Return to Lancaster County with the first installment of Amy Clipston's charming new Amish Marketplace series.


Christiana Kurtz loves to bake, but when her bake stand becomes too busy, her mother encourages her to move her business to the local market. Her new bake shop becomes so inundated with customers that the line blocks the leather and woodcraft shop next door, which is run by Jeffrey Stoltzfus. When Jeffrey complains that her stand is driving away business due to the lines, she complains to him that his personalization machine smells. Though their relationship starts off on bad footing, they eventually forge a friendship.

When Christiana’s father makes a surprise visit to the market, he is upset to find that Jeffrey uses the building’s electricity to personalize his items. He tells Christiana that Jeffrey is too modern for her, and she’s forbidden from dating him. Christiana is crushed, but she knows she must obey her father.

When Jeffrey’s shop catches fire one day, he puts the entire market in jeopardy—including Christiana’s bake shop. Christiana, however, can’t deny how she feels about Jeffrey despite his mistakes. Though the odds are against them, can two young people find a way to rebuild both their businesses and their relationship?

My Rating: 4/5

Christiana operates a bake stand at the gate of her parent's property, but when customers start coming down to their house after hours in search of her famous baked goods her family suggests she move to the markets in town. After seeking and receiving permission from her strict Amish father, she moves and her business goes from strength to strength. 

Jeff is a man with sadness in his eyes and Christiana is intrigued, though she doesn't dare let on to her cousins. She soon discovers that he is to be her neighbour at the markets. Despite their embarrassing first meeting and initial issues with customer flow, they soon forge a friendship which forces Jeff to confront the reasons behind his deep sadness. 

Christiana and Jeff soon discover that their friendship is deepening into love. But when Christiana's father pays a visit to the market and discovers that Jeff uses electricity in his business he forbids the young couple to associate with one another. Christiana is devastated and enlists the help of her sister, mother, and cousins in the hopes of changing her father's mind.

Can Christiana and Jeff move past their differences and convince her Father that Jeff is a committed Amish man?

The Bake Shop is an enjoyable and easy read with likable characters. I appreciated the insertion of a glossary of terms at the beginning of the novel, and think that it is beneficial to a reader who may be unfamiliar with the Amish culture.

This is the first novel I have read by Amy Clipston and would definitely read another!

Publication Date: 5 Nov 2019

Publisher: Zondervan

Format: Hardback

RRP: $26.99 USD

I received an ebook from the publishers via NetGalley for the purposes of a review, this review is my own personal view and is not required to be positive.