A Promise of Hope

This is an author I am enjoying very much. She writes in a way that you feel you are reading about real people, with problems, heartaches, anger and great love to give. I just wanted to keep reading without stopping because I was enjoying myself so much. I have read many Amish stories, but this series is one of the best I have read in a long time. I highly recommend you read the stories in the order they are written because book two picked up where book one left off.

Sarah Troyer tragically loses her husband in a fire, while she is expecting twins. She is grieving her loss, living with her parents in the Amish community in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. Sarah will be taken by surprise when a stranger shows up, claiming to be a relative of show more her dead husband Peter. But what has Sarah confused is that Peter told her he was an orphan with no family. Now Luke shows up and tells her something different. Sarah discovers even more hidden secrets of her deceased husband and she is grieved even more; did she truly know her husband? Luke is Peter's brother and is grieving as well, but is afraid to share everything with Sarah to protect her and her unborn babies.

There is nothing good that can come from deceit and not telling the whole truth. Sarah was hurt badly by Peter and then by Luke. Both of these men loved Sarah, but Sarah is not sure she could ever trust Luke after Peter's betrayal. Sarah's Mom is a wise woman and I appreciated all her helpful advice and verses she shared with her daughter. One such time that stood out to be was this one: "Sarah Rose, you must remember the words of the Bible. In Luke 6:37 we read, 'Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.'". . . . "Peter was wrong; he never should've kept this secrets from you. But he was human just like you and me. You must forgive him. He's not here to defend himself. We can only assume he did it to protect you". Forgiveness is hard and being deceitful is a sin, but Sarah will have to learn that forgiveness is what can free her to love again. Growing bitter will never lead to happiness. I appreciated how the author dealt with all the plots in this story, and there were several, and how she always seems to end her stories with a clue to who the next book will be about. Well done. show less

Sally Troyer's husband has died in a tragic accident and Sally, pregnant with twins, moves back to her parent's home. When a stranger arrives claiming to be related to her husband, Sally is taken by surprise. Should she believe the stranger or the man she loved and married? Peter, her husband, told her he was an orphan with no family. The stranger, Luke, tells Sally many disturbing things about Peter's former life, leaving Sally to believe she never really knew the man she married. Sally must figure out who has lied to her, as well as come to terms with her husband's death.

The second book in this series does not live up to the debut novel. The main chararacters are not as engaging as they are in the first book, and the storyline is not as gripping. In the first book, Sarah lost her husband Peter in a fire at the furniture shop, and in this book, she discovers that he was not the man she thought he was. The secrets are slowly, ever so slowly, disclosed, and she finally has some closure. The reader will guess how the story will end pretty much from the beginning, and though it is not a bad ending, the way to it was somewhat tedious and plodding. Not a bad read, but not as entertaining as the first book.

The author did a MUCH better job in this book of not repeating as much. I enjoyed the book and loved how she moved to a different member of the family...This one was about the youngest of the Kauffman children who was pregnant when she unexpectedly lost her husband. I really felt for her and her journey to mourn the loss of her husband and deal with the birth.

Sarah was married to Peter Troyer and was expecting a child. Her husband worked at the Kauffman and Yodler Furniture store. There as an terrible fire at the furniture store and Peter died in it. Sarah is grieving for her husband and moves back in to her parents home. Her parents are trying to love and support their grieving daughter.She find out later that she is expecting twins and she is still sad for they will not know their dad.

Luke Troyer is shocked to find out that his family member is dead, and that he was still Amish, and that he had a family. Even more dismaying to Luke is the jealousy he feels because Peter had this wonderful family. He finds himself very attracted to Peter's widow, and is sure that is not a good thing, but he show more just cannot deny that attraction.
A wonderful story of how good can come from the ashes of sorrow and pain. Each book in this series just has you longing for the next one. show less

I read Amy Clipston's first book in the Kauffman Amish Bakery,A Gift of Grace: A Novel (Kauffman Amish Bakery Series) and loved it. This one is just as good, I love to read about the Amish and Amy Clipston has a way with her books that make us understand them.

Set in Bird-In-Hand, PA, the main character, Sarah, is expecting her first boppi while she is grieving over the loss of her husband in a fire. Sarah moves back in with her parents who are trying their best to love and support their grieving daughter, reassuring her that her people will help her and her bopplin. Sarah is overwhelmed with sadness and grief . While working in the family bakery she meets a man who has come to Bird-In-Hand to learn more about her husband's death. This show more man, Luke, claims to be a relative. She soon finds out that she is caring twins and she just can't understand why God had to take Peter from her and the babies she is expecting. She has a friend that she talks too that had lost his wife so he understands her feelings. Will she fall in love with Norman the widower or can she love again?
Sarah learns many things, some troubling, about her husband's past that she never knew, but she also learns quite a bit about herself. You will laugh and cry with all the characters, they will become like family to you.

This book was sent to me by Zondervan publishers to review. show less

Sarah was married to Peter Troyer and was expecting a child. Her husband worked at the Kauffman and Yodler Furniture store. There as an terrible fire at the furniture store and Peter died in it. Sarah is grieving for her husband and moves back in to her parents home. Her parents are trying to love and support their grieving daughter.She find out later that she is expecting twins and she is still sad for they will not know their dad.

Luke Troyer is shocked to find out that his family member is dead, and that he was still Amish, and that he had a family. Even more dismaying to Luke is the jealousy he feels because Peter had this wonderful family. He finds himself very attracted to Peter's widow, and is sure that is not a good thing, but he show more just cannot deny that attraction.
A wonderful story of how good can come from the ashes of sorrow and pain. Each book in this series just has you longing for the next one. show less