Review – Sycamore Circle

14 Tuesday Mar 2023

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Book Review, Rumors in Ross County, Shelley Shepard Gray, Sycamore Circle, The Rumors in Ross County series

Sycamore Circle

The Rumors in Ross County series

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray returns with the second novel in her “tantalizing” (Publishers Weekly) Rumors in Ross County series. In Ross County, love can stay the course, but first you have to know who to trust.

There’s a lot going on in Joy Howard’s life. She’s got an ex-husband who starts acting like he doesn’t want to be an ex anymore, a sixteen-year-old daughter in need of a guiding hand and a lot of rides to dance practice, more orders for paintings than she has time to paint, and a roster of tutoring clients who sometimes need far more than she can give.

What she doesn’t have is time for a new relationship.

Samuel “Bo” Beauman is a lot of things. He’s a counselor for transitioning ex-cons, a good friend to many, a construction worker, a brother and son, and even a part-time model for a high-end sportswear catalog. He’s also a man searching for redemption.

One thing he isn’t is a man in need of a girlfriend.

But none of that seems to matter when Bo hears Joy’s kind voice in a crowded coffee shop. He instantly knows she’s someone he wants to know better. The two of them hit it off—much to the dismay of practically everyone they know—but Bo doesn’t care what other people think. He feels at peace whenever he’s with Joy, and he won’t let her go without a fight.

When Joy starts getting mysterious texts and phone calls from unknown numbers, she tries to ignore it. But instead of going away, the messages escalate and Joy realizes she can’t handle it alone. But she is juggling a jealous ex-husband, a handful of students with little to lose, and a brand-new boyfriend who spent several years behind bars. Who can she trust?

*****

Review:

Bo is a stand-up guy who made mistakes in his past and is now spending his life helping others who find themselves in a similar situation – working with other ex-cons to transition from prison to regular life. It’s not easy but his no-nonsense attitude and occasional tough love helps.

Bo was one of my favorites from book 1 – his steady presence and Southern boy charm makes him a heart-stealer. Having him do something as fanciful as falling for someone at first sight is a hoot, but Joy proves to be a good choice as she is just as giving and big-hearted as he is. She volunteers her time teaching adults to read and is ready to look to the heart of people, not just what you see on the surface.

My biggest complaint with this book is that I would have loved for Joy and Bo to spend more time together. I found them delightful as a couple and would have enjoyed seeing their relationship develop and deepen. But that’s the romance reader in me – maybe this one would fall more towards women’s fiction as the author does a good job of letting us into the characters’ lives and thoughts.

The Rumors in Ross County series so far has given us two slow burn, clean stories about ex-cons and the women who stole their hearts. There’s a little suspense and tension at the end to keep us on our toes but at its heart Sycamore Circle is all about Bo & Joy falling in love.

Review – Coming Home

29 Tuesday Nov 2022

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Book Review, Coming Home, Shelley Shepard Gray, Woodland Park Firefighters series

Coming Home

A Woodland Park Firefighters Romance

by Shelley Shepard Gray

When an army vet becomes a firefighter in small-town Colorado, the flames of an old love reignite in this sweet romance by bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray

In Woodland Park, a small town nestled in the foothills of Pikes Peak, Anderson Kelly and Chelsea Davis were once the high school “it” couple—the star quarterback and the valedictorian. They broke up when Anderson joined the army and one poor decision at a fraternity party changed Chelsea’s life. Now, she works long shifts in a senior center to support her nine-year-old son, Jack.

After multiple tours in Afghanistan, Anderson has changed, too—physically scarred but mentally strong—and he decides to move back to Woodland Park. Anderson and Chelsea steer clear of each other to avoid reopening old wounds, until they are forced to reconnect through the senior center. They soon discover that the love they once shared never completely vanished. But it will take a fire, a dangerous collision, and the love of one little boy to help Anderson and Chelsea see that the future they’ve always yearned for is in sight…

The first in a new series, Coming Home is a sweet story about letting go of the past and moving into the future.

Chelsea and Anderson were high school sweethearts but their relationship ended messily. Years later they find themselves living in the same small town, which means they can only go so long without running into each other. And once they do, it’s obvious that things between them aren’t over.

Shelley Shepard Gray delivers a slow build love story, giving readers a chance to get to know the characters as they get to know each other all over again and maybe find something amazing together. It’s a heartfelt, quick-read, and a great beginning to a new series.

Review – Christmas at the Amish Market

28 Monday Nov 2022

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Book Review, Christmas at the Amish Market, Shelley Shepard Gray

Christmas at the Amish Market

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Hallmark and bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray present a Christmas Amish romance with lots of surprises in store…

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.

There’s a big dollop of Christmas magic in Shelley Shepard Gray’s newest Amish romance.

I really enjoyed getting to know Liesl, Wesley, Jenny, and Roland, seeing their feelings deepen and their connections develop. There’s an earnestness to their interactions that is so compelling, drawing the reader in as they struggle to come to terms with some difficult decisions.

Christmas at the Amish Market has that Hallmark feel, and while it may be predictable from start to finish that doesn’t mean the journey isn’t enjoyable. It’s got a feeling of innocence, emotion, and holiday cheer that makes it a perfect choice for a December read.

Book Review – Hold On Tight

27 Thursday Jun 2019

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Book Review, Bridgeport Social Club series, Hold on Tight, Shelley Shepard Gray

Hold on Tight

Bridgeport Social Club Series

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Jackson Koch had already lost his wife to cancer when the town’s coal mines shut down and his job was gone too. So, with a three-year-old daughter to care for and a broken heart to mend, he moved across the country to find a new life in Bridgeport, Ohio. Now he tends bar by night and tries to navigate life as a single dad by day. Luckily, his neighbor is happy to babysit while he works late nights. She’s great with little Kate, beautiful, kind … and lately he’s found himself smiling whenever he thinks about her.

Dani Brown also knows what it’s like to lose a spouse and raise a child on her own. Cleaning houses during the day, and taking online classes at night, she dreams of running her own preschool someday. And, since her fourteen-year-old son Jeremy’s baseball team requires a lot of money, she’s thrilled to earn some extra cash by watching her handsome neighbor’s adorable little girl. But even with two jobs, she’s having trouble making ends meet.

When Jackson sees Dani running herself ragged for her son’s baseball ambitions he decides it’s time to get the Bridgeport Social Club involved. Together they cook up a plan. They will run a charity poker tournament to support Jeremy’s dream and help out a hardworking single mom. But will Dani be able to accept help from the handsome neighbor she’s starting to feel more-than-friendly feelings for? And how far is she ready to let those feelings go?

Get ready to fall in love with Shelley Shepard Gray’s Bridgeport Social Club again, where a poker night is so much more than a game of cards and an extraordinary community of ordinary men and women come together to offer love, light, and hope to everyone they encounter.

I loved the first two books in this series and this one shows that Gray knows how to keep delivering. Both Dani and Jackson have experienced hardships in their lives and are just doing the best they can for their kids. The easy way these two manage to create a kind of friendship and then something more is very appealing. And realistic. There are so many ways that this could have gone sideways but Gray manages to keep things real and relatively drama free.

Dani has spent so many years having only herself to rely on that it is hard for her to accept someone else’s offer of help. She can’t get past the feeling of owing someone and while Jackson is ready to be there for her it takes a bit for her to get to the point of being able to accept it.

Jackson has been struggling with losing both his wife and his job in a short amount of time. He had a little problem with depression (understandably) for a while and getting him & his daughter out of their small town was the best for both of them. It’s just super hard to accept a life where he is now a bartender – a good job just not what he imagined for himself. But he has good friends and with a little self-examination he’s starting to feel a better about his situation.

You aren’t going to find a lot of drama moments with this series. It’s just realistic characters, living their lives and trying to figure things out – pretty much like you and me 🙂 Instead, go into it with a relaxed mind and an attitude of just enjoying the ride. You’ll find plenty to appreciate about the well-crafted characters and the normality of their lives.

Book Review – All In

25 Monday Mar 2019

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All In, Book Review, Bridgeport Social Club series, Shelley Shepard Gray

All In

Bridgeport Social Club series

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Meredith Hunt is content with her solo life. She owns and runs a successful Pilates studio, volunteers at the high school every week, and recently bought a house. She can take care of herself, which is good because she has a hard time relying on other people. When she’s mugged and a handsome man comes to her rescue, she doesn’t know how to accept his help—or how to stop staring into his chocolate-brown eyes.

Ace Vance moved to Bridgeport to offer his fifteen-year-old son, Finn, a better life. Here, Finn has a chance to play football for a good team and maybe even earn a college scholarship. And Ace scored a job at a top-notch garage, where he gets to fix up classic cars. Plus, they could both use some distance from Finn’s toxic mom. The last thing on his mind is falling in love, but he can’t help offering assistance to a gorgeous redhead in need.

Thrown together by a careless criminal, Meredith and Ace can’t deny their attraction. But can they open their hearts—and their lives—to make room for love?

Shelley Shepard Gray’s Bridgeport Social Club series explores how communities can come together to support each other, whether it’s around a poker table, in a Pilates studio, or anywhere in between. Get ready to fall in love with a group of men and women who, even when they feel lost, refuse to lose hope.

Like Take a Chance, All In is more than just a romance. There is the relationship between Ace and Meredith, but we also have Meredith learning to open herself up to others, Ace & Finn developing a better relationship, Finn settling in to a new school, and Finn’s interactions with the awkward girl next door. (I do wish we’d gotten a bit more there. I think that there was so much opportunity to develop not only their interactions together but also the way they are viewed by other kids.) It all works together to create a beautiful tapestry capturing small town life.

I will say that Gray pleasantly surprised me with the ending. I thought for sure I knew where things were going and the conflict Ace & Meredith would have to face before they could have their HEA … but I was wrong! I love a book that doesn’t take the obvious angle.

All In is a lovely, sweet, and believable story of finding love and belonging. Shelley Shepard Gray is a skilled writer, drawing her readers into the character’s lives and making them feel real. I really hope she continues bringing us stories from Bridgeport.

**Those who are fans of SSG’s writing need to be aware this is a different style than her previous Amish romances. Like with the first story in this series, I think that a lot of people think they know what to expect and then are surprised by a clean but more contemporary romance. Just a warning 🙂 **

Book Review – Take a Chance

26 Friday Oct 2018

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Take a Chance

Bridgeport Social Club #1

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Kurt Holland wants the best for his younger brother, which is why he moves Sam to Bridgeport. It’s just the place to give his little brother more opportunities—maybe even a scholarship. Emily Springer is passionate about helping all of her students succeed, but there’s something about Sam Holland that makes her want to go the extra mile. When he’s caught in a fight at school, she goes to bat in his defense, and during a conference with the principal she meets Sam’s rugged older brother—and guardian. Emily has a strict no-dating policy when it comes to her students’ parents, but Kurt isn’t technically Sam’s parent. It’s okay to bend the rules a little bit, right?

Shelley Shepard Gray’s new Bridgeport Social Club series is about men who need a place to call home, a community in need of hope, and a group of women who are special enough to help both things happen.

I feel a little bad for the reviews this book is getting. A lot of the negative comments are based on what the readers expected from the book, which is for it to be like the author’s previous religious love stories. They are understandably a bit upset that instead they got a “clean” contemporary romance that included cursing and more amorous moments than her previous books. I’m there with them that when a book is not what you thought it would be, it will usually lower the enjoyment of it. And I can even see why they would expect a certain thing if that is what the author always delivered before. (Who doesn’t get a little thrown when a favorite author changes things up significantly?)

Fortunately for me, I didn’t come in with any expectations and I really enjoyed it.

Gray’s writing is very smooth, which made for an easy read, and I found myself engrossed in the characters and everyone’s lives. There are actually 4 POVs for this story – Kurt, Emily, Sam, and his classmate Kay. They all come across as super realistic and have to deal with some pretty difficult situations.

Take a Chance is as much about the Holland boys as it is a love story between Kurt and Emily … and is all the better for it. I found myself rooting so much for those two as they try to get their footing in a new situation & a new town, finding love and friendship as well as the hope for something better. Things aren’t easy for them but they deal the best they can, giving readers a wonderfully heartwarming tale. I’m really looking forward to what Gray has in store for us next.

Spotlight – His Promise

24 Wednesday Oct 2018

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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Amish of Hart County series, An Amish Christmas in Hart County, His Promise, Shelley Shepard Gray

I don’t care if it is still October, I love a good Christmas romance!!

*****

His Promise

Amish of Hart County series

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Genre Adult Sweet Romance

Publisher Avon Inspire

Publication Date October 23, 2018

Blurb:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s latest Christmas novel in her Amish of Hart County series.

It’s set to be a white Christmas in Hart County, and Grace King is pet-sitting in a beautiful home with only a difficult dachshund for company. Just as she starts to miss the bustle of her large Amish family, Grace runs into a familiar face. Living right next door is John Michael Miller. He’s a fireman now, but five years ago, he had courted her older sister, then broke her heart. Seeing him again stirs Grace’s anger, but also reminds her of deeper feelings she’s done her best to deny.

The infatuation John Michael once saw in Grace’s eyes is long gone, though his complicated attraction to her remains. He had walked away all those years ago when he realized he was falling in love with the wrong sister. Now, as suspicious fires are set in their community, that’s not an option. Grace dismisses his warnings, and John Michael vows to keep an eye on her. But he can’t help wondering if he’s reconnected with Grace, only to risk losing her again.

Now all John Michael wants for Christmas is to keep Grace safe, in the hopes that they can one day have a future together.

Amazon https://amzn.to/2RcXeHE

Kobo https://goo.gl/7M4pz3

Barnes & Noble https://goo.gl/AxaMtm

iBooks https://apple.co/2N4Tt3v

*****

Excerpt:

“This?” He looked at his hand like he’d forgotten a bandage was attached to his skin.

“It ain’t anything, just a cut.”

It seemed like a pretty big bandage for a small cut. “Are you sure that’s all it is?”

“Jah. I’m fine. I wouldn’t be a firefighter if I didn’t sport a couple of cuts every now and then.”

“It’s such a dangerous job.”

“It is,” he said slowly, like he was attempting to navigate his way through an increasingly surprising conversation. “But I can handle it. I appreciate your concern, though.”

She heard the caution in his voice, and she didn’t blame him for not being sure how to handle this new, kinder version of herself.

Forging ahead, she said, “I know I have no right to feel this way, but now that we’ve reconnected,

I think I’m going to worry about you every time I hear there is a fire in the area.”

*****

Author Info:

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 Hold 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.

Website https://www.shelleyshepardgray.com/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ShelleyShepardGray

Twitter https://twitter.com/ShelleySGray

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1271571.Shelley_Shepard_Gray

Amazon https://amzn.to/2Nb1bJL

*****

Giveaway:

To celebrate the release of HIS PROMISE by Shelley Shepard Gray, we’re giving away a paperback copy of His Risk by Shelley Shepard Gray to one lucky winner!

http://bit.ly/2xNOC1X

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to US shipping addresses only. One winner will receive a paperback copy of His Risk by Shelley Shepard Gray. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance. Giveaway ends 10/29/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Limit one entry per reader. Duplicates will be deleted.

*****

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Book Review – A Sister’s Wish

27 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Book Review, Contest, Sneak Peek

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A Sister's Wish, Book Review, Shelley Shepard Gray, The Charmed Amish Life series

We saw the first book in this series, A Son’s Vow, which was REALLY well liked (as is the whole series, going by the reviews). And if it is anything like this one I can definitely see why!

*****

A Sister’s Wish

The Charmed Amish Life #3

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Releasing September 27, 2016

Avon Inspire

Blurb:

In Shelley Shepard Gray’s third book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a respectable young woman finds herself falling for an Amish man from the wrong side of the tracks.

Amelia Kinsinger is the perfect Amish woman—at least according to her neighbors. And while Amelia takes pride in her role as homemaker, she’s also harboring a secret: She’s been in love with bad boy Simon Hochstetler for as long as she can remember. Too bad he’s about as far from “perfect” as an Amish man could get… but that’s exactly why she’s so drawn to him.

Life hasn’t been kind to Simon. He ran away from an abusive home at fifteen and things went downhill from there. Eventually, Simon landed in prison. But the experience changed him. Now back in Charm as a grown man, he’s determined to make a new life for himself and not think too much about his wild past…unless it pertains to Amelia.

He’s loved Amelia for years. To him, she represents everything good and kind in the world. When he realizes that she returns his affections, he starts calling on her in secret, even though her older brother Lukas—who just happens to be Simon’s best friend—has made it perfectly clear that Amelia deserves better. Simon disagrees and believes he’s the only one who can truly make her happy.

But when Amelia gets hurt, it sets off a chain of events that forces them to consider their future together—and face their past mistakes. There’s a chance for love… but only if Simon dares to trust Amelia with the secrets of his past.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28448203-a-sister-s-wish

Goodreads Series Link https://www.goodreads.com/series/169928-the-charmed-amish-life

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google | iTunes | Kobo

*****

Excerpt:

Prologue

Thirteen years ago

He had almost made it.

All he had to do was make it another two miles, then he’d be able to catch the bus to New Philly and eventually Mansfield. After that? Simon Hochstetler reckoned it didn’t really matter. He would be free and that was good enough.

But for now, all he had to do was ignore the pain in his side, make it over the next bend, then finally hike through the northern edge of the Kinsingers’ property. Once he did all that, the road would be flat. A whole lot easier to walk on.

He winced as he shifted his stuffed army-green backpack on his left shoulder, wishing that his right one wasn’t as bruised as it was. ’Course, if he was making wishes, he should probably start with wishing that he didn’t have a black eye or cut lip. From there he could wish his ribs weren’t hurting, either.

His father had been in fine form tonight.

He walked on, patting his pocket, feeling for the wad of money he’d been saving for the last year and kept hidden in an old coffee can near the woods. How long was it going to last? He had no idea how far eighty-eight dollars lasted in the city, but he was fairly sure it wouldn’t be far enough. He was going to need to figure out a way to make some cash, quick.

Feeling panicked, he stopped to readjust his backpack.

“Simon? Hey! I thought that was you,” Amelia Kinsinger called out, her voice ringing through the empty field like a bright, merry cowbell. “Whatcha doing?”

He froze. Then, attempting to gather himself, he turned to watch her trot closer. A bright smile was on her face. She looked really pleased to have spied him.

Though he knew better than to stay, he remained where he was. Even at only nine years old, little Amelia was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen. White-blond hair, crystal-blue eyes, and pale skin that never seemed to tan, she was everything delicate and perfect. She was also sheltered and his best friend’s baby sister—and the only person who seemed to think he was worth something. Both of her brothers had confided that Amelia had a terrible crush on him. They’d thought it was embarrassing. Levi had even apologized for her.

He hadn’t needed an apology, though. Simon had always thought Amelia’s infatuation made him something special. He’d never let on that he noticed the way she always looked at him. He never acted annoyed when she rushed over to tell him about her day. Instead of making fun of her, he’d been patient and often sat with her when her older siblings were too busy.

But that said, he’d always taken care for her not to see him like this. He wanted to look worthy in her eyes. Not beaten and bruised.

“Can’t talk right now, Amy,” he bit out as he started forward. He took care to keep his gaze fixated on the ground in front of him. Maybe then she wouldn’t catch sight of his eye.

But, as usual, she didn’t listen to his warning. Instead, she picked up her pace. “Did you know that the sun is almost set? Where you going? It’s going to be dark soon.”

“Ain’t none of your business.”

She stumbled, then caught herself before he reached out to steady her.

“Slow down, wouldja?” she said.

“Can’t.”

She sighed. “Why are ya being like this?” she asked, hurt in her tone. “All I asked is—”

“Simon! What happened to you?”

Unable to help himself, he drew to a stop. Then, because he probably was never going to see her again anyway, he allowed himself to lift his chin and let her look her fill. As he’d expected, she was staring at him in concern, her pale pink lips parted in wonder. And, he suspected, pity.

“Go on home, Amelia.”

“Did you . . . did your daed do that?” she whispered, letting him know that his secret had never actually been one. “Do you need something? Do ya need some help? ’Cause my daed’s home. If we went to him, I bet he’d help ya.”

That was why she meant so much to him. Here he was, bruised and battered, running away from home, and she thought he could still be saved. “Your daed can’t help.”

Tentatively, she held out a hand. Then, to his shock, she swiped at a patch of skin just to the side of his lip. When he flinched at her touch, she looked at him with sad eyes. “Sorry, but your lip is bleeding.” She held up her finger to show the stain.

Seeing his blood on her hand was one of the worst things he’d ever experienced. It symbolized everything that was his life . . . and everything he didn’t want it to be. Unable to help himself, he grabbed her hand and roughly swiped it on his shirt. “Wash your hands when you get home, hear me?”

“Oh. All right. But . . . but, Simon, won’t you come with me? You could wash up, too.”

“Nee. I’ve gotta go.”

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” she asked softly. “Just like your brother and sister did.”

He couldn’t lie to her. “Jah. I’m leaving. Just like Jeremy and Tess did.”

“Please, don’t.”

As much as he would have liked to do anything she asked, he couldn’t do that. “Listen, do me a favor, wouldja? Don’t tell nobody you saw me.”

Her bottom lip trembled. “But—”

“They’ll find out soon enough. Just . . . just let me go, okay?” Then he did what he’d sworn he’d never do. He looked at her directly in the eyes and let her see his pain. “I have to do this, Amy.”

Around a ragged sigh, looking so very sad, she nodded.

“Okay.”

“Bye, Amelia. You take care of yourself.”

He started walking before she could reply. Before he did something stupid and followed her to her house. Before he thought about staying just a little longer so he could see her again.

He started walking because no matter how difficult and scary it was to leave, he knew for certain it was always going to be a whole lot worse at home.

*****

Review:

Looking at the reviews for the other two books in this series, everyone thinks this author is amazingly talented. I only have this book to go by but I’ve got to say I wholeheartedly agree!

A Sister’s Wish is just packed with emotions of all sorts. There is a sweetness for how much Simon cares for Amelia and how much she believes in him. The heartbreak when it looks like they can’t be together and the pain when he finds out what his friend thinks of him. And the tentative hope when things start looking up for Simon, both romantically and with his estranged family & friends.

He’s had such a horrible time of it, but he’s a strong, good man and he’s working to turn that around. Unfortunately little communities have big memories, so it isn’t always that easy. It hurts so to see him have to deal with small minds, but there’s more to his story than just his love for Amelia. Just when things look bleak for him, fate hands him a chance encounter with the sister he hasn’t seen in years and the opportunity to try to forge a new relationship together. It’s a lot of ups and downs as he deals with the disappointment from his friend’s judgement and the pain of giving up his pursuit of Amelia, but if he can figure out who to make everything work it will definitely be worth it in the end. He just has to trust in himself. And let Amelia in so she can love & support him the way he needs.

I love Amelia. She might have let herself give a lot of herself to her family, but she’s got a lot of spirit and when she gets herself worked up she’s amazing. She’s got spunk and she turns that on her siblings & Simon when they need it 🙂 While a lot of the story focuses on Simon and him coming to terms with his past, there’s a good bit about Amelia figuring out that it is time for her to start living her life on her terms.

While there is a little bit mentioned about how everyone knew about the abuse Simon and his siblings experienced but no action was taken, I kinda wish that more had been said about it. There is some set up for the next book(s) so I’m hoping that this will be addressed at a future point. And for that to be my only complaint, I think that’s pretty darn impressive!

Shelley Shepard Gray delivers an emotion-packed story, at times both heartwarming and heartbreaking. There’s a lot going on here, but she handles it with amazing skill and style, leaving readers with a lot to think about.

(This is part of a series but can definitely stand on its own.)

*****

Author Info:

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 Hold 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.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

*****

Giveaway:

Three (3) sets of the previous books in series, A SON’S VOW and A DAUGHTER’S DREAM

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/521ac4c81128/

*****

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Spotlight – A Son’s Vow

16 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Contest, Sneak Peek

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A Son's Vow, Shelley Shepard Gray, The Charmed Amish Life series

With over 100 ratings on Goodreads, this one is coming in with 4 1/2 stars! Looks like everyone is loving this heartwarming story, which looks at both good and bad in this little Amish community.

*****

A Son’s Vow

The Charmed Amish Life #1

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Releasing January 26, 2016

Avon Inspire

Blurb:

Shelley Shepard Gray’s first book in her Charmed Amish Life series is set in the quaint Amish village of Charm, Ohio, and tells the stories of the Kinsinger siblings who are each struggling to find both forgiveness and love in the face of tragedy.

Three months ago, everything changed for Darla Kurtz and her family. Darla’s father was responsible for a terrible fire at Charm’s lumber mill which killed five Amish men. And though he, too, lost his life, the town of Charm hasn’t looked at her family the same since. Even Lukas Kinsinger—with whom Darla used to have a close friendship.

Now her brother’s anger at the town is spilling over onto Darla, and she has the bruises to prove it. The accident already cost five lives, but if something doesn’t change soon, Darla fears it will cost her—and her family—even more.

Lukas Kinsinger wants to mourn the loss of his father, but he can hardly find the time to breathe. Suddenly the head of his father’s lumber mill and responsible for taking care of his three siblings, he’s feeling the pressure. He has also never felt more alone—especially with the new tension between he and Darla. But when he learns of her troubles at home, Lukas knows he can’t simply stand by and watch. Someone has to help her before another tragedy occurs.

As Lukas and Darla attempt to repair their families, they discover something deeper than friendship growing between them. But will Lukas and Darla’s love be accepted after so much loss? Or will the pain of the past overcome any chance of future happiness?

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Excerpt:

Chapter 1

March 20

It was another picture-perfect day in Charm.

The sky was pale blue, quietly complementing the acres of vibrant green farmland as far as the eye could see. Spring lambs had arrived. They were frolicking in the fields, their eager bleats echoing through the valley. The morning air was not too chilly or too damp. Instead, a hint of warmth teased, bringing with it as much hope as the crocus buds that peeked through the dark dirt of the numerous clay pots decorating cleanly swept front porches.

It was the type of morning that encouraged a person to go out walking, to smile. The type of day that reminded one and all that God was present and did, indeed, bestow gifts.

In short, it was the type of day that used to give Darletta Kurtz hope. A day like this should have made her happy, revitalized her. It should have made her want to pull out a pencil and one of her many notebooks and record the images she saw and list activities she wanted to do.

It was the kind of day she used to love and maybe, just maybe, take for granted.

But now, as she rested her elbows on the worn wooden countertop that had no doubt supported generations of postal workers before her, Darla could only silently acknowledge that another day had come. It was sure to feel as endless as the one before it, and would no doubt be exactly like the rest of the week.

It was another day to get through. A way to pass ten hours of expected productivity before she could retreat to her bedroom and collapse on her bed. Only then would she feel any sense of peace. Because only then would she be able to wait for oblivion. She’d close her eyes, fall into a peaceful slumber, and, hopefully, forget her reality for eight hours.

It had been ninety-nine days since her father died. Tomorrow would bring the one hundredth. It was a benchmark she’d never intended to look forward to. Wearily, she wondered if anyone else in Charm was anticipating the milestone as well.

Undoubtedly some were.

After all, her father hadn’t been the only man to die in the December fire at Kinsinger Lumber Mill. No, he was one of five. And though it wasn’t as if she’d ever forget that fact, there were many in Charm who took care to remind her constantly.

Just then, Mary Troyer pushed open the door to the post office. Darla braced herself.

“You have a lot of nerve, Darletta Kurtz, getting a job here,” Mary said as she slapped a ten-dollar bill on the counter. “It’s bad enough that your family stayed in town. Most folks would have left in shame after what your father did. Yet, here you are, thriving.”

Each word hurt, as Mary no doubt intended for them to. Darla thought she would have been used to the verbal abuse by now, but it still felt as jarring as it had the first time. Mary’s son Bryan had died in the same accident as Darla’s father, and she took every opportunity to make sure everyone in town was aware of her pain.

Just as she had two days before, Darla did her best to keep her voice even and her expression impassive. “What is it you’ll be needing today, Mary?”

Mary’s cheeks puffed up before replying. “One book of stamps. The flags.”

Quickly she gave Mary the stamps and her change, taking care to set the money on the counter so their fingers wouldn’t have to touch. “Here you go.” Then—though she would have rather said something, anything else—she added the words she’d heard her boss say dozens of times: “Danke for coming in.”

Mary narrowed her eyes. “That is all you’re gonna say?”

It was obvious that Mary was itching for a fight. But no way was Darla going to give it to her. She’d learned at least a couple of things in the ninety-nine days since the accident at the mill.

And even though she might be wishing Mary to perdition in her darkest moments, she knew it was always best to turn the other cheek. “There’s nothing to say. Your mind is made up to be angry with me.”

“My ‘mind’ has nothing to do with the facts. Everyone in Charm knows that your father caused the fire at the mill. That fire killed my Bryan, Clyde Fisher, Paul Beachy, and Stephen Kinsinger.”

Standing as straight as her five-foot-two-inch frame allowed her to do, Darla added quietly, “You forgot John Kurtz, Mary. My father died, too, you know.”

“All of us are struggling with our losses. Struggling to make ends meet with our men gone. But here you are almost every morning, standing behind this counter with a smile on your face.”

Though Mary wasn’t the first person to say such a thing to her—she wasn’t even the twenty-first—Darla still didn’t understand why she should bear the weight of her father’s guilt.

Especially since it had been proven that it hadn’t been just her father’s negligence that had started the fire in the Dumpster. A variety of circumstances had taken place, which, when combined, had created a powerful explosion.

A rag, dampened by a flammable liquid, had been tossed into a Dumpster filled with wood scraps and hot metal that had been left heating over the course of the day. In no time at all, the rag had burst into flames, igniting the pine kindling. Before anyone was truly aware of the fire, the Dumpster had exploded, causing the nearby wood stacks in the back warehouse to catch fire, too. Though the emergency sprinklers had come on and the fire department and ambulances had been called, five people had died and scores of others had been injured.

Without a doubt, it had been the worst disaster to ever occur at Kinsinger Lumber Mill, and everyone who’d been there was marked by the terrible tragedy.

After the accident, fire marshals had investigated and declared that it had been caused by a series of unlikely events: a rare sunny day in December, hot metal in the Dumpster, and a pile of pine that someone had discarded instead of turning into wood shavings—all set ablaze by one rag.

No single person was to blame.

Furthermore, when Stephen Kinsinger’s son Lukas had taken over the mill, he’d publicly forgiven her father. However, the speech had done little to change the general feeling of anger and hurt that pervaded their village. It seemed that everyone needed a scapegoat. And her father had given them one.

Now, because John Kurtz was no longer walking God’s earth, more than a couple of people had transferred their pain and anger onto Darla and the rest of her family.

And after ninety-nine days of it, she’d had her fill.

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Author Info:

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 Hold 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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