I've read several heavy-duty books in a row and needed to lighten up my reading. Seasons of an Amish Garden filled the bill perfectly. I love Amy Clipston's Amish fiction books and this olio of four novellas matches the quality of Amy's other writings--engaging, entertaining, and enriching for the soul.

There are four novellas to match the four seasons of the year and each novella focuses on one couple, and the obstacles that the couple has to overcome.

Katie Ann believes that Mandy's dating her brother is detrimental to their friendship. Her best friend has become forgetful of obligations because all she can see is Ephraim. When a new boy joins the group planting a garden in memory of a neighbor's husband, he just might be the distraction Katie Ann needs.

Clara and Jerry are becoming close, but Jerry isn't a member of the church yet.

Tena has been traumatized by an Englischer, but when one shows up, another of the group, wants to allow him to stay in Emma's barn. Tena can't get past what happened and is truly afraid, but Wayne wants her to trust him about the man.

Mandy and Ephraim are planning their wedding, but when Ephraim's sister and her husband show up to move into their parents' home, Mandy thinks this is the perfect time to move their wedding back a bit. She needs more time to plan and Ephraim thinks she just doesn't want to marry him anymore.

In the first novella, a sales stand is built to sell baked goods and vegetables. There are many cookies, brownies, pies, and other yums sold throughout the four stories and all the proceeds go to the local homeless shelter.

This is a relaxing read with five stars, two thumbs up, and a peanut butter pie for your honey.

My thanks to Zondervan publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

What a fun read by Amy Clipston! I loved how all four novellas were like a continuation of the characters each season and even a special kitty cat made an appearance. I enjoyed the seasons changing in the garden and how the characters changed as well with each season. The growth, love, and understanding that Amy Clipston incorporated in them shone through in her writing. Definitely a must read!

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.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review

Four novellas featuring each season, Spring is in the Air, Home by Summer, The Fruits of Fall, and Winter Blessings. Four unique Amish stories highlighting a lively group of Amish youth who decide to plant a memory garden to honor Emma Bontrager’s late husband, Henry. As they work together to earn money to donate to the Bird-in-Hand Shelter for the homeless attractions grow sometimes between life-long friends. With romance in the air it occasionally leads to awkward situations. What the group accomplishes is heart-warming and you will find yourself cheering each couple on as they change with the seasons. Hank, the cat, makes an appearance in all four stories, and he is a breath of fresh air for all animal lovers. I always enjoy Author Amy Clipston’s Amish stories. They are authentic and believable. A great collection you will delight in reading!
I received a copy from the publisher. The opinions are my own.

Amy's book Seasons of an Amish Garden is a must read. In each story we are all taught a good lesson. In Spring Is in the Air Katie Ann learns that jealousy can almost ruin a friendship and that she was wrong in the end.
In Home by Summer Clara must have faith that Jerry will make the right decision. Turn prayer over to God.
In The Fruits of Fall Tena must learn to trust and forgive.
In Winter Blessings Mandy and Ephraim must learn to compromise in their relationship.
You will find yourself praying, laughing and crying with each story.

Seasons of an Amish Garden
By: Amy Clipston
Seasons of an Amish Garden is four novellas Collection by one author, Amy Clipston. The novellas are easy and fast to read. The same characters are in each novella. Each novella focuses on one Amish couple and their friends. Each novel starting back up with a different couple , but it seems like you are reading one full length story. These friends all work together and start a community garden in memory of their friend. There are some misunderstanding, some hurt feeling, love and forgiveness in these novellas. I really loved the way these couples all worked together to do something for their community. If you love a good Amish story I highly recommend this book. I was not disappointed.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This is a novella collection from one of the top authors of Amish fiction. The sweet stories span the seasons, as the title suggests. Sure, there is a bit of predictability, but this book is still very enjoyable. Each story focuses on one couple, though each couple is found in every story, so that makes it feel a bit more like a full-length novel. Themes are relatable (such as one character feeling left out when her friend and brother start dating). Due to the overall nature of the book, the reader is able to watch the couples experience transition over the course of the year. My favorite story was summer. One novella (winter) had a bit of an unusual scenario, and I enjoyed that. The reader can just sit back, read, and relax with Clipston’s latest collection.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

This is composed of four stories, all set in the same 'family' situation with the same friends and family appearing in each novella.
The stories are very sweet, maybe a bit predictable and certainly all very similar. What I find so intrusive is the constant mix of English and Pennsylvania Dutch. I'm sure people dont really say things like 'I must ask mei mamm'? Do they? It happens in so many books centred round the Amish.
Why not just write in English. and allow the story to hold us. We dont need the Dutch language to show us that the story is about the Amish.. However, that is purely my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy of the book.

Amy Clipston is very high on my favorite authors list. I have read all her books. This latest book Seasons of an Amish Garden is four stories of four couples who are friends. Each story is one couple and one season. I love how the couples appear in each story so in a way their story continue . This is a sweet, clean Amish romance . I loved it. Thank you Zondervan and netgalley for the arc . The review is my own opinion.

This is a book with four different novellas about four different couples. Each season has a different story, but they all flow together. This is a very well written book that will hold your attention from beginning to end. I really enjoyed this book and the way it was written. Thank you Zondervan Fiction via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR by Amy Cipston
Having a brother now distracted by his interest in a young girl was proving difficult for her. Being late for the planning meeting, especially when it was her idea. There is a new guy at the meeting, and helping with the garden, maybe that would help. Young love, nice short story.
HOME BY SUMMER. by Amy Clipston
A spigot wasn’t working outside, the inconvenient to wash off fruit before selling, causing extra work, before Clara took vegetables to the market. A boy she knew in school, now as English working as a plumber, fixed it for her.
She had a crush on him for years. Noticing her, and her laugh at the grocery store, made him jealous of the men who could date her. She caught him, looking at her, he knew he wanted to date her. He wasn’t a member of the church, so was forbidden.
These were two ,of the four stories dealing with the seasons of the year. Young love and the challenge to find that lasting love.
Enjoyed all four of them, plots flowed and the couples seemed mature and knew what they wanted but wondering if they would find.
Given ARC by Net .Galley and Zondervan for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

Four novellas about different Amish couples. Starting in the Spring, then Summer, Fall and Winter, the reader is lead through the misunderstandings, loves and pains of each couple, and since they are all friends, the reader sees the progress of each couple as it goes along as well. Fun to read, and while it is didactic at times, it is done well and not imposing. Highly recommend this book.

Beginning in one March, and following a group of friends through to the following March, this book watches as four couples go through transitions in each of the four seasons. It is divided into four short stories, where each story focuses on a different couple, and introduces new situations that I haven't seen in Amish fiction before. (Some had been touched on, but not made the central focus of the story.) My favorite was summer, and the most surprising story was winter -- it was a most unusual love story scenario. All in all, however, this is a set of stories that will make you sit back and examine yourself, your relationships, and your faith.