Bethany operates the coffee corner in Bird-in-Hand's marketplace. Each Saturday morning Micah Zook and his grandfather Enos pay her a visit to sample her flavors. Two of her cousins married. One is temporarily on leave from the market; the other who just had a small child will be setting up her baking business at a stand at her home when the child is old enough for her to do so. Bethany's feeling that all the guys like her cousins but that she's just not the type they choose to wed. She's attracted to Micah, but Micah's running from his past--a bad relationship with his father and an engagement that ended with his beloved dying. Can he open up his heart to Bethany? I enjoyed this story. Clipston is quickly becoming one of my favorite Amish fiction authors because of her interesting stories. ( )

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I enjoyed The Coffee Corner. I had not read a book that shows Amish women as being in business for themselves. I liked that Amy was talkative and perky but I had trouble with her self doubt in ever being about to attract a man for marriage. Her mother and friends tried convince her that her future was bright but her experiences with marriageable men was very limited.

Her love interest, Micha had more problems, he neve felt acceptance and appreciation from his father and noone ever joined his side arguments. He had fallen in love with a young Amish but she died quickly after her being diagnosed with Leukemia. Micha thought leaving his father's and refusing to be a dairy farmer would give him time to enjoy being with his grandfather and he always loved his grandfather's trade of making outdoor furniture.

His grandfather's health deteriorated and he did not want to learn any new ways of increasing his sales for fear of disobeying the Orndung.

But everything goes into chaos and confusion when his grandfather suddenly dies. Micha discovers that the business was much worse than he thought.

I admired Amy's determination and fire. Micha really needed to be able to trust someone.

Would like to read more of the Amish Marketplace Novels. ( )

Good book. This is the third in the Amish Marketplace series, about four female cousins. Each one has a booth at the Marketplace where they sell their goods to Amish and non-Amish customers. Bethany runs The Coffee Corner, a coffee and donut shop with an ever-changing variety of flavored coffees. This is her story.

Bethany is a cheerful young woman who makes all visitors to her booth feel welcome. She and her three cousins are very close and used to eat lunch together on the days they worked at the Marketplace. But two of those cousins, Christina and Salina, found boyfriends and married recently and haven't been as available for their visits. Bethany is happy for them but wonders if she'll ever find a love of her own. I liked Bethany a lot. Her kind heart shines through in everything she does. She also frequently frustrated me because she is so pessimistic about her appeal as a possible wife and mother.

Micah and his grandfather, Enos, come to Bethany's booth every Saturday morning. Micah came to live with Enos to help his grandfather and also learn the carpentry business. He also wanted to get away from his father, who was constantly critical of Micah and his desire to be a carpenter rather than a farmer. His father's lack of sympathy over the death of Micah's fiancée was the final blow to Micah's relationship with his family. His father's attitude affected Micah's belief in himself, and his grief over his fiancée's death left him unwilling to risk his heart again.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Bethany and Micah. Over the months that Micah visits the Coffee Corner, Bethany developed quite the crush on him. Lost in his grief, Micah remains oblivious to her for the longest time, reinforcing Bethany's belief in her lack of appeal. Unfortunately, once he does begin to notice her, his shyness and lack of confidence prevent him from doing anything about it. Bethany believes she'll have to settle for friendship, though her cousins encourage her to be more proactive. Just when things start to look up a little, a more brazen Amish woman makes a play for Micah. Sara Ann knows just what kind of sly digs will hurt Bethany, and she uses them to great effect. Meanwhile, Micah doesn't know how to handle Sara Ann's aggressiveness, complicating his growing interest in Bethany.

Then tragedy strikes and Enos's death leaves Micah feeling adrift and alone. Besides their family relationship, Enos was Micah's best friend. Micah's grief overwhelms him; then, he discovers that their business was in serious financial trouble. I ached for Micah, who saw no way out of the mess other than selling everything and leaving. Meanwhile, Bethany seems to be the only person in the community who worries about Micah. I loved seeing her try to get him to open up to her, share his grief and worries, and ached for her when he pushed her away. When Micah's despair carries him down a destructive path, it is up to Bethany to find a way to bring him back. I loved the way she did it, enlisting the kind of help that would be hard to turn down. Once Micah sees hope for his future, he's more willing to offer Bethany his heart. Her happiness when she discovered he returned her feelings was a joy to see. ( )

Bethany runs a coffee and donut booth at the marketplace. Close to her cousins, she has watched them get boyfriends, marry, and have babies. Though happy for them, she can’t help but wish for a boyfriend of her own. Micah and his grandfather frequent her booth, but even though Bethany has a crush on Micah, he doesn’t seem interested in her. Then a tragedy strikes Micah’s family, and when he is at the worst of his despair, Bethany and her family throw him a lifeline. But will he take it? This tale is well written, with witty characters, a meaningful plot, and good dialogue. The author illustrates that life’s path may be rocky at times, but with faith and friends, you won’t stumble and fall. ( )