I liked this book alot! The characters and the story were charming! ( )

These Amish twins are inherit their grandparents home and business, and deciding that marriage isn’t likely for them, move to a new community and a new life. Though they well past their teenage years, by their actions you wouldn’t know it. They are definitely in over their heads when it comes to running a business and repairing their home. Though twins in looks, they are quite different in personalities, which does lead to some problems. It’s a cute story, though it seems more like a YA novel than a adult one. ( )

This is the story of twins, alike and yet so different. Elma and Thelma Hochstetler are thirty-two year old identical twins who are both single and still living in their family home in Illinois. When they inherit their grandparents' farm in Indiana, Elma and Thelma leave their comfort zone and move there. We soon witness some of their experiences and adventures and these twin's differing personalities become very evident. Elma is very capable and likes to take control and Thelma is an outgoing, sociable person who sometimes has trouble completing everyday tasks; the word klutz might be the word to describe her! It is Thelma who decides that they should enter a baking contest together but she fails to mention that the cake will be made before a live audience! The finished product is disappointing, to say the least, but it doesn't stop two Amish gentlemen from bidding on this "lopsided" cake. They are intrigued by these young women and this baking contest is the catalyst that begins courtships for both Elma and Thelma.

The Christmas Lopsided Cake gave me a different viewpoint of Amish life. I always think of Amish women as being very capable and having their own large families at an early age; they are extremely capable and they always have "perfect" baked goods! This collaboration by Wanda Brunstetter and her daughter-in-law Jean is both humorous and heartfelt. It has laugh-out-loud moments and I recommend this entertaining read!

I received a copy of this book from the author and Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review. All expressed opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review. ( )

Very disappointing. Sometimes the writing seemed very.....childish. I expect more from Wanda. ( )

Not My Favorite Brunstetter Novel...

This is the first book I have read by Wanda Brunstetter that also has a coauthor, her daughter-in-law. Together, the Brunstetters spin a yarn about two 32 year-old single twins who are suddenly on their own, taking over the house and store of their recently deceased grandparents. Elma is a hard worker, but also very particular in how things should be done. Thelma is very social, loves to entertain children rather than work in the shop, but is also very brave and good with the twins' newly inherited, wily horse.

On a whim, Thelma decides the girls should enter a baking contest in Shipshewana. All should be fine except for two things; the girls are still battling the cranky cookstove their grandparents left behind, and they will have to assemble the cake on stage, in front of everyone. A minor detail Thelma omits to tell Elma until the last minute. When shy Joseph Beechy convinces his cousin, Dell Gingerich, to bid on the girls' disaster of a cake, the twins meet and start dating the two best friends.

This appears to be a stand-alone book, which causes a few issues for me. While the twins's characters were fully developed, I was hoping for significant growth in at least one of them. The ending seemed rushed and pulled together with basting stitches instead of the small, intricate stitches for which the Amish are known. Worth reading, yes? Could it be a great book in others' eyes? Read others' reviews. Probably.In my mind, it just did not live up to the warm, fuzzy feeling I usually have when I finish a Wanda Brunstetter book.

I gratefully received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )