A Simply Enchanted Life

A Mother's Secret by Amy Clipston

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Suggested Age: 12+
Genre: Christian, Amish Fiction

I'm going to be honest. I was not overly fond of the first book in this series. I was upset that Hannah left her child because I had became emotionally invested in the characters. I suppose this is both a good and bad thing.  It is good when an author can pull a reader in and play on their emotions.

Despite being upset with Hannah, I wanted to see how the rest of the characters were faring. That emotional tie to the family that was left behind left me wanting to make sure they were at least...okay.


Well, I’m really glad that I gave this second book a chance. I really enjoyed it!  I found the  characters to be pleasant and enjoyable to spend time with. I was eager to see how they would work through their differences and their circumstances.

As I mused on all of this, I will admit that I felt a little bit silly to have a grudge against Hannah but I suppose that just makes me a bit more of a booknerd than I thought I was.

If you were like me and thought the first book was upsetting, read this one. I am very pleasantly surprised and it does make me rethink my initial reaction to the first book!

This book follows along with some of the same characters as book one. Pretty much the only character I really liked from book one was Joshua. So, I was eager to get to know more about him.
When Joshua meets Carolyn Lapp, it seems like there’s an instant attraction but Carolyn has a secret and it could destroy their budding friendship and relationship. This isn’t a little secret, it’s a pretty big one, one that brings shame to not only Carolyn but also to her family and potentially to the man that chooses to marry her.

I thought this book had some great themes of forgiveness, both the forgiveness we find in Christ but also in forgiving ourselves. So many times we ask for Christ’s forgiveness and though he grants it…we beat ourselves up and live in constant misery because of one little mistake.

Overall, this book is great and I have a sneaky suspicion that Josh and Carolyn’s story may not yet be over and will continue in book three. The author pretty much dangled a bone, a juicy and potentially drama-filled bone right in front of my face. I went from disliking book one to being scared to read book two…all the way to being downright hopeful and eager for book three!!! Sometimes you just have to trust the author on these things because now I view the first book in a completely different lightView all my reviews|Excerpt

Amazon|CBD|Barnes&Noble
Amy Clipston is the best-selling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. Her novels have hit multiple best-seller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. She and her family live in North Carolina.

Find out more about Amy on her website at http://www.amyclipston.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Hopeful Heart by Amy Clipston

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Suggested Age: 12+
Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction

I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by this author so I was just a tiny bit surprised that I wasn’t all that enthralled with this book.

I really tried but I just couldn’t find the love for this book. I honestly felt nothing but frustration with the characters.

I thought the mom was very selfish and it bothered me that she let one of her teen daughters go live with someone else so that she could do what she wanted. It bothered me to be honest.

I have sat a good long while on even writing this review so that I could sort my feelings and possibly see if my feelings changed but they haven’t. The writing was great; I just didn’t connect with the characters. I was just angry with Hannah. I can't explain it. 

Hannah Glick lost her husband a couple years back and though she continues to work alongside her brother-in-law in the family owned business—she also chooses to work at a local hotel. It is there that she meets Trey Peterson, a wealthy businessman who is looking to start a bed and breakfast in the area.

Trey and Hannah have something in common—both have lost a spouse and it is that detail in common that draws them together despite the implications that the relationship will have for Hannah and her children. See, Hannah is Amish and Trey is not!

I really have no problems at all with reading a story where the character leaves the Amish faith but this one just bothered me. There isn’t a man alive on this planet that I would be willing to leave my teenage child over. I do understand that she allowed the girl to go live with her grandparents but it just really irks me—can you tell that I keep coming back to this point?

 I really wanted to smack Hannah over her actions.  I really hope that book two gives me some hope!
View all my reviews|Excerpt

Amazon|CBD|Barnes&Noble Amy Clipston is the best-selling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. Her novels have hit multiple best-seller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. She and her family live in North Carolina.

Find out more about Amy on her website at http://www.amyclipston.com


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255