Title: Foundation of Love by Amy Clipston
An Amish Legacy Novel Book One
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 341 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Get swept away in the first installment of Amy Clipston’s Amish Legacy series.
They were “only friends” . . . but they wanted so much more.
Crystal Glick is grateful to live with her brother’s family since her father died and her fiancé, Owen, broke their engagement. Crystal loves her bruderskinner and cheerfully helps her sister-in-law through a difficult pregnancy with babies number seven and eight, but she yearns for a husband and children of her own.
Duane Bontrager is mourning the recent death of his wife, Connie, after twenty-four years of marriage. He and his grown sons have a thriving roofing business but can’t get used to life without her. As the young men prepare to launch out on their own, Duane can’t imagine life alone—nor with anyone but Connie.
When a roofing job at the Glicks introduces Duane and Crystal, they’re attracted in spite of their fourteen-year age difference. But their bishop thinks Duane is better suited for the sweet widow Tricia, and Duane’s sons object to his interest in any woman. Crystal’s family fears losing her indispensable help. If she must go, they’d rather she be reunited with Owen in spite of his betrayal.
They’re the only two who believe they’re a match made in heaven, can Duane and Crystal overcome the obstacles to love?
Review:
Foundation of Love by Amy Clipston is a charming Amish romance.
Thirty-three-year-old Crystal Glick is unmarried and lives with her brother Kane and her sister-in-law Leona. Crystal takes care of her nieces and nephews as Leona takes it easy due to her current pregnancy. Crystal would like a family of her own, but without any prospects on the horizon, she tries to remain content with caring for her brother’s children. With six kids to care for and endless chores, she rarely has time for herself. When her brother hires Duane Bontrager and his three adult sons to replace their roof, Crystal is drawn to the friendly widower. Once she realizes her feelings are running deeper than friendship, she wrestles with other people’s objections to the age difference between them. Will Crystal allow this chance for love and happiness slip away?
Ever since Duane’s beloved wife Connie passed way, he and his sons, Jayden, Tyler and Korey, have muddled their way through cooking, household chores and running their roofing business. Duane still deeply misses Connie and he is not looking for a new wife. But he greatly enjoys spending time with Crystal and as he gets to know her, his feelings turn romantic. But Duane is a little conflicted about their age difference, having more children and his sons’ reactions to his announcement he is dating are troubling. He is also being pressured to marry a widow in his community.
Foundation of Love is a touching romance with a wonderful setting and appealing characters. Crystal and Duane are vibrantly developed characters whose faith guides them through their obstacle strewn journey to happily ever after. Crystal is self-less and caring but she often puts other people’s needs ahead of her own. Duane is evenly tempered as he struggles to work through his son’s resistance to his fledgling relationship with Crystal. The romance is heartwarming but their future is far from assured. With one final conflict to resolve, Amy Clipston brings this first An Amish Legacy novel to an uplifting, smile-inducing conclusion.
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