Where to Start with Amy Clipston
For readers diving into Amy Clipston’s extensive catalog of faith-filled fiction, the best starting point is her landmark Kauffman Amish Bakery series. This is the series that established Clipston as a premier voice in Amish romance. Starting with the first book, A Gift of Grace, gives you the perfect introduction to her storytelling style, which beautifully balances emotional struggles, community support, and Christian faith. If you prefer contemporary, non-historical romance, her standalone novel The Heart of Splendid Lake or the Young Adult Roadside Assistance trilogy are excellent alternative starting points.
The Foundational Series: Kauffman Amish Bakery
Set in the charming town of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, this five-book series follows the lives, loves, and trials of the Kauffman family and their bakery. The books should be read in publication order, as the characters' lives develop sequentially across the volumes:
- A Gift of Grace (2009)
- A Promise of Hope (2010)
- A Place of Peace (2010)
- A Life of Joy (2011)
- A Season of Love (2012)
Clipston also wrote two Christmas-themed companions set in this universe: A Plain and Simple Christmas (2010) and Cookies and Cheer (2019), which can be read after finishing the main series for an extra dose of holiday warmth.
Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel Series
This four-book series shifts the focus to the intersection of the Amish and "Englisher" (non-Amish) worlds. The stories center around the staff and guests at a local hotel, examining cultural differences and the common ground found in faith and love:
- A Hopeful Heart (2013)
- A Mother's Secret (2014)
- A Dream of Home (2014)
- A Simple Prayer (2015)
Amish Heirloom Series
Focusing on family secrets, legacy, and treasured keepsakes, the Amish Heirloom series follows the Fisher family of Bird-in-Hand. The narratives are bound together by family history, making publication order the ideal reading path:
- The Forgotten Recipe (2015)
- The Courtship Basket (2016)
- The Cherished Quilt (2016)
- The Beloved Hope Chest (2017)
Amish Homestead & Amish Marketplace Series
These two series continue Clipston's exploration of Bird-in-Hand's close-knit community. The Amish Homestead series centers on the Riehl family and their farm, while the Amish Marketplace series focuses on local business owners. Both should be read in order of release to appreciate the character continuity:
Amish Homestead
- A Place at Our Table (2017)
- Room on the Porch Swing (2018)
- A Seat by the Hearth (2018)
- A Welcome at Our Door (2019)
Amish Marketplace
- The Bake Shop (2019)
- The Farm Stand (2020)
- The Coffee Corner (2020)
- The Jam and Jelly Nook (2021)
Amish Legacy Series
As one of her newer Amish series, the Amish Legacy novels focus on the carpentry-loving family members building lives and homes in Lancaster County. Read them in this sequence:
- Foundation of Love (2021)
- Building a Future (2022)
- Breaking New Ground (2023)
- The Heart's Shelter (2024)
Deciphering the Novellas and Anthologies
Many online book databases list series such as An Amish Summer, An Amish Kitchen, or An Amish Homecoming under Amy Clipston's profile. However, these are actually multi-author anthologies published by Thomas Nelson. To avoid confusion, here is how to navigate them:
- An Amish Kitchen (2012): Includes Clipston's novella A Spoonful of Love. The other stories, A Taste of Faith and A Recipe for Hope, are written by Kelly Long and Beth Wiseman, respectively.
- An Amish Home (2017): Features Clipston's story Home Sweet Home alongside novellas by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Ruth Reid.
- An Amish Summer (2017): Contains Clipston's novella Summer Storms. The other selections, A Reunion in Pinecraft and Lakeside Love, are written by Shelley Shepard Gray and Kathleen Fuller.
- An Amish Homecoming (2018/2019): Features Clipston's No Place like Home, connected to her Amish Homestead series, alongside stories by Kathleen Fuller, Shelley Shepard Gray, and Beth Wiseman.
Clipston also released single-author novella collections. Amish Sweethearts (2018) brings together four of her own interconnected stories, including A Home for Lindsay (a tie-in to the Kauffman Amish Bakery series) and Love Birds. Similarly, An Amish Singing (2020) features four of her novellas centered around a youth singing group: Hymn of Praise, Amazing Grace, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, and O Holy Night.
Young Adult and Standalone Novels
For a complete change of pace, Clipston has written contemporary fiction that departs from the Amish lifestyle. The Roadside Assistance trilogy is a contemporary YA series following three teenage girls navigating grief, family dynamics, and young love. The books should be read in this order:
- Roadside Assistance (2011)
- Destination Unknown (2014)
- Miles from Nowhere (2015)
Her adult contemporary standalones, such as The Heart of Splendid Lake (2021) and The View from Coral Cove (2022), offer heartwarming stories of healing and new beginnings in scenic settings, and can be read completely independently.