After a devastating loss, Cindy Riehl is still searching for peace. Will she find it in the community she calls home–or will love send her down a new path? Over the last few years, Cindy Riehl–the youngest of the Riehl children–has watched her siblings find love and happiness in Lancaster County. But as her family has settled down and grown, Cindy has continued to grieve her mother, whose … mother, whose death left an enormous hole in her heart. Since that haunting day, Cindy has struggled to find peace and wonders if the community is the place for her–and if her faith in God will ever feel the same as it once did.
When a handsome and kind Englisher named Drew crosses Cindy’s path one surprising day, the two of them become fast and easy friends. Drew dreams of starting a family after some losses of his own, and before long, he and Cindy discover that their feelings for each other are romantic. As they spend more time together–often in secret–Cindy is drawn further and further away from the Amish community and the family she loves. In time, she is faced with a difficult choice that threatens to upend her world.
Will Cindy find contentment and love, and will she ever find restored comfort in God and her beloved community? In this final installment of the Amish Homestead series, we return to the charming town of Bird-in-Hand for a story of healing, family, and God’s perfect provision.
- Sweet, inspirational read
- Full-length novel (90K words)
- Fourth and final book in Amy Clipston’s Amish Homestead series
- Can also be enjoyed as a standalone
- ECPA bestseller
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
more
I really enjoyed this book. I have loved the Amish Homestead series, but hadn’t gotten to this final book until now. I wasn’t sure if I would like Cindy enough as a main character. I struggled with the way she acted in especially the first book of this series. I knew that it came from grief, but I still had mixed emotions about reading her story.
I ended up liking this book immensely. Cindy and Drew went round and round and back and forth regarding whether to have a relationship together when it would mean that Cindy would be pushed out of the Amish community. I think the author handled the issues they faced in a fair way. It was hard to see Cindy’s family so upset with her and to see how much their treatment hurt Cindy, but I enjoyed reading as they made their way through all of the problems they faced.
Drew and Cindy had such a wonderful connection together and it was easy for me to want them to be happy together, even through the difficulties. They made a great pair.
(4.5 stars)
A Welcome at Our Door by Amy Clipston is the final An Amish Homestead Novel. It has been seven years since her mother, who was also her best friend, passed away and Cindy Riehl is still grieving. She has watched her father plus her siblings marry and Cindy does not understand how they could move on so quickly and be happy. She also feels estranged from God and does not understand why he took her mother so soon. One day, Cucumber gets out and follows a golden retriever to the Lapp’s home. Cindy goes to retrieve their Houdini cow and meets the Lapp’s new Englisher farmhand, Drew Collins. She finds him easy to talk to and soon finds herself sharing things with him that she cannot divulge to her family. Cindy soon learns that Drew has lost his whole family and understands what she is experiencing. The pair draw closer together and develop romantic feelings for each other. Cindy no longer feels close to her community and, if their secret meetings are discovered, she will need to make a choice. What choices will Cindy make about her future? Can she find her way back to God?
A Welcome at Our Door is the fourth and final book in An Amish Homestead series. We have watched as Cindy’s father and siblings have found love, married and started families of their own. Cindy finds herself lost in her grief and not understanding God’s decisions. Cindy lives in a community where you are not supposed to question God’s will. I do recommend reading this series in order or you will be a little lost. There are a number of characters and it will help you to understand Cindy Riehl. I thought A Welcome at Our Door was well written and it progresses at a good pace which makes for an easy to read story. I was drawn into the story in the beginning and could relate to Cindy’s grief (anyone who has lost a loved can understand). You continue to miss a parent, especially one that you are close to, each day. I have enjoyed visiting the Riehl family in each book and have been wanting Cindy’s story. Amy Clipston brings her characters to life, so they seem like they are real people. They are characters that people will like and can relate to. I liked that there was some humor introduced through Cucumber, the cow with escapee tendencies. We are also introduced to the sweet golden retriever, Bruce. The importance and power of prayer is emphasized in A Welcome at Our Door. It is vital to pray about life changing decisions in our life, so we know if we are following God’s path for our life. Only God knows how our life will play out. There is always a reason for His actions as we see in A Welcome at Our Door. One of my favorite phrases from this story is “God sends us friends when we need them most”. There is some predictability to the story (of course, I have been reading Amish novels for over twenty years), but that does not take away from this touching story. A Welcome at Our Door is a story of grief, love, struggle, faith and family. You will not want to miss Cindy’s heart wrenching and heartfelt story in A Welcome at Our Door.
Amy Clipston has written a stunner of a conclusion to a great family series. There is so much emotion jumping from the pages that you would have to be heartless not to feel the pain Cindy experiences in her decisions when it comes to Drew.
You do not have to read the series in her order but I would suggest you do. You will appreciate Cindy’s story more.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Zondervan Fiction, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Drew was important to her, and he was quickly becoming her best friend. How could their friendship be wrong if it felt so right?
I thoroughly enjoyed Amy Clipston’s new release, A Welcome at Our Door, which concludes the Amish Homestead series with the story of the youngest sibling, Cindy Riehl. Clipston excels at creating real scenarios and characters, often making me forget that I’m reading fiction. Their struggles are easy to identify with and we see faith lived out in daily life. While it’s great to reunite with family members featured in previous books, this story can stand alone.
A Welcome at Our Door is perhaps one of the most emotional of Clipston’s books that I’ve read, for it deals with the faith that is at the heart of the Amish people. The theme itself – friendship and attraction between an Amish/Englisher couple – is obviously going to be problematic and filled with tension. With that in mind, I especially enjoyed the story’s lighthearted beginning with a cute scene involving a stray cow named Cucumber and a neighbor’s dog named Bruce, resulting in the initial meeting between Cindy and Drew.
In the years following her mother’s death, Cindy struggled with feeling different and somewhat isolated from her family and Amish community. She had never felt God’s call on her heart to join the Amish church, like most others had. And in spite of the Church’s teaching that it was a sin to doubt God’s will, she had so many unanswered questions. It was interesting for me that I could completely understand both points of view – that of parents yearning for their child to embrace the Amish faith, and Cindy’s need to connect with someone who understood her feelings because of shared grief in their backgrounds.
A Welcome at Our Door is a moving, heartwarming, and uplifting story. I look forward to many more stories from Amy Clipston.
Recommended to all who enjoy quality Amish fiction.
I received a copy of this book from the author. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
This is the kind of story I like to get all wrapped up in. Heartwarming, wholesome clean Amish, realistic life-challenging situations, along with good messages for me.
Cindy Riehl is very aware that she is the last sibling living at home with her dad and step-mother while she strongly desires to be like her siblings with a family. She’s felt guilty over her mother’s deadly accident and she mourns her loss after seven years and doesn’t feel close to God any longer even to the point of not joining the Amish church like the rest of her family.
One day the family cow, Cucumber, got out of the gate and ran to the neighbor’s yard while Cindy chased it. She met an Englisher farm hand, Drew, and they hit it off immediately. While talking, they found they had much in common with the losses of family members resulting in their feelings of loneliness. Acts of kindness and fellowship drew them to each other until Cindy had to make a painful decision that would change her life as she knew it.
Cindy’s family closeness was at stake as well as the community involvement. Her story is very real and very moving, an enjoyment to read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.
I have really enjoyed the books in this series thus far, but A Welcome at Our Door was a real struggle for me. From the beginning there is conflict and it doesn’t let up until the end, which usually doesn’t bother me in stories, but for some reason it was quite bothersome to me.
Cindy Riehl hasn’t been herself since her mothers sudden passing seven years ago, and has felt like an outcast in her family, since it seems as if everyone is moving on in life except her. When the dairy farm next door hires an English farm hand it only takes a moment for Cindy to notice that Drew Collins is something special and vice versa. This instant spark leads to a friendship that is quickly frowned upon within the tight knit Amish community, and causes a rift between Cindy and her family. It is this strife that goes deeper and grows stronger as circumstances grow and change, and is truly heartbreaking to read.
Amy Clipston is such a great writer and does a wonderful job of getting into the minds of her characters, allowing you to truly feel what they’re feeling, which could be why this was such a hard read for me. There are parts of the story that hit very close to home and stir up familiar emotions, though these are subjects I’m not used to reading in other Amish fiction books.
Though a lot of the book deals with difficult situations, there is also a beautiful message of forgiveness, love, and family that is both charming and inspiring. Though at times hard for me to read, I am thankful that I pressed on, as the end made it all worth it.
*I have reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All opinions are completely honest, and my own.
I haven’t read anything by this author in several years and although I haven’t read anything from this “Amish Homestead”, I didn’t have a hard time jumping into the story and the characters.
The author included a listing of English and Amish/German words so readers could figure out the translations which was very helpful.
I enjoyed the story although it was stressful because I could feel the agony, heartache and frustration of Cindy trying to figure out her life’s purpose and path. It makes me sad that the Amish community isn’t more accepting of their children’s choices if they decide not to stay Amish (although I can see why-its still heartbreaking). I liked reading and seeing Cindy’s and Drew’s friendship blossom and how they helped each other thru their grief. I read the story in one night because I wanted to see what Cindy would decide about her friendship and becoming Amish and her relationship with her family.
I really enjoyed this realistic, Amish Christian fiction book! I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
A Welcome at Our Door is the final installment of the Amish Homestead series and Amy Clipston saved the best for last!
The story focuses on Cindy Riehl, who is the youngest of the Riehl family, which has been the focus in the Amish Homestead series. Cindy is still struggling with the death of her mother, which occurred in the first book, A Place At Our Table. Cindy is now an adult and has not decided to join the church due to the ongoing pain of losing her mother and questioning her faith and God.
Cindy meets an outsider, an Englisher, who lives in the modern way of life. Drew is staying with her neighbor as an extra hand on their farm, while he goes to college. It is not long before Cindy is falling for Drew but any relationship is forbidden due to the differences in their faiths. When Cindy chooses to be with Drew her family turns their backs on her. The young couple muddles through the ups and downs of early married life but Cindy’s heart is with her family.
Cindy must decide whether to return to her Amish faith or stand by her husband. Or, does God have another plan for the couple entirely?
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
*4.5 stars
Amy Clipston finishes up her Amish Homestead series with the fourth installment following Cindy Riehl, the youngest of the Riehl children. I missed the first two books in the series but I did read and enjoy the third. The main characters changed with each book in the series so they can successfully be read as stand-alones if you’d like. There is quite a long list of characters but the author includes a snippet into the backgrounds of the other siblings to help bring a ‘newbie’ up-to-speed.
I found myself feeling a whole windstorm of emotions throughout this novel. My heart went out to Cindy in her pain, and I was hopeful for happiness in her future. At the same time I was angry with how she was treated by her family. I didn’t agree with her sneaking out to see Drew, but at the same point I couldn’t help but feel angry for her since she was an adult and capable of her own decisions. The Amish community can be very loving and welcoming, but they can also rule their own with an iron fist. I can’t imagine living with the threat of shunning. While peace was made in the end, I still feel mixed emotions as to how it concluded. This story felt incredibly real and has managed to leave me in a book fog I don’t often feel when reading Amish fiction.
Amy Clipston is still a newer author to me but I’ve been moved by both of the books of hers that I’ve read. Be prepared for a whole lot of emotion, but I highly recommend her stories to Amish fiction fans.
*I received a copy of this book through JustRead. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
A Welcome at our Door by Amy Clipston, is the fourth book in the Amish Homestead Series, and it is my new favorite book by this author! I say that, as I have enjoyed all the books in this series so much!
This story of Cindy and Drew just pulled at my heart strings as Cindy is still dealing with the grief of losing her mother, questioning God’s will, and feeling that she truly doesn’t have a place in their Amish community. She finds a friend in an Englisher named Drew, but this friendship leads to more than just friendship causing strife with her family. Will she choose the way of the Amish, or follow her heart and leave her Amish faith?
I received a copy of this book from the author and Netgalley, but was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion of this book.
This has been one of my favorite books by Amy Clipston. I wasn’t sure how this story was going to pan out in the end. This made me laugh and cry. I hated to see how Cindy and Drew were treated at times by many people. It would be hard to have friends and family turn on you. I loved the many lessons throughout the story. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
A Welcome at Our Door (An Amish Homestead Novel, Book 4), by Amy Clipston, is an enjoyable piece of inspirational Amish fiction. It is a story of loss, forgiveness, and new beginnings written in a style that is engaging and descriptive.
The story Ms. Clipston has crafted is moving and endearing. Threads of redemption and restoration are woven beautifully throughout this novel. The well-paced plot, well-rounded characters, and well-drawn setting blend together to create a memorable and satisfying reading experience offering just the right combination of struggle, romance, and charm.
The characters within this novel have an authentic vulnerability that makes them utterly relatable and unforgettable. They demonstrate determination, courage, and conviction as they earnestly seek to discover God’s specific plan and calling for their lives. Themes of loyalty, faith, and family resonate as the characters grow and mature by facing tough choices and overcoming personal losses, doubts, and fears. The characters struggle through real, heart-wrenching trials that test their faith exceedingly. Yet, even as the struggles escalate, the light of God’s grace and mercy shines through with hope, forgiveness, and restoration.
With warmth and heart, A Welcome at Our Door places a significant emphasis on family and the ways in which family members support, encourage, and protect one another. It is honest, tender, emotionally stirring, and ultimately uplifting. It is a well-researched and entertaining book that I eagerly recommend to anyone who appreciates a finely written Amish fiction novel.
*I received a copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. A review was not required. The review I have written contains opinions that are entirely my own.
“God, I’m so confused, and I need your guidance. Please send me a sign so I’ll know if my friendship with Drew is sinful or if you bless it. I can’t deny how I feel about him, but I also can’t shake this guilt that my family is trying to push on me. Please show me your will.”
This is a prayer similar to many that young women have prayed over the years but this young woman is a little different. Cindy Riehl was born Amish but for the past seven years she feels like she has been floating, ‘not in the Amish world, yet not in the Englisher world either.’ Her mother’s death robbed Cindy of her best friend and Cindy continues to feel grief and guilt over this accidental death. She also feels like she’s the only family member that hasn’t been able to move on. Then she meets a young English man who has also experienced loss and Cindy begins to feel that she finally has a friend, someone that she can honestly talk to. This friendship, however, comes at a price. It is frowned upon and she is warned that it could bring judgement upon her and her family. Her father insists that any involvement with Drew must end and once again Cindy experiences grief and loss; once again she feels alone and like a stranger in her own home.
Author Amy Clipston has been able show the multiple feelings that the two main characters experience. Tremendous loss, overwhelming grief, immense attraction, and being susceptible to tempation. As I read this story I was reminded that the Amish aren’t immune to the emotions that all of us feel and they too struggle with doing what is right. One of the Amish characters admits that “Gossip is sinful, but it exists, even among the Amish.” Cindy’s decision about whether to join the church is one that many English face and her willingness to sacrifice family ties to be with the person she loves is timeless. It is evident that Clipston truly understands both the similarities and the differences between the Amish and English ways of life and she is an expert in stirring our interest with her stories!
A Welcome at Our Door is the final book in Amy Clipston’s Amish Homestead series but it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed this story and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction and Christian romance.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley and was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
I think this just might be my new favorite Amy Clipston book! This book tackled a hard topic and ended beautifully. She knows how to pull at my heartstrings! I absolutely loved it! There were a few parts that almost had me in tears. I know that this is one book that I will have to read again and again! I’m eagerly awaiting new books from Amy Clipston!
I was given a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author, but was not required to write a review. The thoughts and comments are my own.
This is the last book in the Amish Homestead series by Amy Clipston and by far the most compelling.. Cindy Riehl is the youngest member of the original Riehl family and the one who has struggled the most since losing her mother. She has yet to join the church and settle down which has caused an uneasiness within the family. Cindy meets an Englischer named Drew who went through a similar situation as she did. The two share a common ground and form a deep friendship. This friendship causes the Riehl family to become verbally hostile to both Drew and Cindy.
This was a very powerful book, exposing a side to the Amish and their commitment to the Ordnung that isn’t always written about. My heart went out to Cindy and Drew as the constant badgering took it’s toll on them. I applaud Amy for showing how the Amish can and will treat their own family when one considers becoming involved with someone outside of their religion.
A Welcome at Our Door was well written with good characters that had depth to them. The ending was a nice surprise for me. I really enjoyed the book and I am sure all who read this book will too!
A Welcome At Our door ( Amish Homestead #4 )
By: Amy Clipston
A Welcome At Our Door is book four in Amish Homestead. I really enjoyed this story. I was drawn in at the start and did not want to put it down. I was not disappointed. It is a fast read. I caught myself with tears in my eyes while reading it. I would advise you to keep a box of Kleenex near you for this book. This is a story about falling in love outside of their faith. I felt so sorry for the couple. There is loss , friendship, love , and faith. This story really got to me , but I loved it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley, but was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Oh WOW This book was simply amazing!
I have not read very many books by Amy Clipston but this one was Great. Such a compelling story about listening to what God has for you even though it is hard and you do not always have support. God uses these times to grow us and show us the way we are suppose to go. A truly great read that made my heart happy ! I highly recommend getting this book into your hands!
I volunteered to read this book from Zondervan Fiction in exchange for my honest feedback, the thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
I think this is Amy Clipston’s best book yet. She’s written a compelling Amish story that sets up an almost impossible situation between Cindy and Drew and their desire to get married. Cindy has grown up in an Amish family, but does not feel drawn to join the church. Drew is an Englisher who is a Christian, but has been told by Cindy’s dad that if he marries Cindy, she will be shut out of their family circle for marrying outside their faith. Cindy finds herself caught between two worlds and not knowing where she truly belongs.
This is an emotional story. The author has done a good job of conveying how both sides feel love and concern for Cindy’s decisions, and that gives this book a true-life feel to it. It’s also interesting to watch Cindy, Drew, and her family members grow spiritually as they face this conflict. I got quite involved in this story and kept reading to find out how everything would come together. The ending was not what I originally thought would happen, but it was a very satisfying one.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Cindy is busy hanging laundry when the family cow makes a run for the neighbors. She chases after it and comes upon the new farm hand Drew who is a Englisher. He helps her get the cow home with his sweet dog. Drew comes to dinner after and invite for helping with the cow. They both find themselves attracted to each other. Cindy knows she cannot be with someone who not Amish. Drew does not understand all the hurt Cindy has and why she hasn’t joined the church. They start sneaking and seeing each other. When her family finds out her father insist she not see Drew and bans him from seeing Cindy. Cindy and Drew realize how much they truly love each other and decide to get married regardless of what her family thinks. None of them will talk to her or have anything to do with her. Right before Christmas she finds she is with child. Drew and Cindy are excited about their growing family. When tragedy strikes and they lose their baby. Drew calls on her family to help comfort her. When he sees how the community helps each other he makes a decision to become a part of the church and he and Cindy join together.. I was given this book as a ARC from Net galley for my honest review.
Falling in love with a person outside of their faith could cause much trouble for the main characters. From the beginning, their friendship turns to love and the possibility of a future together is considered although it brings concerns. This story is filled with love, faith and family. I enjoyed this one. I received a complimentary copy. No review was required.