Reviews for A Place of Peace

Genre City Review: A Place of Peace

By Laura Hilton

Five years ago, a heartbroken Miriam Lapp fled her Amish community. She’d just found out that her boyfriend, Timothy Kauffman, had been cheating on her and the baby she watched during the day died of SIDS—a death the community blamed on her.

Now Miriam receives news her mom has died. She goes home for the funeral, but her dad makes it clear she’s not welcome. Not only that, Miriam finds out that Timothy has moved on and asked another girl to marry him.

Timothy Kauffman pined over Miriam for five years, believing that she’d been cheating on him. Now she’s home, and he’s determined to put her behind him, once and for all. But how can he do that when the past has so many unanswered questions? And what if the answers aren’t what he wants to hear?

A Place of Peace is the third book in Clipston’s Kauffman Amish Bakery Series. It stands alone, but refers to earlier books in the series. I enjoyed reading Miriam and Timothy’s story, but felt bad about the misunderstandings that keep them apart and the judgments that come down mostly on Miriam’s head. I sympathized with them and hoped they’d be able to move past their history and find a future together.

Some yummy-sounding recipes and discussion questions are included at the end of the book. If you are looking for a great new Amish fiction, pick up A Place of Peace.

Angie Howatt from Romantic Times Review

Romantic Times, October 2010
A PLACE OF PEACE
Amy Clipston

A Place of Peace 4 stars compelling, page turner

This is the third book in the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. Readers who haven't read the previous two books may be confused as characters' histories are not really explained. The love between Timothy and Miriam is apparent from the first time they see each other again. The author adheres to the old Plain traditions, both in relationships and the way of life for the Amish community. This is an entertaining story of Amish life, loss, love and family.

SUMMARY: When a heartbreaking accident happens in Miriam Lapp's Amish community, she blames herself and leaves for a new life. Four years later she gets a call that her mother has died and rushes back. Miriam mourns her mom, as well as the life she left behind -- which includes her one true love, Timothy Kauffman. Can your first love ever be forgotten, and can sins of the past really be forgiven?

Publisher's Weekly

Publisher's Weekly
A PLACE OF PEACE
By Amy Clipston

Publisher's Weekly

Clipston wraps up the Kauffman Amish Bakery series with a tale of Amish star-crossed lovers Timothy Kauffman and Miriam Lapp. Miriam has left her Amish community, but returns when she receives news of her mother's death. There she must face her estrangement from her family because of a painful incident in the past and the presence of Timothy, to whom she was once engaged and whom she still loves, and who is now involved with someone else. A complicated web of relationships, tangled by lies, reticence, and indirection, is slowly resolved as the story unfolds. Clipston's narrative drags repetitively around the lovers—how many times can Timothy raise his eyebrows in surprise and eat Miriam's crumbly peach pie?—and misses chances for conveying greater emotion in central family relationships. Yes, there are recipes for baked goods, a tasty addition. A mitteling addition to the Amish romance shelf. (Dec. 2010)

Angie from EncourageChristianReaders.blogspot.com

A Place of Peace by Amy Clipston is the third book in the Kauffman Bakery Series. Miriam is forced to return to her Amish Community and deal with grief, rejection, and the lost of her fiancé after four years of living in Indiana. Miriam's faith is tested when she is forced to face the people she was rejected and shunned by. Although she tries to communicate with her father and siblings, Miriam is rejected once again and she runs back to Indiana. Many times communication is the number one problem in relationships. Miriam is the victim in the story of jealousy, misunderstandings, and lies. When her father has a stroke she is forced to return to the Amish Community once again. Miriam's world is falling apart and which leads her to question her place in the Amish community and her relationship with God.

RedLilyCafe.blogspot.com

A wonderful story full of Amish culture and sprinkled with just the right amount of Pennsylvania Dutch to keep the storyline authentic. I also appreciate that author's inclusion of a few recipes mentioned in this story, most importantly the one I was hoping for – Crumbly Peach Pie! (Thank you Amy!)

Third title in the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, A Place of Peace is sure to please fans of Amish fiction and author Amy Clipston.

Molly from Reviews by Molly

Another fabulously written addition to the Kauffman Amish Bakery novels by Amy Clipston! I was super glad to have had the chance to review these novels in this series. They are about the plain and simple Amish, but they are packed full of BIG, complex lessons of God's never ending love and guidance.

Once again, we are taken to Pennsylvania Amish country through Amy's words and research. This particular addition to the series is my favorite. It just settled into my heart and pulled me straight into the story. We get to see lots of the fun loving characters from the first two novels, along with some new ones. I really felt a connection to Miriam as she questioned things in her life. I have often found myself doing just what she did as she asked the questions, and I found, like Miriam, at times that it was hard to rely on Faith alone. But, through lots of prayer and understanding, God's love shines through Miriam and flows straight to the readers souls.

Once again, I give Amy's book no less than 5 stars and the highest of recommendation. If you are new to Amy's books, never fear....this, as with the other two, are good as stand alone titles as well, but, as always, I highly recommend that you read these fabulous books in order. I am looking forward to more work from Amy (hmmm...possibly another Kauffman additional???? Hint, hint, Amy ;-)!) in the future! Hats off, to a WONDERFULLY amazing author!

Tracy from RelzReviewz.blogspot.com

Amy Clipston's refreshing Kauffman Amish Bakery Series continues with 'A Place of Peace', the series third installment.

I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with the Kauffman family and their community. As always, Amy's refreshing take on Amish fiction provides the perfect stage for a novel written from the point of view of a young woman who has lived in the English world. Miriam's struggle to fit into the English world rang true for me, as she goes through the motions after having to set aside lofty dreams. As she is called home, I appreciated her willingness to keep trying to make things right with her family despite the heartbreaking opposition she faces.

As well as strong, well-developed characters and an engaging plot, 'A Place of Peace' is sprinkled throughout with temptingly delicious-looking recipes inspired by the Kauffman bakery. My "To Do" list surely contains a note to test a recipe or two in the very near future. Walnut Kisses and Apple Butter Pie have my mouth watering for a taste! 'A Place of Peace' certainly contains all the high quality ingredients for a satisfying and fulfilling journey with Miriam and her family. '