Friday, November 10, 2017

The Gift by Shelley Shepard Gray




Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the LitFuse Publications book blogger campaign. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are 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.” 



About the book:

The Gift: The Amish of Hart County(Avon Inspire, November 2017)

A special Christmas story about love and blessings in the next book in the Amish of Hart County series
The Schwartz family is happy to be spending Christmas on their new farm in Hart County. But when Susanna Schwartz hears gunshots that causes her buggy to overturn, and then her little sister falls through a wooden bridge into the icy creek, it becomes clear from these dangerous "accidents" that someone wants them gone.
Neil Vance has been heartbroken ever since his parents lost their family farm. He knows it's not the Schwartz family's fault, but he can't help but be resentful. Until he meets Susanna. She is kind-hearted and bold, and Neil can't stop thinking about her pretty green eyes.
Neil thinks the accidents are just that, but Susanna's father is convinced the Vance family is responsible. Susanna refuses to believe Neil would do anything to harm her. She's fallen in love with him and knows he is a good man. But her family is ready to pack up and move, and time is running out to uncover the truth before someone gets hurt . . . or worse.

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.
Find out more about Shelley at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.





Dynamic Uno here: The more I get to know the characters in Hart County, the more I want to get to know them.  The Gift is book three in the series of The Amish of Hart County and the suspense of who was causing the accidents is what grabbed me from the start.  After all, in a "sleepy little Amish town" everyone knows everyone else.  Why would someone try to deliberately hurt their neighbors?  
As I continued to read and get wrapped up in the plot, I enjoyed getting to know the characters even more.  It seemed like Amanda had never met a stranger (much like my sister) and Suzanne was a bit more reserved and quiet (like I am).  Reading about their family dynamics and seeing how close-knit their relationships were, made me long for the same with my own relationships.
The themes of forgiveness and trust are prevalent throughout the novel.  Once forgiveness had been granted, it paved the way for Suzanne to trust Neil more resulting in a beautiful friendship between the two characters.  And really, isn't it that way in life?  God forgave us (for our sins) and as long as we trust Him, we have a beautiful relationship too?
I enjoyed reading The Gift.  Between the "who done it" suspense and the relationships of the characters, I had to keep reading to find out what happened next!
Even if you're not a fan of Amish fiction, but enjoy a mystery with a touch of romance, you'll enjoy this book.  It is book #3 in a series, but can stand alone if you haven't read Her Secret or His Guilt.  Give it a try today--you'll love it!
Let me know what you think and Happy Reading!


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