In this third installment of Amy Clipston’s Amish Marketplace series, an acquaintance grows into love over a few well-timed cups of coffee. Alongside her cousins who have booths of their own, Bethany Gingerich runs a busy and successful coffee and donut stand at the Amish market. Since she has café-style tables and chairs, her regular customers enjoy purchasing a morning treat so they can sit … can sit and talk to their friends.
Micah Zook and his grandfather, Enos, visit Bethany every Saturday morning to purchase coffee and donuts before going to work at Enos’s custom outdoor furniture shop. Bethany enjoys talking to Micah and Enos, and she’s always thought Micah was handsome–but she doesn’t think her crush will ever result in anything more.
When Micah and his grandfather don’t come to see her one Saturday morning, Bethany begins to worry. And when she learns that tragedy has struck, she wonders how to help Micah in his time of need. Turns out he needs a friend now more than ever, and Bethany may be just the kind of friend that God has provided for him.
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Good book. This is the third in the Amish Marketplace series, about four female cousins. Each one has a booth at the Marketplace where they sell their goods to Amish and non-Amish customers. Bethany runs The Coffee Corner, a coffee and donut shop with an ever-changing variety of flavored coffees. This is her story.
Bethany is a cheerful young woman who makes all visitors to her booth feel welcome. She and her three cousins are very close and used to eat lunch together on the days they worked at the Marketplace. But two of those cousins, Christina and Salina, found boyfriends and married recently and haven’t been as available for their visits. Bethany is happy for them but wonders if she’ll ever find a love of her own. I liked Bethany a lot. Her kind heart shines through in everything she does. She also frequently frustrated me because she is so pessimistic about her appeal as a possible wife and mother.
Micah and his grandfather, Enos, come to Bethany’s booth every Saturday morning. Micah came to live with Enos to help his grandfather and also learn the carpentry business. He also wanted to get away from his father, who was constantly critical of Micah and his desire to be a carpenter rather than a farmer. His father’s lack of sympathy over the death of Micah’s fiancée was the final blow to Micah’s relationship with his family. His father’s attitude affected Micah’s belief in himself, and his grief over his fiancée’s death left him unwilling to risk his heart again.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Bethany and Micah. Over the months that Micah visits the Coffee Corner, Bethany developed quite the crush on him. Lost in his grief, Micah remains oblivious to her for the longest time, reinforcing Bethany’s belief in her lack of appeal. Unfortunately, once he does begin to notice her, his shyness and lack of confidence prevent him from doing anything about it. Bethany believes she’ll have to settle for friendship, though her cousins encourage her to be more proactive. Just when things start to look up a little, a more brazen Amish woman makes a play for Micah. Sara Ann knows just what kind of sly digs will hurt Bethany, and she uses them to great effect. Meanwhile, Micah doesn’t know how to handle Sara Ann’s aggressiveness, complicating his growing interest in Bethany.
Then tragedy strikes and Enos’s death leaves Micah feeling adrift and alone. Besides their family relationship, Enos was Micah’s best friend. Micah’s grief overwhelms him; then, he discovers that their business was in serious financial trouble. I ached for Micah, who saw no way out of the mess other than selling everything and leaving. Meanwhile, Bethany seems to be the only person in the community who worries about Micah. I loved seeing her try to get him to open up to her, share his grief and worries, and ached for her when he pushed her away. When Micah’s despair carries him down a destructive path, it is up to Bethany to find a way to bring him back. I loved the way she did it, enlisting the kind of help that would be hard to turn down. Once Micah sees hope for his future, he’s more willing to offer Bethany his heart. Her happiness when she discovered he returned her feelings was a joy to see.
The first two books in this series were among my favorite books last year and this one is going on my list of favorites this year. I thought it was really good!
I just love this series. I enjoy the relationships between the four cousins and how they support each other. I also appreciate the independence that each cousin shows by having a stand at the marketplace.
Bethany and Micah are both struggling with labels that they believe have been put on them by other people. Bethany believes that men see her as too fluffy to consider for a wife and Micah believes he is a disappointment to his father. I like that it’s realistic how Bethany and Micah begin to develop feelings for each other. I can feel Bethany’s angst as she wants to spend more time with Micah to get to know him. I liked that Micah had to face consequences for a poor choice that he made. I also liked all of the reminders to Bethany to keep praying for Micah. “Simply” Sara Ann was a good addition to this story as well. I was sighing a happy sigh at the end of the story.
Although this is the third book in the series, it could be read as a stand alone.
All the stories of Amish lives I read and they are wonderful stories and lessons.
This is book three in the Amish Marketplace series. I really loved this one. It was very well written and I loved the characters. As I kept reading I found myself not wanting to stop. That’s how good this book is. I was hooked from the first sentence. I didn’t want the book to end.
The Coffee Corner is book three in Amish author extraordinaire, Amy Clipson’s Marketplace Series. Even though it is the third in a series, readers will have no trouble following it. It is a beautiful contemporary Amish Christian romance novel.
This is the story of Bethany Gingerich. She has a coffee and donut stand in the Marketplace. Her cousins also have various shops, and they enjoy time spent together. Bethany does not have a boyfriend, and her cousins keep getting married, emphasizing her solitude. She does has eyes on customer, Micah. He comes in each week to her shop with his Daadi or grandfather, to get some of her delicious coffee and donuts.
Amy Clipson is a talented wordsmith. This book took me to Amish country where I learned about different flavors of coffee, carpentry, and even the Amish way of life. Through her writing I became friends with the well rounded, relatable characters. I love that her stories include life and faith lessons, including this one.
I highly recommend this touching Amish book. It is unlike the other two in the series. I found it very captivating. It gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by the author, but these are my true, honest words
Bethany Gingerich has a successful business but she still suffers from many insecurities and they have become worse now that two of her cousins are married. Their close relationships have understandably changed because of their recent marriages and Bethany wanders if she will ever experience true personal happiness. The Saturday morning visits of two customers who come in to buy Bethany’s delicious donuts and her special coffee blends soon become the bright spots in her week and it becomes apparent that there might be a mutual interest between her and Micah Zook. They are, however, two very different people. Can they overcome the many differences between them?
Author Amy Clipston has given readers another intriguing glimpse of the Amish and Mennonite lifestyle in this third book in her Amish Marketplace series. I enjoyed catching up with the two couples who had found love in the first two books and I found myself rooting for Bethany and Micah to find happiness together. Micah is especially appealing but he has endured a lot of past hurts and he’s never experienced deep family connections so Bethany’s compassion appears to be just what he needs! Will their friendship develop into a sweet romance?
Clipston never fails to inspire me and I love her positive reminders that God is always faithful. I also found myself drooling over her description of the different donuts and coffee blends in Bethany’s shop and I wish that there was a Coffee Corner near me!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. A favorable review was never required and no monetary compensation was given. These are my own thoughts.
The Coffee Corner, by Amy Clipston, is the third book in An Amish Marketplace series. From beginning to end, this novel is a wonderful addition to this series and to the genre of Amish fiction. With its inviting marketplace setting, relatable characters, and relevant love story, this book is very memorable and moving.
Ms. Clipston never fails to create communities and characters that are genuinely appealing. From the marketplace, the workshops, the homes, the barns, the front porches, and even the kitchens where the characters work, live, and spend time together, Ms. Clipston thoughtfully welcomes readers into a world that is full of faith and charm. As the characters in this story face real challenges, heartache, and setbacks, their choices and decisions are truly believable and authentic. With emotionally-stirring conflicts and dramatic tension that builds page after page, this novel is compelling, touching, and meaningful. Valuable themes of loss, faith, humility, forgiveness, and restoration strengthen the story as it uplifts and entertains.
I spent several pleasurable hours reading The Coffee Corner, and it is my favorite book in the series, so far. It is a thought-provoking, honest, and edifying novel. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.
Years ago when I read the Kauffman Amish Bakery Series it was my favorite series by this author but now that title has some competition from this series. I just love everything about this series.
I really love how the characters don’t disappear. What am I talking about you ask?
In some series you read the characters are in one book and that’s it but in this book we get to see a continuation of the characters and stay updated on their lives.
We as readers make a connection with characters we read about and like and it’s wonderful to keep that connection strong and we go forth reading other books in the series.
The romance was sweet and tender, not rushed but you could tell they both cared for each other a lot.
And the coffee flavors mentioned, oh my! I would really love to try some of those flavors.
The faith message came across strong and the community rallys around a character to lift him up mentally and spiritually.
I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Pub Date 01 Dec 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Bethany Gingerich runs a small but successful Coffee and donut booth at the local Marketplace. She and her cousins have run their booths for some time and enjoy getting together and talking in the mornings. With things changing though as her cousins meet and marry, Bethany feels at loose ends and somewhat lost. Feeling that no man could ever love her, she looks forward to seeing Micah Zook and his grandfather every Saturday for their coffee stop. Secretly, Bethany longs to get to know MIcah but he seems withdrawn and sad. Micah enjoys his and his grandfather’s stop for coffee. The young woman behind the counter intrigues him. However, he has vowed to not get hurt again.
This is the third book in the series. I love each of these characters and feel very invested in their lives. I want to see them find love and happiness. You know that an author and series is good when the reader is able to relate to the characters and pray they find love and happiness. I received a copy through Netgalley and the publisher. A review was not required. I look forward to the next in the series.
Author Amy Clipston continues with her wonderful Amish Marketplace series. You could read The Coffee Corner as a standalone, but I recommend reading the first two books in the series. Not only are they enjoyable reads, but it will make this book easier to follow as we catch up with many of the previous characters.
Clipston does a great job of putting her reader right in the Amish Marketplace. I’d so love to visit and have coffee at Bethany’s Coffee Corner. Her coffees and donuts sound delicious! And that is the mark of a really good author, when you can hear and smell where you are. And her characters. They are so well developed that I want to meet them. Shop the Marketplace with them. Sometimes even shake them just a bit. They are human and flawed. They love and laugh. They struggle with grief. All things we can relate to. While the romance in this book doesn’t come easily, we watch Micah and Bethany allow God to help them as they deal with pain, forgiveness, and healing in a non-preachy way.
If you enjoy inspirational Amish novels I highly recommend The Coffee Corner.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
this book is part of a serie where:
“Bethany ran the Coffe Corner, Salina had her Farm Stand, Christiana had her Bake Shop, and Leanna kept her Jam and Jelly Nook”
the women are cousins and good friends. this is Bethany story.
“Please guide me toward your plan, Lord. Help me see where you want me to go”
Very good book, I enjoed reading it, like the other books of the serie.
The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston is the third book in the Amish Marketplace series. Each book in the series can be read on its own, but I recommend reading this charming series in order. I thought The Coffee Corner was well-written with developed, realistic characters. Bethany Gingerich runs The Coffee Corner at Bird-in-Hand Marketplace where her cousins also have stalls. Bethany is an attendant at the wedding of her cousin, Salina to Will Zimmerman. This is the second cousin to marry and Bethany wonders if God has someone special in mind for her. She is smitten with Micah Zook. Bethany looks forward to his visits to her stall each Saturday with his grandfather, Enos. They never get more than a few minutes to chat about superficial topics. Micah is attracted to Bethany, but he suffered a terrible loss that makes him reluctant to risk to his heart. When Micah’s grandfather dies, Micah is devastated. Enos was his mentor, work mate, and best friend. He needs help in dealing with his grief, and it appears that Bethany is the one to assist him. The Coffee Corner is a touching story. It is one that will tug on your heartstrings. I liked the side stories of Bethany dealing with confidence issues and Micah’s problems with his father. We also get to catch up with Leanna, Salina, and Christiana. I am eager to read Leanna’s story in The Jam and Jelly Nook. The Coffee Corner is a moving Amish tale about family, forgiveness, fitting in, second chances, and love.
The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston is the third installment in her Amish Marketplace series. This was my first read in the series, but the backstory is sufficient, and it reads well as a standalone.
Bethany Gingerich is a twenty-four-year-old unmarried Amish businesswoman unsure about her appeal to men. She hasn’t had a boyfriend in years and has no prospects but is, not surprisingly, attracted to handsome furniture maker, Micah Zook.
Micah Zook lives and works with his grandfather and is content with his unmarried status but finds himself attracted to Marketplace booth owner, Bethany Gingerich.
Despite the mutual attraction, neither is willing to make the first move. Sadly, Micah is about to face difficulty circumstances. Will Bethany be able to overcome their reluctance and help him through?
The Coffee Corner is a heartwarming story of family, friendship, love, hope, and faith. The characters and plot are appealing. The pace is a little slow, but I enjoyed the story. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to all readers of Christian fiction, especially Amish fiction.
My thanks to Zondervan Fiction and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
The Coffee Corner
by Amy Clipston
Book 3 in the Amish Marketplace series
Rating: 4/5
I was lucky enough to receive a free ARC of the audiobook of this story and it did not disappoint! I am a fan of Amy Clipston and she is very good at writing sweet, yet authentic, stories of romance set in the Amish community. This story can be read standalone since I have not read the other books in this series but now I need to. LOL.
Bethany Gingerich has a thriving business as the coffee and donut stand at the Amish market. She and her cousins have successful booths but everything is changing since her cousins are getting married one by one. Bethany feels overlooked as a potential mate but finds her eye drawn to the new-in-town, Micah Zook, who is helping with his grandfather’s custom furniture shop. Micah has his own sad past, but he’s determined to do what he loves and that’s helping his grandfather continue his business. He finds a sense of peace when he grabs his Saturday morning coffee and donut from Bethany’s booth and can’t wait to try her newest flavored coffee. Antics and miscommunications ensue on this couple’s journey to love.
I thought this story was very sweet but the only problem I had may have been caused by the narrator of the audiobook than the actual heroine as written. I found Bethany’s character to be so confusing and frustrating at times. She’d go from competent businesswoman to insecure teenager to naive friend and back again. I’m not sure if that was more because of the narrator’s interpretation, but I found Bethany’s character very unlikeable. (This is incredibly strange for me as a reader since I almost always give the MC the benefit of the doubt). I tried really hard to sympathize with her character and her internal struggles but she came out more annoying than anything else. As a single woman, I definitely share some of her struggles and insecurities, but I felt her immaturity was a little over the top. However, the story itself was great and I really liked Micah’s character. I really loved all the interesting coffee flavors Bethany came up with – they sounded great (even to a non-coffee drinker). The family aspects of this story were very strong, and the faith aspect was also woven throughout the story in a meaningful way.
Audiobook: The narrator was okay. She was good but I didn’t think her German pronunciation was very good. Her interpretation of Bethany seemed whiny to me, which is frustrating when I’m trying to root for the MC. The production was well done and flowed well.
Highly recommend if you enjoy Amish romances with some humor and spunk.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
Bethany and Micah’s story is unique and special.
A sweet Amish story about a troubled young man who reflects on past hurt and pain and is fearful of deeply caring for someone again. The young woman is gifted in many ways but feels overlooked by the Amish men . She compares her life with her cousins and close friends who are married and some have children. The struggles felt real and could easily apply to Englishers too.
A death of a loved one affects many more than people realize.
I enjoyed reading the story and the many flavors of coffee were especially fun to read! It was hard to refrain from going into my kitchen and start experimenting with coffee myself!
The Amish Marketplace books are all really good and I enthusiastically recommend them all!
In this third installment of Amy Clipston’s Amish Marketplace series, Bethany Gingerich’s Coffee Corner takes center stage. Bethany and her three cousins, Salina, Christiana, and Leanna each have a booth (or had a booth) at the marketplace. Best friends almost since birth, these ladies have shared almost everything. Now that two of her cousins are either married or getting married, and the other one is a widow, Bethany is the only one left to sit with the unmarried women at church. Will her turn ever come?
Micah Zook and his grandfather, Enos, have a routine – make custom, outdoor furniture and on Saturday mornings, stop at the Coffee Corner for some of Bethany’s coffee and donuts. Micah left home because of his father’s continuous verbal abuse. His grandfather’s love and acceptance have helped to heal his hurting heart, but is he keeping secrets about the business? When tragedy strikes, and Micah learns the full extent of the secret his grandfather was keeping, can he find anyone to turn to in a community he still doesn’t feel connected to?
As Bethany begins to make progress toward becoming Micah’s friend, can she convince him that leaving isn’t his only option?
I’ve enjoyed Clipston’s Amish Marketplace novels. Each girl’s personality shines through the pages, and the men they fall for are exactly right for them. Micah’s quiet, reserved personality balances Bethany’s ebullience, but Bethany is the one who is able to pull Micah from the depths of depression.
If you love Amish romance, and haven’t read the other two novels in the series, it is possible to read this as a stand-alone. However, if you want to get to know ALL of the girls, start with The Farm Stand, move on to The Bake Shop, and end with The Coffee Corner. Next up is Leanna’s story in The Jam & Jelly Nook. I can’t wait!
The Coffee Corner (Amish Marketplace #3)
By: Amy Clipston
The Coffee Corner is book three in the series Amish Marketplace . I have read the other two books and love all of them. This is Bethany and Micah’s story. The story was well written and loved the characters. The story had me in tears a few times. I felt sorry for both of them. Bethany thinks that no man will ever love her. Micah is not over being hurt in the past. You will read about some of the characters from the other books. The Coffee Corner is an addition to Amish Marketplace series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book . All opinions are my own.
I love this series and all of these characters. Bethany needed to learn that she could be loved. I did not want to put this book down and cannot wait to read the next book in the series. I love that all the main characters from the other books in the series are mentioned. I got some laughs and I cried a bit. I loved the lessons learned. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
First, let me say I really wish the Coffee Corner was a real place I could visit every day it is open, and sit with my book and try all the flavors of coffee Bethany invents. Of course, I would come home with things I really do not need like jams and jellies.
Each book in the Amish Marketplace series has been true gems to read. I think this is my favorite so far. I loved reading about Bethany and Micah’s path to love. They proved that bad things happen, detours are taken that are not the best choices but love in each other and God will bring you back to where you need to be. It also stresses forgiveness which I believe is hard for everyone. Forgiveness in yourself and others takes love in yourself and others to occur.
Each book can be read as a standalone so hurry grab your copy and then brew a cuppa and lose yourself in a beautiful story.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Zondervan Fiction, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary audio copy of The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston. I voluntarily agreed to listen and review prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.
The Coffee Corner is a heartwarming Amish fiction novel with character you’ll grow to love, and a plot that will touch your heart. The pacing kept me involved from the beginning and kept me until the end. Ms. Clipston’s novels always give me a strong sense of the Amish life, which is why I enjoy this genre.
I listened to the audio version of The Coffee Corner, and Lauren Berst is the narrator. Her beautiful reading pulled me in right away. She brings the various characters to life and made it easy to determine each of them. Her ability to pronounce the Dutch Pennsylvania added greatly to my enjoyment of this lovely Amish tale. That is not the case in some of the other narrators I’ve listened to, and I have listened to a great many over the years.
Bethany Gringerich is the heroine, and she stole my heart from the beginning. Her insecurities over her desirability as an Amish wife touched me at my core. It showed her deepest vulnerabilities. Her willingness to offer the hero her friendship, even though she believes it will cause her future disappointment if he doesn’t develop feelings for her only made me love her more.
Micah Zook is the hero, and he too has issues with self-esteem. He grew up with a father who is constantly critical of him and his desire to learn his grandfather’s carpentry skills. He’s estranged from his family and lives with his gros-dadi learning his chosen trade. He’s suffered the death of the Amish girl he’d expected to marry, which caused the rift with his family. I could feel his confusion and fear when he finds he’s drawn to Bethany.
The romance is sweet and gentle as with most Amish romances, and I enjoyed their journey to finding their happy ending. It’s a rough road since both don’t believe they will because of their insecurities. Bethany, because doesn’t believe the hero could possibly love her, and Micah, because of his belief he is not worthy. I truly wanted them to find their way to each other.
If you enjoy Amish fiction with endearing characters, and a plot that will have you rooting for them, then you will love The Coffee Corner as much as I did. I always know I’m in for a treat whether I’m listening or reading one of Ms. Clipston’s delightful Amish novels. Happy reading and listening!