Audio Book Review with featured author: The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston

The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston

 

 

Publisher & Release: Zondervan, December 1, 2020

Time and setting: Present Day, Pennsylvania 

Genre: Amish Fiction

Length: 332 Pages

Heat Level: Sweet

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

In this third installment of Amy Clipston’s Amish Marketplace series, an acquaintance grows into love over a few well-timed cups of coffee.

Alongside her cousins who have booths of their own, Bethany Gingerich runs a busy and successful coffee and donut stand at the Amish market. Since she has café-style tables and chairs, her regular customers enjoy purchasing a morning treat so they can sit and talk to their friends.

Micah Zook and his grandfather, Enos, visit Bethany every Saturday morning to purchase coffee and donuts before going to work at Enos’s custom outdoor furniture shop. Bethany enjoys talking to Micah and Enos, and she’s always thought Micah was handsome—but she doesn’t think her crush will ever result in anything more.

When Micah and his grandfather don’t come to see her one Saturday morning, Bethany begins to worry. And when she learns that tragedy has struck, she wonders how to help Micah in his time of need. Turns out he needs a friend now more than ever, and Bethany may be just the kind of friend that God has provided for him.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Coffee-Corner-Amish-Marketplace-Novel-ebook

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Coffee-Corner-Audiobook

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-coffee-corner-amy-clipston

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-coffee-corner

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Amy_Clipston_The_Coffee_Corner

Apple Books: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781713571247?mt=11

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55219826-the-coffee-corner

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-coffee-corner-by-amy-clipston

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary audio copy of The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston. I voluntarily agreed to listen and review prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

 

The Coffee Corner is a heartwarming Amish fiction novel with character you’ll grow to love, and a plot that will touch your heart. The pacing kept me involved from the beginning and kept me until the end. Ms. Clipston’s novels always give me a strong sense of the Amish life, which is why I enjoy this genre.

 

I listened to the audio version of The Coffee Corner, and Lauren Berst is the narrator. Her beautiful reading pulled me in right away. She brings the various characters to life and made it easy to determine each of them. Her ability to pronounce the Dutch Pennsylvania added greatly to my enjoyment of this lovely Amish tale. That is not the case in some of the other narrators I’ve listened to, and I have listened to a great many over the years.

 

Bethany Gringerich is the heroine, and she stole my heart from the beginning. Her insecurities over her desirability as an Amish wife touched me at my core. It showed her deepest vulnerabilities. Her willingness to offer the hero her friendship, even though she believes it will cause her future disappointment if he doesn’t develop feelings for her only made me love her more.

 

Micah Zook is the hero, and he too has issues with self-esteem. He grew up with a father who is constantly critical of him and his desire to learn his grandfather’s carpentry skills. He’s estranged from his family and lives with his gros-dadi learning his chosen trade. He’s suffered the death of the Amish girl he’d expected to marry, which caused the rift with his family. I could feel his confusion and fear when he finds he’s drawn to Bethany.

 

The romance is sweet and gentle as with most Amish romances, and I enjoyed their journey to finding their happy ending. It’s a rough road since both don’t believe they will because of their insecurities. Bethany, because doesn’t believe the hero could possibly love her, and Micah, because of his belief he is not worthy. I truly wanted them to find their way to each other.

 

If you enjoy Amish fiction with endearing characters, and a plot that will have you rooting for them, then you will love The Coffee Corner as much as I did. I always know I’m in for a treat whether I’m listening or reading one of Ms. Clipston’s delightful Amish novels. Happy reading and listening!

 

Author Bio:

 

Amy Clipston has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series with Zondervan, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. An advocate for organ and blood donation, Amy donated a kidney in 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through her donation, her husband received a second kidney transplant. Amy and her husband matched another couple and swapped kidneys with them. Amy's memoir, A Gift of Love, will be available in early 2014. She hopes her story inspires others to become organ and blood donors. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. 

 

Social Media:

Website: https://amyclipston.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyClipston

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_clipston/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amyclipston/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/amy-clipston

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2765728.Amy_Clipston

 

 

Book Review: An Amish Picnic, a collection of Amish novellas by a great group of authors

An Amish Picnic by Amy Clipston, Kelly Irvin, Kathleen Fuller, Vanetta Chapman

Publisher & Release: Zondervan, March 3, 2020

Time and setting:  Present Day, Amish Country

Genre: Amish Fiction

Length: 400 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweetheart

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

From bestselling authors in the Amish genre come four sweet stories about picnics and romance.

Baskets of Sunshine by Amy Clipston

Kevin Weaver has lived with his brother’s family since his parents passed away when he was young, but he craves a home and family to call his own. Freeman Kurtz owns a successful brick mason business, and Kevin takes the job as Freeman’s apprentice to pursue his own financial freedom. 

Phoebe Kurtz is helping her sister with her booth at the marketplace when she notices Kevin, her father’s employee. Their friendship grows, but Kevin is convinced that the difference in their ages makes a relationship between them impossible. Amidst summer outings, Kevin and Phoebe must decide if taking a chance on love is worth the risk.

Candlelight Sweethearts by Kelly Irvin

Esther Marie Shrock loves her job at Valley Grocery Store where she’s worked for four years. Despite a stutter that has plagued her since childhood, she thrives filling orders from a steady stream of customers. Still, at 25, she and her family wonder if romance is in her future.

Jasper Cotter isn’t good with people, but he’s found himself obligated to take over day-to-day operations of the family owned grocery store—a store he doesn’t have the first clue how to run. Thrown together, Esther Marie and Jasper don’t exactly see eye to eye. One night, the store loses power, and the candles aren’t the only things shooting off sparks. Esther Marie and Jasper are suddenly forced to discover common ground when it matters most, and they might be surprised with love along the way.

Reeling in Love by Kathleen Fuller

Nina Stoll and Ira Yoder are just friends. Just friends and fishing buddies. Every Saturday afternoon, they have a picnic at their favorite fishing hole and see who can out fish the other. Until Nina starts to wonder if there’s more.

Her plans to share her feelings go awry, and circumstances seem destined to keep Nina and Ira apart. With both Nina and Ira confused and hurting, it’s going to take courage, some help from the community matchmakers, and a little bit of divine intervention for Nina and Ira to realize they’re each other's perfect catch.

Picnics and Prospects by Vannetta Chapman

Faith Troyer is claustrophobic, and David Lapp builds tiny houses. They went on a date years ago with disastrous results. Now that they’re in their late twenties, their families and friends are beginning to wonder if either will ever find that special someone. When a picnic outing is diverted by the discovery of a package of letters dating back to the 1970s, they take it upon themselves to find answers to a mystery that causes them to rethink their past and consider their future.  

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Amish-Picnic-Four-Stories-ebook/dp/B07TBX9HXV

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-amish-picnic-amy-clipston

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/an-amish-picnic-by-vannetta-chapman-and-amy-clipston

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50225714-an-amish-picnic

Vikki’s Musings

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of An Amish Picnic by Amy Clipston, Kelly Irvin, Kathleen Fuller, and Ranetta Chapman and for the opportunity to read and review these delightful novellas. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

An Amish Picnic is an enchanting collection of Amish stories with endearing characters and heartwarming plots. While I enjoyed each novella a great deal, Reeling in Love by Kathleen Fuller is by far my favorite. I fell in love with Nina and Ira. They are such an endearing couple. I’m a big fan of friends to lovers romances, and this one is an excellent example of that troupe.

If you enjoy Amish fiction with characters that will touch your heart, when you will love An Amish Picnic as much as I did. I have come to love this genre, and I’ve read quite a few books by each of these authors, and they are talented. Happy reading!

Book Review: The Bake Shop by Amy Clipston

The Bake Shop by Amy Clipston

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Press, October 29, 2019

Time and setting:  Regency period, London

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 331 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating:  4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Return to Lancaster County with the first installment of Amy Clipston's charming new Amish Marketplace series.

Christiana Kurtz loves to bake, but when her bake stand becomes too busy, her mother encourages her to move her business to the local market. Her new bake shop becomes so inundated with customers that the line blocks the leather and woodcraft shop next door, which is run by Jeffrey Stoltzfus. When Jeffrey complains that her stand is driving away business due to the lines, she complains to him that his personalization machine smells. Though their relationship starts off on bad footing, they eventually forge a friendship.

When Christiana’s father makes a surprise visit to the market, he is upset to find that Jeffrey uses the building’s electricity to personalize his items. He tells Christiana that Jeffrey is too modern for her, and she’s forbidden from dating him. Christiana is crushed, but she knows she must obey her father.

When Jeffrey’s shop catches fire one day, he puts the entire market in jeopardy—including Christiana’s bake shop. Christiana, however, can’t deny how she feels about Jeffrey despite his mistakes. Though the odds are against them, can two young people find a way to rebuild both their businesses and their relationship?

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Bake-Shop-Amish-Marketplace-Novel-ebook/dp/B07PSBWFDF

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bake-shop-amy-clipston

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-bake-shop

Christianbooks: https://www.christianbook.com/the-bake-shop-softcover/amy-clipston

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45453842-the-bake-shop

Vikki’s Musings

Thanks goes to the publisher, via Net-Galley, for the opportunity to read and review The Bake Shop by Amy Clipston prior publication. My opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this emotionally charged romance, an excellent example of why I love Amish romance. Ms. Clipston gives the reader a genuine experience of what Amish life must be like. From the language to the description of the setting, it’s evident she has done her research.

Christiana Kurtz is a delightful heroine. While she has a progressive attitude and wants to establish her business, she respects her father and tries to adhere to his wishes, even though, he is unbinding toward her desires and wants. My heart ached when he demands she break all connections to Jeffrey Stoltsfus.

Jeffrey’s character is amazing. He is such a good man, and while cautious because of his broken engagement, he takes a chance on loving again with Christiana. That is very brave of him to risk heartache again, especially when he discovers how rigid Christiana’s father is. I could feel his pain and crushing disappointment when the man demands they sever all ties. However, he is not willing to accept that all hope is lost. He sets out to prove he is a good Amish man who lives his Amish faith and is worthy of Christiana.

The romance between Christiana and Jeffrey is sweet and is established through their growing friendship. Their emotions are genuine, and their love for each other is clear to me, even before they realize it in the story. My heart broke when Christiana’s father demands they no longer spent any time together. When her grandmother told her why her father was so unbinding was the key to his getting him to change his staunch unwillingness to bend, but only Christiana’s heartbreaking grief influences him to change his mind. I loved how this heartwarming tale ends!

If you enjoy Amish romance with plenty of raw emotion and a fantastic view of Amish life, then you will love The Bake Shop as much as I did. I can’t wait to read the next book in Ms. Clipston’s new series. Happy reading!

Author Bio:

Amy Clipston has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series with Zondervan, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. 

An advocate for organ and blood donation, Amy donated a kidney in 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through her donation, her husband received a second kidney transplant. Amy and her husband matched another couple and swapped kidneys with them. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. 

Social Media:

Website: https://amyclipston.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyClipston

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_clipston/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amyclipston/

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-bake-shop

Christianbooks: https://www.christianbook.com/the-bake-shop-softcover/amy-clipston