Today I'm turning my blog over to Shelley Shepard Gray, with a review of her recent release "The Promise of Palm Grove," which happens to be the FIRST BOOK in her Amish Brides of Pinecraft Series!!ALSO -- Be sure to sign up for this tour's GIVEAWAY(s) (listed below)!! [Blog Tour will run from March 9 - 27, 2015 | Giveaway ends on March 29, 2015]
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 288; Library Binding - Pages: 288; Kindle Edition - File Size: 3195 KB | Expected Release Date: January 27, 2015 | Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers : Avon Books : Inspire | Obtained: Litfuse Publicity Group / edelweiss"The Promise of Palm Grove" [Amish Brides of Pinecraft Series, Book 1] by Shelley Shepard Gray (aka Shelley Gray)
Author's Book Description : 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.
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?
My Book Review : 5 out of 5 stars!! Leona (Le)—an Amish woman who is unsure if her fiancé is really the right man for her—takes a vacation to Pinecraft with her two best friends and meets a man who changes her perspective for the future.
This engaging novel keeps you wanting more from the very beginning. Even though its plot was based around Leona and Zack (Zachariah/Zachary), with their budding friendship turned romance, it also brings you into the lives of Beverly (an older Mennonite woman who runs an Bed & Breakfast) and Effie (Zack’s Amish little sister who is dealing with Perthes disease) to give you an even broader perspective on the town itself. I enjoyed it all! Beverly deals with a new owner for her Bed & Breakfast and everything that revolves around that is intriguing I can’t wait to see where it goes. Although Effie’s life is a rough one, I liked how sweet and heartwarming she was while learning about first crushes and boys.
Yet, Zack—with his generously sweet ways—and Leona made this a novel I didn’t want to put down. I liked their relationship very much. I could not get enough and hope that we’ll find out more about them as this series progresses!
I HIGHLY recommend this novel to those who enjoy Amish and/or Christian romances!
Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : IndieBound (Paperback) : The Promise of Palm Grove (Book 1) | Kobo (e-Book) : The Promise of Palm Grove (Book 1) | Alibris (Paperback) : The Promise of Palm Grove (Book 1)
My Previous Review(s) for this Author : Hidden | Joyful
My Previous Mention(s) of this Author's Books/Characters : Best Book Couples -- Happy Valentine's Day 2015
Author's Novel Extras : The Promise of Palm Grove - Overview | Introducing the Bride Blog | Bride Blog: Perfect Proposals
Author's Series Extras : A Visit to NYC | Bride Blog: Engagements
Book Teaser(s) :
"Have a seat, Zachary," his father said, his voice a bit firmer.
Zack sat because it didn't matter how old he was, he was still his father's son.
As did his mother, though she didn't look half as serious as his father did. Instead, she looked like she was holding back a grin.
Because he didn't dare roll his eyes, he folded his arms over his chest and looked steadily from one parent to the other. "Let's get this over with, then. What do you want to know?"
"Zachary, stop being coy," his mother chided. "Tell us about this girl you are taken with."
"I'm not being coy. There's nothing to tell. Her name is Leona. She's about my age, though I haven't asked her specifically yet. She's from Ohio and she's here on vacation with her girlfriends. She's blond and she's very pretty. And that's about all I know about her. Effie shouldn't have been telling tales about me."
"She wasn't telling tales. But she did say that she likes Leona," his mother said. "Very much so."
"I'm not surprised about that. Leona is a likable person."
His mother's tentative smile transformed into a delighted grin. "Zachary! This is so wonderful-gut! I've never seen you so smitten." ~ within Chapter 10
The pull he felt toward her was so strong, Zack was pretty sure he'd drop everything in order to see her again, and soon. Even if it meant calling in Violet or Karl to help with Effie so he could make that happen.
She looked at her palm again, closed it into a fist, then started walking.
The wrong way.
He darted forward, rested both hands on her shoulders, and turned her around. "This way, Leona," he murmured. "Go four blocks up until you see the cross street, then turn right."
"Okay."
"Sure?" He really needed to go. But he really didn't want to spend the rest of his evening worrying about her wandering up and down the streets of Pinecraft.
"I'm sure." Giving him a tremulous smile, she murmured, "Danke, Zack. Today was . . . well, it was wonderful."
"Yeah," he said. "Now keep walking forward and then turn right."
She giggled.
And he thought about that giggle the whole time he ran home, making it to Effie's stop just in time to see the bus turn the corner and pull forward. ~ within Chapter 17
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Shelley, then please check out her website.
THE PROMISE OF PALM GROVE by Shelley Shepard Gray
Posted by From Me to You - Video, Photography, & Book Reviews on Wednesday, March 25, 2015
About the Author :
I grew up in Houston, Texas, went to Colorado for college, and after living in Arizona, Dallas, and Denver, we moved to southern Ohio about ten years ago.I’ve always thought of myself as a very hard worker, but not ‘great’ at anything. I’ve obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree...but I never was a gifted student. I took years of ballet and dance, but I never was anywhere near the star of any recital. I love to cook, but I’m certainly not close to being gourmet…and finally I love to write books, but I’ve certainly read far better authors.
Maybe you are a little bit like me. I’ve been married for almost twenty years and have raised two kids. I try to exercise but really should put on my tennis shoes a whole lot more. I’m not a great housekeeper, I hate to drive in the snow, and I don’t think I’ve ever won a Monopoly game. However, I am the best wife and mother I know how to be.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that in God’s eyes that is okay? That from His point of view, we are all exceptional? I treasure that knowledge and am always so thankful for my faith. His faith in me makes me stand a little straighter, smile a little bit more, and be so very grateful for every gift He’s given me.
I started writing about the Amish because their way of life appealed to me. I wanted to write stories about regular. likeable people in extraordinary situations-and who just happened to be Amish.
Getting the opportunity to write Inspirational novels is truly gratifying. With every book, I feel my faith grows stronger. And that makes me feel very special indeed.
Giveaway(s)!! :
Enter to win a copy of The Promise of Palm Grove—five winners will be chosen! The winners will be announced March 30 on Shelley's blog!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ALSO -- Be sure to check out Litfuse's other Blog Tour Reviews for this novel!!
Find Shelley Shepard Gray :
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