Room on the Porch Swing by Amy Clipston
Published by Zondervan on May 8, 2018
Pages: 336
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Ever since her best friend died six months ago, Laura Reihl has vowed to make each day count. And that means she should probably break off her relationship with Rudy. They’ve been together for so many years, and his friendship means the world to her. But she knows friendship doesn’t come close to the fireworks of true love, and she’s not really feeling the fireworks.
So when Savilla’s widower, Allen, asks her to help him take care of the baby Savilla left behind, Laura jumps at the chance. Maybe the change of scenery will help her gain perspective on her relationship with Rudy. And she’d do anything to help Allen out—he’s always been a good friend to her, and he’s Rudy’s best friend as well.
When she arrives at Allen’s house, though, she finds a man she barely recognizes. Allen is distraught over his wife’s death, blaming himself for not taking her to the doctor soon enough.
As Laura helps Allen work through his grief, she remembers just how easy he is to talk to. And she discovers an attraction she’s never felt with Rudy. She can’t be falling for Allen, can she? It would be a betrayal to the two people she’s care most about, Savilla and Rudy. But if she denies her feelings, is she betraying herself?
I am a book blogger with the Fiction Guild’s Elite Reader Program, and often I receive books that my mother and I love to read. Today’s book is a book by one of my mother’s favorite authors, Amy Clipston, and since she had already read and reported on the first book in this series back in January of this year (see review HERE), I knew she was eager to read this book too. Here’s what my mom had to say:
“Room on the Porch Swing is the second and final book of the Amish Homestead series by Amy Clipston. This is a touching sweet story that continues with some of the same real created characters from book one, A Place At Our Table. This story, Room on the Porch Swing, begins where book one ends, but is still a great standalone story as well. The story is an emotional one dealing with life’s heavy situations such as grief and loss. The story also offers second chances.
Laura Reinl lost her mother less than a year ago. She is sad, feeling alone and heartbroken and trying to heal when unexpectedly, her best friend Savilla dies leaving behind her husband, Allen and their two-month old daughter, Mollie. Because Savilla was like a sister to her, Laura is crushed that she has lost her best friend. Savilla and her husband were newlyweds when she died, having only been married for one year, and Allen is devastated. Savilla’s mother, Irma Mae, is also feeling the pain of the tragic loss of her daughter but she offers to help Allen take care of baby Mollie and help him by doing the housework. Allen owns his own business repairing and selling buggies and needs to return to the shop. Unfortunately Irma Mae has an accident when she falls and breaks her leg and hip. She must have surgery and rehabilitation for several months to completely recover and learn to walk again.
Laura innocently offers to help Allen by being a nanny for baby Mollie as Irma Mae is unable to do so. While Laura’s boyfriend, Rudy, is supportive of her plan in the beginning, he quickly becomes unhappy, jealous, and angry. Rudy and Laura have been in a relationship for over four years but Rudy doesn’t offer Laura a marriage proposal in all that time saying he doesn’t feel ready. Laura wonders if what she and Rudy share is even love or simply just a habit. After working for Allen for several months, Laura finds herself starting to have feelings for Allen. She is Rudy’s girlfriend but cannot turn her back on Allen and baby Mollie.
Allen needs Laura and soon Laura needs Allen and Mollie. Their community is talking and they feel that Laura seems like Mollie’s mother and Allen’s wife, which causes her to examine their relationship. Has she overstepped her boundaries? Will Rudy propose?
Amy Clipston knows how to make the reader feel like part of the family. You want to help. You feel all the pain they are dealing with. I always enjoyed reading anything written by Amy Clipston, she is one of my favorite authors, but this book is the best!! I’m looking forward to reading her next book.”
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AMY CLIPSTON is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. She has sold more than 1 million books, and her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and three spoiled rotten cats.
Be sure to visit Amy Clipston’s website Online / Facebook / Twitter
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