Emma Miller - The Christmas Courtship

An unexpected perfect match...

An Amish single mother with a secret past...

Searching for a fresh start at Christmastime.

Caught up in a scandal in her Amish community, Phoebe Miller moves to her cousin’s farm in Delaware hoping for forgiveness and a second chance. The last thing Phoebe expects is to slowly fall for bachelor Joshua Miller. But Joshua doesn’t know the secret that made her leave her old life behind. Can their blossoming love survive the truth?

EMMA MILLERlives quietly in her old farmhouse in rural Delaware. Fortunate enough to have been born into a family of strong faith, she grew up on a dairy farm, surrounded by loving parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Emma was educated in local schools and once taught in an Amish schoolhouse. When she’s not caring for her large family, reading and writing are her favorite pastimes.

Also by Emma Miller Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Note to Readers Introduction Bible Verse Dear Reader Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Epilogue About the Publisher

The Amish Spinster’s Courtship

The Christmas Courtship

The Amish Matchmaker

A Match for Addy

A Husband for Mari

A Beau for Katie

A Love for Leah

A Groom for Ruby

A Man for Honor

Hannah’s Daughters

Courting Ruth

Miriam’s Heart

Anna’s Gift

Leah’s Choice

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

The Christmas Courtship

Emma Miller

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09919-6

THE CHRISTMAS COURTSHIP

© 2019 Emma Miller

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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Text to speech

“What was Ginger saying?” Joshua asked.

“She said not to let you monopolize all my time.”

He sighed. “And what did you say to that? Because I was... I was kind of hoping you’d let me walk around and introduce you.”

Phoebe pressed her lips together, not sure how to respond.

She met his gaze. “Do you have a girl?”

He shook his head.

She felt her heart give a little trip. “Sweet on someone?”

He tilted his head. “You could say that.”

Against her will, Phoebe felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment. She looked down at the grass at her feet. “Then you should go be with her.”

He was quiet so long that at last she looked up at him and found him studying her.

“I can’t,” he said very quietly.

She held his gaze, feeling a little light-headed. She remembered this feeling. She’d felt it in those early days and months when she and John had courted. She nibbled on her lower lip. “Why not?” she dared.

He hesitated, then shrugged. “Because I’m already with her.”

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

—Matthew 6:14

Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Note to Readers Introduction Bible Verse Dear Reader Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Epilogue About the Publisher ,

I hope Joshua and Phoebe’s story touched your heart the way it touched mine. Their story reminds me that, as humans, we all make mistakes and that we all can be forgiven and must forgive. In this world we live in today, this is a message of hope for me.

My next visit to the Miller family involves Benjamin’s eldest son, Ethan, who is Hickory Grove’s schoolmaster. Ethan lost his wife years ago and hasn’t been able to find his way out of that darkness. His family is encouraging him to marry again, but no one has come along to tug at his heartstrings. Then a naughty little boy joins his classroom and, at his wits end, Ethan joins forces with Jamie’s widowed mother, Abigail, to improve the child’s behavior. While Abigail and Ethan are at odds at first, they quickly become friends, then fall in love. But love is complicated, and Abigail and Ethan have to make their way through several obstacles to find happiness again.

I’m excited about Abigail and Ethan’s journey. I hope you’ll join me again in Hickory Grove to find out if love really can conquer all.

Peace be with you,

Emma Miller

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text An unexpected perfect match... An Amish single mother with a secret past... Searching for a fresh start at Christmastime. Caught up in a scandal in her Amish community, Phoebe Miller moves to her cousin’s farm in Delaware hoping for forgiveness and a second chance. The last thing Phoebe expects is to slowly fall for bachelor Joshua Miller. But Joshua doesn’t know the secret that made her leave her old life behind. Can their blossoming love survive the truth?