Oh, my! This story grabbed me right from the start and wouldn't let go until the last page was turned. It's a May-December romance with 33-year-old Crystal Glick experiencing a spark of romance with 46-year-old widower Duane Bontrager. Can they overcome their 13-year age difference and the resistance of their families, to find a love that seems meant for them?

When Crystal chose caring for her father over moving out of state with her fiancé, Owen dumped her and left her heart-broken and suspicious of any man who tried to date her. Now that her father has died, she is grateful for the home she has with her brother's family. Caring for their home and children, gives her purpose - even if she gets no time for herself. When Duane stops in to give her brother a roof-repair estimate, she is immediately attracted to the kind, gentle man who is so sweet to her young niece. Can she convince, not only Duane, but all of her friends and family that age is really just a number, and the man she is most interested in isn't her newly-returned ex-fiancé, Owen, but Duane.

Duane has missed his wife every minute of every day since she died a year-and-a-half ago. He cannot imagine another woman taking residence in his heart, until he meets Crystal. As they spend time talking with one another, they discover that they never run out of things to discuss. When they officially begin dating, they meet resistance from every side - his sons are not ready to see their dad dating; his bishop wants him to marry a widow from their district to take the burden of her care from the district's shoulders; her friends all think he's too old for her; her brother and sister-in-law see their free, live-in help leaving; and her ex is making noises about wanting her back.

Can the two of them convince each other that their love deserves a chance to flourish? Can they stand together against all of the outside pressures and find a way to give their love a strong foundation?

I love Amy Clipston's stories, but this one was one of the best full-length Amish romances I've read in a while. Readers who enjoy Amish romance should definitely pick this one up. It was a treat!

You can’t help falling in love with the characters, Duane and Crystal. As their friendship grows, obstacles pop up from all sides, his sons, her family and even the bishop. I couldn’t put it down until I knew how it all would work out. I really loved this book. I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

Can there be a happily ever after? Crystal Glick has devoted her life to caring for her father during his illness and ultimate death, and now has given total devotion to her brother, his wife, and children. Now his wife is having a difficult pregnancy with children number seven and eight. By this stage in life, Crystal had assumed she would be married with a family of her own, but the love of her life, Owen, has broken her heart. Will she ever get her chance at love and a family?

Duane Bontrager, a recent widow and father of three adult sons, meets Crystal when he and his sons are employed to do work on the farm that her brother owns. There is an instant attraction, however, there is a huge age difference.

Will Crystal and Duane ever be able to overcome the obstacles created by her family and friends, Duane’s sons, and his bishop who all have their own opinions of who each of them should marry?

This is a sweet love story you will not want to miss. Amy Clipston brings us another great new series, Amish Legacy. I look forward to reading the next books in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Amy is a talented author and i expected as much from this book but I struggled to read it. The names given to the characters were non Amish, which took away from the flow of the story. I questioned why do this. As an avid reader, the traditional Amish names become synonymous with the stories we read. Felt like it was a rushed written book with nonsense conversation as a filler.

Thank you Zondervan for allowing me to read the advance reader’s copy of Foundation of Love by Amy Clipston. Release day is February 1, 2022. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Amy writes a heartfelt, sweet story of Crystal Glick and her life helping to care for her brother’s children after the death of their father and being jilted by her fiancé, Owen.

Crystal loves her nieces and nephew, but caring for this family is a full time responsibility and she has little or no time for herself. To make matters more demanding, her sister-in-law is expecting her second set of twins, and not able to do many daily chores.

Duane Bontrager Is a roofer that is hired to reroof the buildings on Crystal’s brother’s farm. Duane has recently lost his beloved wife and mother to his older boys.

An attraction sparks between Crystal in spite of a 14-year difference in their ages. This friendship is not really supported by family, friends, or even the Bishop, who has other ideas for Duane.

Can unsurmountable odds be overcome in order to pursue their friendship and grown love?

This is a 5-star must read from Amy. Order yours today.

This was such a sweet story. Duane and Crystal have a friendship that is special yet there are many unexpected problems to hinder their budding relationship. As their relationship kindles the problems begin to mount.
This was a very enjoyable read and I was turning the pages quickly to see how things would work for this couple. This story was realistic and the people in the book were very believable. This book was well worth a read!

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley and was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Such a sweet story! As always, Amy Clipston nails it with the characters and the storyline. She is definitely one of my favorites. I love how trauma and sadness blossoms into something beautiful in this story! Check it out - along with her other stories!

What a lovely story. I finished it with tears in my eyes! The characters are very real. Their hopes and fears are so very relatable. I would love to read about them in another book!

I loved this read, and the pages flew, I couldn't put it down. The characters are wonderful, even those my mind questioned as using someone else, and the author gives us a young woman who feels life has passed her by. Crystal Glick has made her home with her brother and his large family of six children [soon to be eight], and with her SIL on bed rest this lady sure has her hands full, but she accepts and fills her life with grace and love.

Enter a man who has grown sons and is hurting from the loss of his wife, Duane Bontranger, enjoys his family, and has been blessed in his work of fixing and repairing roofs, and having his three sons in the business.

Can a May/December romance work for these two? Well, there are some good twists and turns here, and a chance for romance with others. Solutions appear, and they are not what you expected!

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

Amy Clipston did a good job in making you fall in love with the characters, Duane and Crystal. As their friendship begins to grow into something more, obstacles begin to pop up and that slows their relationship down. Will they be able to overcome the things that prevent them from moving forward?

I found myself staying up late to finish the book to see what steps they would take to continue their budding relationship. This book was very engaging and enjoyable. I highly recommend it as a purchase for yourself or a gift for someone.

I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

“Foundation of Love” by Amy Clipston is a 'wunderbar' story of falling in love at a ‘mature’ age. And the challenge of a second marriage. It is the the first installment of Amy Clipston’s “Amish Legacy” series.

Duane Bontrager’s wife of twenty-four years died over a year ago but he and his sons miss her deeply. He is operating a successful roofing business with his grown-up sons but especially at night he misses Connie, his wife. Duane also has a bishop and how that man loves to dictate what people should do and who they should do it with.

Crystal Glick lives with her brother’s family and remarkably, I think, gladly helps them with their six children who she loves dearly. Her sister-in-law is pregnant with twins, again, and having a difficult pregnancy. Crystal is tired and babies seven and eight aren’t even here yet. Privately, she longs for her own husband and her own babies.

The Glick buildings need new roofs and that is how Duane meets Crystal. You know how you meet someone and within an hour, you feel immediate friendship? That is Duane and Crystal. They enjoy talking with each other. There is always something to talk about. At first, Duane’s sons are fine…

Duane also sees that Crystal’s brother and sister-in-law take advantage of her. Crystal has no time for herself. When you have no time for yourself, your life feels empty even if the hours are beyond full.

Complicating matters is Owen. He was Crystal’s special young man in her youth. He choose to move out of state to start a business with his cousin. That was five years ago. She has not heard from him in all that time. And now, he is back! He is determined to get Crystal back.

As the friendship between Duane and Crystal grows into love, both of their families are not happy about the development. Her family states a considerable age difference and Owen is back… His sons feel it is too soon after their mother’s death.

Then there is Duane’s bishop who seems determined that Duane should marry a nice widow with young children as the continued support of the widow and children was monetarily heavy on the 'Gmay'.

The development of this story is thankfully not rushed. The progression of the growing love and their own personal doubts as well as joy of having a person who they can share the ups and downs of life is handled so well.

The supporting characters are marvelous. From that very aggravating bishop to the oldest of Crystal’s children who is delightful. Is it acceptable for this reviewer to say Evie, one of the twin 'bruderskinner', has been spoiled rotten? A child who screams when she wants Crystal.

This is simply a delightful story. And highly recommended by this reviewed for your Must-Read List.

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

Rating: 5 stars
Cover rating: Exactly right.
Expected Publish date: 1 February 2022

#FoundationofLove #NetGalley #AmyClipston

I enjoyed this novel so much that I finished it at 2:30 in the morning! The storyline was good and I had to find out what happened. I do hope there is a sequel to this book to tie up a few storylines!

Crystal Glick moved in with her brother after her father died and her fiancé left her. She feels she will never marry. She takes care of her nephews and nieces, and takes care of the housework and errands. When she meets a roofer Duane Bontrager who is there to replace some roofs she becomes friends with him. He is a widower with children. This is a beautiful story of love and how it can find you when you least expect it. Loved the characters in this story.

4 stars

This was a sweet, Amish fiction story that revolves around Crystal who is an amazing aunt to her brothers kids. She becomes friends with the roofer, Duane, but both parties wonder if their differences would keep them apart.

The story was charming and a quick and easy read. Crystal was so selfless in the care for her brothers kids. I at times was tired for her and a little sad that her brother and sister in law took advantage of her.

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

Amy Clipston is a master at Amish love stories. I will always pick her books to read, not only because they are sweet and clean romances but they are easy to read and I always have an enjoyable afternoon with one. I especially love when the characters are a bit older...closer to my age that is! It was sweet to see how Crystal and Duane fell in love and worked through the difference of their ages, the opinions of their family & friends and the fact that he had adult sons who had a hard time coming to terms of their father remarrying. The moving on after a spouse dies seemed realistic and understandable.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publishes 1 February 2022

He he loved this story!
I wanted to start by saying that I am a huge fan of Amy Clipston. Anything she writes is a win win in my book
The Amish are certainly a fascinating people and I love how this author shows us that even the Amish aren't perfect.
I felt like I was a part of this family in so many ways that I didn't want to let go. My dad came from a family like this. 8 kid in all
Tyler is my favorite. He's just so grown up and responsible! I loved that about him.
Korey is my least favorite. He whines too much my opinion.
And Jayden well he's just Jayden with a lot of patience for his brothers. I love how things just rolls off his shoulders. I wish I could be like that. I think I'm a mixture of Korey and Tyler.
The person I most admired was Duanne. How he kept track of his sons was amazing to me.
I felt sorry for Crystal but in many ways I didn't. I still liked her though. She sure had a lot of patience.
I didn't really like Kane or Leona. Simply because I thought they were pretty selfish people who only thought of themselves.
I really appreciated some of the decisions that were made in this novel.
It just goes to show you that you should follow your heart and see what God has in store for you.
This story will leave you thinking about them long after the story is over.
Clipston has a way of doing that to you.
My thanks for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own. I was NOT required to write a positive review.

Crystal Glick is in her 30s and never married because the man she thought she was going to marry moved to Ohio instead of staying and settling down with her. Then her father died and she moved in with her brother and his ever growing family. She was pretty resigned to her lot until Duane Bontrager and his sons came to work on the roofs on her brother's farm. Duane was 14 years her senior but there was an instant connection on both their parts. Crystal has to work through her ex-boyfriend suddenly moving back after 5 years away and trying to restart their relationship, exhaustion trying to keep up with her brothers 8 children -- all young -- two sets of twins, and the input of everyone around her. Duane also has to put up with the opinions of his bishop and his friends and deal with the reactions of his grown sons who are still mourning this mothers death two years earlier. This is a fun book with lots going on. I enjoyed it thoroughly and read right through it in a day.. Amish fiction is getting more diverse and much more fun to read and I especially like Amy Clipston's take on Amish life.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.