A Welcome at Our Door by Amy Clipston

Happy Book Release Day!  Some of the new books out today are Read on Arrival by Nora Page, The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan, A Welcome at Our Door by Amy Clipston, The Silent Widow by Sidney Sheldon and Tilly Bagshawe, A Second Chance by Linda Byler, Diggin' Up the Dirt by Tonya Kappes and Blessing in Disguise by Danielle Steel.  How many will you add to your TBR pile or wish list?

A Welcome at Our Door by Amy Clipston is the final An Amish Homestead Novel.  It has been seven years since her mother, who was also her best friend, passed away and Cindy Riehl is still grieving.  She has watched her father plus her siblings marry and Cindy does not understand how they could move on so quickly and be happy.  She also feels estranged from God and does not understand why he took her mother so soon.  One day, Cucumber gets out and follows a golden retriever to the Lapp’s home.  Cindy goes to retrieve their Houdini cow and meets the Lapp’s new Englisher farmhand, Drew Collins.  She finds him easy to talk to and soon finds herself sharing things with him that she cannot divulge to her family.  Cindy soon learns that Drew has lost his whole family and understands what she is experiencing.  The pair draw closer together and develop romantic feelings for each other.  Cindy no longer feels close to her community and, if their secret meetings are discovered, she will need to make a choice.  What choices will Cindy make about her future?  Can she find her way back to God? 

 

A Welcome at Our Door is the fourth and final book in An Amish Homestead series.  We have watched as Cindy’s father and siblings have found love, married and started families of their own.  Cindy finds herself lost in her grief and not understanding God’s decisions.  Cindy lives in a community where you are not supposed to question God’s will.  I do recommend reading this series in order or you will be a little lost.  There are a number of characters and it will help you to understand Cindy Riehl.  I thought A Welcome at Our Door was well written and it progresses at a good pace which makes for an easy to read story.  I was drawn into the story in the beginning and could relate to Cindy’s grief (anyone who has lost a loved can understand).  You continue to miss a parent, especially one that you are close to, each day.  I have enjoyed visiting the Riehl family in each book and have been wanting Cindy’s story.  Amy Clipston brings her characters to life, so they seem like they are real people.  They are characters that people will like and can relate to.  I liked that there was some humor introduced through Cucumber, the cow with escapee tendencies.  We are also introduced to the sweet golden retriever, Bruce.  The importance and power of prayer is emphasized in A Welcome at Our Door.  It is vital to pray about life changing decisions in our life, so we know if we are following God’s path for our life.  Only God knows how our life will play out.  There is always a reason for His actions as we see in A Welcome at Our Door.  One of my favorite phrases from this story is “God sends us friends when we need them most”.  There is some predictability to the story (of course, I have been reading Amish novels for over twenty years), but that does not take away from this touching story.  A Welcome at Our Door is a story of grief, love, struggle, faith and family.  You will not want to miss Cindy’s heart wrenching and heartfelt story in A Welcome at Our Door. 

The other novels in An Amish Homestead series are A Place at Our Table, Room on the Porch Swing, and A Seat by the Hearth (my favorite).  Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you found my review helpful.  I am reviewing The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan next time.  The first book in A Jazz Ramsey Mystery series.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

A Seat by the Hearth by Amy Clipston: An Amish Homestead Novel

Happy Monday!  Tiny House in the Trees by Celia Bonaduce will be out November 20 along with  Beauchamp Hall by Danielle Steel.  How to Knit a Murder by Sally Goldenbaum comes out on November 27 as well as The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn.

A Seat by the Hearth by Amy Clipston returns us to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Priscilla Allgyer is returning to her parent’s home after eight years with her six year old son, Ethan.  Her mother, Edna welcomes her, but her father, Yonnie is just as cold, critical and disapproving as ever.  Priscilla is thankful that he is kind to her son and that is what is most important to her.  Yonnie will allow her to stay if she follows certain rules.  He insists that Priscilla and Ethan wear Amish dress, visit the Bishop right away confess her sins and to get right with the church since she is currently shunned, and then he wants her to find an acceptable husband.  Mark Riehl is now working for Yonnie helping him train horses and he is known for charming the local females.  Priscilla is the first woman to not fall for his charm and is leery of trusting any man after her experience with Ethan’s father.  As time passes, they are slowly becoming friends.  One day Priscilla is upset, and she is talking to Mark in the barn.  Yonnie and the Bishop walk in and misconstrue the situation.  Priscilla must make a choice that not only affects her, but Mark, Ethan and their families.  Can Priscilla learn to trust Mark and build a future with him?

A Seat by the Hearth is a lovely story.  I thought it was well-written with steady pacing.  There are good characters and a beautiful setting.  Priscilla is reluctant to return home to her father’s dictatorial rule, but she has no other options.  Yonnie has been indifferent, stern and judgmental of Priscilla her whole life.  She wishes her family was more like the warm and welcoming Riehl’s.  Mark is a charmer and he knows it.  He has yet to feel the need to settle down.  Mark is baffled by Priscilla’s indifference.  He sees how Yonnie treats Priscilla and he wants to be her friend.  I like how the relationship between Mark and Priscilla progresses slowly.  They are attracted to each other in the beginning, but they take the time to get to know one other.  In Priscilla’s case, she has issues to overcome before she can begin again with someone new.  I appreciated that we get to see how actions speak louder than words.  Amy Clipston created delightful characters for this story and the main characters complement each other.   We also learn how upbringing can affect a person (we learn from our parents).  The series issue of abuse is handled carefully and responsibly.  Some of the Christian elements present in A Seat by the Heart are prayer, forgiveness, forgiveness and trusting in God.  While A Seat by the Hearth is the third book in An Amish Homestead series, it can be read alone.  Personally, I have enjoyed the journey with the Riehl family in each new book, and I am glad that I read them in order.  I started A Seat by the Hearth and finished it within three hours.  Amy Clipston has an appealing writing style.  It is like Amy is sitting in a chair by the fire and telling us a story.   A Seat by the Hearth is an engaging and emotional novel with heartwarming characters. 

A Seat by the Hearth will be out tomorrow, November 12. The first two book in An Amish Homestead Novel series are A Place at Our Table and Room on the Porch Swing.  I appreciate you visiting today and reading my review.  Tomorrow I will return to feature Death and Daisies by Amanda Flower.  The second book in A Magic Garden Mystery series.  I hope you have a very special day and have found a new book to read.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

A Place at Our Table: An Amish Homestead Novel

Welcome!  I appreciate you visiting today.  X Marks the Scot by Kaitlyn Dunnett will be published on November 28.  It is the eleventh book in A Liss MacCrimmon Mystery series. If you are looking for a new science fiction story, check out Prism by Nina Walker.

A Place at Our Table by Amy Clipston is the first An Amish Homestead Novel.  Kayla Dienner lives in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania with her family.  They are awakened in the middle of the night when lightning strikes their barn setting it on fire.  James Riehl is one of the volunteer firefighters who responds and he is smitten with Kayla.  Kayla, though, does not appreciate James encouraging her younger brother, Nathan in signing up for volunteer firefighting training.  The Dienner family lost their oldest son, Simeon while he was serving as a volunteer.  Kayla is attracted to James, but she is not sure she is willing to risk her heart again.  After several chance encounters, James starts to court Kayla.  Then a tragic accident happens upsetting James and his plans for his future.  Kayla becomes frustrated and pushes James away.  Is there a chance for these two to have their happily-ever-after? 

A Place at Our Table is well-written and has a good pace.  I thought the characters were well-constructed and realistic.  I was immediately drawn into the story and it held my attention until the very last page.  There is heartache, love, grief, anger, forgiveness, grace, fear, guilt and regret in A Place at Our Table.  I also appreciated the messages regarding God’s will, power of prayer, and His has plans for each of us.  It is lovely to see how an Amish community comes together to help their neighbors.  It is a shame there is not more of this in our world.  I enjoyed the Amish volunteer firefighter angle.  This is my first Amish novel with this theme (very unique).  A Place at Our Table is a heartwarming as well as heartbreaking story.  I look forward to reading the next An Amish Homestead Novel (Room on the Porch Swing) when it comes out in the spring.  Amy Clipston will be hosting a Facebook chat party tonight at 8 p.m. celebrating the release of A Place at Our Table.

May each of you have a marvelous day.  I will return tomorrow with my evaluation of Crazy Like a Fox by Rita Mae Brown.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader