A quiet prayerful age gap romance (33 and 47) that handles the gap well—neither ignoring it nor making it the main conflict.

Crystal and Duane each have a lot of family responsibilities and I liked seeing them learn to set boundaries. Their family and friends felt like real, flawed people and while they were often very frustrating obstacles to the romance, I appreciate a Amish romance that doesn’t present them as perfect paragons.

There’s a lot of exhausting and unpleasant childcare depicted in the book, which means it’s not much of an escape if that’s your everyday reality.

FOUNDATION OF LOVE is the first book in the Amish Legacy series. Crystal Glick always puts everyone else’s needs before her own and that is why she is staying with her brother and helping his family who are waiting on the birth of a set of twins, which will be child # 7 and 8. But she also realizes her dream of having a husband and children of her own isn’t going to happen if she continues to put everyone’s needs before her own. FOUNDATION OF LOVE is filled with love, grief, forgiveness, second chances, romance, and healing.

Duane is a widower who owns a roofing company. He meets Crystal one day while he is working on her brother’s farm. Duane is older than Crystal and has three grown sons, one who is very upset with his father seeming to try and forget all about their late mom. Crystal and Duane are happy together and want to marry, but most of the people do not think that they are meant for each other because of their age difference. Duane is fourteen years older than her. Duane also has to deal with his bishop and his friends opinions and the reactions of his sons who are still mourning their mom who died two year ago. Amish fiction seems to be getting more diverse and FOUNDATION OF LOVE proves that fact.

Amy Clipston has created a wonderful series filled with beautiful families and characters. Her descriptions of each setting had me feeling as if I were right there in the Glick kitchen giggling with all of the children. FOUNDATION OF LOVE was a quick read for me because I had a hard time putting it down once I started. Everyone believes that two people, fourteen years apart in age, can never find happiness together, and Duane’s sons can’t imagine another woman taking their mother’s place. I found myself cheering for Crystal and hoping she could get Duane’s walls to come down. I love the way she never gave up on him no matter how hard he pushed her away. I’m excited to continue this series.

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

Due to personal reasons I have altered the genres I am reviewing and I will not be finishing this book. I'm sure it is an enjoyable read however it is not for me.

This was such a sweet and charming story of two people who fall in love and must overcome many obstacles along their path. I loved it!
Many Zondervan and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The older I get the more I enjoy stories of older adults falling in love under tougher circumstances. While Crystal is still young (early thirties), Duane is a few years older (50) and has lived a married life with children. My parents were seventeen years apart and had almost 45 wonderful years of marriage. This story made me think of their beautiful love story.

A clean romance that is suitable for almost all romance readers.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

A wholly enjoyable romance of second chances, new beginnings and fighting for love.

I was cheering for Crystal from the very beginning, she is hardworking and selfless to a fault. I adored that she and Duane are slightly older than your typical fictional couple, and have their own unique set of challenges to face together.

Engaging from the start, my heart went out to Crystal who longs for a family of her own, but things just didn't work out for her in the past. She has a heart for children, and selflessly helps her brother and sister-in-law. Duane is a kind-hearted man, he is wise and has done his best to raise his boys, I loved how the young children trusted him right away.

Overall, this was a wonderful read that I didn't want to put down. I related a lot to Crystal, and loved that she and Duane both stood up for their relationship. A well written read, with a heartwarming romance, adorable children, I loved how they both brought their relationship before God in prayer throughout the story. Highly recommend this well written, feel-good Amish romance.

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

Crystal Glick is thankful for her life and the nieces and nephews that she helps her brother and his wife care for. But, deep down, she’s still love a family of her own. She has lived with her brother’s family ever since her father died and her fiancé, Owen, broke their engagement and her heart. Crystal loves her nieces and nephews and quite happily takes care of them while her sister-in-law deals with a very difficult pregnancy. Duane Bontrager is still mourning the death of his wife, Connie, after 24 years of marriage. He and their grown sons are still struggling to adjust to life without help. They are running a thriving roofing business and Crystal’s brother hires them to work on the roofs of their farm. Crystal and Duane quickly become friends and find that they are drawn to each other, despite their fourteen year age difference. Crystal’s brother and his wife worry that they’re going to lose her much needed help with their six, soon to be eight, children. They also don’t like the age difference and think that if she has to marry, she should reunite with Owen. Duane’s sons fear he is trying to replace their mother and resent Crystal. Duane’s bishop thinks he should marry a young widow in the community who has children.

I always enjoy Amy’s books. She has an incredible talent for writing relatable, likable characters. What I like is that the main characters aren’t perfect, they have their individual personalities and flaws. Crystal and Duane fall in love very quickly but they both had a lot to overcome to be together. I could relate to Crystal’s desire to help her loved ones and worry about letting them down. Duane’s struggles with his sons was very understandable. All in al, it was a very interesting story and an easy read. The secondary characters were all realistic, too. It’s natural for Crystal’s friends to be concerned about the age difference and how fast they connected, but once they saw how happy Crystal was, they were supportive. I am definitely looking forward to the next book and reading more with these wonderful characters!

Foundation of Love by amazing storytelling author is such a clever story. I loved it! Author Clipston has an easy style of writing that just pulled me in. Her characters were believable and intriguing. It was not difficult to become invested in their lives. This is the story of Crystal and Duane. Without giving anything away about this fabulous story, I just want to say that author Clipston comes up with unique and interesting story that contain twists and turns. This was a real page turner, and I had trouble putting it down. I highly recommend it. It gets a 5 star review. A copy was provided from NetGalley, but these are my honest words.

The first book in author Amy Clipston’s newest series, An Amish Legacy Novel, Foundation of Love will keep your attention from beginning to end. With well developed characters, you’ll be cheering for Duane and Crystal. I liked all of the characters and would love to visit with them, though I did get frustrated with Crystal’s family for taking advantage of her. And with Crystal for allowing it. But it made for a good story.

Clipston’s story has so many emotions. It’s a roller coaster of love, loss, second chances, forgiveness, and extreme fatigue. I don’t know how they handled it all but they did and allowed God to move. If you enjoy Amish fiction I recommend Foundation of Love.

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

This is the first book in a new Amish series by Amy Clipston. If you have enjoyed other books by Amy Clipston, you'll be sure to enjoy this one.
Crystal is living with her brother, his wife and their six children. Did I mention that twins are on the way? Crystal helps take care of the house and the children.
In case you're wondering why 33 year old Crystal is still single, well...she felt she needed to stay and care for her dad when her fiance' wanted her to move away with him. This has left her with trust issues when it comes to men. What if another were to leave her?
Then, there is Duane who terribly misses his wife who passed away 1 1/2 years earlier. He and Crystal meet and there is something there between the two of them. There is a significant age difference in he and Crystal's ages. He has two grown sons, after all. Can they overcome this? Can Crystal trust her heart with another man?
Very sweet story that will grab you from the beginning.
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Zondervan through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

I love reading Amish stories and Amy Clipston's in particular. I loved the cover of this story as it gives a good representation of Duane and Crystal.

However, I feel this story was heavier than your typical Amish romance. Crystal and Duane were "just friends" even though they felt an attraction to each other. They had quite a few barriers to their relationship, especially with Crystal doing so much for her brother's family. All their friends and family were against them becoming more than friends, mostly because of their age difference. It's because of their age (old enough to make their own decisions), that this really got on my nerves.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, and you do get a mostly happily ever after. The story is full of hope and promise, with themes of second chances and how people handle grief differently. There is a strong faith element as Duane and Crystal often sought the Lord's guidance in their relationship.

Thank you to Net Galley and Zondervan for the opportunity to read this story. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a very sweet story about the power of love and family. As the friendship between Duane and Crystal grows I was drawn in even more to the story. The obstacles they have to overcome in order to have their happily ever after are immense with family pressures on both side as well as leaders in their Amish church. This was a wonderfully written story by Amy Clipston and I'm very glad I read it.

Duane Bontrager lost the love of his life after 24 years of marriage. Running a thriving roofing company with his three grown sons, Duane still feels alone. What will he do when his sons marry and move away? Chrystal Glick lost her chance at marriage when she chose to be her father's caregiver. Although she wouldn't change her decision, Chrystal now feels like she wants more than just taking care of her brother's family. With her father now deceased, will Chrystal find love again? A chance meeting between Duane and Chrystal sparks more than friendship that not everyone agrees is good. Will they convince folks that they have the foundation of love in order to make a marriage? I loved the characters in this book. I look forward to the next. I received a copy through Netgally. A review was not required.

"Foundation of Love" highlights the lives of two characters seeking love and friendship, but stymied by interfering friends and family. Duane lost his wife to cancer, and now is left to raise three young adult sons, while tending to his roofing business and farm. Crystal lives with her brother and cares for his growing family, yet yearns for a love and family of her own. When Duane and Crystal begin to care for each other and plan a life together, family and community members continue to try to match them with others and find reasons to keep them apart.

This book impressed me with its attention to a theme seldom seen in novels about Amish people: love later in life. Duane and Crystal are no starry-eyed youngsters; instead, they are mature adults who seek a fulfilled life together. The story is realistic and shows how friends and family can disrupt relationships for reasons of their own. In this case, Duane is pushed to take a widow for his wife in order to help the community, while his sons believe he should not remarry out of respect for his deceased wife.. Crystal's brother and sister-in-law selfishly expect Crystal to continue caring for their large family as a maid of all work, without consideration for her future happiness. It was frustrating to see them continually thwarted and kept apart, and.I quietly cheered when Duane and Crystal finally stood up for themselves. Themes of child bearing, male dominance, and grief also appear in this novel.

This is a clean novel, without adult intimacy scenes, graphic violence, or strong language. The faith component is an integral part of this story. Readers who enjoy novels about Amish people, with a bit of a twist to the usual themes, will find this to be a thoughtful and intriguing choice.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Beautiful story on love and family! Crystal Glick is a 'live in nanny' to her nieces and nephews while her sister in law struggles with a twin pregnancy. Crystal shoulders most of the responsibility and chores while neglecting her own personal life. When she falls in love with a roofer that comes to her brother's farm, she is faced with a choice. Will she marry the man of her dreams, or will she marry her ex-boyfriend who is penitent and repentant?

Here is another great novel, Foundation of Love, by a favorite author, Amy Clipston. The characters are a bit older than most, in the Amish romance genre and it makes for a nice change in expectation and character development. You will enjoy Crystal, who at 33 is not married and Duane, at 47, is a widower with 2 older grown sons. Not only is there an age difference there are families that do not want them to pursue a relationship. The negative outlook includes their bishop. Will they weather the storms and negative attitudes or will they cave to opinion and go with different suitors. Sit back, open the book, light the candle, pour the drink of choice and lose yourself within the pages.....

I voluntarily read and reviewed 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.

I think this is my favorite Amy Clipston novel so far! Crystal Glick is thirty-three, unmarried and lives with her brother, sister-in-law, and their six children. It is obvious to everyone but Crystal that her family is taking advantage of her for childcare. Duane is forty-seven and a widower raising three young men. The men are dealing with their grief in different ways. Crystal and Duane become friends and want more. But their families and community are against the relationship. Duane’s son Korey is especially giving the pair a difficult time. This book did not sugarcoat the challenges of a May- December romance and blending families. I’m looking forward to the other books in the series.
I want to thank Amy Clipston, Zondervan Fiction and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I always love Amy Clipston books and this is no exception. I really love that this book is about an older father who loses his wife and finds love again. Both Crystal and Duane have known loss in their lives and they click the first time they meet. I am looking forward to the next books in the series to see how Duane, Crystal and his sons handle being together. The romance is sweet and this is an emotional book. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Amy Clipston is one of my favorite authors and I enjoyed this book as much as I expected I would. Crystal is a caring woman who lives with her brother and sister-in-law, helping to care for her many nieces and nephews. She wonders if she will ever marry and have a family of her own. Duane is a widower with three grown sons. They grow to care for each other but wonder if they have any chance of future happiness together.

Sorry, I tried to like this book, but the whole thing seems forced. And what is up with the trendy names she gives the characters? It's an AMISH book, Amy, it isn't a teen romance. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and honestly, read one of her older books.