Review + GIVEAWAY: A Place at Our Table

A Place at Our Table
By Amy Clipston
Amish Homestead #1
Zondervan, 2017


Summary

Kayla Dienner has suffered her fair share of heartache, which is why she vows to protect her heart at all costs . . . until she meets Jamie Riehl.

Along with his volunteer work at the local fire department, running his Amish farm keeps Jamie Riehl busy. He barely has time to eat at the family table, never mind find someone to date. But when he meets Kayla Dienner, he is smitten.

Kayla tries hard to deny her attraction to Jamie. After all, she’s spent the last year discouraging her younger brother, Nathan, from becoming a firefighter. The death of their older brother in a fire a year ago is fresh in her mind—she can’t bear the idea of putting her heart on the line every time the sirens blare.

Then tragedy strikes, and Jamie wants to extinguish any flame between him and Kayla. Can Kayla set aside her own fears to save the love she was determined to deny?

The first book in the Amish Homestead series, A Place at Our Table invites us to a quiet community in Lancaster County where love burns brightly no matter the cost.


My thoughts

A Place at Our Table begins a new series that not only entertains, but tugs at the heart. It embodies all that I love about Amish fiction – family, community, hard work ethic, love, respect. And the story introduces two families who, as in real life, struggle with unimaginable loss while coping in different ways, and I felt an instant connection with them. The “table” conveys such an important theme for all families, one of welcome and hospitality, and my mind was drawn back to treasured memories of my own family dinner table when I was growing up.

Characterization is important to me in any book that I pick up to read – and when it comes to this aspect of Amy Clipston’s writing, the terms authentic and realistic instantly come to mind. Readers will always find a well-crafted story in an Amish community setting, with characters who could very well live in your neighborhood and face similar struggles.

Grief is a major theme, but it is the grief with hope that believers are assured of. I had no trouble identifying with Kayla and Jamie, for in their coping mechanisms for dealing with great loss, I could see my own various ways over the years. Their romance is tender and sweet, albeit with misunderstandings caused by insecurities and questions of loyalty.

Something new and fresh that I especially enjoyed was learning about Amish firefighters. These dedicated men are indeed deserving of honor. I also appreciated Clipston’s ability to pull my emotions in two different directions, for I understood both Jamie’s drive and determination, as well as Kayla’s fear and reluctance, especially with her brother’s desire to train.

A Place at Our Table comes to a satisfying conclusion that left me eager to spend more time with Jamie, Kayla, and their respective families. Highly recommended to all who enjoy Amish fiction.

I was provided a copy of this book from the author and Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and three spoiled rotten cats.

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GIVEAWAY

Amy has graciously offered to give a copy of A Place at Our Table to one of you. To enter the drawing, please click on this link and share my Facebook post, then leave a comment here to let me know that you shared. And if you’re familiar with Amy’s books and have a favorite story or series, I’d love to know your thoughts.

BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on Wednesday, January 3. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Eligibility: US residents