The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston – Review
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Publishers Description
In this third installment of Amy Clipston’s Amish Marketplace series, an acquaintance grows into love over a few well-timed cups of coffee.
Alongside her cousins who have booths of their own, Bethany Gingerich runs a busy and successful coffee and donut stand at the Amish market. Since she has café-style tables and chairs, her regular customers enjoy purchasing a morning treat so they can sit and talk to their friends.
Micah Zook and his grandfather, Enos, visit Bethany every Saturday morning to purchase coffee and donuts before going to work at Enos’s custom outdoor furniture shop. Bethany enjoys talking to Micah and Enos, and she’s always thought Micah was handsome—but she doesn’t think her crush will ever result in anything more.
When Micah and his grandfather don’t come to see her one Saturday morning, Bethany begins to worry. And when she learns that tragedy has struck, she wonders how to help Micah in his time of need. Turns out he needs a friend now more than ever, and Bethany may be just the kind of friend that God has provided for him.
My Review
This is the third installment of Amy Clipston’s Amish Marketplace series. I was beyond excited when she announced the third book. I have always enjoyed visiting coffee shops/coffee corners and when I read the title of Amy’s book I could not wait to brew a cup of coffee and begin reading. With Amy’s well-written and descriptive writing I was immediately welcomed into the atmosphere of delicious coffee flavors and donuts permeating into the air made by an upbeat and sweet character, Bethany.
If you’ve read Amy’s previous Marketplace series books then you will be hearing some familiar names mentioned in this novel. Amy has done a fantastic job developing each of her characters, almost as if they become your own distant relatives. When Amy brings them back into her stories it only helps to deepen the connection to them and not leave you guessing what happened in their lives as time moves on.
In this book, we are introduced to Micah and Bethany. Both are complete opposites yet share some similarities that are needed to connect one another through their trials and insecurities. Bethany may be the friendly young lady creating new coffee flavors behind a coffee counter, but inside she is feeling left out as her cousins get married and start having families of their own. She comes to realize that those special moments with her cousins, like sipping coffee at lunch and seeing one another at their booths, are slowly changing. She starts to wonder if she will ever be as happy as her cousins. Still, she presses forward greeting her customers “Welcome to the coffee corner.”
Mamm reached over the table and touched her hand. “Change is difficult. I remember when my best freind got married two years before I did.I felt the same way, and our friendship definitely had to adapt. We didn’t see each other as often, but when we did, we would just pick up from where we left off. That’s what happens when you become an adult. Your priorities change your friendships change, and your life changes. (Pg. 140-141 – The Coffee Corner By: Amy Clipston)
Will Bethany learn to adapt to the new changes in her life?
Two regular customers who stop by Bethany’s Coffee Corner on Saturday mornings, are Micah and his grandfather Enos. Micah lives with his grandfather and helps him run a woodshop that may be hiding some secrets of its own. As the story builds, we see a quiet Micah become more open and vulnerable as he overcomes and faces some loose ends of his past and a recent sudden tragedy that makes him hit rock bottom.
A conversation between Enos and Micah tugged my heart, as I felt I could relate to Micah here on a personal note. I remember a time I had a similar conversation with my grandfather. In Chapter Thirteen Micah and Enos have the following discussion:
“I was hard on your dat when he was young. I was quick-tempered, impatient, and demanding. “Daadi stared out the window toward the passing traffic as he spoke. “Your mammi tried to tell me to be more patient, but I believed a daed’s job was to browbeat his sohn into being the best man he could possibly be.” Micah shook his head. “No, Daadi. You’re not like that at all. You’ve never treated me that way.” Daadi turned toward Micah, his expression stoic. “I was like that. By the time I realized I was wrong, it was too late. I tried to make it right when you came along.” Micah stared at him for a long moment and then turned back toward the road, his mind racing. “I’m sorry for that. “Daadi touch Micah’s arm. “I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me and to someday forgive your daed. My actions have trickled down to you in a way I never could have imagined. I’ve tried to talk to your daed about how he treats you, but he’s just as stubborn as I used to be. He told me to mind my own business. I keep praying he’ll realize the terrible rift he’s created with you and that he will repair it.” (Pg 131-132, The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston)
Will Micah ever find it in his heart to forgive his dad and will Micah’s dad see his son’s heart?
What I love about both, Micah and Beth in this story is you get to read and see them both mature and grow in this story as trials and lessons come their way. I have to admit, I needed a tissue or two throughout this book because Clipston made you feel that connected to her characters. You could feel the sweet moments shared between Beth and Micah (I think I could feel myself even blush a time or two) and you could also feel their deepest sorrows. I think it’s something any reader could relate to at some point in life. This is a book of hope, encouragement, and a deeper insight into the importance of prayer, and being there for someone. Being able to be selfless and opening our hearts to others with truth and genuine love.
Thank you Amy Clipston for such another wonderfully written piece to your Marketplace series!
Order Your Copy of The Coffee Corner
Order 1 & 2 of the Marketplace Series
Coming May 4th, 2021
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Early Years
A native of New Jersey, I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I often joke that my fiction writing “career” began in elementary school as I wrote and shared silly stories with a close friend. However throughout school, I only considered writing a hobby, and I never dreamt of being an author.
In 1991, I graduated from high school, and my parents and I moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia. My father retired, and my mother went to work full-time. I attended Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, and I graduated with a degree in communications. I met my husband, Joe, during my senior year in college, a few days after my father had a massive stroke. Joe and I clicked instantly, and after a couple of months we started dating. We married four years later.
After graduating from VWC, I took a summer job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, which turned into an eleven-year career. I worked in the Public Affairs Office for four years and then moved into Planning as a writer/editor.
During that time, I continued writing for fun. It was something I did to escape stress and unwind. I didn’t share the stories with anyone except for a couple of close friends. In fact, I was even afraid to admit to my husband that I wrote. Read More about Amy HERE.
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