A Daughter's Dream by Shelley Shepard Gray

Shelley Shepard Gray is one of my go-to authors in Amish fiction. I have not been disappointed by her yet, and I honestly never expect to be disappointed by her.

I did not realize that I had missed the first book in this series. Usually I stay on top of her releases, but one slipped by me. With that said, I was curious if I would know what was happening in this book without having read book 1. I never felt like big holes were missing in characters or in the storyline because I hadn't read book 1. Although, I have already bought book 1 because I didn't want to miss out on this series.

Jacob was a man whom I greatly admired. He gave up so much just to come and help his parents. I couldn't help but really like Lukas and his story. I love that Rachel followed her dreams and was ultimately given a blessing over her wish to follow her dreams. A relationship with Jacob was never a part of the plan--and definitely not any sort of love relationship.

I wouldn't say this book is full of twists and turns. However, it's the style that it's written in that makes it a book to grab after a long day. It's an easy read that is just perfect for summer. I absolutely cannot wait to read book 3 soon! First I have to finish book 1 though!

Read more reviews of this book at http://litfusegroup.com/author/sgray.

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Enter to win a copy of A Daughter’s Dream—five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced June 8th on Shelley’s blog!

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ABOUT THE BOOK

A Daughter’s Dream (Avon Inspire, May 2016)

A young teacher and farmer discover they have much in common, especially when it comes to healing old wounds from the past . . . and finding love in one another.

Rebecca Kinsinger has always dreamed of being a teacher. But when she’s given the opportunity she’s been waiting for at Charm Amish School, she’s dismayed to discover that teaching is hard work—work she’s afraid she’s not very good at.

That is, until Lilly Yoder joins the class. A thirteen-year old who’s just lost her parents, Lilly is in need of someone like Rebecca. For the first time since starting her new job, Rebecca feels a sense of purpose. But when she meets Lilly’s uncle, Jacob, his good looks and sweet, easy-going temperament are hard to ignore. How can she even entertain romantic thoughts of Jacob when his niece is her student?

Suddenly becoming Lily’s sole caregiver, Jacob Yoder never thought he’d be a single parent—or a farmer. Having been living in Florida as a carpenter, Jacob feels more at home wielding a hammer than a backhoe. The only bright spot in his life is Rebecca Kinsinger. As Lily and Rebecca develop a bond, Jacob’s fondness for the pretty teacher grows, too.

But when a fateful accident brings them together, Rebecca and Jacob must choose between duty and desire. Will they follow the path before them? Or set out to find true happiness . . . and true love?

Learn more and purchase a copy

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, 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.

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

A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn by Shelley Shepard Gray

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, the Amish Brides of Pinecraft. I have come to love the town of Pinecraft and would love to visit it in person one day. I like the map at the front of the book that shows you where everything is located and give you a good visual of the town.

Emma and Jay both find themselves in a spot in life that they never dreamed of experiencing. Through common circumstances, they find that they have much they can talk about and many instances where they can relate to each other. Who would ever imagine that a pizza-loving hound would be the one playing matchmaker!

Shelley Shepard Gray does a wonderful job capturing the reader from the very beginning. I have not read a book by her that I have disliked. She has captured my full attention from the beginning and I find that I have a hard time putting down her books. I do like that her books aren't as many pages because then I can read it as a reward in between doing chores (don't judge me!). By the end of my chore time, I've completed the entire book as a reward for mopping and cleaning. So thank you, Shelley Shepard Gray for giving me something to look forward to and for testing my ability to "just say no" when all I really want to do is read one more chapter before picking up that mop! I'm so glad that there's one more book in this series. I just don't want to say goodbye yet! Oh and the pictures of Pinecraft bring this story to life. Such a wonderful idea to include those.

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

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About the Book

                       A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn (Avon Inspire, September 2015)
A wedding brings together two young widowed parents . . . and gives them a second chance at love.
Emma Keim was heartbroken when her husband, Sanford, passed away, leaving her to raise three young daughters alone. Though several years have passed, her relatives have made it no secret that they expect Emma to remain a widow, mourning Sanford indefinitely. But when she meets Jay Hilty—a handsome widower with three young sons of his own—Emma is delighted to have a new friend who understands her struggles. Still, she is dismayed that her family is so opposed to their friendship—and the idea of it ever becoming anything more. She honors her husband’s memory every day, but is she destined to be alone forever?
Emma’s gentleness with Jay’s boys stirs something in his heart that’s been quiet for far too long. But when his oldest son becomes engaged to a local woman, suddenly Jay, Emma, and their children are swept up in wedding preparations. Witnessing his son’s joy, Jay wonders if it’s time for him to move forward, too, and find happiness again.
Once again, love has come to Pinecraft. But can these two parties of four become a happy, healthy family of eight?
Learn more and purchase a copy.

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. 

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

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.

Thankful by Shelley Shepard Gray

Aden loves Christina.  Christina loves Aden.  Neither one know that.  Age separates them at first, but Aden is content to wait.  Then circumstances change.  Contemplating a future with each other wouldn't be bad until Aden's life changes. When Aden's parents died, Christina's family took him in and raised him.

Aden does a good job at stifling his emotions and desires to court Christina.  So many times in the book I wanted Aden to pour out his feelings to Christina.  Especially because Christina felt the same way but thought he didn't care in that way for her! 

I liked Christina's parents, but I wanted them to believe in the two of them and a future courtship.  I understood why Aden kept his feelings silent, and the guilt from a previous incident on the ice didn't help matters for either one of them.  I was cheering for them at the end of the book and wanted them to have that happy ever after!

Shelley Shepard Gray has written a great follow-up book to Hopeful, which is part of the Return to Sugarcreek series.  After reading the sneak peek for Joyful, her next book, I'm now really looking forward to reading that one, too!

For more reviews on this book, go to http://litfusegroup.com/author/SGray.

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Thankful, Book Two in the Return to Sugarcreek series
New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray captures the beauty, devotion, and warmth of Amish life in this engaging tale of family, commitment, trust, and love set in the beloved community of Sugarcreek.
Christina Kempf has always known that God chose Aden Reese to be her husband. As children, he was there to save her when she fell through the ice, and he’s been by her side ever since. After his parents died in a car accident ten years ago, the Kempfs raised Aden as one of their own, and everyone sees Aden and Christina as brother and sister. But Christina has never given up hope that Aden will one day ask her to be his wife.
Aden always planned to court Christina. But losing his mother and father changed everything—except his love for her. Her parents generously welcomed him into their home and treated him like a son. He can’t betray their kindness by admitting his feelings for the girl who is like a sister . . . yet so much more.
Pressured by her parents to court, Christina begins to accept the attentions of Sugarcreek’s young men, and now, Aden must make a choice. Will he stand by and watch the love of his life slip away? Or will he risk losing the love and trust of the family he holds dear to tell Christina how he truly feels?
Thankful includes a P.S. section with additional insights from the author, background material, suggestions for further reading, and more.
Learn more and purchase a copy here.

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.
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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.

Hopeful by Shelley Shepard Gray

I missed parts of the Sugarcreek series so I bought them for my Kindle (great deal online) and can't wait to read them.  I was so intrigued by this book that I just had to know what all I have missed!

I struggled with Junior, to be completely honest. I wanted to not like him.  I disliked how he treated Miriam.  However, I just couldn't!  He had given up so much and truly was not a bad or rude person.  However, he should have listened to his friend!  It would have saved him some heartache, but then he probably would never have learned who he truly loved.

Mary Kate was definitely not skilled at teaching, but it wasn't like she had a lot of opportunities as places of employment.  She had to get away from Will.  I did fear for her some and wanted her to be with Junior for the only reason that I knew he'd protect her.  However, his protectiveness extends to not only his family, but his friends too.  He did have a good heart.

I can't wait to read more in this series.  This is the first book in her Return to Sugarcreek series.  I'm glad that there's not a long span between this book and book #2, Thankful.  Until then, I'm catching up on the original series!

See other reviews of this book at http://litfusegroup.com/author/sgray.

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Return to Sugarcreek, Book One
In the Amish town of Sugarcreek, love comes in many forms. But will it come at all for Miriam?
Miriam Zehr has worked at the Sugarcreek Inn longer than she cares to admit. The restaurant is a favorite of town residents as well as the many tourists who come to taste the famous Amish fare. Though she always tries to have a smile for every customer, deep down Miriam knows something’s missing: a family of her own.
Miriam has never felt particularly beautiful, especially because she’s always been a bit heavier than other girls her age. When Junior, the man she’s pined for all her life, suddenly seeks her out, she’s thrilled to be noticed . . . until she realizes he’s only asking her to help get the attention of Mary Kathryn Hershberger, her pretty friend.
If Miriam helps Junior court Mary Kathryn, she’ll get to spend a lot of time with him, but she might lose him in the process. Are these few stolen moments worth a lifetime of sacrifice? Is Miriam right to even hope for the life she dreams of?
Purchase a copy and learn more at Shelley’s website .
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I received this book free from from Avon Inspire and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Ray of Light by Shelley Shepard Gray

I don't know what I usually associated Shelley Shepard Gray with mystery books but for some reason, I did.  Now that I know that she's not really that type of writer, I think I need to get more of her books.  I liked this one so much that I have already downloaded the first book in this series, Daybreak.  

As for mystery, it does have a lot of unanswered questions and a lot of secrets that surround the Keim family.  I enjoyed finding them out as the story went along.  I liked how she recapped on the secrets revealed in the first book, without letting you know too much detail that you wouldn't need to read the first book.  

I was hoping Amanda and Roman would find each other as someone that they could start a life with.  I was glad that Amanda stopped living in the past, even though she never forgot about it.  Elsie is one that I hope gets a book devoted to in the future.  I want her to end up happy and with someone so special.  I'm not certain I wish for her circumstances to change, but to see her work through it.  I'm guessing the first book has of Peter and Marie's story, so I'm anxious to get more details on that.  Lovina had me laughing in a light-hearted way.  She seemed wise from her mistakes, but also seemed to be supportive.  She was one of my favorite characters in the book, I think.  I hated the moment when she and Aaron shared a moment that was about his relationships in his life before her.  Lovina seemed to be so loving and caring and trying hard to be the perfect Amish wife.  What he said to her wasn't unloving, but it was something that made my heart hurt for any woman to realize about their relationship.

I am very excited to read the first book and the next book in this series.  Eventide, the third book in the Days of Redemption series, is set to be out in September.  I can't wait!

For more opinions on this book, go to http://litfusegroup.com/author/sgray. 

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