A Mother’s Secret by Amy Clipston
Published: 2014
Publisher: Zondervan
Series: Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel(Book 2)
Goodreads Summary:Carolyn Lapp dreams of marrying for love. But will the errors of her past destroy this dream forever? Carolyn Lapp longs to have a traditional Amish family. But she lives on her brother’s farm with her parents and her 15-year old son, Benjamin. Carolyn has never revealed the identity of Benjamin’s father and lives daily with the guilt and shame of her youthful indiscretion. Her brother simply will not forgive her. His answer is to arrange a practical marriage for Carolyn to Saul, a widower with a little girl. But Carolyn isn’t convinced that Saul really loves her and believes he is simply looking for someone to help raise his daughter. When Benjamin causes trouble at a local horse auction, horse breeder Joshua Glick decides that he must be taught a lesson. Carolyn and Joshua are unmistakably drawn to each other, but Joshua mistakenly assumes that Benjamin is Carolyn’s brother. Carolyn fears that if he discovers the truth, her past will destroy their budding romance. After years of shame and loneliness, Carolyn suddenly has two men vying for her attention. But which of them will give her the family—and the unconditional love—she’s longed for?
Carolyn had a baby when she was 16 years old. The father ran off before the baby was born. Her family has supported her but her brother has never let her forget her mistake. When her nephews get her son in trouble yet again it ends up being a blessing as he ends up working off his trouble at Joshua’s horse farm. The problem is no one tells Joshua that Ben is Carolyn’s son he things he is her brother. As Carolyn and Joshua develop a relationship the secret could ruin their chance of love.
This is book two of the series. I liked this book and look forward to the rest of the books to come.
What I liked: Carolyn was a teen mother.Her family supported her but her older brother never forgave her. He wants to marry her off to an older widower but Carolyn only wants to marry for love. She stood up for herself and her son and I liked that about her. I loved the bond between her and her son and how that bond played out at the end of the book.
What I did not like: We also continue to follow Hannah who has married a man outside the Amish faith. She is still having trouble with her daughter Lily who stayed in the faith. She can’t seem to understand why Lily is so upset with her and I find her confusion silly. Of course she is upset and angry. This part of the story still bothers me.
Overall this was a good book. I liked Carolyn and Joshua. They both had to overcome some personal fears as well as community gossip to find happiness. I look forward to the next book and to continue to follow these characters.
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DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.