A Hopeful Heart (27 page)

 1. Hannah finds love in an unexpected place. Although she’s always felt at home in
her Amish community, she considers following her heart and leaving. Have you ever
longed to make a big change in your life? If so, did you follow through with that
change? How did your family and friends react? What Bible verses helped you with your
choice? Share this with the group.

 2. Amanda finds herself caught between two worlds. Although she loves her family
and her community, she feels drawn to the possibility of getting her GED and going
to college. She keeps her aspirations a secret until later in the story. Have you
ever faced a crossroads in your life? If so, which road did you choose? Share this
with the group.

 3. Ruth quotes Colossians 4:5–6. “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make
the most of every opportunity. Let your converstaion be always full of grace, seasoned
with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” What does this verse mean
to you?

 4. Lillian struggles with where she fits in the family when she learns that both
her mother and sister are considering
leaving the church. She has to find her own path and follow her heart despite what
her family members choose to do. Take a walk in her shoes. What path would you choose?

 5. Josh dreamt of having a romantic relationship with Hannah and taking care of her
children after his brother died. He’s heartbroken when he learns Hannah is falling
in love with Trey. Although he’s angry, he can’t deny his love for Hannah. Think of
a time when you felt lost and alone. Where did you find your strength? What Bible
verses would help with this?

 6. Gossip, even in a community that is supposed to be Christlike, can hurt people
and lead to misunderstanding. Do we do this in our own church communities—judge and
gossip about our fellow Christians without considering the consequences? If so, why
do you think that is?

 7. The verse Ephesians 4:32 is mentioned in the book: “Be kind and compassionate
to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” What does
this verse mean to you? Share this with the group.

 8. Lillian is convinced that her mother is being selfish and is betraying her by
leaving the Amish community. Do you agree with Lillian’s feelings or do you believe
Hannah is justified in her decision to leave and pursue a new life outside of the
Amish faith? Share your thoughts with the group.

 9. Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seemed to carry
the most emotional stake in the story? Was it Hannah, Trey, Amanda, Lillian, Joshua,
or even Andrew?

10. What did you know about the Amish before reading this book? What did you learn?

W
hile this novel is set against the real backdrop of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,
the characters are fictional. There is no intended resemblance between the characters
in this book and any real members of the Amish and Mennonite communities. As with
any work of fiction, I’ve taken license in some areas of research as a means of creating
the necessary circumstances for my characters. My research was thorough; however,
it would be impossible to be completely accurate in details and description since
each and every community differs. Therefore, any inaccuracies in the Amish lifestyle
portrayed in this book are completely due to fictional license.

ach:
oh

aenti:
aunt

appeditlich:
delicious

Ausbund:
Amish hymnal

bedauerlich:
sad

boppli:
baby

brot:
bread

bruder:
brother

bruderskinner:
nieces/nephews

bu:
boy

buwe:
boys

daadi:
granddad

daed:
dad

danki:
thank you

dat:
dad

Dietsch:
Pennsylvania Dutch, the Amish language (a German dialect)

dochder:
daughter

dochdern:
daughters

dummle!:
hurry!

Englisher:
a non-Amish person

fraa:
wife

freind:
friend

freinden:
friends

freindschaft:
relative

froh:
happy

gegisch:
silly

gern gschehne:
you’re welcome

grandkinner:
grandchildren

grank:
sick

grossdochdern:
granddaughters

grandkinner:
grandchildren

grossmammi:
grandmother

Gude mariye:
Good morning

gut:
good

Gut nacht:
Good night

haus:
house

Ich liebe dich:
I love you

kapp:
prayer covering or cap

kichli:
cookie

kichlin:
cookies

kind:
child

kinner:
children

kumm:
come

liewe:
love, a term of endearment

maed:
young women, girls

maedel:
young woman

mamm:
mom

mammi:
grandma

mei:
my

mutter:
mother

naerfich:
nervous

narrisch:
crazy

onkel:
uncle

Ordnung:
The oral tradition of practices required and forbidden in the

Amish faith.

schee:
pretty

schtupp:
family room

schweschder:
sister

schweschdere:
sisters

Was iss letz?:
What’s wrong?

Wie geht’s:
How do you do? or Good day!

Willkumm heemet:
Welcome home

wunderbaar:
wonderful

ya:
yes

zwillingbopplin:
twins

A
s always, I’m thankful for my loving family, including my mother, Lola Goebelbecker;
my husband, Joe; and my sons, Zac and Matt.

I’m more grateful than words can express to my patient friends who critique for me—Stacey
Barbalace, Margaret Halpin, Janet Pecorella, Lauran Rodriguez, and, of course, my
mother. I truly appreciate the time you take out of your busy lives to help me polish
my books. Thank you also to Bobbi Kendrick for her help with the horse research.

Special thanks to my special Amish friends who patiently answer my endless stream
of questions. You’re a blessing in my life.

Thank you to my wonderful church family at Morning Star Lutheran in Matthews, North
Carolina, for your encouragement, prayers, love, and friendship. You all mean so much
to my family and me.

To my agent, Mary Sue Seymour—I am grateful for your friendship, support, and guidance
in my writing career. Thank you for all you do!

Thank you to my amazing editors—Sue Brower, Becky Philpott, Jean Bloom, and Becky
Monds. I appreciate your guidance and friendship. I’m grateful to each and every person
who helped make this book a reality.

To my readers—thank you for choosing my novels. My books are a blessing in my life
for many reasons, including the special friendships I’ve formed with my readers.

Thank you most of all, God, for giving me the inspiration and the words to glorify
you. I’m so grateful and humbled you’ve chosen this path for me.

AMY CLIPSTON
is the author of
A Gift of Grace
and four additional novels in the best-selling Kauffman Amish Bakery series. She
lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled-rotten cats.

“Authentic characters, delectable recipes and faith abound in Clipston’s second Kauffman
Amish Bakery story.”

—RT B
OOK
R
EVIEWS
,
4
-
STAR
REVIEW OF
A P
ROMISE OF
H
OPE

“[A]n entertaining story of Amish life, loss, love and family.”

—RT B
OOK
R
EVIEWS
,
4
-
STAR
REVIEW OF
A P
LACE OF
P
EACE

“This fifth and final installment in the ‘Kauffman Amish Bakery’ series is sure to
please fans who have waited for Katie’s story.”

—L
IBRA
RY
J
OURNAL
REVIEW OF
A
S
EASON OF
L
OVE

“[The Kauffman Amish Bakery series’] wide popularity is sure to attract readers to
this novella, and they won’t be disappointed by the excellent writing and the story’s
wholesome goodness.”

—L
IBRA
RY
J
OURNAL
REVIEW OF
A
P
LAIN
AND
S
IMPLE
C
HRISTMAS

“[I]nspiring and a perfect fit for the holiday season.”

—RT B
OOK
R
EVIEWS
,
4
-
STAR REVIEW
OF
A P
LAIN AND
S
IMPLE
C
HRISTMAS

T
HE
K
AUFFMAN
A
MISH
B
AKERY
S
ERIES

A Gift of Grace

A Place of Peace

A Promise of Hope

A Life of Joy

A Season of Love

A Plain and Simple Christmas

Naomi’s Gift

Roadside Assistance
(young adult)

Reckless Heart
(young adult)

ZONDERVAN

A Hopeful Heart
Copyright © 2013 by Amy Clipston

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By
payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable
right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may
be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored
in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or
by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented,
without the express written permission of Zondervan e-books.

EPub Edition © APRIL 2013 ISBN: 978-0-310-41311-0

Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan,
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Clipston, Amy.

Hearts of the Lancaster Grand Hotel / Amy Clipston.

      pages cm. – (A Hopeful Heart ; Book 1)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-310-31998-6 (trade paper : alk. paper)

I. Title.

PS3603.L58H43 2013

813’.6–dc23                           2013002810

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible,
New International Version
^®
, NIV
^®
.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All
rights reserved worldwide.

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by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy,
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prior permission of the publisher.

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