I’m starting the new year off right with Amy Clipston’s new contemporary novel, Something Old, Something New.
Christine is fulfilling her dream of running an antique store. She leads a happy life with her parents, sister and nieces close by, but she’s looking for that special someone. Brent, who was a big football star and dated Christine’s twin, comes back to town to help his aunt.
This is not your typical love story, it’s more about finding one’s own worth in order to be able to give your heart to someone else. You can’t love someone if you don’t love yourself.
I was drawn in by the realistic, complex characters. Aunt Midge was my favorite!. I devoured this book in two days. I thought the ending was great! Many thanks to the author, Thomas Nelson-Fiction and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Flipping houses and football makes for a perfect book along with some romance! I really enjoyed the characters of Aunt Midge, M &M, Brent and Christine!



I enjoyed how throughout the book, the antiques as well as the people were given second chances!



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Something Old, Something New pulled me in and wouldn’t let me go! I really liked these main characters and the way they grew into such a deep connection with each other. It was such an interesting situation, with Brent having been Christine’s sister’s boyfriend all though high school and into a bit of college. I liked that what built between Brent and Christine was a fresh beginning, even though it was in their hometown and there were definitely some big hurdles to overcome.

The biggest hurdle was Brent’s belief that he just wasn’t good enough. Even though it was clear that these two were falling in love with each other, Brent had some big disappointments in his life that were weighing him down and keeping him from offering his heart completely to Christine.

Christine and Brent’s story kept me riveted to the pages as they navigated their feelings for each other. Feelings that were sometimes full of love and possibilities, but also feelings that led to heartache and insecurity. But these two were truly so good for each other and the emotional journey they traveled in this story was one of great growth, which made them stronger and solidified their feelings for each other once they made it through.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I love when a story is set in a small town. It gives the story a cozy feel. Something Old, Something New shows us that not all people are who they seem. It also teaches that it is ok to shed some of your old in order to become new. Christine has everything she thinks she wants except love. Brent doesn't feel like he is worthy of love. Will they be able to grow together? Will the past be a road block to the future? I really enjoyed all of the characters but my favorite was Aunt Midge. Her quirkiness added to the story in both a comical but insightful way. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

I really enjoyed this title, aunt Midge is the icing g on TBE cake for this title. I highly recommend kt. It is Very enjoyable read.

This book features a lovely, sweet and heartwarming romance with just a touch of angst. Christine and Brent both wrestle with feelings of not being good enough or worthy. She has always felt inferior to her twin sister……less pretty, less popular and generally less attractive to the opposite sex. Brent’s dad has always pressured him to do better, be better than him, and his dad had never stopped nagging him about losing his scholarship after a knee injury ended his hopes for a football career. A business failure and having to give up his home has left Brent disillusioned and dispirited. Coming back to his home town is hard because of all the memories and his lost dreams and hopes. Helping his aunt who has always been good to him is a bright spot in his otherwise disappointing life. So is connecting with Christine. He never really paid much attention to her when he was dating her twin, but when Christine helps him clean out his aunt’s house and sell the sizeable pile of treasures through her antiques business, Brent wants to know everything about her. The interest, fortunately, is mutual. Both find comfort and companionship with each other, though they are both struggling to control their attraction to each other. Christine is dealing with mixed emotions. Guilt because he is her sister’s ex. Confusion……why would he be interested in someone like her. But hope is the biggest feeling driving her to seek Brent out. Their chemistry and attraction are palpable to everyone who sees them together, yet these two are still dealing with the past, their feelings of unworthiness and other stressors to actually let go and see where a relationship would take them. Can these two let go of the past in order to claim a happily ever after for themselves?

The wonderful characters and storyline wove a spell around me and won’t soon be forgotten. I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is a sweet heartwarming romance. I loved the small-town setting, and the characters were wonderful. This book was a joy to read and I highly recommend it.
U received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

BOOK REVIEW - Something Old, Something New - Amy Clipston - 4/5 Stars

What better book title to start off this year's book reviews than Amy Clipston's latest, Something Old, Something New!

THE STORY
I've only read Amy Clipston's contemporaries but I love them because her romances are so natural and real feeling that it makes single people like me believe in and hope for a similar romance in real life. Christine and Brent are lovely and their struggles relatable. I'm so used to reading stories of girls struggling with self-worth, so it was refreshing to read the role reversal in this story. I've always felt a bit like a wallflower so I love reading stories of other wallflowers as I always feel like I can relate to them and love cheering them on as they get their happily ever after!

THE ROMANCE
If you like slow burn this is the romance for you! Slow burns have to be the most frustrating yet satisfying stories out there. I don't like having to wait so long for a first kiss but can't really get mad at a person behaving so honorably!

THE TRUTHS
They say comparison is the thief of joy and it's so true! I'm never more miserable than when I'm comparing myself and my life to others. Like Brent and Christine, we need to learn to love and appreciate the person God has created us to be and we need to accept the different paths of life God has each of us on. Yearning for what others have will always leave us unhappy. Surround yourself with people who not only love you as you are but encourages you to keep walking in the path God has you on!

Something Old, Something New is a stand alone novel by author Amy Clipston. Christine Hawkins is the successful store owner of Treasure Hunting Antique Mall in her hometown of Flowering Grove, NC. When she first graduated as a certified paralegal on top of her bachelors degree, Christine had worked in a Charlotte law office. Unhappy in this position, the legacy from her dear Nana had allowed Christine to return home, get her business going, and purchase her small home four years ago.
Christine’s fraternal twin Britney was always very different from Christine. Petite like their mother with very blond hair, Britney had been all about ballet and cheerleading and being the it girl in the in crowd. The lead cheerleader dating the all state quarterback, Britney was always concerned about appearances, while Christine was the artistic nerd. Britney is now married to Hunter Davenport with fraternal twins of her own. Although Christine and Britney are close, Christine still feels she always falls short in their mother’s eyes.
When Christine’s path crosses that of Brent Nicholson, the former quarterback who broke her sister’s heart, she discovers a very different person than she recalls. Brent has come back to town to help his great aunt Midge get her home ready to sell so she can move to the senior community where her friends now live. He had learned at his late great uncle’s side his skills and love for repairing homes. Having lost his athletic scholarship when he blew out his knee, Brent had left college and moved to Virginia and began his own remodeling company with a friend that turned out all wrong. Having lost his company and being between jobs he came as soon as Aunt Midge called.
As Christine helps Aunt Midge clean out treasures for her store, she becomes close to the family, but Britney relentlessly warns her sister to stay away, that she too will be hurt by a cheat, even though Brent denies this adamantly.
The plot follows as the work is completed, through their many conversations and activities, and the development of their story. As is always the case, Ms. Clipston has woven a beautiful tale of growth and redemption. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

I will forever be an Amy Clipston fan because I am completely enamored with her books.

Thank you Thomas Nelson for my complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. Something Old, Something New is a small-town romance and friends to lovers (kind of!) . It follows Christine Sawyer who owns Treasure Hunting Antique Mall and has a twin sister Britney who was the cheerleader and popular twin. While helping a customer she gets assisted by Britney's ex and a quarterback who suffered an injury that ended his career. Thanks to his Aunt's antiques they end up spending time together and one thing leads to another until the sparks are a fire. I absolutely loved how the author tackled family expectations, sibling, comparison, new beginnings and family bonds. Aunt Midge was just so adorable and the book is perfect for a lazy day.

I'm overjoyed to say that I enjoyed reading this. Really, it was a nice, decent modern tale. I don't like things that are extremely corny, but this has a nice amount that I appreciate. After reading far too many Christmas themed books for several weeks, it was fun to take up this modern romance.

Christine Sawyer, the self-described nerdy twin, and Britney were twins. Britney, her sister, was the well known cheerleader. Two sisters are polar opposites in every way.

Living in her sister's shadow is nothing Christine seems to mind because she is doing okay. Christine was someone I really liked and admired for her tenacity and drive. Being a twin with an attractive and well-liked sister is unimaginable to me.

While Brent Nicholson, the former high school quarterback who dated Britney, Christine's twin sister, throughout high school, has also returned to their community due to a significant issue that he must face and is powerless to dodge.

As I followed Christine and Brent's tale, I kept wondering how they would be able to get over all the challenges that were in their path, including people, situations from their past, their families, and even their own ambitions and insecurities. Brent and Christine were incredibly generous and nice.

I also really enjoy how Christine and Britney's connection is developing and how they are able to resolve the problem, particularly as it relates to Brent since she has been holding a grudge against him for years. I can relate to how Britney feels knowing that her sister started with her ex.

Despite being a little predictable, it was still filled with wonderful moments, and I would absolutely read it again if I needed to. Secrets are disclosed that have changed people's lives for years; relationships are repaired; and forgiveness and reconciliations take place. This is a charming, touching story that is nicely written.

This one was definitely a pleasant surprise from beginning to end, and I think fans of clean romances and small town romances will adore it!

Go get yours when it is anticipated to publish on January 3, 2023!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson-Fiction & Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Loved it. A sweet, heart-warming and occasionally heartbreaking romance. A nice variety of characters. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Brent is back in town and reconnects with Christine. He is her twins ex though, so will they have any chance of a future together?

After reading a lot of historical fiction, it was fun picking up this contemporary romance. I liked how Brent and Christine interacted with each other. They brought out the best in each other. This was so needed since they both struggled in their own ways with their self-perception and worth. Brent felt he'd let his father down while Christine felt she always lived in her twin's shadow. I think a lot of people will relate to their stories.

I really liked Aunt Midge. It would be fun to see her in her own second romance story in her new place. This was a fun, pretty light read. It was a nice change of pace for me. Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is a story about Christine and Brent. Christine is the twin sister of Britney, who used to date Brent for six years. After many years Brent returns to Flowering Grove to help his aunt renovate her house so she can sell it and move to a condo. Christine has bought a antiques shop and they run in to each other when Brent wants to sell various old furniture and stuff from his aunt’s home.
Brent has a lot of self-esteem issues; he was quite insecure about losing his career, his business and struggles with a disapproving father. Christine also has issues: she feels her sister is ‘the pretty one’ and has it all: she’s happily married and has two lovely little girls. Christina is a bit jealous and ‘sometimes still longs to be the pretty one’. So they have that in common.
The story was quite slow, and I felt it was a bit immature, with the sisters at some point bickering over a text Brent sent to Christine; Britney grabbing her sisters phone to read it and not returning the phone but demanding an explanation. Britney was still holding a grudge towards Brent, so she disapproved of her sister becoming friends with Brent.
I struggled with the format; I don’t like it when someone is hooking up with her sister’s ex-boyfriend. They datet for six years, but no matter the time frame, you just don’t get involved with your sisters’ ex-boyfriend. That combined with their characters and the slow pace made that it didn’t quite work for me.
I received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and am grateful for this opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Something Old, Something New by Amy Clipston is her latest stand-alone novel and it is super sweet and fun to read. With laugh out loud moments and heart-hopeful scenes, it’s definitely a romance novel you won’t want to miss. Christine has always felt like the “nerdy” twin compared to her sister Brittney. Brittney dated the quarterback of the football team, was homecoming queen, and now has a beautiful family with twins of her own. Christine loves her life but it all seems a bit lonely sometimes. When Brittney’s ex-the same said quarterback- returns to town to work on his aunt’s house, he and Christine work together to sort the antiques in the home. The more time they spend together, the closer they become. But, Brittney is upset. Christine is torn. And Brent is afraid he will never be good enough for Christine. Add in a mischievous aunt and two “savage ferocious beasts”, and you have a heartwarming romance. Even though it was slightly predictable, it was still full of great moments and I’d definitely read it again when I needed a pick-me-up, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book. All opinions are my own.

I enjoy reading small town romances for the fact that everyone knows each other. While this can be a good thing, at other times, as in the case of Christine and Brent, it can be difficult. Each of them must overcome the past and be brave to move forward. Christine has to deal with the feelings of inadequacy as being the twin of a very popular sister. Brent has to choose to move beyond the hometown football hero who had a career ending injury.

Having the antique mall as a central part of the story was a terrific idea. You see the parallels between the things that people may see as old and no longer of use to them is something another person has been seeking and will treasure and how that is Christine’s and Brent’s stories. The story was uplifting and a sweet story of two people realizing that they are more than their past experiences and love can be theirs. I recommend reading this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is a Small Town Romance. This book never pulled me into the story. I also felt it was very slow moving which is not my thing. I just could not make myself want to keep reading this book, so I ended up DNFing this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

Something Old, Something New is a sweet contemporary romance by Amy Clipston. I have read many of her Amish books and I was so excited to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it too. I felt so involved in the characters lives. I was so moved by Brent and his love for his Aunt Midge. He was hard working and very respectful to women. I fell in love with him right off the bat myself, so I knew Christine did as well. Christine was smart, beautiful and reserved, and she had a fun and witty personality that made me smile when she and Brent bantered back and forth. This was a slow burn romance and it was a steady and easy read. I recommend to all romance lovers who like sweet and clean reads.
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers and this is my honest opinion.

A cute small town romance. I enjoyed the growing friendship between Brent and Christine and how it grew into more. I thought they were perfect for each other, they had so much in common. They also both had insecurities of their own, Christine, being in her twin sister's shadow and Brent with his career. Christine's sister Britney definitely annoyed me most of the time. She dated Brent in high school and was still holding a grudge over a miscommunication between them even though she was married with kids. I understand she wanted her sister to be careful but it was too much for me, I could've done without her. Overall though, it was a cute read, and would definitely recommend if you like small town romances.