Her Secret Hope (A Season in Pinecraft #3) by Shelley Shepard Gray | Amish Fiction Review

Her Secret Hope

A Season in Pinecraft #3

Shelley Shepard Gray

Contemporary Fiction / Amish

She left home to find herself--instead she found true love

Almost two years after Lilly Kurtz first visited Pinecraft, Florida, she's decided to make a fresh start there. She's ready to be new-and-improved Lilly, a Lilly without a past, a Lilly with no secrets. At first, everything goes well. She gets a job, her coworkers feel like family, and she enjoys reconnecting with her friends. But it turns out the past is reluctant to be left behind.

When Lilly meets hardworking farmer Eddie Byler, she can't get him off her mind. But then she discovers that Eddie isn't staying long in Pinecraft--and he actually lives just a few miles from her hometown in Ohio. Lilly doesn't want him to know about the life she's left . . . and she can't imagine following him back to a place where she's never felt accepted.

Will Lilly have to give up on love in order to find peace? Or could it be that love is actually the solution to all of her problems?

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My Thoughts

I am really enjoying this series. I believe that we met all of the main characters in book one but each of the following books has centered on an individual girl. This time around it is Lilly Kurtz.

Somehow she got up the courage to actually move to Pinecraft and take a position at the Marigold Inn. Both of her friends are now living in Pinecraft so it seemed like the logical next step for her. Of course both of her friends were now married so she was a bit surprised by how little time she actually was able to spend with them. It was kind of one of those lonely in a crowd situations.

Of course there has to be an interesting guy involved. That would be Eddie. He is on vacation with his grandma and takes an interest in Lilly. She's very wary of becoming involved with him because he will be leaving soon. But the attraction is strong and keeps her pursuing a relationship with Eddie.

I have enjoyed getting to know Lilly and her story through this series. She is the most shy of the three girls which of course makes her the most cautious. The story of how she and Eddie work through all the hurdles in making their relationship work was the perfect way to end this series. 

When you get to the end of a story and you want to know more about what happens to the characters as their lives progress you know the book has been good. That's the way this book and series were for me. My hope is that these characters will make repeat appearances in upcoming stories. I recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with an Amish twist.

A Season in Pinecraft

Her Heart's Desire

Her Only Wish

Her Secret Hope

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www.ShelleyShepardGray.com

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Disclosure

I received a copy of this book from the publisher to facilitate my review.

 

Her Heart's Desire (A Season in Pinecraft #1) by Shelley Shepard Gray | Contemporary Fiction Review

Her Heart's Desire

A Season in Pinecraft #1

Shelley Shepard Gray

Contemporary Fiction/Amish

What happens when we allow our pasts to define our futures?

Mary Margaret Miller needs an escape from her small Amish community. She boards a bus, all alone, for a vacation in Pinecraft, Florida. Meeting Betsy and Lilly on the way, she's amazed to find two kindred spirits. They become fast friends and determine to have the best two weeks of their lives. For Mary, it starts when she meets Jayson Raber, a handsome and charming carpenter.

Jayson is taken with Mary from the get-go, but he has responsibilities back home in Kentucky--including a girl he's supposed to marry. And when someone from Mary's past shows up in Pinecraft, it seems like her perfect vacation is ruined. But that's nothing compared to what's coming when she realizes what Jayson has been hiding . . .

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My Thoughts

I have a friend that lived in Pinecraft for a time. I loved hearing about this idyllic place from her so when I realized that Her Heart's Desire is set in Pinecraft I knew I wanted to read it. I'm so glad I did because it was just as delightful as I had hoped.

The story centers around Mary Margaret Miller who has set out on a little getaway to Pinecraft. She's hoping for a bit of a respite from her miserable life at home. Mary Margaret is a bit of an outcast and because of that has become quite lonely. On the bus ride to Pinecraft she connects with two other Amish girls and they become fast friends.

For Mary Margaret this trip feels like a little slice of heaven. She's made new friends, she's found a guy she's interested in and he seems to return the interest. And there's a beach involved. What could possibly go wrong?

One of the main reasons that I enjoy books by Shelley Shepard Gray is that they are relatable. I'm not Amish but I know what it feels like to be ostracized. I know what it feels like to have your bubble burst. I think these feelings are pretty common to all of us at some point in our lives.

Her Heart's Desire is a beautiful story of facing what life throws at you and coming out stronger with your faith intact. I highly recommend it.  

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Photo Credit: © The New Studio/You See Photography, Inc. 
www.TheNewStudio.net

www.ShelleyShepardGray.com

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Disclosure

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

 

Christmas at the Amish Market by Shelley Shepard Gray | Christmas Book Review

Christmas at the Amish Market

Shelley Shepard Gray

Amish Fiction/Christmas

Wesley is so busy running his family’s Amish market at the holidays, he barely has time for Liesl, the young woman he’s been courting for years. When she suggests her aunt Jenny could help Wesley out, he agrees to the plan. But Liesl neglected to mention her aunt is only twenty-six years old—and as charming as she is hard-working.

Jenny, still healing after a painful breakup, welcomes the distraction of working at the market. She soon realizes Wesley is everything she ever dreamed a man could be. But how can Jenny even think about romance with the man Liesl expects to marry?

But Liesl’s own feelings are more complicated than she’s willing to admit. With humor, faith, and a little help from their friends in the community, everyone might just find what their hearts are looking for this Christmas at the Amish market.

My Thoughts

Christmas at the Amish Market was the first Christmas book of the season for me to read. I had intended to go back and forth between the written book and the audio version but the audio version was such a delight to listen to that I wound up sticking with the audio version. 

The setting revolves around the Amish market that Wesley's family owns. Christmas is around the corner so the place is hopping with activity. Wesley is overwhelmed with running the market while his father is recovering from some heart problems. Added to the mix is long time girlfriend Liesl. 

Liesl is an accomplished seamstress and finds great satisfaction with making beautiful things. But she's a bit oblivious to the needs of others. In fact she's put out with Wesley's devotion to his family's business. With the guise of helping Wesley but really helping herself, Liesl brings her Aunt Jenny into the mix. Unbeknownst to everyone the arrival of Jenny will change everything. 

If you enjoy Christmas themed books you'll love this one. It's the perfect combination of interesting characters, situations and solutions. There's a good mix of conflict and sweet romance that makes this a perfect read for the season. 

Disclosure

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

 

The Caregiver (Families of Honor #1) by Shelley Shepard Gray

The Caregiver

Shelley Shepard Gray

Families of Honor, Book 1

Fiction

4 out of 5

 

The Caregiver begins with a Prologue that introduces us to Lucy Troyer and her husband Paul. We learn that Lucy married Paul not only because she loved him, but because it would be a benefit to her family. Not long into the marriage Paul becomes very abusive towards Lucy. One evening while doing farm chores, Paul falls and breaks his neck, killing him.

 

The story begins one year later with Lucy boarding a train to go and take care of her cousin, Mattie, who is about to begin chemotherapy treatments for her breast cancer.  At one point Mattie had come to help take care of Lucy when she was badly injured at the hands of her husband Paul. Lucy is very grateful to be able to return the favor by spending a month helping her cousin get through this process.

 

Once she boards the train Lucy meets a fellow amishman, Calvin Weaver, and his little sister Katie. Calvin and Katie are returning home from a trip to their Uncle John’s home. Calvin himself is recovering from an unexpected jilting at the hands of his fiancée and his best friend. It just so happens that both Lucy and Calvin are headed for Jacob’s Crossing, where they will discover they will be neighbors.

 

This is a beautiful story about the redemption of a second chance. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!

* I received a copy of this book for my review. No other compensation was received.