A Sister's Wish & An Amish Family Christmas - Shelley Shepard Gray - A review, a showcase... And a giveaway!
5 Stars!
ABOUT THE BOOK -
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.
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.
Purchase a copy: HERE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
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.
MY THOUGHTS -
This is the book I have been waiting for! I loved the first two books in the series - A Son's Vow & A Daughter's Dream and I couldn't wait to get this one. Shelley Shepard Gray is fairly new to me. I have only been reading her books a couple years. But she is the kind of writer that makes you fall in love with her writing very quickly. I can now say that she is one of my favorite christian fiction Authors. And... I think this is one of the only series I have read that I gave 5 stars to all 3 books! Besides being a wonderful, heartfelt Amish romance - it was funny and very cute at times and had me giggling.
The character development is superb! I loved Amelia (and that just happens to be one of my favorite names) She was sweet, but not to be so easily dismissed and being young and weak - she could certainly hold her own where her family was concerned. I loved it when she told them off - I was rooting for her.
In the first two books I didn't really like Simon, But finally - in this book I loved him! His deep love for Amelia really shines true. Anybody would be lucky to have someone like him.
He had his faults, luckily they were in the past and forgiven.
"Simon ain't exactly a poster child for proper behavior." - I love that line!
This is one of my favorite lines -
"Begin wishing for possibilities instead of clutching tightly to bitterness." - that is a line to live by!
Then towards the end the book she talks about Levi, another brother that has come home.
"... you will be the only one that's unattached." - and this brings us to the forth book in the series! YAY!
I am doing a spotlight for that book here, but will do a full review in Dec. I can't wait to read it!
Ever since his father died in a tragic fire, Levi Kinsinger has felt
adrift. Newly returned to Charm, Ohio, Levi is trying to fit into his
old life, only to discover he seems to have outgrown it.
But when Julia, his young widowed neighbor, asks for his help with a Christmas project, Levi finds a sense of purpose for the first time in months. She and her daughter are new to Charm and could use a friend, a job Levi takes personally. Soon enough, friendship grows into attraction, but Levi can't help having doubts. There's something about Julia that doesn't ring quite true . . .
Like Levi, Julia Kemps has survived her fair share of hardships---but only by hiding the truth of her past. Being an unmarried mother in an Amish community was unthinkable. Feeling hopeless, Julia did the only thing she could do: she moved to a new town and pretended to be a widow. But meeting Levi, she's hopeful for the first time. Little by little, she begins to imagine telling him her darkest secret, and eventually . . . perhaps even sharing her life with him.
Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together . . . in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.
But when Julia, his young widowed neighbor, asks for his help with a Christmas project, Levi finds a sense of purpose for the first time in months. She and her daughter are new to Charm and could use a friend, a job Levi takes personally. Soon enough, friendship grows into attraction, but Levi can't help having doubts. There's something about Julia that doesn't ring quite true . . .
Like Levi, Julia Kemps has survived her fair share of hardships---but only by hiding the truth of her past. Being an unmarried mother in an Amish community was unthinkable. Feeling hopeless, Julia did the only thing she could do: she moved to a new town and pretended to be a widow. But meeting Levi, she's hopeful for the first time. Little by little, she begins to imagine telling him her darkest secret, and eventually . . . perhaps even sharing her life with him.
Christmas is a time for family, and as the holiday draws closer, Julia and Levi will have to face their pasts together . . . in order to find the healing, support and love they so desperately desire.
Purchase a copy: HERE
GIVEAWAY - Click on the picture below to enter!
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving this book from Litfuse book tours. Thank you!
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