The Christmas Cradle by Charlotte Hubbard - Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

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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…

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt:

Lena huffed up Nora’s long driveway Saturday evening, wondering if she would ever again be able to draw full, deep breaths. Miriam walked alongside her without any apparent discomfort, despite her age. In fact, her companion’s face lit up with girlish glee as they approached the largest, fanciest house in town.

“What a treat to be comin’ here,” Miriam exclaimed as they stepped onto the big front porch. “I’ve known Nora since she was a wee girl, ya see—and when her dat banished her for gettin’ in the family way, I felt awful bad for her. Couldn’t believe bright, responsible Nora would get herself into such a predicament, much less dump her baby off at her brother’s place,” she added in a lower voice. “But God was leadin’ her all along—even though she didn’t realize it because the bishop in Morning Star was takin’ advantage of her fear and innocence.”

Lena’s eyes widened. She’d heard Nora’s situation had been similar to her own, yet the story had a different spin when a church leader came into the picture. If Nora had reunited with her family and turned her life around, maybe there was hope for her and Josiah’s baby.

“Come on in—it’s open!” a female voice called out.

When they stepped inside a loud chorus of “Surprise! Surprise!” made Miriam stop in her tracks. Her mouth dropped open. A roomful of smiling faces greeted them, and from the crowd Lena picked out Rebecca, Rhoda, Naomi, Hannah, Rachel—and even Savilla!

“What’s goin’ on here?” Miriam asked in a tight voice. A big banner that said WELCOME, BABIES! was hanging across the kitchen entryway, and Lena noticed a long table in the front room where women sat cutting lengths of fabric.

Nora hurried over to them, wearing a mischievous grin. “Okay, I fibbed a little when I called this a party for my wedding helpers,” she said as she grabbed their hands. “It is a party, but it’s a shower for you two! We’ve been sewing diapers and gowns and onesies, figuring you’ve neither one had much of a chance to do that.”

About the Author:

Drawing upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community in Missouri, longtime Missourian Charlotte Hubbard writes of simpler times and a faith-based lifestyle in her Seasons of the Heart series. Like her heroine, Miriam Lantz Hooley, Charlotte considers it her personal mission to feed people. Faith and family, farming and food preservation are hallmarks of her lifestyle. She’s a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and when she’s not writing, she loves to try new recipes, crochet, and sew. Charlotte now lives in Minnesota with her husband and their border collie.

Website: www.CharlotteHubbard.com
Facebook: facebook.com/charlotte.hubbard1
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