A Simple Prayer, Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel #4

The story of the Prodigal Son comes to mind when I read this book. Aaron Ebersol ran away from his wayward youthful mistakes seventeen years earlier. His Mamm's stroke would bring him home, but is it true that you can never return home again? It would appear so. Everyone is happy he is home, except his only brother Solomon. The actions of Solomon is what reminded me of the story of the Prodigal Son, while his Dat was happy to see him, Solomon behaved exactly as the brother left home in the Bible story. Why? It is not the Amish way. The story will unfold as the whys that Solomon is unhappy about. Amy does a great job of drawing your interest in this story with all the other side stories going on. There is more to this story, than Aaron and his family, Linda Zook lives with her uncle who is a very unhappy man, and he is determined to make her unhappy too. Will she realize she deserves to be happy? A wonderful story. 4.5 stars from this reviewer. This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

What I liked: This is book 4 of the series. Aaron has been mentioned in the earlier books so it seems fitting to end the series with his return. Both Aaron and Linda has some real issues to work through. Aaron had left his family and community after getting in trouble as a teen. His older brother was so upset with him that when Aaron returns his brother is not happy to see him. Aaron has to work through his frustration with his brother and his guilt of leaving. I thought it was well written.

Linda lost her parents in an accident as a child and was raised by her aunt and uncle but after her aunt dies her uncle who never treated her great to start with became even more unpleasant. Even with her hardships Linda remains strong.

I liked how Linda and Aaron helped each other overcome the hurt they each had faced while also growing their relationship with God and each other. We also see Hannah and her daughter reconnect which helps to bring the series to a close.

What I didnt like: This was an enjoyable book and nothing really bothered me.

As the 4th book in the series I thought it did a good job wrapping up the story. I was glad to see closer for Hannah and her daughter.

About this book:

Linda is no stranger to hardship. Now she dares to hope for a chance at love and a new beginning.

As the sole survivor of a buggy accident that left her orphaned at age four, Linda Zook was reluctantly raised by her Uncle Reuben. She longs to be worthy of someone, but the lasting trauma of her injuries and embittered upbringing have destroyed her self-worth. When Hannah Peterson asks her to work at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast, shes finally able to realize some confidence.

Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community seventeen years ago when he could no longer bear the restrictions or the constant tension with his father. Despite years of unanswered letters to his parents, and the roots hes put down in Missouri, Aaron rushes back to the Amish community of Paradise, Pennsylvania, after receiving word of his mothers 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. Talking with Linda allows him to explore his feelings about his family and his position in the Amish community.

As Linda and Aaron open up to each other, their feelings for one another turn into more than friendship, and Aaron must make a decision about his future as an Amish man.

Can Linda and Aaron forgive the family members who have deceived and forsaken them? And will Aaron be able to convince Linda that she is worthy of his love?

Series: Book #4 in the Hearts of Lancaster Hotel series. {I have read them all, but have not posted A Hopeful Hearts review. You can view Book #2s, A Mothers Secret, review Here! Book #3s, A Dream of Home, review Here! Plus a novella found in An Amish Cradle is connected to this series. You dont have to read in order, but youll enjoy them more. I would recommend reading them in order.}

Spiritual Content- Talks about God & His Will; Hs are not capital when referring to God; Bible reading and a few Scriptures are quoted; Prayers & Blessings over food; Church going; The Prodigal Son is mentioned and Aaron is considered one.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a stupid; Mentions of when Aaron was a teen and he smoked, drank and lit a barn on fire with his friends.

Sexual Content- a cheek kiss, a not-detailed kiss and a semi-detailed kiss; An urge to kiss someone; Noticing; Touches (barely-above-not-detailed); Love, falling in love & the emotions.

-Linda Zook, age 31

-Aaron Ebersol, age 32

P.O.V. switches between them, Solomon (three times), Hannah (twice), Lily (twice), Ruthie Joy (once) & Becky (once)

320 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star

New Teens- Two Stars

Early High School Teens- Three Stars

Older High School Teens- Four Stars

My personal Rating- Four Stars

Oooooh! Truly, this was super clean and a perfect wrap-up to the end of this series! While Im sad this this the last book of this series, Im looking forward to reading what Miss Amy writes next!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Author for this review.

As being part of Amy Clipstons Bakery Bunch, I received an ARC of A Simple Prayer, the fourth and final book in the Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series. I am really sad to see this series come to an end. You can read this book as a stand alone novel, but I really recommend reading the entire series. This will allow you to familiarize and fall in love with all of the characters carried over from book to book.

In A Simple Prayer, we meet Linda Zook, an Amish woman raised by her not-very-nice uncle after being orphaned at 4 years old after a buggy accident, and Aaron Ebersol who left the Amish community to escape the restrictions of his father and community after a night of fun turned into something ugly.

This book portrays forgiveness amongst several different families and how far our strength in love and faith can carry us. One portraying of forgiveness is both Linda and Aaron need to forgive family members for wrongs that have been done to them. Easier said than done!

One of my favorite things about this book is being transformed back to Hannahs Bed & Breakfast and seeing how the lives of the characters I have grown to love in this series develop.

Amys writing makes you feel like you are right there in the pages of the book, not on the outside looking in.

You will walk away after reading this book realizing just how important forgiving others and also yourself are.

17 years ago, Aaron Ebersol left his Amish family behind in Paradise, PA and found himself in Missouri, but couldn't seem to settle down any roots there. After unanswered letters to his mom, Aaron had not heard any news about his family, until a week ago from his friend Saul Beiler, who wrote Aaron telling him to return home because his mom had suffered a stroke. Now he is return to Paradise, staying at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast, with no one knowing that he is returning.

Will Aaron family be open to him returning to help with their mother?

Linda Zook works two part-time jobs, one being the Lancaster Grand Hotel and the other being the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast. Linda is hoping to finally earn her Uncle Reuben's respect with the extra money she is earning. Her uncle, Reuben, took her in to raise after she became an orphan after a terrible buggy accident at the age of four years old, but it was not willingly gesture of her Uncle's.

Can she forgive Aaron?

Will Linda find someone who will accept her life-long injuries that she sustained during the accident?

I have yet to read the series from start to finish but I was not lost in reading "A Simple Prayer" by Amy Clipston. Amy Clipston made it easy to follow this story and the life of this two main characters, Aaron Ebersol and Linda Zook. I would say this book can be a stand alone in the series; since the series is taking place in and around the Lancaster Grand Hotel.

I look forward to reading more books written by Amy Clipston in the future.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. No money was exchanged. This is my honest review in my own words.