An Amish Spring

by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Vannetta Chapman

A Son for Always by Amy Clipston

(Previously published in An Amish Cradle)

Carolyn and Joshua are thrilled to be expecting their first child together. Carolyn was a teenager when she had her son, Benjamin, and she feels solely responsible to secure his future. As Joshua watches Carolyn struggle to accept his support, he knows he must find some way to convince her that she—and Ben—will always be taken care of.

A Love for Irma Rose by Beth Wiseman

(Previously published in An Amish Year)

The year is 1957, and young Irma Rose has a choice to make. Date the man who is “right” for her? Or give Jonas a chance, the wild and reckless suitor who refuses to take no for an answer? Irma Rose steps onto the path she believes God has planned for her, but when she loses her footing, she is forced to rethink her choice.

Where Healing Blooms by Vannetta Chapman

(Previously published in An Amish Garden)

Widow Emma Hochstetter finds her quiet life interrupted when she discovers a run-away teenager in her barn, and then the bishop asks her to provide a haven for a local woman and her two children. Then, her mother-in-law, Mary Ann, reveals one of her garden's hidden secrets, something very unexpected.

Genres: Amish, Amish Fiction, Christian, Christian Fiction, Romance, Fiction

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published March 13, 2018

About the author

Hi! I'm a bestselling author of heartwarming romance and happily ever after.

Contemporary Romance (Non-Amish)
The Heart of Splendid Lake (2021)
The View from Coral Cove (2022)
On the Way to Christmas (Anthology) (2022)
Something Old, Something New (2023)
Starstruck (2023)
Finding You (2024)
With This Ring (2025)
Second Chance at Sunshine Inn (7/2025)
The Lighthouse at the Cove (12/2025)

Stand Alone Amish Fiction
Caring for the Amish Family (4/2025)

Guideposts Amish Suspense
A Heart Set Free (9/2025)


An Amish Legacy
1. Foundation of Love (2022)
2. Building a Future (2022)
3. Breaking New Ground (2023)
4. The Hearts of Shelter (2023)

An Amish Marketplace
1. The Bake Shop (2019)
2. The Farm Stand (2020)
3. The Coffee Corner (2020)
4. The Jam and Jelly Nook (2021)

An Amish Homestead
1. A Place at our Table (2017)
2. Room on the Porch Swing (2018)
3. Seat by the Hearth (2018)
4. A Welcome at Our Door (2019)

An Amish Heirloom
1. The Forgotten Recipe (2015)
2. The Courtship Basket (2016)
3. The Cherished Quilt (2017)
4. The Beloved Hope Chest (2017)

Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel
1. A Hopeful Heart (2013)
2. A Mother’s Secret (2014)
3. A Dream of Home (2015)
4. A Simple Prayer (2015)

Kauffman Amish Bakery
1. A Gift of Grace (2009)
2. A Promise of Hope (2010)
3. A Place of Peace (2011)
4. A Life of Joy (2012)
5. A Season of Love (2012)

Amish Anthologies
• An Amish Kitchen (2012) – Spoonful of Love (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Cradle (2015) – A Son for Always (This story complements A Mother’s Secret)
• An Amish Market (2016) – Love Birds (This story complements The Forgotten Recipe)
• An Amish Harvest (2016) – Love & Buggy Rides (This complements The Courtship Basket)
• An Amish Home (2017) – Home Sweet Home (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Summer (2017) – Summer Storms (Stand-alone story)
• Amish Sweethearts (2018) –Complements The Kauffman Amish Bakery Series and also has a sequel to my story in An Amish Summer
• An Amish Heirloom (2018) – Complements A Place at our Table
• An Amish Homecoming (2018) – Complements A Place at our Table
• Seasons of an Amish Garden (2019) – Complements The Christmas Cat, novella included in An Amish Christmas Love
• An Amish Reunion (2019) – Complements Room on the Porch Swing
• An Amish Christmas Bakery (2019) – Cookies and Cheer (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Singing (2021) (Collection of four stories by Amy Clipston)
• An Amish Christmas Wedding (2020) –Evergreen Love (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Barn Raising (2021)
• An Amish Schoolroom (2021)
• An Amish Quilting Bee (2021)

Young Adult
1. Roadside Assistance (2011)
2. Reckless Heart (2012) (Kauffman Amish Bakery young adult book)
3. Destination Unknown (2014)
4. Miles from Nowhere (2015)

Non-Fiction
A Gift of Love (2014)

Seasonal
• A Plain and Simple Christmas (2010) Naomi’s Gift (2011)
• Kauffman Amish Christmas Collection (2012)
• An Amish Christmas Gift (2015) includes Naomi’s Gift
• An Amish Christmas Love (2017) –The Christmas Cat
• An Amish Christmas Bakery (2019)
• An Amish Christmas Wedding (2020)
• On the Way to Christmas (2022)

Reviews

[Andrea Fleury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gods plain for Emma

I have never read this author but glad I did. I thought this was a great book with a wonderful ending. Emma lives with her mother in law .both of there husbands have passed on. God has a bright future for Emma plus Danny next door. Soon Joseph has entered her life. God does have a plan for her.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three powerhouse Amish Fiction authors share their talent in this captivating collection of springtime romance. From young love to to mature romance, these stories embrace the hope of spring in diverse ways.

Amy Clipston's Carolyn struggles to be truly free from the shame of her past so she can embrace a future with her husband and the child they are expecting. Fans of the Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel series will recognize Carolyn as the heroine of book two. I was thrilled to get a glimpse into her future with Joshua. She's still as infuriatingly stubborn! A Son for Always is a great addition to that memorable love story.

Readers of Beth Wiseman's Daughters of the Promise series will be thrilled at this glimpse into grandparents Jonas and Irma Rose's rocky courtship 53 years ago in A Love for Irma Rose. Sweet and funny...and poignant if you've read these books.

Vannetta Chapman has really embraced the concept of new beginnings in Where Healing Blooms. Love the sense of community in this novella and how events unfold to bring something new into Emma's life after a turbulent season. Uplifting and inspiring...I think this novella is my favourite of the three.

Cautionary warning for fellow readers -- Please note that these novellas have appeared in other collections as well so you might want to check before buying. See note under individual novellas for the title of the other book that novella appears in.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amish Spring is another wonderful collection of inspiring Amish stories. Each tale has its own path of love, faith, and lessons to learn.

In the first journey, I followed a young Amish couple struggling to be happy. The wife felt to blame yet for having her first child out of wedlock. She felt that she owed it to her son to provide for him when he is grown.  Yet what she doesn't realize is just how much her husband loves her son as the son where his biologically. It was a sweet story.

The second journey, sent me to a very young Amish couple once more. This young couple felt an instant attraction. However, the young Amish girl didn't think the Amish guy who loved her was the right one. Jonas was a little bit more rough around the edges for an Amish plain man. But it made the story more interesting and real. I couldn't stop laughing with Jonas around.

Last but not least, the third journey sent me to another Amish couple who needed each other. This time they were older. I felt their connection immediately. Their love and faith was fun to follow. Overall, each of these stories had something to show me. I fell in love with the characters both English and Amish alike. 

[Gaylina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three of my favorite authors in one volume. All were very good. But the third, Where Healing Blooms by Vannetta Chapman, for me, was the best.
There were so many surprises in this book and the characters were inspiring and sweet. It’s one of the few Amish romances that has a bit of an older couple in it but the story does not focus on them. This book made me laugh and cry and I just didn’t want it to end. I wish she would write more books that come out of this book. I would love to see the story continue. Just be aware that all of these three books from previously published in other volumes. But even if you read one from before it’s still worth the other two.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Loved this book!! I loved all 3 of the stories!! I like the 2 authors!! I haven't read much of the 3rd author's books!!

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed these novellas, and they helped me when I couldn't sleep.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Son for Always (Amy Clipston) - 4 stars

I’ve read the story before, but it was still so sweet. I loved Joshua’s relationship with Carolyn and her son. I couldn’t stand Joshua’s mother though.

A Love for Irma Rose (Beth Wiseman) - 2 stars

I didn’t like Jonas at all. I might have liked him more had I read the connecting series, but I didn’t like him in this one at all.

Where Love Blooms (Vannetta Chapman) - 3 stars

I wish it had delved a bit more about the runway teenager and what happened to him, but overall it was a cute second chance romance.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful recollecting of stories from some of my favorite Amish fiction writers. I love that it came out just in time for spring. Each story has a way of capturing your heart and lifting it up higher.
A Song for Always

Amy Clipston has a way of creating characters and plot lines that you become invested in. I was invested from the start, and was sad it was a short novella. But a reader does get the story completed this way, I just was highly enjoying it. Carolyn and Joshua are the center of this story, and their theme of love, family and struggles will be relatable to many readers. I loved being in Carolyn’s emotions and head, she is a character that makes your heart melt, and you just pray that all works out the way it is meant to be. She made tough choices and as a mother it is easy to relate to her state of mind. Joshua will make readers proud in many ways, he truly shows that through hardships faith and the love they have can with stand storms.

I do want to note that readers of Amy’s Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel series will be excited to see Carolyn back again. I would recommend reading this series prior to the novella.

A Love for Irma Rose

Beth Wiseman created a story that is one I really liked. Irma has some tough choices to make, and her struggle was real. I think many young women could relate to this with feeling conflicting on what and who they should choose. Through God though we learn that we aren’t in control of this but he has the hands of love to provide us all with the right person.

I think readers can read this book alone there isn’t an extensive background needed.
Where Healing Blooms

This is my favorite title out of the three. But I love flower themes. This story reminds a reader that there is time and place for everything and sometimes things happen in the most unexpected way. I loved that Emma and her mother-in-law lived together and were able to have such a bond. It was a sweet story.
Synoptic

I think readers will love reading these stories, brought together in a new collection. Each will touch your heart and open your mind. I think it makes for a great spring read!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and engaging stories. Heartwarming with lovely characters.

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book consists o 3 short stories.

#1

Carolyn had a son when she was sixteen and raised Benjamin on her own.
She met Josh and they married. Josh adopt Benjamin as his own son.

Carolyn worked at the local motel in housekeeping even though she was
pregnant with Josh's baby.

Carolyn was concerned that she work and save to provide Benjamin with
enough money to go out on his own when he is old enough.

Josh assumed she would quit her job and remain at home. This caused
tension amongst the family.

#2

When Jonas and Isaac where in the Ordnung they decided it would be a good idea to race their horses and buggies. Jonas wanted to impress Irma Rose. He had hoped to court her, but she had eyes for someone else.

Later, Jonas' mother had taken ill and taken to the hospital. Irma Rose stopped by their home to
bring some cookies for the family. When she arrived, Eliabeth, the oldest daughter was having a
difficult time looking after her sisters and the household chores. When asked Elizabeth finally
confessed to Irma Rose that her brother was in jail.

Irma Rose attended the jail and spoke to Jonas and found ut that he had been arrested for racing and that their had been alcohol in the car. He could hav paid a find, but didn't have the money so
chose to spend 2 weeks in jail, as thought his mom would be home from the hospital. She however was kept in the hospital longer.


#3

Emma's father-in-law and husband died a couple of months from each other. She
was looking after to mother-in-law.

It was found that a young boy was hiding and living in their barn. Joseph helps
Emma with farm chores in exchange or a place to live and his meals.

Emma's friend Danny had return to the family home after travelling all over while
writing.

Emma's mother-in-law loves her garden and Emma and Danny are helping to
maintains the garden.

There is a mother and 2 sons that need a safe place to live, while the husband/father
gets help for his drinking and abuse to this family.

The Bishop asks Emma to help create this safe place.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Amish Spring is a compilation of novellas that were previously released in different collections. A Son for Always by Amy Clipston was previously published in An Amish Cradle. A Love for Irma Rose by Beth Wiseman was previously published in An Amish Year and Where Healing Blooms by Vannetta Chapman was previously published in An Amish Garden.

I had read A Son for Always and Where Healing Blooms in the previously mentioned books but it's been since 2014. I had never had the opportunity to read A Love for Irma Rose. I could link to my previous reviews but honestly, they're terrible. Trust me, you don't want to see them. They're from my days when I gave a synopsis of the story rather than my thoughts and opinions.
So, now that I semi-sorta have the hang of what a review actually is, I thought I'd take the time to share my actual thoughts and opinion.

A Son for Always:
Carolyn's character is unique in that you don't often hear about Amish girls having a child out-of-wedlock. I appreciated her journey to forgiving herself and learning to place trust in her husband to provide for her older son. I loved how sweet Joshua was with Carolyn's oldest son as well as his new daughter. I thought his mom was a meddling witch but even she came around. These were characters I couldn't help but love.

A Love for Irma Rose by Beth Wiseman
I loved Irma Rose and Jonas in another series by Beth Wiseman. I might be writing this review at midnight after I worked all day and went to school—so, don't expect me to remember which series they're in. The point is, this is their backstory and you meet them as parents/grandparents in another fabulous series by Beth Wiseman. I loved getting to know their love story. I didn't even mind the love triangle/pentagon, octagon, whatever it was. Irma Rose had a few options. But she chose Jonas /heartmelt

Where Healing Blooms by Vannetta Chapman
The characters in Where Healing Blooms were really complex and detailed. I loved that they had a fairly detailed family tree that was fleshed out and enjoyable��and in a novella. That takes some skills! Anyway, this was a really sweet romance/historical story. This story wasn't just a romantic love story. It was also a familial love story. The bond between Emma and her Mother-in-Law was so endearing. I truly felt that their love for each other was given focus and I never see that in books. I always observe romantic love...never love that families have for one another.

Overall, I loved the characters in each of these novellas. The book reads really fast and each of the stories are so well done. This is a book that I would love to read again in the future.

Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.

Christian or Secular: Christian
ASEL Rating: no profanity, violence, bedroom scenes, or other content that could otherwise be considered disturbing.
Themes: Romance, Trust, Love
Suggested Age: 15+

This review was originally posted on A Simply Enchanted Life

This book was provided to me by The Publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.

[Arthea Billingsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seasons

A good book, but your description of Shipshe is a little off, there or no traffic lights near The Blue Gate or Davis Mercantile, there’s a four way stop, near The Blue Gate, but you kind of can’t really see Davis Mercantile from there, there is a traffic light near Yoders. Apples and oranges, still a very good read.

[Abbie Telgenhof · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Di Schlenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely trio of Amish love stories