Published August 2010 by HarperCollins Publishers

Paperback, 256 Pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis

Some promises are meant to be broken... Until Robert Miller met Lilly Allen, his world had been dark. A widower after only two years of marriage, he'd been living in a haze, feeling that, at twenty-four, his life was already over. But thanks to his friendship with Lilly, he now has new reasons to wake up each day. He knows his connection to her doesn't make sense. She's only nineteen, with a past the whole town talks about. Even more, she's not Amish, like Robert. A marriage between the two of them could never happen. Lilly's heart is drawn to Robert, not to his faith. No matter how much she admires his quiet strength and dependability, she doesn't think she could ever give up her independence and reliance on the modern world. Is their love doomed before it even begins?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Autumn's Promise, go HERE.

Review

Autumn's Promise by Shelley Shepard Gray is the third and final book in the Seasons of Sugarcreek series. Lilly a nineteen year old girl recently recovering from a teen pregnancy that she miscarried in book two has just discovered her mothers pregnancy. Heart broken and angry Lilly finds herself pulling away from her family to grieve the loss of her child and grief the loss of her old life. While Lilly isn’t wanting to go back to the girl she was she also doesn’t want to feel the loneliness that has been surrounding her. Keeping busy with a new job and trying to fit in with the conservative community, Lilly wasn’t expecting love to find her.

Robert Miller, a young Amish man is still grieving the death of his wife Grace, he’s lonely and ready to move on. The most his heart desires is a real relationship but deep in his heart he doesn’t want that with another Amish woman…one who will move in and take up Grace’s spot, something his family and friends are trying desperately to make happen. But to the surprise of Robert and his family, he begins to notice the lovely Lilly and cant seem to break free from the spell he’s under. With both of them grieving over loss and loneliness they immediately are drawn together. What sparks between them is sudden and intense, but so many problems face the couple. She is English, he is Amish and they both live differently. While Robert wants to move forward with marriage, Lilly cant decide if being Amish is what’s for her.

I greatly enjoyed Autumns Promise and believe Gray had a wonderful voice in Robert who represented the Amish and in Lilly who represented the outside to bring the two different cultures front and center. Although the ending was a bit rushed with perfect resolve for all the characters, the two defiantly asked themselves some serious questions. I couldn’t help but love the outcome for both Robert and Lilly and cant wait to read more about them. A fun light read for any who love wholesome romance or Amish stories.

Rating

Autumns Promise is uplifting but yet deals with real life struggles, as Lilly's character is 19 this is a great story for teens as well as adults. Contains: romance, grief, drinking and driving, mild sexual discussions and Amish and culture differences.

4/5- Amish Romance

Thanks to Avon Inspire via the CFBA for review copy

About the Author

Since 2000, Shelley Sabga has sold twenty-six novels to numerous publishers. She has written a seven book contemporary series for Avalon books. She also published The Love Letter, a western for Avalon. Five Star Expressions published Suddenly, You in February of 2007. This novel is a historical western set in the mountains of Colorado. Shelley has written nine novels for Harlequin American Romance. Cinderella Christmas, her first novel with them, reached number six on the Waldenbooks Bestseller list. Her second book with them, Simple Gifts won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice award for best Harlequin American Romance of 2006. The Mommy Bride, was chosen by Romantic Times Magazine as one of their TOP PICKS for May, 2008. Under the name Shelley Shepard Gray, Shelley writes Amish romances for Harper Collins’ inspirational line, Avon Inspire. HIDDEN and WANTED the first two novels of her ‘Sisters of the Heart’ series, were chosen to be Alternate Selections for the Doubleday/ Literary Guild Book Club. FORGIVEN, book 3, has received glowing reviews. Avon Inspire is releasing four novels by Shelley this year.Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelors and masters degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two teenagers, and is an active member of her church.