The final book in Amy Clipston’s acclaimed Amish Heirloom series—and both a Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestseller!“Clipston has woven hints of Mattie and Leroy’s history throughout the first three books in this series, leaving her best novel yet to conclude this family’s story of loss, love and hope.” —RT Book Reviews, 4½ stars, TOP PICK!When Mattie packed her hope chest, she put away the … stars, TOP PICK!
When Mattie packed her hope chest, she put away the heartache of her past. But as her daughters begin to unpack it, she discovers a healing more powerful than she ever hoped for.
Mattie Fisher’s three daughters know that she’s been keeping a secret from them. With each item pulled from the beloved family hope chest, they’ve discovered a new clue about their mother’s past.
But there’s a reason Mattie has been keeping her history hidden, and she’s not sure she’s ready to reopen old wounds. Will dredging up the past change the way her children view her? Or her marriage to their father? And can she handle the pain of revisiting the memories that preceded the last few happy decades?
Mattie’s story is one of grief and learning to love again. But like the best things preserved in a hope chest, it’s a story of love and redemption born out of heartache—and it’s past time to share it.
“Clipston has written another heartwarming romance, with lifelike characters and a delightfully detailed setting.” —Booklist
“A story of loss and healing, the latest in award winning author Clipston’s Amish Heirloom series creatively balances love, restoration, and second chances with tackling tough issues.” —CBA Market
“Clipston provides a deep, nuanced portrait of . . . grief and the challenges of trying to move forward in life while buried under pain, fear, anger, and confusion.” —Publishers Weekly
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I’ve been waiting for Mattie’s story since the beginning of this series, since hints kept coming during her daughter’s stories and I became more and more intrigued. This is the best of the series (which is saying a lot) and I am so sorry to see it end, although it has been a wonderful, hopeful ride. There is a lot of angst and emotion, but without that, the joy wouldn’t be as intense when everything works out for the best, with Mattie and Leroy’s family as living proof.
Mattie’s mysterious and emotion-filled past has been alluded to in the previous three books, so it was gratifying to learn what her story was and how it helped prepare her to support her daughters with their struggles. Mattie is a happily married young wife, but heartbreaking tragedy strikes not once, but twice. Her childhood friend Leroy offers her his heart and home, and while it seems to solve her problems at first, Mattie’s intense grief clouds her judgement and prevents her from turning to him in her time of greatest need. I liked how their foundation of longtime friendship and Leroy’s unrequited love keeps him from giving up on Mattie, and the way their other friends and family encourage him and Mattie both. A good conclusion to the Amish Heirloom series.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
The Amish Heirloom series comes full circle with Mamm’s story and the secret hidden for years in the cherished hope chest. Mamm is a very strong individual in character and faith who carried a weight only her husband and God knows about. As we learn more about Mamm’s secret we also learn how strong God’s love can be.
This story for me was truly the best in the series. Maybe because it was Mamm’s story, maybe it is because I am of her generation, or maybe it was the depth of emotions portrayed by all of the characters, I am not sure. However, The Beloved Hope Chest grabbed my heart, held on tight, and didn’t even let go well after the story ended. What a fabulous conclusion to a fantastic series.
I received a complimentary copy (or ARC) of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to write a review, and all options expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is the last book in this series. It tells the story of the Fishers mother and the child she had lost so many years ago. The sisters find some things in a Hope Chest and question there Mother (Mattie ) about them. Mattie tells her daughters the story behind them. She tells her daughters about her marriage to her first husband and how he was killed saving a women from a abusive husband. She tells them about her being pregnant with his child and struggling his death and not knowing where she and the newborn would live. She tells them about her childhood friend Leroy,their Father asking her to marry him and he would take care of her and the child.. This book is the story of Leroy and Mattie’s struggle with their marriage and also the lost of the child. Will Leroy’s love for Mattie be enough to hold them together? A beautiful story about loss and love being found again. Read this for a honest review. This was my favorite book in this series.
Easy reading great story
I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. I was required to give a favorable review. All thoughts are my own. This is a wonderful story of loss, grief, friendship, love, and new beginnings. Mattie & Leroy grew up together and he always that when they grew up Mattie would be his wife. But at a group gathering she met her love Isiah, and they all stayed friends. They were married two years & expected their first child when he was killed. Leroy stepped up and married Mattie to give the baby a father, because his walked out on him & his mother when he was young. He loved Mattie, but she was still grieving. But they started getting everything ready for the baby when she went into labor and unfortinely they lost the baby. Now she isn’t sure she can be a good wife after losing 2 people in such a short time. Leroy tries, but he gives her time. She had packed everything away in her hope chest. And know her 3 daughters have questions about the things they find in her hope chest and she tells them the story. Which helped bring the 3 of them into the world.
This was such a wonderful book. I know it was hard for me to put it down as I was wanting to know what was next with Leroy and Mattie’s marriage. I felt like I was wanting to jump through the book and ask Mattie was was wrong with her, hold back on getting back with Leroy. Good job and writing Amy Clipston.
The Beloved Hope Chest is fourth in a series, I have read all four. Have enjoyed each book in this series. It follows mainly the women in a family, sisters and Mother. Reading the full series was quite enjoyable. This book #4 is the Mothers story. If you enjoy Amish novels at all, believe you will enjoy this whole series.
The book was quite predictable-whoever heard of an Amish novel that didn’t have a happy ending? And honestly, it grew a bit tedious towards the end, (he’s begging her to come back, she won’t, over and over) but the plot kept my interest up and I loved the atmosphere. The characters were sweet and true to life.
Beautiful story. Beautifulfamily
Dragged a little but still good.
I loved this entire series