A Season of Love (Kauffman Amish Bakery Series)

Monday, July 9, 2012
A Season of Love by Amy Clipston, c2012
Announcing the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series!
I will be reviewing Book 5, the final book in this series. Here is an overview:

In Book 1, A Gift of Grace ~*~ Rebecca Kauffman longs to fulfill her quiet Old Order Amish life by giving her husband Daniel a child, but for years she has been unable to conceive. When her older sister, Grace, who left the Amish community for the modern world, dies in an automobile accident, Rebecca is left custody of her two teenage nieces, Jessica and Lindsay. Now Rebecca wonders how she is going to take on this daunting task of being an Amish woman raising two English teenagers.

In Book 2, A Promise of Hope ~*~ an Amish widow with newborn twins discovers her deceased husband had disturbing secrets. As she tries to come to grips with the past, she considers a loveless marriage to ensure stability for her young family ... with her faith in God hanging in the balance.

In Book 3, A Place of Peace ~*~ Miriam Lapp returns to the Amish community she once belonged to when she hears of her mother's death. Amidst her grief and some painful lies from her past, she is forced to face the people who rejected her. Losing her once fiancé and being shunned by her father becomes an excruciating test of her faith. A Place of Peace is one story you won't soon forget.

In Book 4, A Life of Joy ~*~ eighteen-year-old Lindsay Bedford has reached a crossroads. Should she stay in the small Amish community she's known and loved for four years or return to the English life in her hometown in Virginia where her older sister is a college student? An extended visit to Virginia might just tip the scales as Lindsay reconnects with friends, joins a new church, works on her GED, and is pressured by her sister to stay and 'make something of herself.' Will Lindsay leave her aunt Rebecca and become English or settle in Bird-in-Hand and join the Amish church?

In Book 5, A Season of Love ~*~ the final book in the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, three young women are about to change their lives. Lizzie Anne and Samuel have decided to get married, and Lindsay is about to be baptized in the Amish faith and is courting Matthew. While Katie Kauffman is happy for her friends who seem to have settled their futures, she is also finding herself something of a fifth wheel. When Lindsay's sister Jessica returns to Bird-in-Hand, she finds that Jake Miller has moved on with his life. He lost hope that Jessica would ever be satisfied to settle in rural Pennsylvania and takes comfort in becoming close friends with Katie. However, it's not an easy road as Jake is Mennonite and Katie has just been baptized in the Amish faith. Her father forbids them to see each other, adamant that his daughter marry an Amish man. A Season of Love is filled with surprising twists that will grip you to the very last words. As the stories of your favorite Amish community draw to a close, join Lindsay, her friends, and all the people of Bird-In-Hand for one last volume.

Author's Note: The Making of A Season of Love
"A Season of Love was an emotional novel for me to write since it's the final book in my Kauffman Amish Bakery Series. I held back tears when I wrote the final chapter. However, it was fun to revisit all of my favorite characters once more, and I tied up all of the loose ends. I hope my readers will enjoy taking one last journey with the Kauffman family."

My Review:
This was the first book I have read by Amy Clipston. I found it to be mainly conversational, with the storyline bringing you into their daily lives. Join Katie Kauffman, granddaughter of the Bakery owner, Elizabeth, as she shares her feelings of anxiety. Her friends begin their future and she feels she doesn't fit in her present. She doesn't fully understand why her father is so against her friendship with Jake Miller, who is employed by her grandfather, Eli, to build new bakery shelving. Jake's mother left their community years earlier to marry Jake's father. Can Katie's father include this grandson of his father's business partner?

A Season of Love contains strong characters who strive to know their own minds, but possibly not each other's hearts. I found compassion in the grandparents, Eli and Elizabeth, that seemed to be lacking in their son, Robert, Katie's father. With the conversational writing, some material was repeated speaking to someone else. Katie's father was so close to the law of his beliefs to hinder him in his hearing of his family. Reading the earlier books would possibly give me insight into his character that I am missing here. There were tense moments and misunderstandings. Growth was evident as the story progressed in the interaction between characters.

Thank you to Zondervan Link to Lit for this review copy in exchange for my review in my own words.

Review: A Season of Love by Amy Clipstone
4 STARS I liked this book. Now I would like to read the other books that Amy Clipston has written. A Season of Love is the 5th and final book of the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series. In this book starts with Lizzie Anne and Samuel have decided to get married. Lindsey has decided that she does belong in the Amish church and she is going to be baptised. Katie Kauffman is feeling left out with her friends new life starting. None of the Amish guys are right for her. Katie runs into Jake Miller and enjoyed thier talk. Jake is a Mennonite and after Katie been baptised its not right for her to be alone with Jake. Jake and Katie's grandfather are building new cabinates for the Kauffman Amish bakery that Katie works in. Katie,Jake and a couple of the bakers are eating lunch together outside of the bakery. The next day Katie makes Jake something for lunch and her mother tells her she can't just make something for him. One after work Katie comes out from the closet and finds everyone has left work. They all travel together by hired car service. Jake offers her a ride home because its raining so hard. Katie is forbidden to talk to him. Her parents don;t believe that it wasn't an accident that she was left behind at work. Katie and Jake both watch each other and try to stay away because they know what happens if Katie gets in more trouble. Lindsey now that she is baptised a member of the Amish church dates Mathew. So both her friends are always talking about thier boyfriends. Katie is more alone then ever. The story lines are good. I wanted to shake Katies family sometimes. Other times I could see thier point. They had a lot of reciepes in the book as you go. That if I wanted to make them would have to search this ebook. I should have saved them. I like the book club questions in the back make me think of things that I did not pay attention to at the time. I don't think I could live without my electric appilances.phones or car. That would be hard to change. But is you feel thats what Heavenly Father is leading you then thats the path to take. Thier was bible verse to help the girls when they were facing hard times and talk of prayer helping. It fit the storyline. Thier is nothing that should offend anyone from reading this novel. I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley. 07/01/2012 PUB Zondervan 304 pages

Review: A Season of Love by Amy Clipston
Reviewed by Darin Godby

While A Season of Love is chock full of different characters, I especially liked the storyline of Katie and Jake. Katie looks deep within herself and determines that she desires to be a part of the Amish faith, so she seeks baptism. While Jake was raised by family who were Amish, his mother decided to leave that faith and he was raised to be a Mennonite. Jake worked around the Amish on a daily basis and soon took a liking to a young lady named Katie. However, Katie being Amish and Jake being Mennonite creates drama that could have Katie shunned not only from her family, but her church and community as well.

I enjoyed the way Amy Clipston writes about the various struggles that both Jake and Katie face. She gives us great insight into their internal warfare as they desire to be with each other but know they can't because of their beliefs.

There are several times when Katie's father is very harsh and non-forgiving because he views his daughter as disobedient and disrespectful. Once, when Katie was walking along the street, several men began to attack her, and it was Jake who intervened and chased the men away. In despair and forgetting that it isn't allowed within her faith, Katie hugged Jake. She was seen by the bishop who reported the sighting to her father, later causing separation between Katie and her family.

I became really disgruntled with the father when I saw how close-minded he was. He was more concerned about his appearance to the bishop, church and community than he was to his own daughter and family. While this was easy to get frustrated about, it did leave me wondering about how often we make decisions based on how others will view us instead of considering what really matters in the long run.

A Season of Love takes several twists along the way, but, needless to say, it ends up with a bright and happy ending. This is a book that will keep you rooting for Jake and Katie and hoping that they will make the right decision. It is also a book that will challenge you to make sure that the decisions you make are made for the right reasons. I really enjoy reading the works of Amy Clipson and feel others will as well.

Darin Godby is an active reader, husband, father and soon to be author.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Zondervan. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received. ( )

I have followed the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series from the beginning of it's inception, and loved every minute of it, so I was excited to read this fifth and final volume of the series, 'A Season of Love''.

Amy Clipston is an amazing author who has a gift for weaving stories and making them come alive. This was another book that I couldn't put down!

'A Season of Love'' follows three best friends, Lizzie Anne, Katie and Lindsey in a final chapter of their lives.

We first met Lindsey in 'A Gift of Grace'' when Lindsey's aunt Rebecca suddenly finds herself the custodian of her sister's two 'English' children, Lindsey and Jessica, after an accident takes their parent's lives.

A Season of Love'' finds Lindsey four years later, ready to be baptized into the Amish faith, and courting Matthew.

Lizzie Anne is also moving on with her life, and is engaged to Katie's brother Samuel, and planning a quick wedding.

This leaves Katie feeling out of place, as the only one not moving on with her life.

But unexpectedly, she starts having feelings for a local Mennonite boy Jake Miller, who also begins to have feelings for her as well. This, of course, is strictly forbidden, and Katie's strict father is quick to put a stop to any further interactions between the two.

Still the growing feelings linger, and both are willing to take risks on their newly blossomed love. In the end, what will happen to this forbidden relationship?

'A Season of Love'' is a fulfilling conclusion to a wonderful series at the Kauffman Amish Bakery!

I received this book for free from NetGalley and Zondervan for this review. My opinions are my own.

While she is happy that her friends Lindsay and Lizzie Anne have found love, Katie Kauffman can't help but feel left out as she has yet to find true love. That seems to change as she grows closer to Jake Yoder while he is renovating the display cases at the Kauffman Amish Bakery. Jake seems to feel the same way about Katie but their love has a major problem - Katie is Amish, Jake is Mennonite and their love is forbidden. Will Katie and Jake have to sacrifice everything in order to follow God's path?

"A Season of Love", the fifth and final book in Amy Clipston's Kauffman Amish Bakery series and it is a fitting end to the series. Clipston's book is not just a romance novel but an insightful look into the Amish way of life including the sometimes harsh rules the Amish have to live by (Katie's father made me angry more than once). Clipston does an excellent job with Katie's character and she is a very believable character as she often feels like a fifth wheel when her friends find love and she doesn't (at least at first). Jake is also a good character - he is falling in love with Katie, doesn't want to hurt her, and wonders how they can have a future together. The romance between the two develops slowly but nicely and the anguish of a seemingly impossible future together is particularly well done. All of the other stories in the book are done nicely and while Clipston does a good job of wrapping up the series I still wouldn't mind finding out what happens to others in the book especially Jessica.

"A Season of Love" is an excellent novel of romance, struggles, faith, and hope.

Imagine, just imagine. Your best friends Lindsay and Lizzie Anne have found love, making plans for their futures and here you are left out! After years of close friendship, the girls are moving apart. Katie is feeling hurt and alone.

None of the boys in her Amish community hold any attraction for her.

Katie finds herself attracted to Jake, a young Mennonite man who works as a carpenter in her grandfather's business. Jake saves her when she is attacked by some young English rowdys and their feelings turn from friendship to much more.

When Katie's father, a very strict man, discovers they care for one another, he forbids the relationship, and Katie rebels. The relationship is further complicated when Lindsay's sister, Jessica, returns to visit at Christmas, hoping to rebuild her broken relationship with Jake.

How will Jake choose? Is his love for Katie strong enough to give her up?

Soon Katie is left with few remaining choices, will she choose family and her Amish community without Jake, will her father send her away or is there some way to cross the wide gap and find happiness?

Also included are some recipes that I am looking forward to trying.

I highly recommend this book. If you like Amish fiction, I am sure you will enjoy it!

I loved the Kaufman Amish Bakery Series by Amy Clipston. I love this series SO much that as soon as I receive a book I have read it in two short hours. It's the kind of read that I place myself in the book and I'm there.
Katie is the kind.of.heroine I understand. All my friends married waaay before I did and began having families while I was teaching children. So, I can relate to Katie's fears and anxieties. And then, there's the loneliness...when everyone is married and busy and you're still single...
Whether you're married or single, this is great Amish fiction!
I followed along from Book One. I love the simple life, the wonderful smells of the baking and cooking and the friendships in Bird-In-Hand, Pennsylvania.
This is Katie and Jake's story. Amish and Mennonite...when Katie vows at her church but Jake is actually Mennonite can they find love? Especially when Katie's daad is adamant that she and Jake NOT see each other. The trials and struggles! Learning to trust God in ALL circumstances!
Each of the books in Kaufman Amish Bakery Series is a stand alone read; however, it is beneficial though not necessary to read them as a series. Of course if you love Amish fiction and Amy Clipston's flowing way of writing you'll want to read them all!
*This book was provided for review by Zondervan*

Lindsay cuts her visit short, when news of Rebecca needed bed rest, till baby is born. Matthew picked her up, was he glad to see her, they had written a few letters. She is home to stay and be baptised now. She knows that this is the life she wants, and maybe marriage with Matthew, if he asks.Rebecca is delighted, that she has returned.

I enjoyed this final story in the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. By the time you read this far in a series, all the characters are familiar and feel like real people, flaws or virtues and all. I wanted to "catch up" with each family and see what was in store for them next. At times, Katie acted much younger than her age, but as sheltered as she is among the Amish community, maybe this is to be expected. Katie's parents bothered me with their hypocrisy, more concerned about their family's reputation than their daughter's needs, while the entire community knows Sadie is a vicious gossip and Robert's temper is out of control. Funny thing about the community in this book, they are super-involved in each other's lives, yet when Katie really needs someone to stand up for her, they all revert to "he's her father so there's nothing we can do." That is how abuse goes unchecked, and I would classify Robert as verbally abusive. Luckily, everything works out in the end. The plot lines were all tied up nicely by the end of the book, which leaves me feeling satisfied with the series as a whole.

Thanks to Zondervan Publishers, via NetGalley, for my review copy.

I took forever to read this book because the first hundred pages bored me to the point of almost giving up. It wasn't really bad writing, it was just your standard Amish families with their usual problems. Nothing new. But gradually, the three main characters, three best friends, began to get a little more interesting, and storylines started picking up. This book is the fifth and final in a series and it would really help to have read the others. The book can stand alone, but you'll like it a lot better, I think, if you've read the others. My problem wasn't helped by the fact that I did not like some of the characters and others had behavior I found to be odd. But, in spite of all that, once the book began to be more interesting, I really enjoyed it. I would have liked a slightly more detailed ending, but it was still a good ending. I also liked the recipes at the beginning of every chapter. And when it was all said and done, I was glad that I read all of it instead of giving up.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I love Amish fiction but this one isn't a favorite. I did enjoy reading the continuation of the characters Lindsay, Lizzie Anne, Katie, Jessica, Jake, and Samuel, plus others, but Katie's dad is a piece of work. Whether or not his hardness is actually closer to the Amish men or not, I don't know, but I didn't like reading the book where he was mentioned. He seemed to easily kick his daughter out of his house and shun her just for being around a Mennonite boy. Now, if they are really that strict that's fine, that's their choice, but I don't want to read about it. It was depressing.

My twelve year old daughter read the book first and she was disturbed at one of the scenes portrayed between Katie and some other men. I would recommend this book for older teens and adults but not for younger ones.

In this fifth and final novel of the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, when Katie's friends pair up with their future husbands she feels left out. When Jake Miller begins working on the cabinetry at the bakery, she is attracted, but realizes that since he cannot be more than a friend since he is not Amish. When Katie is attacked, Jake comes to her rescue, but appearances cause Katie's father to ground her, unfairly. Katie and Jake both feel the attraction, but the gap between Amish and Mennonite may be too far to bridge.

This is an interesting story, set in the Amish community, but showing that the Amish lifestyle is not as perfect as it may appear. This sweet romance has enough twists to make it a fun read. I would recommend it to all readers of Amish fiction, especially those that have enjoyed the previous books in the series and want to follow the story to completion.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

I enjoyed this final story in the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. By the time you read this far in a series, all the characters are familiar and feel like real people, flaws or virtues and all. I wanted to "catch up" with each family and see what was in store for them next. At times, Katie acted much younger than her age, but as sheltered as she is among the Amish community, maybe this is to be expected. Katie's parents bothered me with their hypocrisy, more concerned about their family's reputation than their daughter's needs, while the entire community knows Sadie is a vicious gossip and Robert's temper is out of control. Funny thing about the community in this book, they are super-involved in each other's lives, yet when Katie really needs someone to stand up for her, they all revert to "he's her father so there's nothing we can do." That is how abuse goes unchecked, and I would classify Robert as verbally abusive. Luckily, everything works out in the end. The plot lines were all tied up nicely by the end of the book, which leaves me feeling satisfied with the series as a whole.

Thanks to Zondervan Publishers, via NetGalley, for my review copy.

I took forever to read this book because the first hundred pages bored me to the point of almost giving up. It wasn't really bad writing, it was just your standard Amish families with their usual problems. Nothing new. But gradually, the three main characters, three best friends, began to get a little more interesting, and storylines started picking up. This book is the fifth and final in a series and it would really help to have read the others. The book can stand alone, but you'll like it a lot better, I think, if you've read the others. My problem wasn't helped by the fact that I did not like some of the characters and others had behavior I found to be odd. But, in spite of all that, once the book began to be more interesting, I really enjoyed it. I would have liked a slightly more detailed ending, but it was still a good ending. I also liked the recipes at the beginning of every chapter. And when it was all said and done, I was glad that I read all of it instead of giving up.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I love Amish fiction but this one isn't a favorite. I did enjoy reading the continuation of the characters Lindsay, Lizzie Anne, Katie, Jessica, Jake, and Samuel, plus others, but Katie's dad is a piece of work. Whether or not his hardness is actually closer to the Amish men or not, I don't know, but I didn't like reading the book where he was mentioned. He seemed to easily kick his daughter out of his house and shun her just for being around a Mennonite boy. Now, if they are really that strict that's fine, that's their choice, but I don't want to read about it. It was depressing.

My twelve year old daughter read the book first and she was disturbed at one of the scenes portrayed between Katie and some other men. I would recommend this book for older teens and adults but not for younger ones.

In this fifth and final novel of the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series, when Katie's friends pair up with their future husbands she feels left out. When Jake Miller begins working on the cabinetry at the bakery, she is attracted, but realizes that since he cannot be more than a friend since he is not Amish. When Katie is attacked, Jake comes to her rescue, but appearances cause Katie's father to ground her, unfairly. Katie and Jake both feel the attraction, but the gap between Amish and Mennonite may be too far to bridge.

This is an interesting story, set in the Amish community, but showing that the Amish lifestyle is not as perfect as it may appear. This sweet romance has enough twists to make it a fun read. I would recommend it to all readers of Amish fiction, especially those that have enjoyed the previous books in the series and want to follow the story to completion.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

I love Amy Clipston's novels and this series, "Kauffman Amish Bakery Series" was wonderful. This is the fifth and final novel in the series and Clipston ends it well, tied up with a pretty Christmas ribbon!

I won't go too deeply into details to spoil the novel for those who've read the first four and are looking forward to this final book. Suffice it to say, there are the conflicts and happy occasions involved, just enough to make a reader stay focused. I completed this novel in one day, it was so hard to put down! All through the novel, without being preachy, the message is that God will see us through our difficulties and we will triumph if we continue to follow His will for us.

I'm sad to see this series end; hopefully, Clipston will be starting up a new one soon!

Conflict and Commitment
Book Review for A Season of Love by Amy Clipston

"A Season of Love" is the fifth book in the Kauffman Amish Bakery series written by Amy Clipston. Your interest becomes captivated and absorbed within the happenings in Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania very easily. I became peaked and consumed very quickly into the story, it made me feel as if I were right there among the community.
The story is filled with various conflicts, emotions, romance and commitment. Life decisions are made but not until after conflict and deliberations are sought and obtained. The story focuses mainly on three young Amish females ready to embark on their futures. Lindsay, an Englisher niece of Daniel and Rebecca Kauffman; Lizzie Anne, who is best friends with Lindsay and Katie and dating Katie's brother Samuel Kauffman; and Katie Kauffman, niece to Daniel & Kauffman, who works at the Kauffman Bakery with her mammi and helps out when needed with Rebecca during her pregnancy.
Katie begins taking care of Rebecca during her pregnancy while Lindsay is away in Virginia Beach taking care of her Englisher Aunt Trisha. Rebecca has complication during her pregnancy and the doctor has ordered her on complete bed rest. Unable to get out of bed, she enlists the help of Katie to help care for the home and her children. While Katie becomes extremely concerned for Rebecca's well-being, she feels compelled to write and inform Lindsay of Rebecca's situation.
During the time in which Lindsay has been away, she has been contemplating whether she belonged in this English world or in the Amish world. Her mother was raised Amish but left the faith when she married her father. When her parents died Lindsay and her sister Jessica came to live with Daniel and Rebecca Kauffman. Their mother was Rebecca's sister and this was their mother's wish.
Lindsay enlists the help of Matthew Glick, a good friend from Bird in Hand to pick her up at the bus station and bring her home to surprise her Auntie and Onkel. Lindsay and Matthew later begin seeing each other.
With Lizzie Anne and Lindsay both having beaus, Katie begins to feel that her life is at a standstill while her best friends lives are moving forward. Katie has found any boy within their community which sparks her interest. The only boy that has even captured her interest is a Mennonite boy and he is forbidden to her.
To find out what decisions Lindsay, Lizzie Anne and Katie make regarding their future it is a must to read this book. What troubles will Lindsay have in respects to her decision whether to join the Amish faith or not? Will Katie find love and happiness? How do their problems affect Lizzie Anne? These are all things that you'll discover once you read "A Season of Love" by Amy Clipston.

Thanks goes to Amy Clipston and Zondervan for allowing me to review this book. No money has been received for this review only appreciation.

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A Season of Love (Kauffman Amish Bakery Series)
A Season of LoveA SEASON OF LOVE by Clipston, Amy (Author) on Jun-19-2012 Paperback

I really enjoyed reading this series and seeing how the characters evolved and grew up and came to their decisions. It was interesting to see how the two sisters embraced different ways of life, but were able to keep working things out.

This vdeo seems to capture the poignancy of graduations at Mt. Sierra College, with the students both properly humbled and excited about this accomplishment. There was a good representation of students, administrators, and faculty in the video with seemingly everyone getting a few seconds of glory. It made me proud and nostalgic at the same time. As faculty, I miss them and wish them well. Good job!