Amy Clipston is known for her Amish fiction but I believe her debut novel into contemporary romance will be a hit. Two things drew me to this book and that was the beautiful cover and the author.

Brianna is a strong character. Amid multiple tragedies, her true light shines. She is determined, kind, caring, and I love when she speaks up for herself telling her sisters and Taylor what she needs. However, I hate that she holds onto what should be let go of only because it is familiar and she doesn't want change. There is nothing to like about Taylor, Jenna is pretty self-involved as well, and Cassie shows redeeming qualities.

I like Scott and the way he steps up to help Brianna and the care he shows for her mom, Lois. He had a hard childhood and while we are never told all the details, we are told enough to truly appreciate the adult he has become. There are a few things I dislike about him as well but will keep them to myself to not give spoilers.

The descriptions in the story are well done and I can picture sitting in the chairs on the beach staring at the lake. The story line moves at a steady pace and I felt like this was a pretty quick read.

While most of Clipston's Amish stories are pretty light, this one was a bit heavier, dealing with loss and grief. It is handled well and I don't think it is "too" heavy of a read. There are some lighter moments, some family drama, and tender moments. I found myself connecting and sympathizing on with Brianna on several occasions (just not the ones where I wanted to throttle her, LOL).

While the publisher is a Christian publisher I would not classify this book as "religious" or "Christian." It is a very clean (G) contemporary romance but there is no talk of God or religion in the book. The only minister mentioned is when someone gets married. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good clean romance. Those who adore Clipston's Amish novels will enjoy seeing her in a new light.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Brianna Porter chose to stay and follow in her father's footsteps. Together they run their small resort. When her father dies unexpectedly, Brianna is left to pick up the pieces and try to move forward. When things become overwhelming, handsome realtor, Scott Gibson always seems to be there. No way will Brianna ever sell, but things go from bad to worse. Scott is drawn to Brianna but refuses to come between she and her fiance. Will they both be able to resist the connection?
Amy Clipston has a way of writing that draws the reader into the story. Her descriptions and writing makes the reader feel like they are part of the story. I hope their will be a follow up story. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Brianna Porter lives in Splendid Lake, North Carolina. Doesn't the name of the town just sound so...well, splendid? Brianna loves her town and the resort her family owns. She chose to not move away to college, and to stay home and do what she loves-helping her father run the resort. Unfortunately, tragedy hit and Brianna's father had a heart attack and passed away. Brianna is devastated. Her mother can hardly get out of bed most days. Her two sisters went back to their jobs.
Then, a real estate man showed up wishing to buy the resort. Brianna, promptly threw him off the property. Then, others showed up and wrote expressing interest in the family resort. No way would Brianna ever consider selling the family home and business. Somehow, she'd keep things running without her father.
Then, Brianna discovered that her father had left the family business in terrible financial trouble. Serious financial trouble. How could she tell her mom?
If things weren't already bad enough, her mom had a stroke. More problems and financial issues for Brianna to worry about.
The first person to express interest in purchasing the resort showed up again. And again. And again. Brianna comes to realize he is a nice man. It certainly doesn't hurt that he is one fine looking man, also.
He begins to help Brianna do some repairs to the resort, wanting nothing in return.
Brianna is angry with her sisters for not coming home for an extended stay to help her with her mom and the resort. Personally, I felt that was unreasonable as they had jobs and obligation to their jobs. She didn't seem to understand the position she was putting them in. But, I have seen that happen in real life situations.
This story was excellently written. Wonderful characters that I just loved! Thoroughly loved this story!
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Brianna’s world comes crashing in on all sides with the unexpected death of her father. The things she thought were safe and secure are not. She discovers some things about their financial situation that has her head spinning. How was she going to handle all this? That’s the questions. Would Brianna reach out to her two older sisters for help. Then in walks Scott Gibson, enters Brianna’s world because he is interested in buying the resort in the Splendid Lake community. Neither one of them could have imagined what would happen after Brianna threw Scott off her property. No, she wasn’t going to sell their family business. But there was something about the way Scott Gibson treated her that caught her attention. This surprised her. She’s engaged. She shouldn’t feel this way.
This author deals with grief, loss, love and facing insurmountable obstacles together with family and friends. I enjoyed the small-town feel and hanging out in Splendid Lake with the locals as they pull together and grow throughout the story.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. 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 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

The Heart of Splendid Lake is a relationship-driven novel with a touch of romance. I'd call it "relationship fiction" instead of a romance, but the technical elements were there. The author played her tropes very well, which made the story rather interesting.

Brie's father dies suddenly at the very beginning of the book, leaving her mother the resort. Which is so far in the red, the bank is days from foreclosing. Brie manages to buy them some time, but it won't be enough. Enter Scott, who Brie throws off the property after learning that he's actually a real estate agent looking to buy the resort. Until he comes back and helps out, going far above and beyond. Oh, and Brie's engaged, though it seems like an afterthought, added as a block to keep Brie and Scott from getting together, since Taylor isn't a particularly good fiance. He's a rather bad fiance, actually (as the chapters around her mother's stroke and her needing his help at the resort prove), and it's very clear that they've grown apart since they got engaged over three years ago.

Brianna Porter was mentally planning what repairs she and her father needed to make to the resort before Memorial Day, and heading in to pick up their coffees, when she received the unexpected call from her mother. With her father’s death and her mother’s subsequent stroke, Brianna found herself overwhelmed at the amount of work necessary, and discovering her father was horribly in debt nearly crushed her. Offers came in from various real estate developers to purchase the property, but Brianna simply couldn’t sell the only home she had ever known. When Scott Gibson, out-of-town real estate developer, comes up with a viable plan to maintain the resort, Brianna is conflicted.

Scott Gibson was appalled at his timing when he first visited Brianna Porter, but he had no way of knowing her father had died so recently. He simply wanted to put an offer in on the resort if they were interested in selling. Sensing Brianna was not ready to give up her home and her family business, he offered to help her with maintenance, but soon finding himself developing romantic feelings for her.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s a sweet story, with enough conflict and romance to keep the reader engaged. Splendid Lake sounds like an almost perfect town, and I loved that Brianna’s friend Ava was a great show of support, even as she planned her sister Brooklyn’s wedding and ran the local coffee shop. Brianna’s determination and loyalty are admirable, while Scott’s inherent decency and genuine caring for the family is delightful. This was a fun read, and I appreciated the expected and enjoyed HEA.

Thomas Nelson thank you for this eARC!
I very much appreciate the opportunity to read this story!

I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would to be honest.
What a pleasant surprise it was that this book ended up being even better than I expected.
This novel had some really heart tugging moments which drew me into the story right away.
The author captured such deep feelings and emotions here and that is what I loved most!
The romance simply captured my heart and took off running.
This is a quick and entertaining read. I can't wait to read more of Amy's writing!

Thank you again for this wonderful story!

I enjoy reading all of Amy Clipstons's books, and this one did not disappoint! They are clean, with no swear words, lots of love and feelings of people, that I can relate to and seem very real. In other words, she always has such well-rounded and fully thought out characters. This is a beautiful story about a family that grabbed me right from the beginning!

Thank you for my advanced ARC copy, I appreciate it very much!

I have not read any books by Amy Clipston before and wasn’t sure what to expect, but the cover is absolutely gorgeous and the story sounded intriguing so I thought I would give this book a try. I am so glad I did!

Brianna and Scott’s story, was filled with so much, from loss, to challenges, to growth and overcoming, to love, wholehearted, pure love. This story was beautifully written. You felt what Brianna felt, you felt what Scott felt. As a reader you felt their feelings grow from one page to the next. Brilliant!

Scott definitely gets my vote as the “ideal man”.

I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#TheHeartofSplendidLake #NetGalley

Amy Clipston brings us a great new contemporary romance. I have ready her Amish genre books, and really enjoyed this new genre.

We meet Brianna Porter who is facing many unexpected situations in her life. Her father dies unexpectedly. She and her father had run their family inn in small town Splendid Lake, North Carolina. Upon his death, she begins to get many real estate offers for the inn. As she is determined not to sell it, her mother develops health issues, along as very heavy unknown debt comes to light. One of the real estate moguls, Scott Gibson, works very hard to get Brianna’s attention. Grief, void, feelings of despair, love, disappointment in relationships, and raw emotions make for excellent reading.

I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy reading romances of trials and inspiration.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston is a contemporary romance set in a homey, small tourist town in North Carolina. Brianna Porter struggles to keep her family’s resort afloat after learning of the resort’s amassed debt. Add in a couple of life-altering family changes, and Brianna is overwhelmed. Scott Gibson is a seasoned real estate investor and enters Brianna’s life at the wrong time. But as Brianna gets more desperate to save her home, they are forced to worked together to find a solution.
This is my first novel by Amy Clipston, and I loved visiting Splendid Lake with her characters. The town is so unique and charming, I’d love to be able to walk its downtown shop district or watch the boats on the lake. It’s the perfect setting for this story, and for a late-summer read!
Brianna goes through so much in the first few chapters of this book. I love her unique, tom-boy personality and her determination to do what’s best for her family. The relationship between her and Taylor, her long-time fiance, is often frustrating, but I know it’s part of her growth as a character.
Her interactions with Scott, however, are flirty and fun. Scott’s genuine care for others--including Brianna and her family most of all--is incredibly endearing. I love how his humble, heart-breaking roots shaped him into a loving and hard-working man. He is 100 percent swoon-worthy. And his cars...double swoon!
The Heart of Splendid Lake is an emotional story, but one of healing and growth. I enjoyed watching Brie and Scott learn to trust each other and work together. There were times I cried and many more times I smiled or laughed at Scott and Brie’s banter. If you enjoy contemporary romance, then you’ll enjoy this late-summer read.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I have read some of Amy Clipston's Amish novels before and was somewhat skeptical of a contemporary romance from her but I can say that she delivered. The love triangle in this book actually worked and kept me interested in reading to see where it was going to go next. She used wonderful imagery of the setting to make it feel like you were actually there on the lake with the characters. I'm excited to read any additional contemporary romances that Clipston writes in the future.

The Heart of Splendid Lake is different from what I thought it would be. The main character, Brianna, is the youngest of three sisters. She is the only one who chose to stay in the small town of Splendid Lake and help run the family's small resort. What she loves is helping, her father work on the boats belonging to the townfolk and visitors. Brianna wants to be the best boat mechanic in the area. Brianna's father unexpectedly dies and Brianna is left to pick up the pieces. She finds that her father didn't leave things in great shape. Real estate brokers are trampling through the family property One of those is a handsome broker named Scott Gibson. As Brianna finds herself being more attracted Scott than she would like, she finds it difficult to avoid him. If they two of them can sort out their feelings, they just might find a way to work together. I enjoyed reading this book. Clipston has included discussion which adds to the attraction for book club readers. Many thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read and ARC.

Amy Clipston has out down herself with this novel. I can picture the lake and the characters as though I was there watching or participating in the background. Briana's character is one that you don't see in most female characters and her spirit to fight for what she believes in shows through. Scott's character is the one who laid back and doesn't like to cause problems. The whole book is amazing and I can see this put into a Hallmark movie.
.You will fall in love with this book. It will not disappoint.

I received a paperback version of this book from Amy Clipston and an ebook version from Thomas Nelson and I am under no obligation to leave a positive review

Let's see a show of hands here, who wants to visit the small town of Splendid Lake, North Carolina and while there stay in the cabins while visiting Brianna Porter her mother and Scott?
Thought so.
Very charming and heartwarming story that brings to mind summer vacations at my grandparents cottage and swimming in the creek.
Sweet wholesome romance that deals with overcoming grief in a positive way.
The book has warmth,humor and left me feeling uplifted.
I can't wait to see what this author will have for us next!

Pub Date 14 Sep 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

A beautifully written story about loss, grief, getting over the past, moving on and how to deal with overwhelming things in your life! Brianna has a pretty good life. She's engaged to Taylor, a man she's known since childhood but they haven't settled on on a date and aren't in a hurry. Her sisters have left their small town and gone on to bigger and better lives in big cities but she doesn't really have the best relationship with them either! She adores her father, always has, and works with him at their lakeside resort. Her world turns upside down when her father suddenly dies and she's left in charge of everything! Then, her mom has a stroke! She finds out they are deeply in debt and Brianna is overwhelmed. Who wouldn't be? Along some real estate developers who want her to sell and no way is she losing her home! However, Scott Gibson is different. I really enjoyed how Scott was so attentive of Brianna's mother and Brianna's needs. He also gave her a lot of time to get through her problems. It was amazing to me, though, that Brianna stuck with her fiance' as long as she did! I know she had known him for a very long time but he was not supportive really and she should have ended it a long time before she did! Not that she needed to begin a new relationship but still, she couldn't have ended her engagement! Anyway, I loved the author's style of describing the great loss Brianna felt after losing her father.

I love Amy Clipston's Amish novel and was very excited to see a contemporary offering from her. VERY EXCITED.

I am delighted to say that she delivers. Engaging characters and storyline even with it's sad and tragic events. The conflict is just right and the tone of the whole books keeps you turning the pages.

I am usually not a fan of love triangles or the such but my love of the author and the tangible chemistry between the main characters kept me reading. The chemistry between Brianna and Scott was evident from their first meeting without being to obvious. The fact that Brianna had a fiance threw me a bit.

While I'm not 100% on board for the handling of this relationship dilemma it did not keep me from enjoying this book. The secondary characters were also a delight a necessary bonus in any book.

This is a Romance. Brianna is going through so much because her father just died and her mother is having health issues. This book is all about Bri saving her families small resort and her trying to work out who she really loves. I have to say there was points of this book I just wanted to yell at Bri. I loved the small town feel in this book and the characters. The storyline was good but not great. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Thomas Nelson) or author (Amy Clipson) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Brianna’s life is turned upside down when her father dies and she is left to try and save her family’s home and business. Scott is a businessman and thinks her family’s resort has lots of potential and wants to buy it. The timing isn’t great. They start off as adversaries, but end up being friends. Brianna doesn’t have much support from her family or fiancé and is really struggling trying to keep the business afloat and deal with her grief. Scott helps her with the business and understands her heartbreak and helps to comfort her. Her fiancé doesn’t like her friendship with Scott, but he isn’t there for her either. They become closer, but fight their feelings for lots of reasons. I really liked the characters and the setting of the book. This is a clean, sweet contemporary romance.

This may be The authors first Contemporary Romance but I know it will not be her last. I have always loved her Amish books and I felt this was as great. Brianna needs to learn that her fiancé, Taylor, just is not the right guy for her. Scott and Brianna grow together over months. I am looking forward to reading many more books by this author. I love her ideas of romance. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.