Priscilla Allgyer knows she cannot leave the past behind. But can love lead her toward the promise of healing?Priscilla Allgyer left the community to escape the expectations of Amish life. Now, years later, she is forced to return—along with her six-year-old son—to the place she thought she’d left behind forever. Though once estranged from her family, Priscilla is welcomed by her mother, but her … welcomed by her mother, but her father is cold and strict. He allows Priscilla to stay with them provided she dresses plainly, confesses her sins, and agrees to marry within the community. Once again, she feels suffocated, trapped, and alone.
As Priscilla reluctantly completes her shunning, she catches the eye of Mark Riehl, a farmer with a playboy reputation. Wary of Mark, Priscilla barely gives him the time of day—while Mark, unused to being ignored by the women of Bird-in-Hand, won’t give up the pursuit of her friendship. Priscilla desperately needs a friend in Mark, even if she doesn’t realize it—and after Priscilla’s father and the bishop catch her and Mark in a compromising situation, their relationship becomes more complicated than ever.
As affection quietly grows between them, Priscilla struggles to open her heart and reveal the painful secrets of her past. As Mark works to earn her good faith, can they both learn the hard lessons of love and trust? And can two friends discover a happiness that only God himself could have designed? The third book in the Amish Homestead series, A Seat by the Hearth invites us back to the Lancaster community where friendships are forged and love overcomes all.
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I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild, I was not required to give a favorable review. When you read any of Amy’s book you are draw into each of the characters of the story. With this being the third in the series, you know a lot of the characters already. But this one is great, Priscilla left the Amish community at 18 and lived with her cousin in Baltimore, where she fell for a guy who made her feel loved. But after years of both physical & verbal abuse she had to take her son and come home to the one place she would feel safe. Her dearest friend Laura lived there. Her parents took both Ethan and her in, but her father put conditions on her staying. The hardest one is that her father wanted her married to make her son have a father. Her friend Laura’s twin brother Mark works for her father now and is trying to be her friend. Can she meet her fathers standards, can Mark help her heal, can they find happiness.
This is my favorite in The Amish Homestead Series. It held my attention from the beginning and wasn’t predictable. This book deals with abuse and poor choices as well as the consequences of those choices in a sensitive manner. As the book progresses you learn of the reasons Priscilla left home and why she feels unlovable. My theory of not making a rash decision of a person until you’re walked a mile in their shoes applies here, as you won’t want to judge Priscilla until you learn her complete story. I had deep empathy for this character and loved her son Ethan. I enjoyed that Mark finally met his match, who could take the air out of his sails. We get to see a softer side of him in this book. I also enjoyed learning more of previous characters and how their lives are. This book is very real and relatable. It shows the human side of jealousy and gossip but also the repentant side. Curl up by the hearth and enjoy the lives of the characters in A Seat By The Hearth.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Guild. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
A Seat by the Hearth, by Amy Clipston, introduces us to Priscilla Allgyer along with her six-year-old son, Ethan. Priscilla, having fled her Amish roots, feels she must return to the Amish and their way of life in order to protect herself and her child.
I loved Ethan. A precocious child who loves easily, Ethan is able to leap from an Englisher (non-Amish) lifestyle to Amish with no problems or qualms and is thrilled to be learning more about horses from a grandfather he never knew he had.
I enjoyed Mark Riehl’s character, too. He came across as a flighty, flirty “playboy” type. However, deep down inside he had a heart of gold and a huge protective streak.
Clipston deals with several tough subjects in sensitive, sympathetic and insightful ways. The issue of domestic abuse is never an easy one to address, whether in fiction or real life, yet with Clipston’s portrayal, we can more fully understand Priscilla’s dilemmas. The issues of shunning, fear, trust and faith all complicate Priscilla’s life.
As with all of her books, Clipston pulls you into the story and doesn’t let go. You are left thinking about the stories, long after you have finished the books.
I received this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.
#AseatByTheHearth #NetGalley
A Seat by the Hearth by Amy Clipston returns us to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Priscilla Allgyer is returning to her parent’s home after eight years with her six year old son, Ethan. Her mother, Edna welcomes her, but her father, Yonnie is just as cold, critical and disapproving as ever. Priscilla is thankful that he is kind to her son and that is what is most important to her. Yonnie will allow her to stay if she follows certain rules. He insists that Priscilla and Ethan wear Amish dress, visit the Bishop right away confess her sins and to get right with the church since she is currently shunned, and then he wants her to find an acceptable husband. Mark Riehl is now working for Yonnie helping him train horses and he is known for charming the local females. Priscilla is the first woman to not fall for his charm and is leery of trusting any man after her experience with Ethan’s father. As time passes, they are slowly becoming friends. One day Priscilla is upset, and she is talking to Mark in the barn. Yonnie and the Bishop walk in and misconstrue the situation. Priscilla must make a choice that not only affects her, but Mark, Ethan and their families. Can Priscilla learn to trust Mark and build a future with him?
A Seat by the Hearth is a lovely story. I thought it was well-written with steady pacing. There are good characters and a beautiful setting. Priscilla is reluctant to return home to her father’s dictatorial rule, but she has no other options. Yonnie has been indifferent, stern and judgmental of Priscilla her whole life. She wishes her family was more like the warm and welcoming Riehl’s. Mark is a charmer and he knows it. He has yet to feel the need to settle down. Mark is baffled by Priscilla’s indifference. He sees how Yonnie treats Priscilla and he wants to be her friend. I like how the relationship between Mark and Priscilla progresses slowly. They are attracted to each other in the beginning, but they take the time to get to know one other. In Priscilla’s case, she has issues to overcome before she can begin again with someone new. I appreciated that we get to see how actions speak louder than words. Amy Clipston created delightful characters for this story and the main characters complement each other. We also learn how upbringing can affect a person (we learn from our parents). The series issue of abuse is handled carefully and responsibly. Some of the Christian elements present in A Seat by the Heart are prayer, forgiveness, forgiveness and trusting in God. While A Seat by the Hearth is the third book in An Amish Homestead series, it can be read alone. Personally, I have enjoyed the journey with the Riehl family in each new book, and I am glad that I read them in order. I started A Seat by the Hearth and finished it within three hours. Amy Clipston has an appealing writing style. It is like Amy is sitting in a chair by the fire and telling us a story. A Seat by the Hearth is an engaging and emotional novel with heartwarming characters.
Priscilla jumped the fence close to seven years and has found herself returning to her parents with her son to protect him from his abusive father. Priscilla is not sure her parents’ house is the best place to be but it is the only place available. Will Priscilla abide her father’s wishes to return to the fold and find a husband who will be a father to her son?
As with any Amy Clipston novel you will find yourself unable to put the book down once you open it. Amy writes with heart and you feel that in each character.
Priscilla’s story will break your heart. She teaches us how abuse affects our lives and everything surrounding our lives. She shows us how easy it is for an abused person to go from one abusive relationship to another. It takes strength and courage to break the cycle and how the right love can allow the abused person to open like a beautiful spring flower after a cold, vicious winter.
Grab your tissues and mug of tea and settle in for a long night of reading.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan Fiction through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
I loved this book.
Another emotional, heart wrenching story from Amy Clipston that will keep you turning pages to the very end! I love this series!
Book 3 in The Amish Homestead Series is a must read! I loved getting to watch Mark and Priscilla’s story unfold and to see what God had in store for their lives. As always, Amy Clipston did a great job of bringing the story and its characters to life.
While this is book 3 in the series, it can be read as a stand-a-lone book, but I would recommend reading the first two books just to better understand the characters in this family.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher, but not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion of this book.’
Priscilla has returned home looking for a safe place fore her and her son Ethan. She has escaped an abusive relationship with Ethan’s Dad Trent. She has put up with a lot of verbal abuse and has physically abused. As she pulls up to her families farm she is greeted my Mark . Mark is one of her best friends brothers. Laura is Marks twin.
Priscilla has to ask her Dad and Mom if she can stay with them after being gone 8 years. Her Mom is the easy on to talk to her Dad not so much. He is the biggest reason she left. He never showed her much respect or trust. She has to follow her Dad’s rules and go to the Bishop and ask to rejoin the Church and confess. Also find a husband for herself and father for Ethan. She always felt like a disappointment.
Mark warms up to Priscilla and tries his best to be her friend. Even eating with her and talking to her even though she is supposed to be shunned by the community. She is hesitant because he is know as a flirt and dating a lot of the young ladies in the community. He isn’t ready to get married he is only focused on his job and building a house for his self.
As time goes on he comes to care a lot for Priscilla and Ethan. Priscilla is starting to care about him but is cautious. One day Priscilla and Mark have a disagreement and he sees the scar on her arm. He is upset by what he sees and ask her about it. She confesses to him about the abuse she has been through. Her Dad and the Bishop see them together and assume it is more than what it is. Her Dad and the Bishop tell them they must wed seeing as they were in a compromised position. He thinks Mark is the perfect person for her and Ethan. Neither is sure in the beginning but after talking to family decide to go through with the marriage.
Trent shows up right before the wedding and Mark makes it clear he is not welcome.. One day out of the blue he picks Ethan up and has hits another car . Priscilla and Mark tell Trent that they will work with charges if he lets Mark adopt Ethan.
I have enjoyed reading the books in this series. Amy brings the characters and families to life for me.
After a lot of prayers and understanding they find themselves to be a happy family. I was given this book by the publisher for my honest review. (less)
Let me start out by saying although this is book three in the series, you could read it as a standalone. However, reading books one and two will make book three richer for you.
Author Amy Clipston continues to get better with each book, and that’s saying a lot as I believe she is one of the best authors of Amish fiction. This book, in my opinion, is quite possibly her finest so far. Clipston doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects, such as abusive relationships, and shunning. But as always, she wraps it up with forgiveness and redemption.
The characters in A Seat by the Hearth are well developed and very believable. You will fall in love with them; especially Mark. To see how he developed as the story went along was wonderful; it is so well written. This book has all of the feelings; heartache, sadness, anger, and joy. I seriously couldn’t put it down and read it as quickly as possible just to see what would happen next. And yet, I didn’t want it to end. I highly recommend adding this to your library!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
I absolutely loved this wonderful story! I have enjoyed every book in this series so far and can definitely say that the Amish Homestead series is proving to be one of my favorite Amish romance series that I have read. If you have not read the previous books, you should still be able to enjoy this one. Just know that previous siblings and their families play a large part in this book.
A Seat by the Hearth is not only a tale in which a gentle romance unfolds. It is also a story in which the brutal effects of abuse, both verbal and physical, is explored.
Priscilla and Mark are characters that I could not help but love. Mark’s lighthearted, teasing manner brought many fun moments into the story, yet the reader gets to see inside this ladies man to the caring and loving person he truly is. And Priscilla, a loving mother who wants to protect her child, has been so wounded in her past that she does not see herself as worthy of love. Mark is just the man to help her learn to understand what a treasure she is. I highly recommend this novel and the entire series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
A Seat by the Hearth by Amy Clipston is book 3 in the Amish Homestead series. I have not read the first two yet. I can honestly say it can be read as a stand alone.
Having read other books by Ms Clipston I was excited to read this one and was not disappointed.
This is a heartwarming story that I did not want to put down. The main characters are great and the story flows. I love Mark, Priscilla, and Ethan. The supporting characters are also likeable.
Clipston tackles the stories of today and shows the Amish have to deal with the same life events of the English.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A seat by the Hearth ( An Amish Homestead Novel-Book 3 )
By: Amy Clipston
A Seat by the Hearth is book three by Amy Clipston in An Amish homestead novel Series. Amy Clipston just keeps getting better. Love the story it was well written and the characters well developed. I did not want to put it down. This is one of those page turner. I caught myself trying to read faster to see what was going to happen next. Ms. Clipston carries us back to an Amish home in Lancaster Co., Pa. This was a very powerful and emotional story about abuse, love, and forgiveness. This is Mark and Priscilla’s story. Priscilla comes back home with a son after several years and is shunned. Mark is a bachelor and a ladies man. Priscilla catches Mark’s eye, but she thinks she has had enough hurt and does not need anymore. I loved the story , but felt really sorry for Priscilla. I caught myself with tears in my eyes several times.
I was given a complimentary ARC by NetGalley and the Publishing Company, but was not told that I had to give positive review. All opinions are my own.
An enjoyable read from beginning to end, and kept me page turning. The author gives us a woman that leaves and abusive home and ends up in another, and to make it more interesting she is Amish.
When she returns to the Amish she comes with her sweet six-year-old son Ethan, and what a joy he is.
I loved how the situation with the violent boyfriend was resolved, and never saw it coming.
Now this is the third book in this series, and loved being back with old friends, but this book can stand alone.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review.
In Book Three of The Amish Homestead Series, Author Amy Clipston takes us back to visit our favorite Amish family in Lancaster Co, PA, The Riehls. This time it’s Mark’s story, a confirmed bachelor with a reputation for enjoying spending time with the young women in the community. Priscilla Allgyer left her Amish home to escape her father’s expectations only to find herself in an abusive relationship. Once her situation becomes unbearable, she leaves with her son, Ethan. She returns home knowing she will be shunned. When she catches the eye of Mark Riehl, he is determined to reach out and be a friend. She is just as resolute to not be one of his conquests. Misunderstandings abound, and the emotions will pull at your heartstrings. I have enjoyed this series. Each is stand-alone. Definitely, a great addition for your to-be-read pile!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. The opinions are my own.