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.
Product Details
- ISBN-13: 9780310319986
- Publisher: Zondervan
- Publication date: 6/7/2013
- Series: Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel Series , #1
- Pages: 304
Amy Clipston holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, and two sons and four spoiled rotten cats.
Website: http://www.amyclipston.com/
My Thoughts:
Hannah Glick stays busy raising her children, working as housekeeper at Lancaster Grand Hotel and not to forget chores on the farm. Her deceased husband and his brother, Josiah Glick had gone into business together leaving Josiah to run the business with Hannah. There seems to never be enough hours in a day for Hannah. Josiah tries to make her burdens lighter which is no burden to him for he has loved Hannah since before she even fell in love with his brother. Hannah is somewhat aware of his feelings but does not feel the same type of love for Josiah. To her he is a good friend and family.
While working at the hotel she meets a guest, Trey Peterson and finds herself becoming attracted to him. It was very easy to talk with him since they both had lost a spouse. He also has the same dream as she, which is to start a Bed and Breakfast in town. Hannah was warned to guard her heart because he was English. She even invites him to her home for a meal which makes Josiah jealous and her deceased husband's mother very angry with Hannah. Her children seem to be divided in their opinion of their mother's new friend. This concerns her because she finally feels as if her heart is healing.
The author writes about the struggles of healing and starting anew after the loss of a spouse. She shows how it touches the children and the loved one's parents and sibling. Then she kicks it up a by having the widow befriend an Englisher. It's like she turned a fox loose in the hen house. This story keeps you guessing from one chapter to the next. I for one did not want to put the book down. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad with the ending. Probably a little of both.
I highly recommend this book.
I rated this book a 5 out of 5.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Zondervan/Booksneeze for review was in no way to compensate for this review.
