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The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston Review

 Happy Friday Friends :)

I hope this week has found you well, and that you're all looking forward to the weekend.

I apologize for my absence this week. I ended up spending five nights at the lake with my family, and while I had still planned on posting on my blog, the weak and spotty Wi-Fi made that a no go.

However, it was really nice to get to disconnect for a few days, and spend some time with my family. I  had so much fun with my nephew, my mom, my stepdad, and enjoyed the short visits we were able to have with some of my other family as well.

While we were on vacation, I ended up getting a chance to read Amy Clipston's upcoming contemporary novel, and I couldn't wait to share with you all what I ended up thinking about it.

The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston:


Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: September 14th, 2021

Genre: Christian Fiction/Contemporary


Synopsis:


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.

(synopsis from goodreads)


My Review:

Amy Clipston has long been one of my favorite authors, and I was really excited to read her first ever adult contemporary novel. The Heart of Splendid Lake is a heartwarming romance that focuses around grief, healing, and the importance of family and friends, and I think it's going to be a big hit with every reader that chooses to pick it up.

Brianna Porter's life changes in a instant when her father dies suddenly, and the weight of the family's summer resort falls solely upon her shoulders. She already has enough on her plate when real estate developer Scott Gibson shows up with an offer to buy her family's resort. Brianna wants nothing to do with him or his offer, but she soon realizes the resort is in more financial trouble than she ever could have expected, and there's also more to Scott than originally meets the eye. With her relationship with her longtime fiancĂ© not going the way she'd hoped, and Scott jumping in to help her with anything she needs, Brianna finds her heart conflicted and unsure as to which direction she is supposed to take.

With well developed characters, a plot that keeps the reader engaged, and a slow burn romance that is both heartfelt and swoon worthy, I really enjoyed Amy Clipson's first foray into the adult contemporary market, and I sincerely hope she's going to continue writing in this genre. The lake setting was beautiful, and makes it the perfect vacation read, and I loved the strong emphasis on Brianna's beautiful friendship with her best friend Ava, and the fact that this book highlights many serious issues like grief, infertility, and the foster care system.

I really enjoyed it, and I think it proves just how versatile of an author Amy Clipston truly is.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to advance read and review this.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)


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