Litfuse Blog Tour: The Promise of Palm Grove by Shelley Shepard Gray

The Promise of Palm Grove
Amish Brides of Pinecraft, Book 1
by Shelley Shepard Gray
Avon Inspire
Copyright 2015
ISBN: 9780062337702

The Story:

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.

Read more about the book and meet Shelley on her website:
http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com/the-promise-of-palm-grove/

My Thoughts:

To be honest Amish fiction isn't my favorite genre, however Suzanne Woods Fisher's and Shelley Shepard Gray's Amish novels I make exceptions for. Fisher's books pull at the heartstrings while Gray's bring the romance. This time around, Shelley's new series is set in sunny Florida, but still brings life in the Amish community front and center.

The Promise of Palm Grove focuses on Leona, who's thrilled to get away from a stuffy fiance and Zack, a young Amish man who puts other's needs first. While their friendship is nothing I haven't read before, I loved the secondary story of Beverly, the jilted woman making a home for herself running an inn in Florida away from the pain of her past life in Ohio. That being said, I was a little confused as to the complete lack of resolution. What happens to Beverly? I'm not sure if this is a story that will continue in the next installment, but from the cover blurb, we aren't given a clue! Now that I got that out of the way, The Promise of Palm Grove is Leona's story. Leona's is a plight that even the most metropolitan of readers can relate to -- dealing with a toxic relationship. Leona has to decide to do what is best for herself rather than worry about what her friends or community will think. What she learns from Zack, her new friend in Pinecraft as well as her old friends is that her happiness is so very important.  

If sweet, Amish fiction is your style, there's none better than a Shelley Shepard Gray novel! Her books are always a treat. As I said, the lack of closure with Beverly's story is frustrating, but what Shelley does with Leona and Zack's story is a treat. She weaves a story that is light-hearted and a relatively quick read all the while including serious themes in between that everyone can learn from.

Read what others are saying about to book on the Litfuse site!

~ My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ~

*I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*

Giveaway!

Don't miss Shelley Shepard Gray's new series, Amish Brides of Pinecraft, and the first book in the series, The Promise of Palm Grove! Romantic Times said, "Vibrant descriptions and details bring the plot to life in this heartwarming tale of new beginnings and renewal." Does Leona follow the path set out before her? Or take a chance with only the promise of what could be to guide her?

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

Happy Reading!