Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston ~ review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (September 12, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310327350
• ISBN-13: 978-0310327356
• Review copy provided by the publisher.
• Want to purchase a copy, click here.

Product Description:

Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you'll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County. As each woman's story unfolds, you will share in her heartaches, trials, joys, dreams ... and secrets. You'll discover how the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle can clash with the 'English' way of life---and the decisions and consequences that follow. Most importantly, you will be encouraged by the hope and faith of these women, and the importance they place on their families. Naomi's Gift re-introduces twenty-four-year-old Naomi King, who has been burned twice by love and has all but given up on marriage and children. As Christmas approaches---a time of family, faith, and hope for many others---Naomi is more certain than ever her life will be spent as an old maid, helping with the family's quilting business and taking care of her eight siblings. Then she meets Caleb, a young widower with a 7-year-old daughter, and her world is once again turned upside-down. Naomi's story of romantic trial and error and youthful insecurities has universal appeal. Author Amy Clipston artfully paints a panorama of simple lives full of complex relationships, and she carefully explores cultural differences and human similarities, with inspirational results. Naomi's Gift includes all the details of Amish life that Clipston's fans enjoy, while delivering the compelling stories and strong characters that continue to draw legions of new readers.

My take on this book:

Caleb Schmucker, a widower of two years and his eight year old daughter Susie are taking a trip from Ohio back to Caleb's hometown of Bird In Hand,Pa. to spend the holidays with his family. When Susie insists on stopping at a local farmers market to purchase a pie to take to her auntie Sadie's house she is drawn to Naomi King because of the quilts she is selling, and when Sadie reveals that her mother is dead, Naomi can't quit thinking about the little girl and her father. As Sadie and Naomi's friendship grows, Caleb wants to meet the woman who his daughter can't quit talking about, but is warned by his sister to stay away from Naomi, who has been labeled by gossips as someone who chases after men. When the two meets they both feel something, but Naomi's heart has been broken before and she knows that Caleb will be going back to Ohio and she has no intentions of having her heart broken again. Can an Amish widower and a girl who fears another broken heart find love together?

This was a nice story about two people who find love at Christmas. I loved how God drew Sadie to Naomi.I really felt sorry for Naomi, she was someone who had her heart broken twice, and the rumor mill made her seem like the bad person. I was a bit disappointed at her mother's harsh attitude in the beginning, I was actually beginning to believe her mother didn't want Naomi to be happy and have a home of her own. Caleb's sister Sadie was just mean, but it was refreshing to see a gossipy, spiteful Amish person, because they are often portrayed as perfect with no flaws, but Sadie had plenty of them.I loved the relationship between Caleb and his daughter Susie.

While this book is part of the Kauffmann Bakery series it could easily be read as a stand alone work. If your looking for a sweet romance story where the characters get a second chance at love then your certainly going to enjoy this one. I loved reading the story of Naomi and Caleb and can't wait for my next visit to the Kauffman Bakery. Recommended!

rating 4.5/5