October, 2010 by Avon Inspire
Paperback, 268 Pages
Review Copy
Book Synopsis/Publisher
It's Christmastime at the Brenneman Bed & Breakfast, and everyone is excited about closing down for the holiday. Anna and Henry will be celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple, and for Katie and Jonathan Lundy, it's their first Christmas with baby Stefan. Winnie and Samuel Miller plan to stop by as well for a wonderful two weeks of family and rest. But when two unexpected visitors show up, hoping to stay for Christmas, the family must test their commitment to hospitality. Levi is a widower who lost his wife four years ago and can't bear the thought of another Christmas alone. And Melody is a young pregnant woman who won't open up about how she ended up on her own at Christmas at almost nine months pregnant. Anna, who knows a thing or two about keeping secrets, doesn't trust her, and strives to find out the truth about these two strangers who have disrupted their holiday. But as the Christmas spirit descends on them all, as well as snow that traps them in the inn, a healing and hopefulness takes over, allowing new relationships to be built, and the boundaries of family to be extended.
If you'd like to read the first chapter of Grace, go HERE.
Review
This is my first Sisters of the Heart book, and while I felt a little left out on the characters back story’s, it was still a pleasant read. During the holidays Katie looks forward to the peace and quiet and the family time it brings. The family who runs a homey Bed and Breakfast host guests and travelers most year around but are happy to have Christmas to themselves. This Christmas though has other ideas……..Levi is the first guest to arrive, he is grieving and heart broken over the loss of his family, Melody is the second guest to arrive, alone, stressed out and pregnant. While Katie is resentful and angry with the unplanned guests, the family pulls together to make the best of the situation and remind Katie of the importance of kindness and love.
Melody is frightened of English men, as she experienced a horrendous ordeal getting raped and pregnant by one and avoids Levi at all costs. As the days pass by Levi and Melody find themselves drawn together and that falling in love may be just what God had in store. Through two awful tragedy's, two people learn to heal, open their hearts and learn to live again.
I really enjoy reading this authors novels and loved reading this book, I’m going to have to catch up on the Sisters Series. A lovely Christmas story wrapped in a pretty Amish bow, perfect to get you in the mood for the holidays.
Rating
Recommended to lovers of Christmas or Amish story's. Wholesome content throughout and suitable for most readers. Content includes: Romance, dialog on rape and pregnancy.
4/5- Amish Fiction-Christmas
Thanks to Avon Inspire for review copy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado. She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children. When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town's scenic bike trail.
Excellent review. Thanks for the rape warning.
ReplyDeleteI love books such as these!!
ReplyDeleteI just added your blog site to my blogroll, I pray you would give some thought to doing the same.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really nice book. I may just have to read it.
ReplyDeleteLovely review.
It definitely sounds heartwarming!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holiday Challenge!
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Oh, this was a great review! We are reading this book next month for our Christian Fiction Book Club. angie
ReplyDeleteAlso taking part in this challenge I thought I'd drop by to see what others are reading, perhaps get some inspiration. I love the sound of this book and as well as this challenge it will also be interesting for me to read as I have challenged myself to read some 'christian' fiction as this is not a genre I am familiar with. Anyway, nice to meet you, enjoy the rest of the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI really do hope that you'll go back and enjoy catching up with the rest of the characters in the series. I haven't read this one yet, but I'm reading the series and enjoying it and looking forward to getting to this one.
ReplyDeleteFYI I'm hosting a Christian Fiction Holiday Reading challenge. Based off Nely's challenge.
Now that I have my reading for this challenge behind me, I am venturing out to see what others have read.
ReplyDeleteThis definitely sounds like a nice book. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.