I purchased this book myself. I am a huge fan of Amy’s Amish books and have been a part of her advanced reader team too.

Like catching up with an old friend, Amy Clipston’s The Coffee Corner brings the ongoing story of Amish cousins in the Amish Marketplace. This story begins with the wedding of Salina Petersheim, the young woman who runs the vegetable stand at the Amish marketplace. Her attendant and cousin, Bethany Gingerich, wonders if she will ever have the chance to sit in front of the congregation and marry. Could God truly have someone special for her? Bethany has noticed one young man in church and at the marketplace but is unsure whether he could be interested in her. Micah Zook, who works with his grandfather building custom made outdoor furniture has captured Bethany’s interest..

Micah has endured so much turmoil and heartache. His fiancée died before their wedding taking all of his hopes and dreams with her. His relationship with his father is tense and anger filled. He has moved away from home to work with his grandfather, hoping to escape all his bad memories. He notices Bethany at church and enjoys chatting with her as he and his grandfather pick up their weekly treat of coffee and donuts. Only time will tell whether he can leave his past and chart and new, bright future.

As with all of Amy’s Amish stories, this story is tender, loving and exemplary of Amish beliefs. Community and family are the most important parts of life. The community pulls together, helping each other in times of need. Talking through your problems is the way to see a solution. Salina and Micah learn that discussion and guidance from elders is valuable and do not take it lightly.

Reading about kindness in the Amish community is a balm to your soul. The Amish are not without problems but the manner in which they solve them is unique. Amy Clipston does an excellent job explaining customs and beliefs so that the reader doesn’t feel like an outsider. In fact, reading these books entices you to discover more about the Amish and their “gentle” way of life. In our wild and crazy world, reading “The Coffee Corner” gives you just the break

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Additional Thoughts: I first read my first Amy Clipston book as a giveaway from Zondervan. Growing up in Kansas, our Amish community in Yoder was something you passed through on the way to the state fair in Hutchinson. I had learned about the Amish religion in school but never really gave it much thought. It was common to see Amish people at the state fair and their bake stand had delicious cinnamon rolls. Reading this book I learned about their beliefs and so much more.

I had never written to an author before but in the back of the book Amy included her email address. So I decided to go out on a limb, try not to seem like a stalker but let her know how much I enjoyed her book. To my shock and amazement, she wrote back. She did care about her readers and told me so. I have been a fan from that moment forward. There are now many other authors that I have the opportunity to communicate with. Each and every time, my heart is touched that they truly care about our opinions. As a reader, I have huge appreciation for the authors and all that they go through to get their story told. If you are reading this and haven’t had a chance to read any Amish fiction, do so. The inherent kindness of the Amish is wonderful and stays with you.