Another good read by Amy. ( )

Author: Amy Clipston
Published By: Zondervan
Age Recommended: Pre-Teen
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
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Review:
"A Reckless Heart" by Amy Clipston was wonderful interesting read. There will be illness, misunderstandings, sadness, lots of conflict, faith, family, loyalty and love. The glossary at the front of the book with all of the Amish phrases was real good add giving you the definitions of many of the hard pronounced words.

The novel is set from a modern day Amish community with the oldest of four (Lydia) children has the a lots of responsibilities put on her due to the fact of a illness of a younger sister battling leukemia. Their mother has to leave to take care of the younger child, Ruthie who is in hospital and the father has to who works overtime and still has a finance problems. Lydia who is sixteen year old wants to date and be with her friends but this is not to be and this has made her very unhappy. It seemed that all is falling on Lydia...but was it? There was help from family and Amish friends. I really enjoyed seeing how this community came in with their assistance, however, Lydia felt that it was all on her so she gets into many situations that really she should not have by not listening and obeying the rules ....of her father and even the Amish church which was to obey and respect. Many things come upon Lydia....her drank with Mahlon and his friends where she lied to save her friendship...then meeting the English boy(Tristan) whose family had moved recently into the community..however, was she supposed to be alone with him? Yes, you can see that this was a difficult time for Lydia but sometimes I wondered if she caused some of this because...well, I will stop and just say you must pick
up the excellent read that this author did with "A Reckless Heart" to see how this story will turn out for Lydia .... her reputation, sister, family and future who was only yearning for the 'normal' life Lydia once had. Will she get it back? Will she be able to face these challenges?

This was be a new read for a lot of us ...being Amish, different...and coming to us from a young Amish view. Being a teachers' assistant and also working the other times in her grandmothers bakery.. now having to take care of two younger siblings and the home...and even giving the family her money... Lydia earns to help her family... Wow! that was a lots for Lydia...Will she be able to handle all of this and what about her friendship with Joshua?

The characters were for the most part very realistic and intriguing. I was kept turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.

This was a excellent christian novel that has a glossary in the front of the read and Amish recipes at the end. Oh! I really like the pray chains that were so active in the read. OK, yes I enjoyed the read and learned a lot so..... I would recommend "A Reckless Heart" to any Preteen...YA.... and even Adult ....Enjoy! ( )

I received an advance copy of A Reckless Heart by Amy Clipson. The book is set in a modern day Amish community. Lydia is the oldest of four children in her family. She has many responsibilities thrust on her young shoulders when her youngest sister becomes ill. Her mother is consumed in taking care of the youngest child and Lydia is expected to step up and take on her mother’s responsibilities in addition to her own job as a teacher’s assistant and part-time baker in her grandmother’s bakery. Overwhelmed by the tasks expected of her she begins to struggle under the pressure. After
the Amish boy she likes stops pursuing her Lydia meets and befriends an English boy whose family has recently moved into the community. Their relationship is innocent but this doesn’t prevent Lydia from being put under the scrutiny of her father. I felt that she was judged unfairly by her father. I found myself resenting the discipline her father gave her.

This is a good read and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Review:Reckless Heart by Amy Clipston
5 STARS I gave Reckless Heart 5 stars because it made me envolved in the story so much. I cried in it. I wanted to say things back to the characters. I was so Lydia Bontrager side except for one thing. Lydia Bontrager was 16 and wanted to be like other teens in her church. She was hoping that her good friend Josh would ask her to go on dates. She worked as a teacher assistant and in her families bakery. Her little sister was really ill and she was concerned and worried so much. One evening at her youth group her best friend and her cousin Amanda was not thier. neither was her neighbor and crush Josh thier. She was lonely and worried. When Mahlon Ebersol invited her to come join him and some friends into the barn with him. Lydia went and they got her drunk. She knew it was wrong and vowed not to do it. Her little sister Ruthie was diagnosed with cancer and had to go to bigger hospital. Her mom and grandma will also go to be with her. Lydia now had too still work her two jobs and give her father both paychecks to help the family pay bills. He would work extra long if he could. Lydia had two take care of her other two siblings and the house. Lydia agreed to help. She cooked breakfast, made sure her brother & sister were ready for school and come straight home to cook and clean. Her church neighbors helped her with some cleaning and meals. No one really appreciated how much stress she was under. How tired she was from all the extra jobs she was dealing with. She had new nieghbors and met the cute 4 year old and her puppy. When her older brother came to get her she met Tristian. Who was easy to talk to. The next day the three Bontrager childen took box of bakery items to welcome them to the nieghbor hood. Tristian was a new friend he told her about school, his girl friend and family. Lydia told him about her sister illness. Lydia kept getting lectures about her friendship with a english. Mahlon was always flirting with her at church and she was not interested in going to drink with him after the first time. Her friends told her that Josh was interested in another girl at youth meetings. Lydia had a lot of trials. She tried to do all her family wanted her to be. She kept praying. I read last night till I could not keep my eyes opened and finshed first thing this morning. This is my first book of the series I have read but not the last. I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley. Thier are no warnings about reading this book except you might want some kleenex in case you need them. I did! 05/01/2012 PUB Zondervan ( )

I truly fell that his it a good read. You learn about Lydia youngest sister Ruthie and Lydia struggles. You may to start crying while reading this book. I now I did. I felt like i was a part of the story myself. We also meet the Kauffman's Family.

We meet some of the Kauffman Family member from the Kauffman's Amish Bakery series. This story is about the Elizabeth and Eli granddaughter Lydia Bontrager.

Lydia starts out with being stressed out about her little sister illness. She makes several mistakes and she starts to understand a bit. Her parents are stressed out as well about their youngest daughter and what she might have.

Lydia works two jobs. One is at her grandmothers bakery, the other is as teacher assistant to the Amish Primary School in her district. You will have to read to find out what happens to her and if she get her dream and what job she chooses for full time. I do recommend this book all readers young and old. This book can stand along a bit. Though if you want to get to know the rest of the Kauffman's Family I suggest that you read the "Kauffman's Amish Bakery" series. ( )