Christmas in July Celebrates Heartwarming Holiday Tale Set in Ohio’s Amish Country

Minford, Ohio — The magic of Christmas meets the charm of Ohio’s Amish community in Sugarcreek in USA Today bestselling author Serena B. Miller’s “The Heart of Sugarcreek,” which has been announced as a finalist in the prestigious 2025 ACFW Carol Awards in the Romance category. As readers embrace “Christmas in July” celebrations, Miller’s fifth installment in the beloved “Love’s Journey in Sugarcreek” series offers the perfect seasonal escape to the snow-covered hills of Ohio’s Amish country.

Set during the holiday season in the picturesque village of Sugarcreek, Ohio, “The Heart of Sugarcreek” weaves together the touching love stories of two couples finding second chances at happiness. When Amish widow Lydia Troyer meets the kindly widower Malachi during an unexpected winter storm, neither expects to discover love again. Meanwhile, her sister Bertha finds her heart rekindled with Anthony, a Mennonite doctor from her past, leading to life-changing decisions that will forever alter the close-knit Troyer family.

“After that first book was published, I kept missing my characters and the only way to revisit them was to go back and write another book,” says Miller, reflecting on her decade-long journey with the Sugarcreek series. “In ‘The Heart of Sugarcreek,’ I once again explored the interaction between the Old Order Amish and their English relatives—something that has intrigued me from the first moment I set foot in Ohio Amish country.”

The novel explores themes of family loyalty, acceptance, and love across cultural boundaries, with characters like Anna, a young woman with Down syndrome, and Darren, whose individual journeys add authenticity to the narrative. Through the Troyer sisters’ major life decisions and the complex Amish-English family dynamics, Miller delivers the signature storytelling that has captivated readers throughout the series.

“The characters in this story surprise me as much as I hope they surprise the readers,” says Miller. “Each one discovers that love and acceptance can bloom in the most unexpected seasons of life.”

The Carol Award recognition places “The Heart of Sugarcreek” among the finest examples of contemporary Christian romance fiction, celebrating Miller’s continued excellence in capturing authentic Amish-English cultural dynamics.

For readers planning to visit Ohio’s Amish country, “The Heart of Sugarcreek” serves as an authentic guide to the warmth and hospitality that make Sugarcreek a premier tourism destination. The novel’s detailed portrayal of local traditions offers visitors a deeper appreciation for the rich cultural heritage that defines this unique corner of Ohio.

Miller has also launched an exciting new mystery series set in the same beloved geographic area. “Secrets of Sugarcreek,” with the first two books already available, explores the darker corners of this peaceful community through Amish-English romance mysteries while maintaining the authentic cultural dynamics that readers have come to cherish.

As the fifth book in the “Love’s Journey in Sugarcreek” series, “The Heart of Sugarcreek” can be enjoyed as a standalone novel or as the culmination of character journeys that began with “The Sugar Haus Inn.” The series has consistently captured readers’ hearts through its authentic portrayal of Amish life, compelling romance, and the timeless appeal of small-town Christmas celebrations.

“The Heart of Sugarcreek” is published by L. J. Emory Publishing under the editorial guidance of Brenda Kallner and is available in print and digital formats through major retailers. The complete “Love’s Journey in Sugarcreek” series offers readers the perfect summer reading escape to a world where Christmas magic, family bonds, and unexpected love create the ultimate comfort reading experience.

Miller is a USA Today bestselling author and winner of the Romance Writers of America RITA, the American Christian Fiction Writers CAROL, and a finalist for the CHRISTY. Among her notable adaptations, “The Sugar Haus Inn” became the award-winning UPTV movie “Love Finds You in Sugarcreek,” which won the coveted Templeton Epiphany Award, while “An Uncommon Grace” aired on Hallmark Channel in 2017, followed by “Moriah’s Lighthouse” in 2022.