Amish Cookie Club

Every other Friday, Edna Esh and three of her childhood friends meet to bake sugar cookies for their respective church districts on worship Sunday. It's a time to give to the Plain community-and give support to each other as they share their joys and fears . . . Edna's friend, Verna Bontrager, has a problem. Her outspoken twenty-year-old daughter, Myrna, has been fired from her job. Again. Myrna's family really needs her to chip in, but she's clearly unsuited to customer service-not to mention that her sharp tongue scares away any boy who might come courting. But Edna has an idea-and his name is Ezekiel Riehl. A widower with four young children, Ezekiel needs help. His house and his brood are a mess; his demeanor is gruff. It's no surprise Myrna takes an immediate dislike to him. Yet she has no choice but to take on the challenge-and soon she starts to create order out of chaos. In fact, the kids begin to depend on Myrna-and so does Ezekiel. The truth is, she's fallen in love with him. But if he's to prove he's not looking for a marriage of convenience, he'll have to convince her of what's in his heart . . .

Baking cookies every other Friday for their respective church districts gives Edna Esh and three of her closest friends a chance to give to the Plain community and strengthen their bond with each other. Now, with the blessings of Christmas in the air, they may even whip up a recipe for love . . . With the holidays around the corner, Edna is busier than ever juggling baking with her business serving meals to Englische tourists. Thank goodness for Mary Ropp's help-until she breaks her leg. Mary's daughter, Bethany, is available to fill in, but Edna isn't so certain. She knows Bethany is so painfully shy that she's never even courted, never mind interacting with Englische tourists! But the remedy may be closer than they think . . . When Bethany gets into a scrape with her bicycle, a personable, talkative young man comes to her rescue, and even accompanies her home. And he's none other than John Esh-Edna's oldest son. When he stops by again the next day, Mary gets an idea. Soon, with the encouragement of the Cookie Club, Bethany is indeed helping Edna, and spending more time around the Esh household-and John.

Tourist season is approaching, and the Edna is busier than ever, between baking with her Amish Cookie Club friends and running her business serving meals to Englische tourists. You wouldn't think she'd have time for matchmaking . . . Edna couldn't be happier that her new daughter-in-law, Bethany, is pregnant. But Bethany is also her best helper, and morning sickness has her out of commission. Desperate for more hands, Edna accepts a friend's offer for her twin daughters, Rachel and Ella Mae, to step in. Trouble is, the young women are constantly bickering-except when Edna's sons Jeremiah and Jonas are around . . . It's soon clear that Rachel has taken a shine to Jeremiah, while Jonas is smitten with Ella Mae. It's also clear the feelings aren't reciprocated. But after confiding in the Cookie Club, Edna devises a plan for the pairs to spend more time together. The only problem is it seems to be failing. Yet it appears there's a grander plan at work-and as nature takes its course, and the MayFest arrives, there's reason to look forward to the bountiful sweetness of a double wedding come autumn . . .