Saturday, July 9, 2016

The Courtship Basket by Amy Cliptson (Review)



  • Series: An Amish Heirloom Novel
  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Zondervan (June 28, 2016)
  • ISBN-13: 978-0310342014

  • Years ago, a picnic basket brought two hearts together. For Rachel and Mike, history may be about to repeat itself.

    Rachel Fisher is devastated when the young man she’s loved for years leaves her to date her best friend. Her heart is broken, and she has all but given up on love. Determined to keep her mind off the pain, she starts teaching at an Amish school for children with learning disabilities.

    Since his father became ill, Mike Lantz has been overwhelmed with the responsibility of providing for his family and caring for his six-year-old brother, John. When John joins Rachel’s class and she learns that his mother is deceased and his father sick, she desperately wants to help the family, even with something as simple as a meal.

    With her parents’ old picnic basket, Rachel begins sending food to the Lantz family. As the weeks go by, John’s grades start to improve, and the attraction grows between Rachel and Mike. They can’t deny that their friendship is growing toward something more, but both of them are hesitant to risk a more serious relationship.

    The last thing Rachel wants is another heartbreak, and Mike is worried about providing for his loved ones. Will the two be able to reconcile their past hurts with new hope for the future?


    My Review:

    This is book two in the Amish Heirloom Series by Amy Clipston. It can stand alone although I wondered a few things that might have been answered in the first book. In this book the main story is focused on Rachel Fisher and Mike Lantz. They meet through the school for special children that Rachel starts working at after she is ditched by long time boyfriend for her best friend. Mike is trying to raise his younger brother, deal with his deathly ill dad, and run a business. His younger brother is having some issues so he moves him the special school for more attention. His first week at the new school does not go very well. Teacher Rachel broke some rules her first week by contacting Mike over the phone and in person about it. It did not go good so to make up for it she starts sending meals home with John in a basket she found at her house. She did not know it held special meaning for her parents. The way to man's heart is through his stomach is sometimes an accurate saying. Rachel ends up coming to Mike's house on Saturdays to tutor John. The whole family comes to love her. Rachel and Mike are attracted to each other but they have issues that keep getting in the way. Mike's family situation  and Rachel's past bad heartache. The book held my attention and overall I enjoyed reading it. I got mad at Rachel a few times and wanted to shake some sense into her. The ending was sad but satisfying. This was a nice Amish romance story. I look forward to reading Rachel's younger sister's story in the next book in the series. Recommended.






    Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy 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, two sons, and three spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at amyclipston.com Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks Twitter: @AmyClipston


    Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

    All Summer Long by Melody Carlson (Review)



  • Series: Follow Your Heart (Book 2)
  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Revell (June 7, 2016)
  • ISBN-13: 978-0800723583



  • Tia D'Amico is thrilled to move to San Francisco to help her aunt transform an old luxury yacht into an upscale floating restaurant. What's not to love? Sunset dinner cruises, upscale wedding receptions--the possibilities are endless and far more appetizing than staying in a monotonous job in her Podunk hometown. Besides, some of her best memories are tied to San Francisco--especially the memory of Leo Parker, her crush from a long-ago sailing camp.

    When the self same Leo Parker turns out to be the yacht's captain, Tia is floating on air. But will it all come crashing down around her when she discovers his heart belongs to someone else?

    Get ready for a romantic summer in San Francisco, where the future glistens brighter than the bay at sunset.

    My Review:

    I enjoyed reading this light contemporary romance book. I read it at the beach on vacation and it fits the description of summer reading. I was a little on edge because the romance between Tia and Leo was awesome but he was still engaged to the girl who was so wrong for him. I was like please let it work out for them. It was hilarious that Tia ended up being a good friend to the girl. Tia has a good heart and feels bad for her since she does not seem to have any friends. Tia did not actively try to steal her finance. I did feel bad for the fiancée but I rooted for Tia and Leo too. The book held my attention from beginning to end. The ending was great. It is an Christian fiction book although the spiritual part is not overdone. Recommended.





    Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than 6.5 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and the contemporary romance Once Upon a Summertime. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.


    Review copy provided by Revell in exchange for an honest review

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