A Simple Prayer ~ Amy Clipston

• Series: Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel (Book 4)
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (May 5, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310335884
• ISBN-13: 978-0310335887

Linda is no stranger to hardship. Now she dares to hope for a chance at love and a new beginning.

As the sole survivor of a buggy accident that left her orphaned at age four, Linda Zook was reluctantly raised by her Uncle Reuben. She longs to be worthy of someone, but the lasting trauma of her injuries and embittered upbringing have destroyed her self-worth. When Hannah Peterson asks her to work at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast, she’s finally able to realize some confidence.

Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community seventeen years ago when he could no longer bear the restrictions or the constant tension with his father. Despite years of unanswered letters to his parents and the roots he’s put down in Missouri, Aaron rushes back to the Amish community of Paradise, Pennsylvania, after receiving word of his mother’s stroke. Hesitant to get too close to the family he was once a part of, he decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast. Talking with Linda allows him to explore his feelings about his family and his position in the Amish community.

As Linda and Aaron open up to each other, their feelings for one another turn into more than friendship, and Aaron must make a decision about his future as an Amish man.

Can Linda and Aaron forgive the family members who have deceived and forsaken them? And will Aaron be able to convince Linda that she is worthy of his love?

My take on this book:

Aaron Ebersol is sort of like the prodigal son returned, you see he left the community of Paradise, Pa years earlier and really didn't keep in close contact with his family, even though his family tried. Now though his mother is sick and he goes home to be with her, thing is he isn't sure how he feels about being back, and more than that how he fits in now. He decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise B&B and soon finds himself developing feelings for Linda Zook. Can their growing friendship become more, can they forgive those that hurt them, but more than that can they forgive themselves?

Amy Clipston creates in depth characters who face very real problems within the pages of A Simple Prayer. Those characters are paired together with a well written, easy to follow plot that isn't easy to put down.The conflicts within the story really kept me reading to find out what would ultimately happen. 

I really enjoy reading Amy Clipston's work but somehow missed a couple of books in the Hearts Of The Lancaster Grand Hotel series but honestly this book is a great stand alone read because the author provides enough background information about the reoccurring characters that I immediately understood who they were. With that said I really hope to go back and read book two and three in the series! Fans of Amish fiction are going to love this story, but anyone looking for a well written story filled with well fleshed characters along with real life issues should give this book a try I really don't think you will be disappointed.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.