"Her Only Wish" by Shelley Shepard Gray

Her Only Wish (June 6, 2023) by Shelley Shepard Gray.*

<This is the second novel in a series.>

Because of her lungs, Betsy Detweiler has led a more sheltered life than others, but she has an adventurous spirit. When the Kentucky-raised woman travels to Pinecraft, Florida, she’s got her “life list” compiled and is ready to learn new things. She’s not only going to learn about golf, she’s going to play 18 holes. She’s going to learn how to swim and master putting her head under the water. When she steps onto the Snow Bird Golf Course, she almost gets struck by a golf ball, but that’s when she meets the golf course’s manager, August Troyer. He’s never been a golf instructor, but Betsy quickly becomes his first student. From the first, August is mesmerized by her. He sees that she’s outgoing, eager and determined, but also sometimes unsure and not golf-coordinated. Like, at all. But she brings joy to his life that his missionary parents, always so judgmental, have not.

            Betsy and August will have a month to get to know each other. Betsy will also meet new friends, like August’s best friend, Nate Beachy, and Annie Jackson and her newly divorced, older sister, Danielle. Life’s a beach until Betsy has a health scare that lands her in the hospital. Despite that scare and what her parents think, she knows she wants a full life, which includes falling in love.

            My first story by Shelley Shepard Gray, I enjoyed this Amish fiction novel featuring distinct characters, the pull of wanting to grow forward even when others seem to be holding one back, and the strain of duty to family versus doing what one’s good at in the life one already has. My favorite Amish fiction author is Beverly Lewis, but these are a breath of fresh air. Where Lewis’ are typically historical and Old Order Amish, this one was contemporary and New Order. It’s a delight from start to finish.

            A Season in Pinecraft Book 1: Her Heart’s Desire

            A Season in Pinecraft Book 3: Her Secret Hope (coming Nov. 7, 2023)

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Two Steps Forward" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Two Steps Forward (Feb. 4, 2020) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

While sounding like a place that shines, Rising Star Farm (in fictional Stoney Ridge, Pennsylvania) is a junkyard, and widow Sylvie Schrock King desperately needs help on the farm, as it’s too much for her and four-year-old son, Joey, to handle. Providence returns Jimmy Fisher to Stoney Ridge after four years away in Colorado. Homeless and penniless, Sylvie’s stunning Arabian horse, Prince, grabs his attention outside the Bent ‘n Dent, and he’s eager to accept her job offer to help on the farm (both with chores and cleaning the place up). Unfortunately for Sylvie, Jimmy is the second son of her across-the-creek neighbor-nemesis Edith Fisher Lapp. Edith is, by her seeming nature, judgmental and condescending, and she’s hardest on Sylvie, for reasons unknown to Sylvie. Fortunately, Jimmy is everything Edith is not, showing her kindness and humor (and perhaps love?), challenging her to read the Bible, winning Joey over and all the while being a hard worker. Could Sylvie love a man with a mom like that? Will she be able to make her dreams for Rising Star Farm a reality? Or will Edith get in the way?

            Threaded into this tale is the current state of Isabella “Izzy” Schrock (married to Luke, the deacon). Luke asks her, “Aren’t we enough for you, Izzy? … Will happiness always be around the corner?” She’s got a loving, though sometimes clueless, husband, and an adopted daughter to love as her own, but the thought that she grew up “fatherless” pops up often in her mind. This eventually inspires her to help orphaned babies in the area, those who are also fatherless, and there may just be a surprise or two in store for her.

            I enjoyed the previous story and was pleased to receive this final story in The Deacon’s Family trilogy from Revell. With topics at the forefront such as abandonment or commitment issues, the importance of forgiveness, showing compassion for the fatherless, consideration for differences amongst all people regardless of background and “putting feet to a prayer,” this story doesn’t stray from weighty issues. But it is all supported with wit and warmth. “Two Steps Forward” is a heartening tale that fills readers with feels that are sugar-sweet and the occasional bitter-tasting moments borne of unwarranted judgment. I highly recommend this story for fans of Amish fiction. For newcomers, I’d start at the beginning of the trilogy … or even the first series featuring the Stoney Ridge Amish.

            Book One: Mending Fences (have not read)

            Book Two: Stitches in Time

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Stitches in Time" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Stitches in Time (Oct. 1, 2019) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

Detachment from people has worked well for Sam Schrock until he meets Mollie Graber. Mollie is a schoolteacher who came to Stoney Ridge, Pennsylvania, for a fresh start from an overbearing, overprotective worrywart (a.k.a. her mother). When Sam’s brother, Luke, new to his role as deacon, asks the congregation to temporarily take in foster girls from the local group home, she’s the first to raise her hand. Not only that, she wants to take in two girls. Preferably sisters. She feels that the power of love can knit together the dropped stitches and make a whole. Unfortunately, the 11-year-old twins she takes in seem unmoved by her caring, open spirit and have no regard for common courtesy. They smoke in Mollie’s small home, skip school and repeatedly get caught by the Stoney Ridge sheriff when they’re hitchhiking at night to Las Vegas. When they start working around Sam’s horses – first mucking out stalls as a consequence for negative actions – their interest is piqued. Is it genuine or is it merely a passing fancy?

            The positive thing about having Tina and Alicia working with the horses is that Sam has more opportunity to be around Mollie, whom he’s always held in high regard. The feeling is mutual, though Mollie is reluctant to begin a courtship, because, as her mother continually reminds her, “…loving Mollie brought complications.” When a scare shakes Sam to his core, will he overcome it and be the pillar of support that’s needed? Or will he be “like a turtle” and hide in his shell at the slightest sign of emotion?

            I verily enjoyed this Amish inspirational fiction romance, the second in The Deacon’s Family series. Not having read any other Amish fiction books from Woods Fisher, I’m missing backstory on multiple characters, but not so much that I was lost while reading this one. This story provides for us a rich tapestry of love, faith, trying times and picking up the pieces by accepting support from those around us. Like the characters in the story, we each need people in our lives who will take the “time to unravel the yarn and go back to fix the dropped stitches.” Our lives are all filled with dropped stitches and those that help us at each step provide us stitches in time (p. 175). There is beauty and meaning in this story that sheds important light on the significance of foster care.

            Favorite line: “Luke was busier than a one-eyed cat watching nine mouse holes” (p. 40).

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”