A SIMPLE PRAYER is the fourth and final book in Amy Clipston's Hearts of
the Lancaster Grand Hotel.
A SIMPLE PRAYER takes the reader back to the community of Paradise,
Pennsylvania to tell the story of Linda Zook, a sweet yet shy character
present in the series' previous books. As Linda develops a friendship with
Aaron Ebersol, they help each other to understand and heal from the
wounds left by the past. Linda is no stranger to hardship. She is the sole
surviver of a buggy crash that left her a lonely orphan at the early age of
four. Her uncle, Reuben, took her in and raised her but it was not a willing
gesture. He really had no use for a little girl and had no idea of how to deal
with one. Linda's greatest wish is to be worthy of someone's love, but
due to past injuries with lasting effects as well as her embittered uncle's
demeaning attitude toward her, Linda's self worth has been destroyed. Will
she ever find happiness and have a family who will love her the way she
deserves to be loved?
Seventeen years ago, Aaron Ebersol left his Amish family behind in Paradise,
PA
and found himself in Missouri. He couldn't seem to settle down there. All
he did was go to work and basically go home to bed. He had no life, no
real friends, and no one to share his dreams with. He wrote to his mom for
all those years, first weekly then monthly. He never heard back from any of
his family. That is, until a week ago when he received a letter from his
friend Saul Beiler. Saul tells Aaron to return home because his mom has
suffered a stroke. Now he is returning to Paradise, staying at the Heart of
Paradise Bed & Breakfast, with no one knowing that he is returning. Will
Aaron's family be open to him returning to help with their mother?
Will they forgive him for the wrongs he did in his past? Will he wind up
breaking their heart again?
Together, Linda and Aaron learn about the importance and complications of
family and forgiveness. On top of that, throw in some heartwarming
romance for good measure. Overall, A SIMPLE PRAYER is an enjoyable
and endearing Amish read. Fans of the Hearts of the Lancaster Grand
Hotel or the Amish fiction genre in general should not miss A SIMPLE
PRAYER. I am sad that this is the last book in the series because I have
come to know and love many of the characters.
A SIMPLE PRAYER is all about forgiveness and learning to stand up for
yourself. Aaron and Linda must each come to terms with their past and
future. I really enjoyed the storyline and the characters. Amy Clipston's
writing makes you feel like you are right there in the pages of the book, not
on the outside looking in. Which is exactly why Ms. Clipston is becoming
one of my favorite Amish authors. Her stories just leave me feeling really
good and always make my heart smile.
Life has taken much from Linda Zook. Now she dares to hope
for a chance at love and a new beginning.
Linda Zook, 32, works part-time at the Lancaster Grand
Hotel. As the sole survivor of a buggy accident
that left her orphaned at age four, she was raised by her
unwilling Uncle Reuben. Linda longs to be
worthy of someone, but the life-long effects of her
injuries and her upbringing under the care of her
embittered uncle have destroyed her self-worth.
Aaron Ebersol, 32, left the Amish community 17 years ago
when he could no longer bear the restrictions
or the constant tension with his father. He’d written too
many unanswered letters to his mother and
found himself incapable of putting down any roots in his
new home in Missouri. Success in work could not
replace the family that denied Aaron, even after all of
these years.
Aaron hastily returns to the Amish community of Paradise,
PA, after receiving word of his mother’s
stroke. Hesitant to get too close to the family he was
once a part of, he decides to stay at the Heart
of Paradise Bed & Breakfast. He soon encounters Linda,
working there part-time, and they begin to
develop a friendship.
Aaron’s return allows him to reconnect with his family as
he jumps into home improvement projects,
hoping to make his parents’ house more accessible to his
handicapped mother. But before long, he is
enraged to learn that his brother, Solomon, had hidden all
of Aaron’s letters to their mother.
Linda and Aaron must each learn to forgive the family
members who have deceived and forsaken them. And
Aaron must also show Linda that she is worthy of his love.