The Promise of Palm Grove by Shelley Shepard Gray

I always enjoy a new book by Shelley Shepard Gray. Her stories are always such a nice, relaxing read. I felt as if I was transported to Pinecraft, Florida, and found myself instantly dreaming of sunny weather and warmer temperatures. The cover of this book is perfect and really does hint at the story inside.

I like how the story focuses on Edmund and Leona, but also includes several other side stories, as well. Leona and Edmond's friends, as well as Beverly and her relationship with certain people made me feel as if I was really connecting with those within the community.

I was happy with Leona's choices that she made. I just couldn't stand the thought of her ending up with someone who didn't cherish her, value her, or love her for who she was. I didn't want to see her passion squelched or her zest for life to be snuffed out by someone who wanted to control her. She definitely had to learn to stand up for herself while she was in Pinecraft.

Another favorite character of mine was Effie. She was such a sweet girl. I would have definitely wanted to get to know her! Her determination to do things by herself was such a wonderful side story.

At the end of the book, Gray shares a snippet of her next book that will hopefully be releasing soon. I definitely am looking forward to returning to Siesta Key.

To read more reviews on this book, go to  http://litfusegroup.com/author/sgray.

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{More about The Promise of Palm Grove}

The Promise of Palm Grove (Avon Inspire, January 2015) Leona must decide: Does she follow the path set out before her? Or take a chance with only the promise of what could be to guide her? A young Amish woman finds herself torn between the man she’s pledged to wed and the man her heart desires in this heartwarming story of chance, duty, and choice in the face of love—the first volume in the beloved New York Times bestselling author’s new Amish Brides of Pinecraft series. Amish bride-to-be Leona is thrilled to be in Florida, on a mini-vacation in the pretty town of Pinecraft. Her girlfriends think she’s happy because she’s away from the stress of wedding planning. They have no idea that Leona’s real joy is in being away from her fiancé. Edmund is a good man, and will make a decent husband . . . just not for Leona. The more time she spends with him and his overbearing ways, the less she wants to be his wife. Her cousins are sure Edmund is the right man for her-and their certainty makes Leona begin to doubt herself. But when a chance encounter with a wayward cat brings her face-to-face with a handsome, fun-loving Amish man named Zachary Kauffman, Leona’s faced with two vastly different futures. Learn more and purchase a copy at Shelley's website.

{More About Shelley Shepard Gray}

Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York Times bestseller, a two-time USA Today bestseller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Holt Medallion winner. She lives in Southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail. Find out more about Shelley at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com. FacebookTwitterPinterest

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I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and Avon Inspire in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.