A Mother's Secret by Author Amy Clipston

I’m so thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce my new book, A Mother’s Secret, on the Borrowed Book Blog.  This book is the second in my Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel series and is set to release June 3. A Mother’s Secret releases one year after book one, which was A Hopeful Heart. 

In book one, Hannah Glick, a recent widow, finds herself stuck at a crossroad in her life. Her community offers her love and support, but a new friend offers her the chance of a new life after unexpectedly losing her husband. Wealthy businessman Trey Peterson is surprised at his attraction for the gentle Amish woman who works as a housekeeper in the Lancaster Grand hotel where he is staying. They share a common bond of loss and are able to offer each other comfort and support as they journey through their grief. Joshua Glick wants nothing more than to offer his friendship and love to Hannah and her family. Not only is he her husband's brother and business partner in their shared horse business, he has always been in love with Hannah. Are they destined to be only business partners or will Joshua be able to convince her that they belong together for life?

The Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series was inspired during the Amish Country Holiday Book Tour in November 2011. During the tour, Vannetta Chapman, Shelley Shepard Gray, and I stayed at the Berlin Grand Hotel. Alicia Mey, Senior Marketing Director for Zondervan, was impressed with the hotel, and she pitched the idea of using a fictional hotel in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as the setting for my new series. She suggested I create a series about Amish women who work in at fictional upscale hotel. She was intrigued with the idea of the Amish and "English" (non-Amish) clashing in such a unique environment. Her idea turned into the series, and I'm so thankful for Alicia's idea that I dedicated A Hopeful Heart to her.

I enjoyed writing A Hopeful Heart and juxtaposing the Amish and English life through the hotel. Throughout the series, the women who are the main characters work in the fictional hotel. I have to admit that A Mother’s Secret is my favorite book in the series. Carolyn Lapp, the heroine of the book, is different from the other Amish women I’ve featured in my previous books. Due to her painful past, she’s more outspoken and less traditional than any other Amish character I have created. I also enjoyed giving Joshua Glick his own story since he had his heart broken in A Hopeful Heart.

In A Mother's Secret, 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?

A Mother's Secret was inspired while I was writing A Hopeful Heart. I felt Joshua Glick needed his own story after he had his heart broken in the first book. I really like Joshua’s character, and I enjoyed telling his story. This book is dedicated to my amazing editor and dear friend, Becky Philpott. She’s been a tremendous support to me with my books. I’m grateful for her friendship and her guidance with my books.

I hope readers enjoy A Mother’s Secret. Book three in the series, A Dream of Home, will follow in December and will feature Madeleine Miller, another housekeeper who works at the Lancaster Grand Hotel.

Amy Clipston is the award-winning and best-selling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series. Her novels have hit multiple best-seller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. She is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at www.amyclipston.com Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks Twitter: @AmyClipston