetter

The Lopsided Christmas Cake, by Wanda Brunstetter and Jean Brunstetter

Published: September 1, 2015



Image result for Lopsided Christmas Cake imageMeet Elma and Thelma Hochstetler, two 30-something Amish women who just happen to be unmarried twin sisters, to boot.  When their grandparents tragically die, the Hochstetler twins are left an old farmhouse in need of dire repair, and a general store in barely better shape.  To make matters worse, the house and store are 4 hours away from the only home they've ever known.  Their father is all for the move, thinking it will be good for the girls....their mom? Not so much.


As you might expect, the twins are total opposites in terms of personality and temperament. Kind hearted animal-lover Thelma is the perfect foil for her abrasive, no-nonsense sister, Elma. As the story unfolds, we see one sister's newly emerging romance threatened by a childhood promise, while the other sister finds that she is strong enough to to stand on her own two feet. 

This is a slightly new twist on the standard Amish romance, as the reader sees two young Amish women step out of their more traditional roles to embrace new adventures and new challenges while they remain true to their beliefs and themselves.

At the end of the book, the recipe for the cake that plays a central role in the story is provided.  A nice touch!