Reviews for A Promise of Hope

Leslie L. McKee from Romantic Times Review

Romantic Times, May 2010
A PROMISE OF HOPE
By Amy Clipston
4 stars (Compelling—page turner)
www.rtbookreviews.com

Authentic characters, delectable recipes and faith abound in Clipston's second Kauffman Amish Bakery story. While betrayals and regaining trust in those closest to you are central themes, the importance of family is also evident.

Summary: After her husband Peter dies in a fire, Sarah Troyer must raise their infant twins alone. Her family believes she will marry again and Norman Zook, a widowed father, seems an obvious choice. Then Peter's brother Luke, a man she never knew existed, shows up and tells her about another side to Peter. Sarah is forced to question everything she believed to be true.

Tracy from RelzReviewz.blogspot.com

I was completed delighted to again visit with the Kauffman family in the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series' second installment by Amy Clipston. "A Promise of Hope" is yet another fine example of Amy's engaging and tender style of storytelling.

In this second book, the focus shifts from Rebecca Kauffman to her youngest sister, Sarah Rose. Sarah has already had to endure more than her fair share of heartache and tragedy. Amy's portrayal of her grief and attempt to rebuild her life is infused with poignancy and counterbalanced with deep faith. The layers of grief that Sarah endures as she learns of her late husband's past highlight her strength of character. I found Sarah to be an inspiring young woman whose desire to step forward despite the heartbreak in her life brings a hopefulness we often choose to ignore in the reality of our difficulties.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Luke and Sarah begin to blossom. The tender new growth that begins is soon overwhelmed by the revelation of who Luke really is and the secrets he has hidden from Sarah. I found the depiction of their relationship frustratingly real! Both are happier to settle for half truths and assumptions than to actually talk and confront the issues that must be addressed. How true that is for many of us who would rather avoid confrontation at all costs.

Once again, Amy has included a handful of recipes throughout this book and I am looking forward to trying a few of them myself. I can't wait to see what 'A Place of Peace' (book 3) will bring.

Barbara from BarbaraJRobinson.blogspot.com

A Promise of Hope by Amy Clipston: A Promise of Hope for Sarah & Luke's Love Story

A Promise of Hope by Amy Clipston, copyright 2010, published by Zondervan, is twenty-seven chapters of promise with an epilogue and discussion questions. Hope for Luke and Sarah will keep you turning the pages… I became so involved in Luke and Sarah's story that I didn't want to put the novel down until finished. While Amish fiction is not my usual dose, since I love romantic suspense, this book is a worthy read, and I found it engaging.

It's an excellent read and may be purchased online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. It's available as a paperback, hardcover, or ebook for the Kindle or Nook. The author is an American Christian Fiction Writer (ACFW) and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two sons.