I received a complimentary copy of this book from and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Published by Harper Collins on June 11th 2013
Genres: Fiction, Christian, Romance, General, Amish & Mennonite
Pages: 304
In A Hopeful Heart, the first novel of the new Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series from best-selling author Amy Clipston, Hannah finds herself at a crossroads in her life. Her community offers her love and support after the untimely death of her husband, but an Englisher offers her the chance of a new life after her unexpected tragedy.
Wealthy businessman Trey Peterson is surprised by his attraction to the gentle Amish woman who works as a housekeeper in the Lancaster Grand Hotel. They share a common bond of loss and are able to offer each other comfort and support as they journey through their grief.
Joshua Glick wants nothing more than to offer his friendship and love to Hannah and her family. Not only is he her late husband’s brother and business partner, he has always been in love with Hannah.
A Hopeful Heart is filled with surprising twists as Hannah tries to balance her life in the Amish community and her growing love for an outsider.
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!
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About Amy Clipston
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. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats.
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