Her Secret Hope

Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Genre: Amish Romance
Series: A Season in Pinecraft #3
Pages: 304
Release Date: November 7 , 2023
Publisher: Revell

She left home to find herself--instead she found true love

Almost two years after Lilly Kurtz first visited Pinecraft, Florida, she's decided to make a fresh start there. She's ready to be new-and-improved Lilly, a Lilly without a past, a Lilly with no secrets. At first, everything goes well. She gets a job, her coworkers feel like family, and she enjoys reconnecting with her friends. But it turns out the past is reluctant to be left behind.

When Lilly meets hardworking farmer Eddie Byler, she can't get him off her mind. But then she discovers that Eddie isn't staying long in Pinecraft--and he actually lives just a few miles from her hometown in Ohio. Lilly doesn't want him to know about the life she's left . . . and she can't imagine following him back to a place where she's never felt accepted.

Will Lilly have to give up on love in order to find peace? Or could it be that love is actually the solution to all of her problems?

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Reviewer: Juanita Varela

This was the last book in the series, and it was so good! We see characters from past books, although I wish I would have seen more of them as a nice send-off to the series.

This is like a love-at-first-sight book. Not my ideal theme for a story, but Shelley Shepard Gray makes it cute to where it isn’t cringy.

Eddie is such a sweetheart! He took care of Lilly in her time of need and made her seem like the only one in the room. Cherishing her and offering his assistance when she needed it, even when she was reluctant to accept it. And the scene where she is going to see her parents, Eddie, was just perfect.

Nancy was an interesting twist to the book. I got to say that I looked forward to her part, but after an incident happened, I wanted to chuck the book when her parts came again. But that feeling subsided as I kept reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own. 

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Reviewer: Lori Parrish

I just finished reading this book, and I definitely have mixed feelings about it.

I did enjoy seeing the friends back together again and visiting Pinecraft. I'm always delighted to read anything in this setting. This novel, however, felt a little different than the first two. I think it was the way that Lilly's and Eddie's relationship was a whirlwind, insta romance. I am not exactly a fan of those. It felt too rushed.

Then there's Nancy. I didn't much care for her throughout the whole series. I thought she was too pushy, and I don't know. It's weird. While I understand Nancy, I still think she did wrong. It made me not want to like her. I have mixed feelings about that too. I won't say anything more.

I loved Lilly. I thought her character was sweet. She's a people-pleaser just like me, and just like me, she's adopted. So we got along just fine.

November was the coolest character ever! I just loved her. She kind of made me laugh at her antics toward Eddie. I love Gray's books, and I will continue to read them. I love her stories because she does an excellent job of making her characters, like Lilly and Eddie, come alive. I did laugh at Eddie, though. He really is a hoot.

I think the message is that things will happen in God's timing, not our own, and He'll put us in places where He thinks we can serve best. I'm still giving this story five stars. I will highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Reviewer: Nancy Brown

This story was light and easy to read—nothing too serious—but it did address the issue of how adopted children might feel accepted by their family and society in general. Another issue is mentioned in the book, which I thought was a great topic, and that is the topic of personal integrity and the importance of having and maintaining a good reputation, even when it is questioned.  

The main character, a young Amish woman named Lilly Kurtz, decides to establish herself in another town, away from Ohio, and in Pinecraft, Florida, an Amish community.

Lilly is a hard worker and obtains a full-time job at the Marigold Inn in order to earn her keep and start life on her own. She's a shy woman, uncertain of herself, and a bit insecure. The Amish man she meets at the inn is also insecure and tends to over-analyze his actions. The reason I gave this book less than five stars is that even though it is in the Christian genre, I was hard-pressed to find much mention of God, salvation through Jesus Christ, or church. I also felt the story was written for a much younger audience, and perhaps it was, but I'm not accustomed to seeing that in other books I've read written by Shelley Shepard Gray.

It's a clean story, with nothing untoward to make it unsuitable for someone as young as 17. The cover also didn't appeal to me, but that's probably just me.

I recommend the book to others because it's a nice story about two young people who experience many life lessons and do learn from them. If you want a relaxed introduction to Christian-genre Amish stories, this would be a good book to start with, to give as a gift to someone new to this type of fiction.

I received a free copy of this book from Revell Publishers through Interviews & Reviews in exchange for an honest review.

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Reviewer: Elizabeth Eckmeyer

This was a delightful, refreshing story! Shelley Shepard Gray takes us to sunny Pinecraft, Florida. Lilly left her home in Ohio to start a new life with her three friends she had met prior and became close to. She takes a job at an inn, where her adventures begin.

You will fall in love with the characters and enjoy the lighthearted romance. The story gives beautiful hope of dreams coming true and perfect circumstances only God can design! This book will keep you reading page after page to find out what happens next!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Covenant Communications through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. 

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