Cookies and Cheer

by Amy Clipston

  2.Kyle is hurt when Alyssa is too busy at the bakery to talk to him. Alyssa, however, is so caught up in her work that she doesn’t realize she hurt his feelings until her sister mentions that he looked upset when he left. Have you ever inadvertently hurt someone’s feelings? If so, did you apologize and make amends? How did that turn out?

  3.Alyssa’s parents are frustrated with the amount of time she’s spending at the bakery. Do you think their feelings are valid? Why or why not?

  4.Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seemed to carry the most emotional stake in the story? Alyssa, Kyle, Denise, or someone else?

  5.At the end of the story, Alyssa realizes she was too caught up in the busyness at the bakery to remember the true meaning of Christmas. What do you think caused her to realize she’d gone astray?

  6.What role did the display window in the bakery play in the relationships throughout the story?

  7.Some people may say Christmas has become too commercialized and that too much focus is put on material items instead of preparing for the coming of Christ. What are your thoughts on this issue? Share this with the group.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  AS ALWAYS, I’M GRATEFUL FOR MY LOVING FAMILY, INCLUDING my mother, Lola Goebelbecker; my husband, Joe; and my sons, Zac and Matt.

  Special thanks to my mother and my dear friend Becky Biddy, who graciously proofread the draft and corrected my hilarious typos.

  I’m also grateful for my special Amish friend who patiently answers my endless stream of questions. You’re a blessing in my life.

  Thank you to my wonderful church family at Morning Star Lutheran in Matthews, North Carolina, for your encouragement, prayers, love, and friendship. You all mean so much to my family and me.

  Thank you to Zac Weikal and the fabulous members of my Bakery Bunch! I’m so grateful for your friendship and your excitement about my books. You all are awesome!

  To my agent, Natasha Kern—I can’t thank you enough for your guidance, advice, and friendship. You are a tremendous blessing in my life.

  Thank you to my amazing editor, Jocelyn Bailey, for your friendship and guidance. I’m grateful to every person at HarperCollins Christian Publishing who helped make this book a reality.

  I’m grateful to editor Jean Bloom, who helped me polish and refine the story. Jean, you are a master at connecting the dots and filling in the gaps. I’m so happy we can continue to work together!

  Thank you most of all to God—for giving me the inspiration and the words to glorify You. I’m grateful and humbled You’ve chosen this path for me.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  AMY CLIPSTON

  Photo by Dan Davis Photography

  AMY CLIPSTON IS THE AWARD-WINNING AND BESTSELLING author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, and Amish Homestead series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats.

  Visit her online at AmyClipston.com

  Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks

  Twitter: @AmyClipston

  Instagram: @amy_clipston