A wonderful book! I loved the setting and the characters. It was like parting with friends when the book ended. ( )

In this third book of the series, author Amy Clipston deals with the difficult subject of abuse, both mental and physical. Priscilla left her Amish home because of her unkind and mentally abusive father, only to enter into a physically abusive relationship with an Englisher. Now she has returned to her childhood home with her son, and is rejoining the Amish community. The author writes a compelling story, telling how Priscilla reacts to abuse, how she protects her son from the abuse, and how she finally finds the strength and courage to confront those who have hurt her. This difficult subject is handled well. The story is well balanced in all aspects, including religion and romance. The characters are interesting and well developed, and come alive on the page, and the plot is intriguing. It’s a well written book and series, and I highly recommend it. ( )

This is one of those books where the main characters are blind to what's going on and you spend a good portion of the book yelling at them to open their eyes. As usual with every Amish romance I've ever read, things work out and there's a happily ever after.



*free ARC from netgalley ( )

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. ( )

An enjoyable read from beginning to end, and kept me page turning. The author gives us a woman that leaves and abusive home and ends up in another, and to make it more interesting she is Amish.
When she returns to the Amish she comes with her sweet six-year-old son Ethan, and what a joy he is.
I loved how the situation with the violent boyfriend was resolved, and never saw it coming.
Now this is the third book in this series, and loved being back with old friends, but this book can stand alone.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )