A Mother's Secret

Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel #2

by Amy Clipston

Thirty-one-year-old Carolyn Lapp has never been married-but she's been a mother for fifteen years. In a community with strict standards and a long memory, Carolyn knows she might never find a man who will have her and her son, Benjamin. Carolyn's family tries to marry her off to a widower with a daughter who needs a mother. A marriage of convenience doesn't sound so bad, yet despite her loneliness, Carolyn knows what she really wants: a traditional Amish family and a marriage for love. When Benjamin gets into trouble at an auction, he finds himself beholden to a handsome horse breeder named Joshua Glick. Joshua and Carolyn feel an instant attraction, and soon a romance is budding between them. The trouble is Joshua believes Benjamin is Carolyn's nephew, not her son. After years of shame and loneliness, Carolyn suddenly has two men vying for her attention. Can either man give her the family-and the unconditional love-she longs for? Or will her past once again sabotage the future she wants?

Genres: Amish, Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Amish Fiction, Fiction, Christian Romance

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2014

About the author

Hi! I'm a bestselling author of heartwarming romance and happily ever after.

Contemporary Romance (Non-Amish)
The Heart of Splendid Lake (2021)
The View from Coral Cove (2022)
On the Way to Christmas (Anthology) (2022)
Something Old, Something New (2023)
Starstruck (2023)
Finding You (2024)
With This Ring (2025)
Second Chance at Sunshine Inn (7/2025)
The Lighthouse at the Cove (12/2025)

Stand Alone Amish Fiction
Caring for the Amish Family (4/2025)

Guideposts Amish Suspense
A Heart Set Free (9/2025)


An Amish Legacy
1. Foundation of Love (2022)
2. Building a Future (2022)
3. Breaking New Ground (2023)
4. The Hearts of Shelter (2023)

An Amish Marketplace
1. The Bake Shop (2019)
2. The Farm Stand (2020)
3. The Coffee Corner (2020)
4. The Jam and Jelly Nook (2021)

An Amish Homestead
1. A Place at our Table (2017)
2. Room on the Porch Swing (2018)
3. Seat by the Hearth (2018)
4. A Welcome at Our Door (2019)

An Amish Heirloom
1. The Forgotten Recipe (2015)
2. The Courtship Basket (2016)
3. The Cherished Quilt (2017)
4. The Beloved Hope Chest (2017)

Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel
1. A Hopeful Heart (2013)
2. A Mother’s Secret (2014)
3. A Dream of Home (2015)
4. A Simple Prayer (2015)

Kauffman Amish Bakery
1. A Gift of Grace (2009)
2. A Promise of Hope (2010)
3. A Place of Peace (2011)
4. A Life of Joy (2012)
5. A Season of Love (2012)

Amish Anthologies
• An Amish Kitchen (2012) – Spoonful of Love (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Cradle (2015) – A Son for Always (This story complements A Mother’s Secret)
• An Amish Market (2016) – Love Birds (This story complements The Forgotten Recipe)
• An Amish Harvest (2016) – Love & Buggy Rides (This complements The Courtship Basket)
• An Amish Home (2017) – Home Sweet Home (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Summer (2017) – Summer Storms (Stand-alone story)
• Amish Sweethearts (2018) –Complements The Kauffman Amish Bakery Series and also has a sequel to my story in An Amish Summer
• An Amish Heirloom (2018) – Complements A Place at our Table
• An Amish Homecoming (2018) – Complements A Place at our Table
• Seasons of an Amish Garden (2019) – Complements The Christmas Cat, novella included in An Amish Christmas Love
• An Amish Reunion (2019) – Complements Room on the Porch Swing
• An Amish Christmas Bakery (2019) – Cookies and Cheer (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Singing (2021) (Collection of four stories by Amy Clipston)
• An Amish Christmas Wedding (2020) –Evergreen Love (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Barn Raising (2021)
• An Amish Schoolroom (2021)
• An Amish Quilting Bee (2021)

Young Adult
1. Roadside Assistance (2011)
2. Reckless Heart (2012) (Kauffman Amish Bakery young adult book)
3. Destination Unknown (2014)
4. Miles from Nowhere (2015)

Non-Fiction
A Gift of Love (2014)

Seasonal
• A Plain and Simple Christmas (2010) Naomi’s Gift (2011)
• Kauffman Amish Christmas Collection (2012)
• An Amish Christmas Gift (2015) includes Naomi’s Gift
• An Amish Christmas Love (2017) –The Christmas Cat
• An Amish Christmas Bakery (2019)
• An Amish Christmas Wedding (2020)
• On the Way to Christmas (2022)

Reviews

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many words I could use to describe this book. Amazing, fantastic, terrific, must-read, and a keeper are just a few. Amy Clipston has written a wonderful story about letting go of the past and forgiving yourself for past mistakes.

Carolyn Lapp made a mistake in her youth that she now believes will prevent her from finding true happiness. That mistake resulted in her son Ben. She believes she will not be able to marry for love as her parents did but will have to marry to give Ben a father. She meets Joshua Glick at an auction when her son is accused of hurting his horse. That injury results in Ben working at Josh's horse farm to pay off the vet bill. Joshua and Carolyn soon find themselves attracted to each other but in the way to finding true happiness stands Carolyn's secret and Joshua's mother Barbie. Can the two overcome Carolyn's past and Barbie's desire to run Josh's life?

This book was so easy to get into and stay interested in. The characters are so genuine it is easy to get into their story and hope for the best for them. The pace of the book is just right. I couldn't put this book down as I just had to know what would happen to Carolyn and Josh.

I like that Amy writes stories about Amish people who have problems just like anyone else. These people aren't perfect and they have struggles just like non Amish. I think it's important for those of us who are intrigued by their lives to understand they are not perfect but flawed just like us. The difference is in how they deal with their flaws compared to us. Amy does a fantastic job of highlighting this. Another aspect of the book I enjoyed was the characters are in their thirties and still trying to discover who they are.

I teared up reading a section of this book when Ben defends his mother to Josh. I don't often tear up when reading but I just couldn't stop myself. Amy has such a connection to her characters that it comes across on the page and draws you in.

I give this book two thumb up. It is definitely one of the best Amish fiction books I've read and one of the best books I've read this year. Bravo, Amy. Well done!!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like how these novels are interwoven. It was nice to see the characters from the first one again and I am enjoying the overarching plot line.

I felt bad for Josh in the first one so it was nice to see his story. Carolyn was sweet and I liked her sense of humor. I couldn't stand Barbie in the first one and I didn't like her in this one either. She's a vindictive, bossy know it all. The romance, which didn't really work for me in the first one, was much better here. It seemed more developed and I could tell they had a lot in common.

I think the next one is about Saul and there wasn't much about him in this book so I am interested in learning more about him.

[Cathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful book

This book shows how judging someone in an un-Christlike way hurts more than just one person. It also hurts the ones who surround that person

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the plot was fairly predictable, the details of the story made it a pleasure to read. Even though Carolyn lives under the thumb of her older brother, her vibrant personality peeks through in her loyalty to her son and her compassion for others. Even with a rocky meeting, Joshua soon sees past the walls she has erected and values her friendship. I liked that their relationship progressed slowly but steadily, and both perspectives were shared. One of my favorite characters was Carolyn's son Benjamin, who was victimized by his two bullying cousins, but rises above his situation to embrace new opportunities. The other family and community members served to move the story along, but came across two-dimensional. I appreciated the messages of forgiveness and acceptance and I would read this book again.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)

[Abby Stopka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again Amy clipston blows it out of the park with the 2nd book in the hearts of the Lancaster' hotel series. We learn more about what happens to Joshua and we get some more characters introduced. I love this book the only character I definitely cannot stand is Barbie. But I still will give this a 5 star rating.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

About this book:

“An unwed Amish woman yearns for real love and a family. The only thing in her way is the shame she’s been carrying for half of her life.
Thirty-one-year-old Carolyn Lapp has never been married—but she’s been a mother for fifteen years. In a community with strict standards and a long memory, Carolyn knows she might never find a man who will have her and her son, Benjamin.
Carolyn’s family tries to marry her off to a widower with a daughter who needs a mother. A marriage of convenience doesn’t sound so bad, yet despite her loneliness, Carolyn knows what she really wants: a traditional Amish family and a marriage for love.
When Benjamin gets into trouble at an auction, he finds himself beholden to a handsome horse breeder named Joshua Glick. Joshua and Carolyn feel an instant attraction, and soon a romance is budding between them. The trouble is Joshua believes Benjamin is Carolyn’s nephew, not her son.
After years of shame and loneliness, Carolyn suddenly has two men vying for her attention. Can either man give her the family—and the unconditional love—she longs for? Or will her past once again sabotage the future she wants?”


Series: Book two in the “Hearts of The Lancaster Grand Hotel”. (For understanding this book better you should read book #1.) {Book #1, “A Hopeful Heart”, I have read and reviewed (with the old rating system), but looks like I’ve never posted it…Hmmm…}

Spiritual Content- Many Prayers and Scriptures are quoted; Talks about God’s Will.


Negative Content- N/A


Sexual Content- Carolyn says “she had given in to her boyfriend’s constant pressure and wound up pregnant at the tender age of sixteen.” (No details)


-Carolyn Lapp
-Joshua Glick
P.O.V. switches between them, Barbie, Hannah, Rosemary, Ruth, Amanda, Sarah Ann (once) and Benjamin (once)
295 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Five Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars

Eeeek! Another awesome book by Mrs. Amy Clipston!! Though, I think I liked “A Mother’s Secret” a bit better than “A Hopeful Heart” {I’ll post the review of that one someday…} but I cannot wait to read “A Dream of Hope” coming in November!


Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...



*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Zondervan) for this review.

[Rachel Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5

Carolyn Lapp knows that her chances of finding love are dwindling as she enters her thirties, but she can’t help but dream of finding a man who will love her, faults and all. Abandoned by her boyfriend as a teenager, Carolyn found herself a single mother at the age of sixteen, and has devoted her life to raising her son and protecting him from the stigma of being born out of wedlock. Although Carolyn’s mother has always been supportive of her, her brother, Amos, is eager to marry her off to make her seem more respectable.

Although marrying for convenience isn’t what Carolyn imagined for her life, she finds herself tempted to settle for a comfortable situation when she befriends Saul, a widower with a sweet daughter. But just as Carolyn begins contemplating marriage to Saul, she meets Joshua Glick, a bachelor struggling to run his horse farm following his brother’s death. When Joshua hires Carolyn’s son, Ben, to work for him, they find themselves continually thrown together.

Joshua is far too busy with his farm to contemplate dating, but even he can’t deny that he enjoys spending time with Carolyn. But his mother is determined to match him up with someone she deems more suitable, and Carolyn is cautious about getting involved with someone who doesn’t know the truth about her past. How will Joshua react when he learns that Ben is her son, rather than her nephew? Will he also be held back by her past mistakes, or can they both look to the future and forge ahead together?

As I mentioned in my review of the first book in Amy Clipston’s Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series, I wasn’t sure if this new series would live up to Amy’s Kauffman Amish Bakery books, which were among the novels that got me hooked on Amish fiction in the first place. While A Hopeful Heart won me over in the end, A Mother’s Secret never really grabbed me or compelled me in the way that Amy’s other books have.

I will say that I liked the premise for this story, and the message that followed. While I’ve come across several Amish novels that focus on women who have had children out of wedlock, they’ve mostly focused on young adults or teenagers who quickly find a man who is willing to marry them and return them to a respectable position in the community. Carolyn’s situation is entirely different, and she’s borne the stigma of being a single mother for fifteen years. While some people have accepted her situation and think nothing of it, others can’t put the past behind them. Even in the English world, I’m sure that the way Carolyn is treated is very common. I thought that A Mother’s Secret contained a much-needed reminder that we cannot call ourselves Christians if we refuse to forgive people for their past mistakes, or continually remind them of how they have fallen short. Carolyn sought forgiveness in her baptism into the Amish church, a fact that is often forgotten by her brother.

Given the way she has been treated over the years, Carolyn has learned to let others make assumptions about her situation, which often results in people assuming that Ben is her brother or nephew, rather than her son. As a result of this, she lets Joshua believe that Ben is her nephew, and somehow he spends the majority of the book in denial of Ben’s true parentage. I wasn’t entirely sure how realistic this was—how likely is it that Ben never calls Carolyn “Mamm” in front of Joshua?—but it was necessary in order for a major conflict to occur. Ultimately, it made sense that Carolyn doesn’t automatically tell new people that she’s Ben’s mother, since she’s constantly trying to protect herself and her son from scorn and judgement. But after a while, the conflict with Joshua felt like it was far too drawn out, and I got kind of tired of waiting for Carolyn to tell Joshua the truth.

Joshua’s main conflict stems from his mother, Barbie, meddling in his life and wanting to match him up with the kind of woman she wants for a daughter-in-law. We already know Barbie from the first book in the series, so readers will be familiar with Barbie’s controlling ways and her dissatisfaction with her daughter-in-law, Hannah, who left the community to marry an Englisher. Barbie sometimes felt a little bit over-the-top and caricatured, but ultimately I realise that there are people who behave like her. My main issue with Barbie is the same one I have with Amos—at the end of the book, they both suddenly give up their pushiness as soon as they’re confronted, and admit to the errors of their ways. Given how stubborn both of them are for the entire book, it didn’t feel entirely realistic that they would have such a rapid change of heart.

I appreciated the chance to reconnect with Hannah and her daughters, who were the principal characters in A Hopeful Heart. Even if they didn’t feature prominently in the book, I’m intrigued to see where their stories go, and whether Hannah is able to reconnect with the daughter she left behind in the Amish community. Given that a lot of the characters in this book (Joshua, Barbie, Hannah and her daughters) were the main focus in A Hopeful Heart, I’m hesitant to recommend this as a standalone novel. I think it would be better appreciated by those who are already familiar with the characters.

Even if I didn’t find it as compelling as Amy’s previous books, I won’t deny that A Mother’s Secret is an easy read with an interesting storyline. I tried to put my finger on what it was that made this book not quite as engaging as Amy’s other stories, and ultimately I think my issues stem from the choppiness of the writing. Most of the scenes in this book are very short, some of them barely more than a couple of paragraphs. It was difficult for me to get truly sucked into the story and connect with a particular character because I would quickly be moved on to someone else. In places I also found the dialogue to be a little clunky and not always entirely realistic. While some characters (such as Carolyn’s mother and a friend at the hotel) give great advice to Carolyn, their manners of speaking made it sound more like they were regurgitating a speech than having a normal conversation.

Since I’m familiar with Amy Clipston’s earlier novels, it’s difficult for me not to compare them to A Mother’s Secret. Perhaps if this were my introduction to Amy’s writing, I would be less critical of it. As it is, I didn’t find this book as engaging as her previous books, but I didn’t dislike it either. A Mother’s Secret might not particularly stand out among the other Amish novels I’ve read recently, but it has an interesting premise and a sweet romance, as well as an important message about forgiveness.

Review title provided by Zondervan.

[Kinsey Breland .: avid_midnight_reader :. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like the only reason the author continued this second book in the series with Joshua was because he was the other man that was in love with Hannah in the first book, but he didn’t get the girl. It feels like the author was worried about Joshua needing to get his happy ending, but I didn’t like his character in the first book. He was way too controlling before, and that same behavior continued a little bit in this one. Joshua’s mother is very controlling as well. He probably got that behavior from her. I did really like Carolyn though, and for the most part, Joshua seemed to not be as bossy and controlling with her.

I love that Trey, Hannah, and her children were still in this book. Their storylines were all great in the first book, and it was nice to get breaks from Joshua’s sections.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixteen years ago Carolyn made a mistake that turned her into an unwed mother. Her son, Benjamin, is a responsible and caring teenager but often gets tormented by his cousins. Carolyn knows that God forgave her for her past sin but it is still difficult to face the judgment of others and her own feelings of unworthiness. When she meets Joshua she wonders if she has a chance of true love or will her past still haunt her.

[Kimberleigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book wore me out. I have loved several of her books, but this one was hard to get through. Barbie was too much!!! Ruined the book for me! I couldn’t wait for this book to be over. Ugh!

[Alison P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I signed up online for a bunch of book reviews which all came at the same time because I just click on the things that sound interesting when I am reading them. I never write down anything like the books that are coming in or when they need to be read by because I figure that if I picked to review the book then there will be a note with all that information inside the book. Well, I must have been in a really accepting mood over a few day period and said yes to all of the book reviews because I had three in one month which is really not like me! I try to spread them out so that I can do everything that I need to with my family and not be rushed to read any one book so that it gets my honest opinion. I guess what they say is true that things come in threes. This time it was three good books!!

I got A Mother's Secret (Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel) by Amy Clipston in the mail and didn't remember anything about what I read earlier about the book and I just put it in my pile. I was on a roll with the other books that I read and started reading this one right after the last book I reviewed. I was hooked and couldn't put it down!!

In this book, Carolyn Lapp is dealing with the stigma of being an unwed mother in the Amish community. There are very strict standards and she believes that she is never going to find a man to marry her and accept her son, Benjamin. Carolyn's brother finds a widowed man who is looking for someone to raise his child and Carolyn doesn't want to enter into a marriage of convenience but she feels like it might be the only solution for her. Benjamin gets in trouble at a horse auction for actions of his cousins but he is now in an agreement to work at Joshua Glick's farm to pay off the vet bill for the injured horse. The work is the best thing for Benjamin because it gets him away from his troublesome cousins and he learns that he loves horses! There is so much going on in this book that you are going to have to pick it up to find out.

There were so many times in the book that I forgot that the people were Amish because they were going through so many things that are similar to "regular life." All of the people were dealing with everyday life problems including looking for love like Carolyn. It was great to read the stories about how the horse farm worked and all of the issues that the characters went through in order to grow. The best part was the antagonist in the story who was Joshua's mother. She was so negative and almost to an extreme with her strong opinions. All of the characters grew and changed through the story and I was glad to read about it. It really makes you believe in love!

I hope that you pick up this book at your local library or bookstore soon. If you can't find it there, it is available on Amazon with the link at the top of the page or you can go to the straight to the publisher and buy here.

*I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion and review but all of the opinions expressed here are my own.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the series....Amish romance.

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I spent time with A Mother's Secret, this story about dreams, trust, and forgiveness grew on me. The weight of the fact that an unwed mother, Carolyn, has been living in shame for half of her life in an Amish community with "strict standards and a long memory" (as the back cover says) is carried convincingly throughout the book. The building of the relationship between Carolyn and Joshua comes off simply and genuinely, supported with dialogue that makes their growing feelings for each other believable.

Now, the book does have a way of rehashing the same ideas and sentiments from paragraph to paragraph or from chapter to chapter in a way that doesn't always develop the story or the characters any further. It's one thing when repetition serves to expand or to shed a different light on a particular point, but if there's nothing new to say about that point, I'm fine with a story moving on to what happens next instead of repeating the same information or characters' thoughts over again, even if it means a shorter read.

There weren't many surprises for me in the plot except one key point at the climax (a "sign", perhaps) that I very much liked. I didn't realize this was the second book in a series when I first came across it, but this story can stand on its own two feet.
_______________
BookLook Bloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

[JoJo Sutis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy Clipston has done it again!!!
This is such a wonderful story, full of unforgettable characters!!!
The story immediately sucked me in with secrets and intrigue. Who are these characters? What about their past? I wondered. And most of all, could they work through the mistakes of the past and move on?
This is a really great read and a wonderful reminder of God’s forgiveness.
If you are a fan of rich Amish fiction don’t miss Amy Clipston!!!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I really liked this book. I liked the main characters. I felt bad for Carolyn, though. She went through a lot, but she was always there for Ben. He was a sweet boy. I'm so glad that Joshua and Carolyn finally found happiness. I hope Lilian finally gets over what happened with her mom, Hannah, in the first book, and I hope that before the end of the series Aaron comes back. I really want to know his story.

[Carolyn Vandine West · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great storyline about making mistakes and being forgiven. Can’t wait for the next book in the series

[John Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read. I found the characters to be relatable and the Amish backdrop fascinating.

[Kathy Wallen · Rating 3 out of 5]

May 18, 2025

I enjoyed this book more than the previous two Amy Clipston books that I've read, Breaking New Ground and The Heart's Shelter. Both Joshua and Carolyn were likable characters, and I enjoyed watching their romance unfold as the story progressed.

I liked that this book didn't have anywhere near as much filler as the aforementioned Amy Clipston books (which are more recently published—2023 and 2024, respectively, compared to A Mother's Secret's 2014 publishing date). In those books, the characters eat dinner and talk and go to work and just go through their mundane lives for hundreds of pages with almost no action. Though this book had a dose of people going about their regular lives—which isn't in and of itself a bad thing—it was at least interesting the entire time. Something was happening at all times instead of taking an excruciatingly slow pace just to reach that sweet, sweet 80,000 word count.

I didn't like the whole "I told you," "You know that" thing. You know:

Josh's mother: You should go to talk to her.

Josh: I can't go talk to her now. I told you I will go to a social. Please don't push this. You know that I don't like to be pressured into things.

If his mother already knows this, why is he telling her?

Amos: I think that this is the best way for you to find a good man.

Carolyn: I told you I want to marry for love.

One character saying something to another character who should already know that is just a lazy way to convey information to the audience. I found it to be really, really annoying.

I also did not like Hannah. I think that I have an aversion to Hannahs or something. I don't like the name and I'm liking less and less Hannahs whom I see in literature.

Also, is it at all possible that a girl can become non-Amish and not wear makeup? Must the "English" world automatically be associated with makeup? I'm a teenage girl and I have never worn makeup in my life. It's just not necessary. Girls wearing makeup isn't a rite of passage from Amish to non-Amish.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mother's Secret by Amy Clipston is exactly that. A young Amish woman loved a man who didn't love her back. He wanted to leave and she stayed behind. She soon found out she was pregnant.  And since then, she has been punished by many including those in her own Amish community. But most of all she has been punishing herself the most. 

Caroyln Lapp found herself always feeling defensives. She hides that secret that Ben is her son. Mostly everyone knows but only a few haven't known. And one of them includes a man that has won her heart. Carolyn knows she needs to come forward but is afraid of being not liked and judged once again. She and Joshua have just become real friends and she's scared he will push her away. When the time comes, it surprised me what one character did and said. That one character made all the difference. I cried so hard. How adult like and mature that character was in that moment. 

Amy Clipston has shown what the true meaning of forgiveness is both from oneself and from family. It was a hard journey and took the characters a bit of time before they could come to terms with their behavior. Meanwhile, the leading protagonist blamed herself repeatedly. But due to forgiveness by others, support from her mom, and a second chance at love, Carolyn may just find forgiveness for herself. 

Overall, A Mother's Secret was a beautifully told story. It shows how far a mother would go to protect her son. And how far that son would go to defend his mother. The love of a mother is one that shouldn't be put lightly. Amy captured the realistic moments of being a mother and how hard it can be to move forward from mistakes. Plus, the story truly highlights what real Christianity is and isn't. I highly recommend this Christian tale to all. 

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! Carolyn had a baby at sixteen, but before she was baptized into the Amish faith. Her parents were supportive of her and she and her now fifteen-year-old son live with them. Carolyn's brother won't let her forget her mistake and is pressuring her to marry a man he knows, however Carolyn is falling in love with another man however he doesn't know about her son.

I loved the support that Carolyn's parents gave her. I also loved how Carolyn was protective of her son and the good relationship they had. I liked the way Carolyn and Joshua met and how Joshua treated Carolyn's son (even though he didn't know it was her son). It was cute to watch Joshua be so nervous about dating and asking advice from his young employee. Barbie, even though I didn't like her, was a good addition to the story.

I am excited to read the next book in the series. If you like Amish fiction, I highly recommend this book!

[Jess & Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh Book 2 was so good!!! A Mother’s Secret really pulled me in with Carolyn’s story. I loved how Amy Clipston explored her past as an unwed mother and how that still affected her life and reputation in the community. It broke my heart seeing her struggle with guilt, but also made me root for her even more. Her relationship with Benjamin was so sweet to watch unfold! I loved how patient and understanding he was with both her and Benjamin (her son!). The way Amy wrote their connection felt so natural, and I was cheering for them the whole time.

I also liked how the book showed the difficulty of moving forward while still living under the weight of other people’s opinions. Carolyn had to find her strength not only for herself but for her son too, and I was so glad to see her get the love and support she truly deserved. The ending left me smiling and ready to keep going with the series!!!

[Tracy Stackhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got me where I live

I reviewed Book 1, "A Hopeful Heart," but didn't get to finish it. Each of these perks has been excellent . They are so good when I want to read a romance . They are not like fluff romances in which the characters appear to be idiots who misunderstand practically everything without the courage to ask directly . Nor are they like other adult romances that have explicit sex scenes every other chapter . I have known many good Amish people who are truly loving and forgiving. Somehow the rules of Amish life has become inflexible . Of course I know many other non-Amish people who believe in Christ , but also act according to their stated beliefs. This series shows a lot of Amish life that leaves the reader with perplexing questions . Good thing the author gives us a list of those questions at the end of each book for us to consider .

[Sydni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carolyn feared she would never find true love, but her greatest fear was the continued rejection by people in her community. She had become a single mother at the age of sixteen, and her greatest desire was to protect her son, Benjamin.

Joshua believed love was no longer an option for him after Hannah left the community. He poured all his energy into his horse farm.

At an auction, Joshua mistakenly believed Benjamin threw a rock at his horse with intent to play a joke. But after a verbal confrontation, Benjamin's grandfather agreed to have him work off his debt on Joshua's farm.

When Carolyn and Joshua met, there was an immediate attraction. But as loves blooms, Carolyn's secret about Benjamin is revealed. Could the truth destroy everything?

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so into the story of Hannah & her family so I was so happy when she entered back in chapter 6 and then that I got to hear from/about them throughout the book. I was glad also that this one followed Josh as well. I was captivated by Carolyn's story quickly also. All around a wonderful read. I love the way everything came together in the end. Theres still ONE more question us readers are left with in the end.. but since it's a series I suppose I shall find out more in the next book! It's going to be a very interesting twist if what the author alluded to is true.. I was very surprised at the possibility of it! Anyway, starting the next one soon! Amazing series.

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When she was just sixteen, Carolyn became an unwed mother. Because she had not yet joined the Amish church, she was not shunned, and she was forgiven. But there were always some in her community who had not forgotten. Her older brother was one of her severest critics. Now her son is fifteen, and got a job at a newly horse farm, which led to a relationship between his boss and his mother. How they come to grips with her past indiscretion is well handled by the author. The characters, even the less prominent ones, are interesting. The only complaint I have is that the ending was rushed and tied everything up too quickly.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the series. Josh was in the first book so this story tells how he is doing with his horse farm that he and his late brother had started. He is Amish and in his 30's and his mother is trying very hard to find a bride for him..............Carolyn comes into the story when her son is said to have thrown a rock at Josh's horse and cut the horse. To pay for the damage, Ben is going to work at the horse farm for the summer. An easy read and just like every Hallmark movie there are many problems to reach the ending, but the story is the journey to get to the ending!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mother’s Secret is so far my favorite in the Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel series. It deals with a topic that I certainly don’t see much Amish fiction. Having a child out of wedlock. I like that Joshua talked to Hannah even though she left. My favorite thing though was the theme of forgiveness. I’m glad this include some of the storyline from the first book and that we still get to see Hannah. I’m also hoping the Benjamin eventually gets his own story.

Can’t wait to read the final two books.

[Rebecca Cecil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Carolyn made a mistake at 16 she had to live with and be judged for years by what happened. At 17 she was baptized in her community Amish church forgiven by God and her family well all except her brother Amos. Carolyn hopes one day to meet a man who will love her and one she loves as much as her mom and dad love each other. After all her years if not dating she now finds herself with 2 men in her life.
I really enjoy these Amish reads they are clean enough that your kids can read as well as adults.

[Kali · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this novel wasn't bad, I enjoyed having a bit of the continuation of the previous books' characters. For some reason this one just seemed a bit too drawn out. I found myself getting bored with it, and just wishing I could get through it to finish. Which lead to it taking longer for me to read since I didn't have the motivation for it. I did enjoy the overall story though. I'm not entirely sure why I felt so impatient with the plot.

[Jessica Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars because it's not my thing but I knew what I was getting into 😂. I found this book at a thrift store in Lancaster county. I wanted to get an immersive experience.

I liked the characters, but the writing wasn't very rich. Some sections felt like the editor fell asleep, because the dialogue was repetitive. God never got a break, people were praying to God every chapter break and opening. But it was a nice story!