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Bestselling author Amy Clipston transports readers to a picturesque lakeside town in this heartwarming contemporary romance.
Brianna is the youngest of the three Porter sisters and the only one who chose to stay in the small town of Splendid Lake, North Carolina. She followed in her father’s footsteps and became an expert boat mechanic, helping him run their small resort with cabin rentals, a convenience store, and a marina.
When Brianna’s father unexpectedly dies, Brianna is steeped in grief and guilt—then left alone to clean up the mess. To make matters worse, a constant stream of real estate brokers begins marching through her property, offering to buy the family land. In particular, she keeps running into handsome real estate mogul Scott Gibson.
As Brianna struggles to keep it all together, Scott finds his way into her heart. And as the two fight against their feelings, they just might find themselves forging a surprising and exciting new love at Splendid Lake.
The Making of The Heart of Splendid Lake…
Writing The Heart of Splendid Lake was a fun and emotional journey for me. While the story’s setting is fictional, I had a blast writing about North Carolina and incorporating part of my home state. I also poured my heart and soul into the book and included a lot of my own life experiences. I hope readers enjoy spending time at Splendid Lake. I dedicated this book to the memory of my father and my special childhood memories of family vacations at Schroon Lake, located in the Adirondacks in New York State.
Q&A with Amy…
Q: What’s the “story behind the story”?
Q: How was writing/researching this book different from the other books you’ve written?
Q: Do you have any specific writing rituals, such as a certain pen, outfit, or snack?
Q: Which character in “The Heart of Splendid Lake” are you most like and why?
Q: What can you tell me about your next project? Any plans to do more contemporary novels?
| This is the author’s first contemporary book. I’m very familiar with her Amish-themed novels, so I was excited to check this one out.
The characters in Clipston’s book are very relatable, as are the messy, real-life situations they’re dealing with. There’s great character development, particularly with Brianna. Life is full of ups and downs, and few things are as simple as we’d like them to be, and that is demonstrated in the lives of those in Splendid Lake. Overall, this is a sweet romance with key themes of relationships, family dynamics, love, and redemption. I’m not sure if this will be a series, but the author definitely paves the way for the reader to visit Splendid Lake in the future. Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review. |
Amy Clipston is an award-winning bestselling author and has been writing for as long as she can remember. She’s sold more than one million books, and her fiction writing “career” began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. Amy works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC, and lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and five spoiled rotten cats.
Awards…
- Chosen by FamilyFiction readers as one of the Top 40 Essential Authors of 2020
- Chosen by FamilyFiction readers as one of the Top 40 Essential Authors of 2019
- 2014 Holt Medallion Award (novel: A Hopeful Heart)
- 2012 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Finalist in Young Adult Category (novel: Roadside Assistance)
- 2012 Winter Rose Contest for Published Authors 2nd Place (novel: Roadside Assistance)
- 2012 Gold Quill Contest Finalist (novel: Roadside Assistance)
- 2012 Laurel Wreath Contest 3rd Place (novel: Roadside Assistance)
- 2011 National Readers’ Choice Awards Young Adult Category (novel: Roadside Assistance)
- 2011 Selah Award for Fiction (novel: A Promise of Hope)
Where you can find Amy online…
Rules for giveaway can be found here.
This is a new author for me. This book interests me because of the themes, sweet romance, and the setting.
I think you’ll really enjoy it.
This is a different genre than Amy usually writes. You may want to consider checking out some of her other books as well.
Good luck!
This is a new to me author but the setting of the book makes me want to read it.
I think you’ll enjoy it, Megan. You may want to check out her other books, as well.
Good luck!
I have not read any of Amy’s books. I came across this blog post in A Seat at the Table. I am interested in reading Amy’s work because I enjoy Christian books, she has received many awards, she depicts life and pain and people realistically, and she was willing to step out of her comfort zone by writing this book.
Esther, I think you’ll really enjoy Amy’s books. So happy I could help introduce you to a new-to-you author. Good luck!
I have not read any of Amys books. The thoughts from anothers brain put into words the ideas and views are interesting along with new knowledge.
Good luck, Jenny! I think you’ll really enjoy Amy’s books.