I've loved Amy Clipston's novels for years, so when I saw she was branching out into non-Amish fiction, I was excited to give it a try. The Heart of Splendid Lake was very well-written but unfortunately, some aspects of the plot left me struggling to finish it.

Brianna loves her small town and the resort she's always called home. When tragedy strikes, she's left reeling in its wake and struggling to keep her beloved resort afloat. Her high school sweetheart turned fiancé, Taylor Reese seems to be constantly unavailable to her, but always on there for his multiple jobs. Enter real estate investor, Scott Gibson. He's had his eye on the resort for a while now, but now his eye is wandering towards the woman who is trying her hardest to keep it going.

I wish Brie had broken things off with Taylor right at the beginning of the book. If the plot had gone that direction, I would have really enjoyed reading about the budding relationship between her and Scott, but I felt like their actions danced dangerously close to cheating on her then-fiancé. I also really missed the strong faith aspect that is usually so present in Clipston's novels. I'm hopeful this is just part of the learning curve of writing a completely new genre, and will definitely still read any future novels Clipston writes.

*I received a complimentary copy of The Heart of Splendid Lake through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

The Heart of Splendid Lake is by author Amy Clipston. Best known for her many Amish series and Young Adult works, romance writing is something new for her.

Brianna Porter is the only one of three sisters that stayed home in Splendid Lake to work with her parents to keep the family resort her grandparents had built running smoothly. As Brie runs errands as she prepares for her first meeting with her dad Martin regarding the upcoming season she gets a frantic call from her mother, Lois, to come home immediately. Before the season has begun her father’s life has ended.

As the family navigates the funeral and the onset of grieving, Brianna seeks solace in her dad’s Adirondack chair on the pier. She is joined by a good looking man who introduces himself as Scott Gibson, a real estate investor. Their first meeting sends him packing with Brianna telling him to never set foot there again.

When the extreme debt the family is in becomes apparent, Brianna feels she must take Scott’s call to determine their options. When her mom suffers a stroke, Brianna feels truly on her own to solve the family’s problems. While Brianna’s fiancé, Taylor Reese, has taken an extreme dislike to Gibson, Brianna forms a tentative friendship with Scott. In fact, when she needs help with her mother, the resort, and finding a solution to their money woes, it is Scott that comes to her aid and it is Scott she can depend upon, never Taylor.

This is a lovely story of how a resilient young woman navigates a fraught filled journey from her old life to a new life of much promise. I did enjoy this story and hope Ms. Clipston will make it the first of a series. I would love to take another trip to Splendid Lake!

It was a good read. Not your typical Amy Clipston book since it's not about the Amish but still good.
It's nice to have a stand alone book sometimes.

Brianna Porter loves working alongside her father at the family resort on Splendid Lake. After her father passes away suddenly, Brianna struggles to manage on her own while her mother deals with her grief. Scott Gibson, a real estate developer, arrives to make an offer on the place. Scott is just the first in a line of people who wish to purchase the Porter property. A set of circumstances threatens her family home and Brianna finds solace with kindhearted Scott. Brianna has been engaged to Taylor for three years and she is not one to back out on a commitment. What does the future hold for Brianna and the Porter resort? The Heart of Splendid Lake is Amy Clipston’s debut contemporary romance novel. I was drawn into this engaging story right away. I admit I was surprised because this is not the type of book that I normally read. I thought it was well-written (I would not expect less from Amy Clipston) with developed characters and a charming setting. It is an emotional story that will tug at your heartstrings. I could certainly relate to Brianna having to deal with her father’s death and her mother’s overwhelming grief. I thought all the characters were realistic and relatable. I enjoyed getting to know Brianna, Scott, Ava, Lois, and the other secondary characters. There is a friendly cat as well. Amy Clipston’s writing draws the reader in and holds them until the very end. The picturesque descriptions allowed me to visualize Splendid Lake, the town, and the resort. I could certainly understand Brianna and Scott’s desire to live there. The Heart of Splendid Lake is one of those stories that will have you staying up late to see how everything turns out. The Heart of Splendid Lake is a heartwarming, poignant tale with prodigious grief, moving memories, masses of maintenance, a mournful mother, a considerate developer, and an enthralling lake.

Set in small town North Carolina, Brianna is youngest of three sisters. The older two have taken off and spread their wings. But Brianna has always been close to her dad and is now helping him take care of their vacation rentals on Splended Lake. She has been engaged to Taylor for three years, but is still hesitant to set a date. When calamity strikes both her mom and dad, everything falls on Brianna. When a real estate agent, Scott, showed up with an offer for their complete business, was he an angel in disguise or a devil making the most of disaster?

It's been a long time since I have read something by Amy Clipston, and I absolutely could not put this sweet romance down! Brianna was such a caring person, and it seemed everyone dumped on her. I was frustrated with both her sisters who felt that money was the best things to help out when she truly needed physical support. I wanted to scream at her fiancee, as Taylor was such a jerk and so self-centered. And all I can say about Scott is oh what a swoon worthy hero! This is definitely a wonderful contemporary romance read!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

I wanted to love this book. And there are things about it I really liked. The author's writing style is great. I can see myself sitting on the edge of the pier at Splendid Lake watching the sunset. But I can't get past Brianna being engaged to Taylor (even if he is a tool) for so much of the book. If their relationship had ended at the very beginning of the book, I would've loved the sweet romance between Brie and Scott. But as it is, I just can't.

This is an emotional small town romance. Brianna just lost her Dad. Brianna is trying to deal with her own grief and her mom's stroke. Brianna lost part of herself when her dad died. Scott is a developer trying to buy her parents resort. Scott never had a family and was raised in foster homes. Brianna is a puzzle Scott wants to solve. Scott wants to help Brianna and her mom. Scott really listens to her. Brianna is becoming more and more attached to Scott. Brianna loves how Scott takes care of her and her mom. Scott is kind, generous and caring. Scott becomes her everything. My favorite quote in this book is about grief. Grief is unpredictable, it sneaks up on you sometimes. The wound never heals, but as time goes on, it get a little easier. I would totally recommend this book for any romance lovers.

The Heart of Splendid Lake is a very well written inspirational romance. Good plot and character dynamics and a beautiful setting. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

This is a beautifully written sweet romance that is full of emotions. I loved how the author brought the book to life, you could see the beautiful scenery and feel the characters emotions. This was a very enjoyable read and I recommend it to all fans of Christian romance.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoy Christian fiction, so I wanted to love this book ( a new author for me ), but I only liked it.

The small town setting was enjoyable and I could picture the lake resort - some place I would like to visit! I like stories with characters that pull themselves out of difficult situations.

The struggles for Brianna stretched on too long. I was ready for the story to take an upbeat path sooner than it did. Although Brianna had wonderful friends, I was disappointed her sisters were not more supportive and available to her.

I liked the slow romance. There did not really seemed to be a connection between Brianna and Taylor. It took Scott coming along for her to realize it.

The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston takes place in gorgeous Splendid Lake, North Carolina. Brianna's life turns upside down when her beloved father passes right before it's time to open up their cabins at the lake resort. Their family has owned cabins at their lake resort for three generations. Scott, a real estate developer, is very interested in developing their Lake Splendid resort along with many others. . But, how do you give up on something that's been in your family so long?

I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I was very engaged with the characters and the author did a good job depicting how people walk through grief differently. Brianna and Scott had wonderful chemistry and I loved how they overcame their past, and both learned to be selfless in different ways. For me the story spoke to being honest with yourself, not letting the past dictate your future, and the importance of making hard choices. I loved the themes, characters, and the quaint setting. I recommend this sweet romance.

Checking my blog for this author, I counted 28 reviews for her. But this was the first non-Amish book that I found. And she did a fantastic job! This is a contemporary romance set in North Carolina. The story revolves around Brianna who struggles with her father's recent passing and a resort that is in the red. The book is well developed and the author has woven an exquisite story of love, loss, family and friends, along with real-life struggles and joys.
It was a very different book than any of the other books I have read from this author. I really loved it and found it to be excellent and totally enjoyable.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

The Heart of Splendid Lake is my first read by Amy Clipston. When I first started reading, I was immediately drawn into the story by the writing style, the small town feel, and the characters. When Scott and Brianna first met, I was sure this was going to be my kind of story.

Sadly, as I continued to read, I realized that this was not the fun and light story that I had hoped for. Without going into spoilers, right after Scott and Brianna meet, things turned heavy and sad. This continued pretty much throughout the story. I also really struggled with the love triangle, which, in my opinion, went on way too long.

While this story was not for me, I really did like the writing style and the many of the characters. I also think I will be in the minority with this review, but I just wanted something that was lighter.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The faith thread is light.

At the beginning of this book the author references where this book idea comes from, sad, but having recently returned from the original site, I pictured this quaint town and the beautiful vista's this area offers!

As humans we take a lot for granted, and sometimes, like Brianna Porter our worlds come crumbling down, and then more, and more devastation. We watch this girl as she tries to be a super human and deal with all that is on her shoulders. Whom will come to aid her? Surprises and some heartbreak, you expect more from some individuals, but you do see what is more important.

Throughout the book you keep wondering what is going to happen, will the small resort survive? Will Brianna and Taylor finally tie the knot? What will happen to Scott, a character I really liked!

This will quickly become a page turner for you, I had the last page turned in one sitting.

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

Having recently lost my father and taking care of my elderly mother, I could totally relate to Brianna. I cried many times while reading this book and it was extremely cathartic. Fortunately I also have my own Scott and he is my rock.

Usually when I read a Amy Clipston, I am taken to a different way of life. The Amish lifestyle. A simplistic life style but with same longings that we all share at one time or another.

This was a treat and a surprise. Same simple lifestyle. What I would call tragic romance. A romance that is grown thru a tragedy. Amy usually speaks of faith in the Amish series she writes but this romance did not mention faith at all. It spoke of family ties, dreams, death and rebuilding.

Brianna Porter is starting her day in the town she grew up in. Helping her father run their resort by the lake in North Carolina. Splendid Lake is beautiful and is the perfect setting for family vacations. Her older sisters have chosen another lifestyle on each coast. Right away you are drawn into the relationship of her parents. They work together for a common goal. They enjoy each other's company and protect each other from harm. The day that changed Brianna's life forever, she meant a stranger at the local bookstore. Something different clicks between them. An easiness that she has never felt even with her fiancé. A fiancé that she has been engaged to for 3 years, known for 10 years but has never set the date. A text from her mother interrupts her thoughts from her banter with the unknown stranger and she quickly rushes home to find that her father has passed away.

Brianna's life change brings her to Scott Gibson. Scott whom she met at the bookstore right before learning of her father's death and again at his funeral when he suddenly appears at their resort walking along the shore. When he finally calls on her again knowing who Brianna is and her link to his new business venture, it ends badly and it gets more complicated. Scott has become a fixture in Brianna's life that she did not want and did not know how much she needed.

The relationship between Brianna and Scott are a contrast and the contrast shows the weakness in her current relationship with her fiancé. This of course leads to me just taking it all in. The walls that each has built because of different circumstances and how Brianna wants to remain true to relationship with her commitment and how Scott patiently loves her knowing that he will never have her. There is a respect for each other that is rare in relationships. I found that this virtue is worth pursing in all relationships. Brianna and her beloved resort is in trouble after the death of her father and that just adds to how relationships are strengthen and are weakened by tragedy and the unknown.

I enjoyed the character development and the plot in finding love in tragedy.

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

This was a beautiful story of love, growth, and overcoming adversity. The author did a great job of bringing the characters to life and making you care for and root for them. I was invested in the story from the start and curious to see how the author would make everything work out in the end. I was able to relate to Brianna and yet also relate to her sisters at the same time, and it was an interesting and thought-provoking exercise for me to think through relationships and how difficult they can be. Scott was a great hero, and the romantic tension between him and Brianna was strong, especially when they both fought hard against the feelings they had.

The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston introduces us to a wonderful small town called Splendid Lake. It is a vacation town in the summer and visitors come to enjoy the small town and the lake environments. Brianna Porter is the youngest of three daughters and unlike her sisters didn’t go off somewhere to start a career. She stayed to work with her dad on their lakeside resort.

Brianna is engaged to Taylor and is comfortable in her life taking care of the family’s business and fixing things. Then her father died suddenly and then her mother had a stroke. Taylor’s fiance was less than helpful and Taylor needed lots of help. She discovered her father had taken out a loan and did not have the capital to save the bank from foreclosing. Her mother needs constant care and both are mourning her dad.
Scott Gibson and his company want to buy the small resort and remake it into a larger more sustainable business. Brianna has not thought to sell out but she really needs help and Scott steps up to help unlike Taylor.

The book is really a book about Brianna coming to understand herself and her strengths. She was settling for good enough and I just wanted to yell at her for that. The novel does find its way to a wonderful ending (as it should) but there are some uncomfortable scenes for Brianna to figure out and resolve. The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston is a good read.

#theheartofsplendidlake #amyclipston #netgalley

Thanks to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. This was a sweet romance, full of swoon worthy moments! I loved the storyline.

I requested this book to review because it was a contemporary Christian romance set in a small town, and CCR is one of my favourite genres. The lakeside setting made it even more appealing. The fact it was by Amy Clipston - a multi-published new-to-me author was a bonus, as I'm always looking for my next favourite author. I think I've read one of her previous books, but she mostly writes Amish romance which isn't my preferred genre. So I was looking forward to reading Splendid Lake.

It didn't start well. The opening Prologue didn't grab my attention - the main character seemed to be a perfect person living her best life with no problems, and that doesn't make for fun fiction. Then her father dies, but even that lacked emotional impact because we knew nothing about him and it's hard to mourn a stranger, especially a fictional stranger.

Then we got to Chapter One, the funeral (a cliche opening if ever I read one). The heroine is obviously grieving, but the writing was distant, which gave the impression we were watching her grieve rather than experiencing her grief. We discover she's engaged to a guy who seems both boring and overbearing, but he's not being set up as the romantic hero: that role is taken by the handsome stranger she met in the bookshop in the Prologue, and meets again by the side of the lake when she escapes the funeral for some alone time.

But I still didn't know what the novel was about, and I wasn't sure I was invested enough to care. The writing was often stilted:

"I can bring some takeout. Maybe your favourite from that Chinese place you love?"

That’s supposed to be her boyfriend talking, and the lack of a specific (if imaginary) dish and restaurant gave the impression he either didn’t know/care what she liked, or wanted to hide that information from the reader. I can understand hiding information from the reader e.g. in a suspense novel. But where’s the suspense in not telling us her favourite Chinese dish or restaurant?

Lines like that made the characterisation feel dull. Her mother's favourite flavour of ice cream is vanilla. Her friend's coffee shop has been compared to a chain, and she thinks that's a compliment (well, maybe small-town USA is different, but the independent coffee shops in small-town New Zealand are always better than the major chains … although that might depend on the chain. Starbucks is okay, but doesn’t have the atmosphere of independent stores).

But my main problem was that I didn't like or respect Brianna. Yes, I know she's mourning the loss of her father, but I never felt that emotion. I also didn’t understand why she was completely ignoring the family business if keeping it running (and not selling to Scott) is so important to her.

I did like Scott, the property investor being set up as the hero. I thought he was kind and generous, despite Brianna acting like a spoiled teenager. As such, I had to stop reading so I can pretend Brianna and Taylor marry and have a perfectly boring life together, while Scott meets and marries someone else. Because he deserves better than Brianna.

DNF at 22%