Seasons of an Amish Garden: Four Stories is a good fit for readers looking for uplifting tales of Amish communities coming together to grow gardens and love, while navigating friendship, faith, and romance.

This is an Amish Romance Anthology, with four stories, one for each season. All the stories take place in Bird-in-Hand and they have overlapping characters, but each story is a different couple and romance. There are themes of forgiveness, taking care of the less fortunate, acceptance, flexibility and compromise. As each story is relatively short, the fact that all the stories have the same characters, by the end of the book, I felt that they were well developed. As well, the romances did not seem like they were insta-love or moved to quickly. Overall, this was a sweet book with nice, happily ever after romances with a faith based core.

Author Amy Clipston returns with four novellas that I absolutely loved. It was fun to have them take place in each of the four seasons and to see the thread of familiar names and faces throughout. Each novella is about a specific couple but they really flow together well. (If you read The Christmas Cat you’ll become reacquainted with familiar feline in Seasons of an Amish Garden.)

The characters in this book are so well written that they will feel like old friends. And who doesn’t enjoy a visit to Bird-in-Hand?

These stories have true to life situations and feelings. But always faith is the common bond that holds families together.

If you like Amish fiction then I recommend this heartwarming book.

Seasons of an Amish Garden is a set of four novellas revolving around a group of young people in the Amish community, Bird-in-Hand, who are planting a garden in memory of their friend. Each novella spotlights a different couple and takes place in a different season. These novellas definitely highlight Amy’s gift in storytelling and character creation. I enjoyed each of these sweet stories, even though I haven’t read the main series that introduced the characters. I’m definitely going to have to get that series as the characters are all so likeable.

This collection of stories is based off the novella the author wrote in An Amish Christmas Love, The Christmas Cat. A group of Amish youth are stranded at a widow's home during a storm and they enjoy getting to know her more and reminiscing about her husband. He had a special place in his heart for the local homeless shelter, so the youth decide to raise money to donate in his honor. In this book are four stories revolving around the garden and the young people who come together to take care of it. I love the concept, but some of the relationship drama seems immature and contrived. My favorite parts were with the widow, Emma, and her wisdom that she shares with her young friends.

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

Another great Amish fiction novella collection. I really enjoyed how all of the stories built upon one another, and the characters were the same throughout.

Each short story centers around one couple who has come together because of Henry’s garden. But since all the characters are found throughout the book, there is a level of familiarity from the beginning.

I enjoy reading novellas like this because you can finish one story quickly and it doesn’t carry on too long. As with most Amish fiction, the story lines are predictable. There’s a challenge and they overcome.

I enjoy reading Amish fiction because it draws me in to a simpler life and it’s calming. Besides, I know there will always be a happy ending and I feel good at the end of the book. Amy Clipston is one of my favorite authors in this genre and I enjoy her writing style.

#1
I really loved this Novella. My heart felt bad for Katie Ann. I still feel she was right for feeling the way she did. Maybe her delivery was wrong but she had a right to feel the way she did. I understand being in a new relationship and falling in love. But, Mandy was too caught up in her feeling for Ephraim. At the end of the day no relationship should cause you to lose focus on things that you committed too.

#2
I loved the story of Clara and Jerry. This story is a reminder that sometimes you have to listen carefully to GOD. You might think he is not speaking to you, but he is. It’s a whisper and you just have to open you heart to hear.

#3
I’m still enjoying this book and getting to know more about each character. I’m in awe of how a young group have come together to not only grow a garden, but to maintain it and donate money for a good cause. I’m still trying to warm up to Tena and what she went through. Looking forward to what’s to come for everyone for winter.

#4
I realized in the beginning that Ephraim was stubborn and didn’t want to see others views. He showed that when Katie Ann tried to express her feelings. My heart hurt for Mandy and what she was feeling. By the end of the book I couldn’t help but smile.


I give this book 5 stars. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. One thing I really enjoyed was that it was one book with 4 different stand alone novellas. However, each part tied in as one story with the same characters . Their garden not only helped others for a good cause. It brought 4 amazing couples together. At the end one of the couples asked her husband, who he thought would get married next. That’s a question I would love to know the answer too. I hope this isn’t the end of the Garden couples. I loved them all. Great book Amy Clipston.

Buy a copy today!! This is another great book! Amish Fiction at its finest! Must READ!!

You will not put it down until its finished!

Amy Clipston has done it again. Weaving together an Amish community, love and faith that makes a reader’s heart feel full and light. I love that there was a hint spring and warm weather to come while reading this book in a wintery week. It was worth savoring and not rushing.

Love this novella collection! Amy Clipston has done it again; I highly recommend this great collection!

This is several Amish stories in one book. They all follow the same people and theme. I recommend this book. It is a good clean and easy read..

Thank you zondervan Fiction and Netgalley for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

An enjoyable read from beginning to end, each story building on the previous. These are sweet romance offerings with a spin put in to wonder if these young people will be able to make a life together. From beginning to end you will be pulled into these young adult’s lives.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

These heart-warming stories of four ‘garden couples’ continue the author’s tradition of well-written sweet romance with a glimpse of realistic difficulties in relationships. They might be young, but these characters learn quickly that compromise is key and faith must be absolute, both in each other and in God. Young adult readers will enjoy the relatable perspective of these young people, who are still managing the difficulties of growing up as they navigate both their new romances and their places in the Amish community. Service to an elderly neighbor and the homeless in their area is a priority for them as well, and Clipston integrates their collaborative efforts with their personal growth flawlessly. (ZONDERVAN, Jan., 386 pp., $15.99)

Reviewer: Kerry Sutherland

(for Hope by the Book review magazine/site)

Nice collection of stories of an Amish community. Easy reading, the stories kept me wanting to read more. I will be looking for more from this author.

Seasons of an Amish Garden is a four novella collection by Amy Clipston. The novellas are a quick but enjoyable read with the characters bleeding into each story. Each novella focuses on one Amish couple and their friends, but blends together nicely so it feels like one continuous story.
A group of young people hoping to make a remembrance and legacy for a deceased community member and his widow, take on a project of a garden. The profits will benefit a local homeless shelter. While they work on their goals they face love and have to overcome their own challenges and fears.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from netgalley.com and Zondervan Publishing, but was not obligated to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This book is four short stories where each one picks up with the main character being a character you have already became familiar with from the previous story(s).
Emma Bontrager's husband has passed away, and younger friends came up with the idea of having a garden, sellilng the produce and giving the proceeds to his favorite charity, Bird-n -Hand for the homeless. This group consists of both males and females. Can you see where this is going?
Each of the four stories give out the Christian message we all need to hear. Emma is a dear friend to all, a good listener, and has good advice.
In the first story, Spring is in the Air, Katie Ann Blank is feeling left out and alone ever since her best friend started dating Katie's brother. Mandy had never even let on to Katie that she was interested in her brother, so what a shock when they begin dating and it becomes quite clear to Katie that Mandy is so totally smitten with Ephraim that she no longer has time for Katie.
Katie becomes angry and resentful. In my opinion, she behaved like a brat. There is someone new at the garden meetings, Christian, who becomes smitten with Katie Ann. The story ended very well, with Katie Ann realizing things about herself, as well as her brother and best friend.

In Home By Summer, the garden is producing very well. They are selling vegetables at the roadside stand. Everyone does their share of work in the garden. Jerry gave his sister, Biana, a ride to Emma's. Clara Hertzler took great notice of this as Jerry had left the community without joining the church and lived among the Englisch. Clara and Jerry had been very good friends in school when they were younger and she has missed his friendship. Well...Jerry gets invited to stay and help with the garden and he accepts. Where does Jerry stand with God? Will he come back to his family and community?

In The Fruits of Fall, Tena comes to stay with her aunt, Emma for awhile. Her fiance' has left her for no less than an Englisch woman and says it is she that he loves, not Tena. Tena is so heart broken and humiliated and just wants to get away.
Tena jumps right in helping with the garden and making friends with the others. One day while tending the roadside stand alone, a homeless man approaches and asks for food. Tena is scared and has great distrust for Englichers due to an incident where someone was greatly injured and now she has a distrust for all Englichers.
The others are kind to the man, who also happens to be a veteran and seems to suffer from PTSD. They offer him work and Emma allows him to stay in her barn, much to Tena's dismay. Will Tena ever learn to trust?

Winter Blessings bring us back to Mandy and Ephraim, who are now engaged. Yay! With the wedding being only eight weeks away, Mandy is feeling the stress of all the planning and feeling she doesn't have enough time to get everything ready. Ephraim, being a man (ha), sees no problem and feels there is plenty of time.
The plan is for them to move in with Ephraim's family after the wedding, and his dad will build them a home of their own on his property. Well...unfortunately, Ephraim's brother-in-law has lost his job and so Ephraim's sister and her family have no choice but to move in with Ephraim's parents. This makes for a crowded house, and adds to Mandy's stress level. She wants to postpone the wedding, and Ephraim sees it that she no longer wants to marry him and is only using that as an excuse. This leads to great discord in their relationship and the engagement is broken off. Will Mandy bend a little? Will Ephraim cease to demand his own way? A must read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan Fiction through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Two people make a marriage, and the only way it will work is if those two people listen to each other and compromise. Together they can find a solution. Just like the garden, it needs both sun and water, and together you need to work together to nourish and grow your relationship.


An Amish Garden brings 4 Amish couples together. It is the analogy of a Garden that brings each of these love stories to life. The caring, the weeding, the cultivating all that makes a garden glorious is the same for any relationship. Each of these couples must overcome obstacles of fear, insecurities, control to freely love the other and to be in God's will. All while helping a widow of the community to leave legacy of love that her late husband desired. Let me introduce you.

Katie is fed up with her brother and her best friend as they have completely forget about her as they have become engaged. In dealing with her hurt feelings, Chris a visitor to the community softens the blow of loss of her brother Ephraim and her best friend Mandy. But God is showing Katie a side of her that she must deal with. How to deal with change in relationships. In dealing with these changes, she lashes out to the ones who care the most for her. A heartfelt story of emotions gone awry.

Clara a good friend of Katie that is working alongside the care of the Garden hopes to find love like the rest of her good friends. She sees the goodness of marriage and trusts that God will give her the desires of her heart in a family of her own. She takes time to enjoy what God has for her now in her friends and purpose. When her old school friend Jerry comes to visit the garden, she considers his choice to become an Englisher. She wonders why he didn't become baptized and join the church and community. Jerry see's his old school friend Clara differently. How she has changed and the peace she seems to have. He never felt that God called him to the community and with the pressure of family, he becomes more confused about where he belongs. Clara longs for him to see how he belongs in the community without pressuring him and isolating him further. This was my favorite of the couples.

Tene s visiting her great aunt Emma whose garden is bringing love together. Tene is not looking for love as she has come to heal from the tragedy of a broken heart and tragedy that left her brother in the hospital. She is fearful of all Englisher and when one without any food to his name, comes to their vegetable stand, all she wants him to do his leave. When he asks for food, she tries to send him away only Wayne a good friend of Emma's comes to homeless mans rescue. Wayne tries to calm Tene's fears but Tene cannot see past her fears. Wayne is falling for Tene but cannot understand the hardness of her heart. Just as garden cannot grow in a hard ground, our love cannot grow with hardened heart. These two learn to breakdown the barriers to trust and love. Love casts out all fear.

The last couple is the first to become a couple. Ephraim and Mandy are now engaged and getting ready for the marriage. With the all the pressures of getting ready, Mandy is fretting over getting everything done in time. Another set back of Ephraim's sister coming back to live with the family puts Ephraim's plan to set up his own household in chaos. When Mandy suggests to wait to get married at later date, Ephraim loses all control and calls off the wedding. Not able to listen and understand the other, will they throw away the love that they share on misunderstandings and insecurities. A lesson on what is marriage and home.

Each of these love stories bring home how commitment and trust build a strong marriage. Enjoyed getting to know these couples as they worked on their struggles to find love and ultimately home.

A Special Thank you to Zondervan Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

If you were a fan of the novella "The Christmas Cat" by Amy Clipston, you will be happy to know Hank the cat is back with the Amish young adults from the original story. Four new novellas are written concerning the couples or couples to be in this brand new book! The primary focus and setting is based on a large garden planted in memory of Emma Bontragers husband and a roadside stand that sells the produce and donates the money to charity. It is cultivated and manned by teens and young adults in the Amish community of Bird-in-Hand, PA.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR
What happens when your best friend is more interested in spending time with your brother rather than you?

HOME BY SUMMER
What can you do when your good friend seems to want to live as an Englischer and forgo his Amish roots and faith?

FRUITS OF FALL
How do you learn to trust again after a frightening experience?

WINTER BLESSINGS
When unexpected things disrupt plans you have made, how do get things back on track again?

Four great stories filled with friendship, community, fellowship, and most importantly faith that richly bless this Bird-in Hand Amish community. It may make you want to plant a garden! The descriptions are so realistic I felt I needed a basket of fresh garden produce (in the middle of winter!). Amy Clipston's stories will pull you right in and leave you fulfilled and smiling.

Get ready to be hooked on Seasons of An Amish Garden by Amy Clipston! This novella collection, all by Amy, takes readers through creative stories as we follow a group of Amish young people through the four different seasons and the community garden they manage and harvest.

I think Amy Clipston is the reason I enjoy novellas so much. She has such a way of writing a novella that, although it is shorter than a full-length novel, she doesn't hold back on details that are critical to the story.

What I particularly loved about Seasons of an Amish Garden was the way each of the stories were connected. While different characters were the focus of each story, it was fun getting to see the same characters throughout this book, something you don't usually see with novellas.

Amy did a fantastic job, as she always does, of drawing me into the story. I enjoyed traveling through each of the seasons with these characters. It was fun getting to watch the characters grow and see their friendships develop. This was a very creative way to assemble a novella collection and it was one I enjoyed very much!

This is a book of 4 short stories that are tied together by both the theme of a garden and the group of people working in it. The stories revolve around all of the people working the garden finding love with another person in the garden group or maintaining a relationship started prior to the garden's formation.

My problem was, I had a hard time connecting with anyone in the individual stories. In the Spring story, I hated how selfish Katie Ann, Ephraim, and Mandy seemed. It didn't seem true to the Amish way to me, and no one made mention of it! Granted, anyone can slip away from that selflessness path, but I thought that others in the community would have mentioned it to bring the "wayward" one back onto the path. That didn't happen in that story. In the Summer story, I found Clara to be too pushy and too demanding of Jerry to be truly likable, and Jerry himself seemed too uncertain to be believable. In the Fall story, Tena was too closed off and too fearful to be likable, though I did want to know more about what happened with the homeless man. The Winter story cycled back to Ephraim and Mandy, but Ephraim was too stubborn and set in his "plans" to even consider Mandy's point of view. It made me feel as though he wasn't ready to compromise, which is what makes a marriage thrive, and thus wasn't ready to marry.

All things considered, the book didn't leave me with that uplifting feeling that I have when I finish a good Amish story. While I was entertained, I was merely marking time and not fully enjoying the read.