Building a Future by Amy Clipston is a heartwarming Amish novel. I like Amy Clipston’s writing style. It is casual and engaging. I feel like I am visiting old friends. I found myself easily drawn into the story. I like the characters in this story especially Michelle and Tyler. I was not a fan of Korey who was inattentive to Michelle and did not realize that she is a caring woman with a big heart. Korey came across as juvenile. His behavior reminded me of a sulky teenager. I was surprised that his father let him get away with that type of behavior. Korey states he wants to help run the business with Tyler when their father retires. However, we do not see him coming up with business ideas or displaying the maturity needed for a leadership position. We get to see what it is like to be ignored by someone we care about and the pain that it causes. I enjoyed the lovely descriptions of Michelle’s paintings. I want one of her milk can scenes. I was surprised when one scene mentions Michelle putting the milk can in her tote bag. I did not know that milk cans came in such a small size (there are vintage milk cans that measure 3.5” by 6.25”). I thought the relationship between Tyler and Michelle progressed at the right pace. I could see this scenario playing out in real life. I like how the faith element was incorporated into the story (the author strikes the right balance). It never comes across as preachy. There are good messages (and life lessons) in the story. We see the importance of prayer to seek God’s guidance. The story had a sweet ending. Building a Future is the second An Amish Legacy Novel. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not read Foundation of Love. I like that we get to see how Crystal is faring since she married. There is a glossary of Amish terms at the beginning of the book which I found helpful. Building a Future is a hopeful Amish tale with relationship woes, finding a friend, enjoyable youth gatherings, roofing business strategies, and a guiding God.

This is the second book in this series, but this is a book that can be read alone, and you won't be lost.

This is Michelle Lantz's story, and it pulls in the entire Bontrager family, as she is in a relationship with one of them and the hopes of every Amish girl to marry and have a family! This a journey we take with Michelle, but also go deep into the Bontrager family and their relationships.

We travel along for answers and I couldn't figure out how it was going to end without a complete fracture of the Bontrager family.

There is a great faith in God here, and we journey with these families as answers come, will they be as you figured? There are some surprises!

The author gives us a wonderful story to get lost into, and there are two more books to come in this series!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review

This wasn't as sweet as I thought it was going to be. I found the writing to be childish and a little asinine. It seemed to go in loops a lot of the time and a lot of the 'issues' were just... so easy to solve. It's one of those stories where a mountain is repeatedly made out of a molehill and I didn't connect enough right away to the characters to care.

It's also an Amish story. I've read a lot of Amish books and generally love them. This didn't feel Amish, at all. It sort of just felt like an English story with some Amish words scattered in and a vague Amish setting. It was a little jarring. The plot of Michelle clinging to a certain idea of marriage was also a little forced, plus I feel like Korrey got off way too light, he was just... not a good or nice character at all.

This was okay and I read it fairly quickly, it just didn't stun me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Michelle dreams about getting married to her boyfriend Korey, but they seem to be talking less and less. Korey's brother Tyler is serious about his future and having a chance to head his own roofing crew. His father is pushing him towards finding a wife. Michelle fixes Tyler up with her best friend Charity. Tyler finds it much easier to talk to Michelle than Charity. While feeling pulled towards Michelle, Tyler doesn't want to antagonize and hurt his brother or Charity. Michelle doesn't want to walk away from Korey, but she also starts to have doubts about their relationship. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This is a sweet romance. I felt a little frustrated that both Michelle and Tyler stay invested in relationships that aren't right for them, but it's very realistic. This is the first book that I read in this series and it can standalone. I look forward to reading more in this series.

This was a quick cute read about obligatory relationships vs true love. It’s about following God and trusting him even when it’s hard.

I am going to start off right away by saying that this plot would have been better suited for the English world instead of the Amish. The plot in a nutshell. Girl (Michelle) grows up with brothers, (Korey and Tyler Bontrager) begins dating the younger brother for over a year. Relationship goes no where without realizing it is going no where until a connection with the older brother Tyler. Then the torment of your heart growing fonder for another while being trapped in a relationship that is stale. For me, it was hard to believe that it would get to that point. however, in an Amish tie the bow way, it worked out.

There were many threads to this romance. The brothers mom had died several years ago and their father remarried. Brother rivalry that went beyond a girl but a competition that was rooted in insecurities. Michelle who was wrapped up in the whole ideal of marriage instead of knowing Korey beyond the right now. It was her relationships with both brothers that she saw reality more than a dream of marriage. Getting past the "Amish" and that we all are prone to wander and a God that desires we live in reality is always a good lesson to learn.

A special thank you to Zondervan and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Lots of tension and emotional stress! I admired Michelle for trying to salvage her relationship with Korey but thought she tried a little too hard. Korey was a hard character to like with his difficult personality. I know Amish girls all dream of their own family but felt this story really pushed the issue. too hard. Enjoyable but not my favorite by this author.

4 stars
Building a Future
by Amy Clipston

This is the second installment of this series; however, this book can easily be read as a stand alone. Each book follows the same family of men within their Amish community. Amy Clipston writes characters and stories that reach in and capture your heart and imagination. Clipston just has a gift for words. I hope she continues writing about the Bontrager family men! A perfect easy read for a lazy afternoon.



I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

This is the second book in the series and is a follow-up to "Foundations of Love."

I've read and enjoyed many of Clipston's books over the years, and she's one of my favorite authors. She's a wonderful storyteller who crafts realistic and relatable characters. That said, this wasn't my favorite book, but it was still an enjoyable one.

The setting is easy to visualize, and I like the characters and community overall. Relationships develop at a realistic pace. I love how the faith element is incorporated into the story so it's not preachy. I also appreciated how the characters looked to God and prayed for guidance. However, I didn't care for Korey. He was obnoxious and selfish, and it was hard to connect with him and his attitude and juvenile behaviors. I liked the ending and found it quite satisfying.

There is a glossary of Amish terms, which will be helpful to the reader, particularly those who are new to the genre.

Anytime Amy has a book coming out, I have to read it. Why? Because she is such a great storyteller! This story included lots of different elements including drama and romance. I had a hard time putting the story down because I always wanted to know what was going to happen next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The second book in Amy Clipston’s Amish Legacy series can be read as a stand alone but reading book one will help explain some things, and it’s a really good book.

In this book we meet up with the Bontrager family again. Tyler is growing and maturing. Korey has remained a pouty little boy who didn’t get his way and is making everyone pay for it. Michelle is also on the immature side of life as she only wants to be married. To somebody. I’m going to admit that I struggled with this book. It didn’t seem like a typical Clipston story. The characters were pretty shallow and I often wanted to shake them and demand they grow up. But I did read it through and the ending brought me hope for all of them.

I did get a chuckle out of the young woman who was preparing for her wedding and drove all the other women crazy with her constant chatter about it. There was humor if you got past the bickering between brothers. And there were heartwarming moments. If you enjoy Clipston’s book then give this one a try.

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

Amy Clipston is one of my all time favorite authors, and I always look forward to her new book releases. I was especially excited for this one, after finding out that it's connected to one of her last releases, Foundation of Love. I'd absolutely adored that one from start to finish, and I was looking forward to reading more about the Bontrager men, and the lovely ladies who have captured their hearts.

This one was full of so many of the wonderful qualities I've come to expect from this author's books, and I could barely bring myself to put it down once I picked it up. I loved the setting, the friends and family that make up the community, and the way that Tyler and Michelle's friendship slowly grows into something that neither of them could have seen coming. I also wholeheartedly enjoyed just how present the faith element was, and I loved how Michelle and Tyler were determined to turn to prayer, rather than just deciding to follow their hearts.

However, I have to say that I wouldn't consider this one of my favorite of Amy's novels, and that was primarily due to two facts.

First, Korey's character had annoyed me in the first book, and that didn't change with this one. If anything, he was even more rude and obnoxious, and I got tired of reading about his selfish and juvenile behavior. I hope when he gets his own story that the reader will see a gigantic redemptive arc, because his character definitely needs it.

Secondly, I'm not generally a fan of plot points where the main couple are involved with other people when they fall for each other, and while I did think the author did a pretty good job of handling this trope, it still wasn't exactly what I wanted to be reading about.

Overall though, I really did enjoy this one, and thought it was a pretty worthy follow up to the wonderful Foundation of Love.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much to Zondervan for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Zondervan) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There were some things that I really liked about this book, but, the biggest problem I have is with the main character. Korey is a character who granted has had his share of ups and downs, but, he’s no longer a child although at times he definitely acts like one.

I hope that he matures in the next book in the series and comes to terms with the changes he and his family have gone through. I honestly like all of the other characters in this and the first book in the series and believe the author will give her readers the change and maturity Korey will develop.
I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Building a Future by Amy Clipston is book two in her Amish Legacy series. In the first book, Crystal and Duane meet and fall in love despite the circumstances stacked against them. In this story, Korey and Tyler are two of Duane's grown sons. Korey has been dating Michelle for over a year, but the relationship has been shaky for awhile now. When he forgets that he is supposed to meet her for dinner at his house one night, she is hurt and upset. Tyler is there and the two of them begin talking, something that comes easily to them. As they open up to each other over the next several weeks, they discover that they have feelings for each other. But, how do they hurt Korey like that? Plus, Michelle's best friend likes Tyler too, Is there any way possible for them to find a happy ending? I really love Amy Clipston's books. I have read them all. Her style of writing is always comforting to me and I find myself eagerly waiting for the next one! I can't wait to see what happens in the rest of the series! As always, thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review the book. All opinions are my own.

Building a Future is Book 2 in Amy Clipston's Amish Legacy. It's a good quick read and makes for a nice afternoon escape into a different kind of life.

It looks like Michelle and Korey are together in the beginning but as time progresses things change and while there is heart ache for those involved things do work out in time. While I did enjoy it, it was not my favorite by this author...but that won't stop me from more of her in the future!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.,

Publishes 2 August 2022.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review. I enjoyed reading this book and loved the fact that the drama started at the beginning. Catching up with the Bontrager family and learning more about their individual personalities was great.

From the beginning you see the stress and strain in Michelle & Korey’s relationship. His constant silent treatments and ignoring her showed he was going through some issues. I had high hopes that he would mature and realize he was acting like a fool. Even after his brother Tyler’s attempts to get him to see what he was doing wrong. Not only to her, but Korey still treated Crystal bad also. Yes, you read right….Crystal’s character still has a great part in this book.

If you enjoyed Foundation of Love, you will definitely enjoy this page turner. Amy Clipston brought heartaches, laughs, faith and the courage to keep going all in one book. Looking forward to a third book in this series.

Another fun read, with well written characters and an straight forward story. Very cute, fun addition to the series.

I loved reading the continuation of the Bontrager family. Amy Clipston has written another warm, faith-filled story that kept me turning pages from first to last.

I read the first book in this series in a matter of days, and I did the same thing for this book, and I am looking forward to the third installment of this series. Amy Clipston has a way of creating characters that come to life within the reader's imagination. I feel connected to the Bontrager family and cannot wait to see how the story unfolds for Korey. Michelle and Tyler find a way to be together through the adversity they are faced with, and before you know it, you're rooting for them. You HAVE to read this! But not before you read "Foundation of Love" (book 1).

Beautifully written, I read in one setting! Clips ton never disappoints with her characters and Michelle and Tyler come alive on the page.