Mattie's mysterious and emotion-filled past has been alluded to in the previous three books, so it was gratifying to learn what her story was and how it helped prepare her to support her daughters with their struggles. Mattie is a happily married young wife, but heartbreaking tragedy strikes not once, but twice. Her childhood friend Leroy offers her his heart and home, and while it seems to solve her problems at first, Mattie's intense grief clouds her judgement and prevents her from turning to him in her time of greatest need. I liked how their foundation of longtime friendship and Leroy's unrequited love keeps him from giving up on Mattie, and the way their other friends and family encourage him and Mattie both. A good conclusion to the Amish Heirloom series.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Warning! Before reading this book, place a box of tissues by your side!! They will definitely be needed!!!


As the last book in the "Amish Heirloom" Series, it leaves us wanting MORE from this excellent author!! Amy writes in her unique style that definitely appeals to our inner souls. I was left with some very deep thoughts, tomorrows are NEVER promised , we should appreciate each day for what it is, loving those around us. You just never know what the future will bring.

This is Mattie's story. If you have read the previous books in this series, you will know of whom I speak. She is a dear Christian, caring and loving. However, she has secrets that have remained hidden in the hope chest for a very long time. The characters in this novel are near and dear to my heart. They are described in a detailed, realistic manner that has the reader walking alongside them in the rocky path of life. I easily identified with them as I felt their every heartache, challenge, fear and joy! My heart ached for Mattie as her secrets were made known.

The plot moves quickly with the perfect number of twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged from the first to the last page. My emotions were running amok as I travelled this difficult journey of grief, redemption and the desire and ability to once again love . Not an easy path!! As I stumbled my way through this plot of hidden secrets, revealed in love for Mattie's daughters, I felt her deep pain at having this secrets come to the surface. However, as a mother, I also could understand her willingness to do ANYTHING for her daughters! As painful as it was, what a sacrifice this mother made!!

I am upset that this series has ended! But, I am impatiently waiting to see what the author comes up with next!! Amy Clipston's books just keep getting better and better.

This book was received as a gift. The opinions and thoughts expressed are honest and my own.

The Amish Heirloom series comes full circle with Mamm’s story and the secret hidden for years in the cherished hope chest. Mamm is a very strong individual in character and faith who carried a weight only her husband and God knows about. As we learn more about Mamm’s secret we also learn how strong God’s love can be.

This story for me was truly the best in the series. Maybe because it was Mamm’s story, maybe it is because I am of her generation, or maybe it was the depth of emotions portrayed by all of the characters, I am not sure. However, The Beloved Hope Chest grabbed my heart, held on tight, and didn’t even let go well after the story ended. What a fabulous conclusion to a fantastic series.

I received a complimentary copy (or ARC) of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to write a review, and all options expressed in this review are completely my own.

Mattie Fisher’s three daughters know that she’s been keeping a secret from them. With each item pulled from the beloved family hope chest, they’ve discovered a new clue about their mother’s past.
There’s a reason Mattie has been keeping her history hidden, and she’s not sure she’s ready to reopen old wounds.

Mattie’s story is one of grief and learning to love again. But like the best things preserved in a hope chest, it's a story of love and redemption born out of heartache—and it's past time to share it.

What a great ending to the Amish Heirloom series. Mattie's story is what I needed as I have been dealing with grief myself. I too am learning to love again.

I look forward to reading more book by Amy Clipston in the future.

I received this book from the Author, and was not required to give a positive review.

Hope chest are often given to young Amish girls to begin to collect things for the home and family they are expected to have soon after their baptism into the Amish faith. Mattie's hope chest began that way, but now many years later, it holds treasures of her past and secrets known only to her and those from her past when she experienced several painful losses. She has never shared these stories with her own daughters and as they find the items in their mother's hope chest, they want answers. They want to understand. But is Mattie ready to open her heart to memories so painful that she has locked them away for decades?
I have read all the previous three volumes in this series and it would be helpful to have read them before reading this one, but I think it could probably be read as a stand-alone as much previous backstory is given for the reader to understand. This is a delightful novel and series, even though many parts are painful and may well bring tears to readers' eyes. It is not a bad thing to feel the pain of characters though and it may be cathartic for readers who have had similar experiences in their own lives. With all that being said, I love this book! I loved the whole series of four books. Amy Clipston is a master story teller and deserves much praise for The Beloved Hope Chest.
I rate this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to readers.
I received an ebook of this novel from netgalley and Zondervan publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is book four in the Amish Heirloom series. I've read them all and feel like I know the family. Book four didn't disappoint after reading the sister's stories. In this book you learn about their parent's story and the secret they have been keeping for many years. After one of the other daughters discover a box, Mattie must sit her daughters down and tell them the truth. I couldn't put this book down it was so good. I love reading Amy's books because she makes the characters seem real and allow you to connect. Be prepared to laugh & cry. I recommend reading the first three books first. Sad that this series ended.

Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit quietly on your shoulder.

I have really enjoyed getting to the Fisher sisters and this one goes back in time to the sister's parents. Mattie has always guarded her hope chest and has never shared with her daughters the hidden keepsake that was a dark period in Mattie's life. The hope chest had given in the previous books something for each sister to learn and to hope for and each lesson was a lesson that their mother had learned early in her marriage to their father Leroy. Mattie shares with her daughters that she had been married before and had a baby that the girls knew nothing about.


Leroy had always "chased" Mattie. Always a friend to her when he desired more. Not wanting to ruin the friendship that they had, he never shared his feelings with her but he was always available to her. Leroy knew the heart ache of a love lost in many ways. A father that abandoned him and his mother and Mattie when she chose to marry another. However, when Mattie husband was killed in a violent shooting, Leroy steps up and offers Mattie marriage to be a father to her child and a husband to Mattie. The Amish take marriage seriously and the gift of sanctification in marriage.

In Mattie's grief, she is blinded by the love Leroy offers her. The way Leroy pursued Mattie and was attentive to her needs, reminds me how the great love of Jesus and how he pursues us. Mattie suffers a 2nd grief when the child she carries dies and the reason for her marriage to Leroy dies as well. It is during this period that Mattie run away from her marriage and wallows in her grief.

All during this book, I was the ugly crier. At work during break and when taking my ipad out to lunch. The pain of suffering alone and how we tend to isolate ourselves. The loss of community in death, the loss of a job, or a person we love can bring out cryfest in anyone. The characters are deeply felt even if we may not understand and appreciate the Amish ways, there is a sense of community that we all crave.

A Special Thank You to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Read this book in one day that's how good it was. It was unlike any other Amish fiction book I've read. The story hooked me from the first chapter. It started in present day and then went back to tell the story of the items in the hope chest. It wasn't all roses and nice. There were challenges and disagreements and hardship. But the love story was beautiful and real. I love when Amish stories show women who think for themselves and don't go along with the flow just because. Those stories seem fake. This story was not one of those. The man male character also surprised me. The characters were beautifully portrayed and developed even in their hard moments. I loved this story. One of my favorite Amish books I've ever read.
I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you read my review before reading the book let it be known there is spoilers. I love to read books and this is one book that touched my heart and soul the most. There has only been 2 authors that have written books that have made me cry. Amy this is one book that I cried several times while reading. Mattie's loss of Jacob brought back memories of when my son Alexander was stillborn. I had the same feeling that Mattie did and blamed myself. Just like Mattie's son having the cord wrapped around his neck, my son had his cord around his neck. I know that most don't talk about stillbirths or miscarriages so I am please that you included this in one of your books. I cried for Leroy because of the love he had for Mattie but she kept pushing him away. The only thing that helped with my loss was reading the Bible. Not a day goes by that I don't feel a piece of my heart is missing.
Throughout the book you will understand what each of the daughters received to help with their relationship because it helped Mattie.

Amy thank you once again for the wonderful story.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1882952596?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

The Beloved Hope Chest by Amy Clipston is the fourth book in the Amish Heirloom series. This is the final book in the series. One of Mattie's, main character, finds and opens the hope chest and finds an items that takes the readers back into time.  The Beloved Hope Chest story has heartbreak, grief, and unconditional love.

Mattie was expecting a little boy and was in love with her husband, but then suddenly and unexpectedly her husband dies. The authors shows the raw emotion of Mattie when she received the tragic news. Mattie's husband died a hero, and while that is great, it doesn't provide comfort for Mattie. 

Leroy, a childhood friend of Mattie, is a good, honest and caring person. Leroy has always loved Mattie. Mattie has only ever viewed Leroy as a friend. Leroy does not like to see Mattie and pain and decides that he would marry her and help care for the baby she is carrying. Leroy was unselfish, always putting Mattie first, and constantly showing Mattie that he will not give up. 

This story is about forgiveness, trusting God, letting go of the past and moving on. The author shows how grieving can affect a person but that people are resilient and there are always people there to help care for you. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Zondervan in exchange for an honest review.

The Beloved Hope Chest is the fourth installment from Amy Clipston's Amish Heirloom series. In this final book of the series, a reader will find the heartbreaking story of Mattie Fisher. Mattie endures great loss when she loses her husband while she is carrying his baby. Grieving terribly and lonely, she receives a proposal from her childhood friend, Leroy. She accepts and they soon marry. The two faces more struggles they could ever imagine.

The Beloved Hope Chest is one of the most emotional Amish reads I have ever read. One of the losses the characters endure, I was able to relate to and I quickly needed to grab the tissues. Amy Clipston perfectly writes how true the emotions a person with experience during those times. In addition to the emotional parts, there are others that were tender and sweet. A wonderful story of how to continue to keep the faith in God and learn to forgive, letting go, and moving on.

Highly recommended

5+ stars.

I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

This is the fourth and final book of Amy Clipston's Amish Heirloom series. Wow, did this set of stories end in such a heartfelt way! While reading The Beloved Hope Chest, Mattie's story of loss and grief truly touched my emotions. Leroy's unwavering friendship and love are what I think most would want as their own. Mattie and Leroy were likable enough when I read about them in The Forgotten Recipe, The Courtship Basket, and The Cherished Quilt. But as their story unfolded in The Beloved Hope Chest I felt like I got to know and appreciate them so much more. It was also enjoyable seeing the ways their past played a part in how their children found true love.

I have read this entire series. The Beloved Hope Chest answers the questions to clues that were given in the first three books. It is a story of hope offered to one man's beloved that was given by God to one of His beloved. While we can't fully understand the ways of God, we can trust that He is guiding us through every good, bad, and in-between step of our lives. The characters in The Beloved Hope Chest discovered just that with the help of friends, family, prayer, and Biblical scripture. I recommend reading this story and the rest of the Amish Heirloom series. I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Amy Clipston has always been a favorite of mine. Her books are always tenderly written, drawing me to the heart of each story. The characters she creates always become like family, leaving me with all their emotions. The Beloved Hope Chest was no exception! 

The Beloved Hope Chest is the final Amish Heirloom book, making it an even more emotional book for me. I’m not ready to say goodbye yet! But, that said, this conclusion was a beautiful one. The story that captivated me instantly isn’t one I’ll soon forget. 

Mattie, Leroy, and all the sweet loving characters in this book, stole my heart for good. They are simple, as Amish are, yet extremely complex. The emotions they share jump off the pages, cocooning the reader in warmth and grace, and sometimes sorrow. I loved that! 

This book is in my top 10 reads of 2017. Amy has taken a story of grief and heartache and turned it into a story filled with longing, hope, faith and understanding. It is the 4th and final book in the series, and while I recommend readers to read all four books (they are all great!), it is easy to read this as a stand alone. You just might miss out on a bit of the characters back stories. I highly recommend this book with the highest of 5 stars!

Mattie’s daughters discover their mother’s hope chest, and along with it secrets she has kept from them. She struggles with how to tell her story and yet not change their views of her or their father. Can she do it, does she want to and should she? These are all questions she must face.

Leroy, Mattie’s husband, is a wonderful character. His love for Mattie began when she was a little girl and never wavered through much adversity and hardship. I enjoyed Leroy’s character so much. He had little (and big) ways of demonstrating his love to Mattie that were so endearing.

Amy Clipston’s final installment of An Amish Heirloom Novel, The Beloved Hope Chest, deals with very heavy subject matters. Mattie has endured much in the past, and the pain still remains so how can she explain to her girls that she is happy despite her tragic early life?

The Beloved Hope Chest demonstrates how love, forgiveness and redemption can and will overcome grief, loss and hidden secrets.

Miss Clipston’s story resonates with faith, inspiration, forgiveness and restoration; it makes me want to read the other three in the series!

I received a copy of The Beloved Hope Chest from three different sources: Celebrate Lit, NetGalley and The Fiction Guild. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

What a sweet and enjoyable book! Fourth in a series, but is a standalone. This is the only book in this series I have read and it's great by itself.
Mattie's grown daughters had previously found some items in her hope chest that gave them questions. Their mother, Mattie, is finally ready to talk to her girls and explain the items. The daughters are very surprised to learn that their mother did not always love their dad and had even left him earlier in their marriage. They also learned of a previous marriage their mother had and a child.
Fantastic writing! A tale of heartache, devastation, despair, hope, love, and second chances.
I was given an ecopy of this book to read by the publisher, Zondervan and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! The series was amazing and I'm so sad to see it end. I loved how everything came out in this book with Mattie's story and how it brought everything together.

This story is bookended by scenes in the present with Mattie Fisher and her grown daughters, but the main part of the novel tells the story of Mattie’s first love and loss. Even if you haven’t read the other books in this series, this story stands complete and grips the heart. The characters and their dilemmas seem so real. The title comes from the hope chest where Mattie’s daughters discovered objects related to her secrets from the past. Now is finally the time for her to share her tale of sorrow and love. This book closes the Amish Heirloom series but could be used as an introduction to it also. The author uses lots of Pennsylvania Dutch words, which make their conversations realistic, and a glossary is provided in the front. This bittersweet tale leaves a warm feeling inside at its conclusion. I received the book from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

May 13, 2017

Amy Clipston has a unique way in how she writes Amish novels.
Her love for God and for writing shine through each book.
In “The Beloved Hope Chest,” you will experience a roller
coaster of emotions. Mattie knows it’s time to let go and share
her past with her daughters. Through these pages you will cry,
laugh, grieve and be joyful. A wonderful story of how God
can heal a heart and to appreciate others.

Blessings,
Karen Hadley
Rating: 5*
I received this book as a gift, all opinions are my own.

Loved this story. This is the fourth book in the Amish Heirloom series. The first three books are about Mattie Fisher's three daughters and their courtships and marriages. This book is how Mattie fell in love with her husband and almost left him. You do not need to read the first three books to so enjoy this story. This is more of a prequel to the others of the series. Everyone in this story learns mantra lessons. I laughed and cried throughout this book. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.