Grace by Shelley Shepard Gray

Grace by Shelley Shepard Gray

From Amazon.com:
It's never too late to go home

It’s Christmastime at the Brenneman Bed and Breakfast, and everyone is excited about closing down for the holidays. But when two unexpected visitors appear seeking shelter, the family’s commitment to hospitality is tested. First Levi arrives, sullen and angry . . . but insisting on staying for five days. Next Melody shows up. She’s almost nine months pregnant, but won’t say a word about why she traveled all the way from Kentucky by herself. As the two strangers settle in, the Brennemans try to make the best of an uncomfortable situation, except for Katie, who and knows a thing or two about keeping secrets. She is determined to learn the truth about these two strangers . . . all while keeping her own secret safely hidden away.

All is revealed when a snowstorm traps them at the inn.

My Take:
I enjoyed this book and will be probably reading others in the series.  Although this book is part of a group of books you don't need to have read then to enjoy this book.

I really disliked Katie at the beginning of the book because of her whole attitude toward the guests when they arrived at the inn.  I did warm up to her toward the end but she was definitely not my favorite character.

Levi and Melody both have secrets when they come to the inn but they eventually take comfort in each others company and help each other through some things.  I feel that the shocker of the book was suppose to be the circumstances behind Melody's coming to the inn but somewhere in the story telling the shock factor was lost. the whole part of the book that featured Melody's English friend Leah and the cop she meets on the way, Zach, I felt was just thrown in to have a nice neat resolution of some events later in the book.  I think the book would have been fine if not stronger without them.

Like most Amish Fiction everything is wrapped up in a neat shiny bow by the end but if you think about it that is usually why you read this genre to feel good at the end.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes Amish Fiction but don't expect anything out of the ordinary.  A Good story overall.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley.com

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson

In 1872, sixteen Civil War widows living in St. Louis respond to a series of meetings conducted by a land speculator who lures them west by promising "prime homesteads" in a "booming community." Unbeknownst to them, the speculator's true motive is to find an excuse to bring women to the fledging community of Plum Grove, Nebraska, in hopes they will accept marriage proposals shortly after their arrival!


Sparks fly when these unsuspecting widows meet the men who are waiting for them. These women are going to need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstances--especially when they begin to discover that none of them is exactly who she appears to be.


Stephanie Grace Whitson,

 A native of southern Illinois, Stephanie Grace Whitson has lived in Nebraska since 1975. She began what she calls "playing with imaginary friends" (writing fiction) when, as a result of teaching her four homeschooled children Nebraska history, she was personally encouraged and challenged by the lives of pioneer women in the West. Since her first book, Walks the Fire, was published in 1995, Stephanie's fiction titles have appeared on the ECPA bestseller list numerous times and been finalists for the Christy Award, the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year. Her first nonfiction work, How to Help a Grieving Friend, was released in 2005. In addition to serving in her local church and keeping up with two married children, two college students, and a high school senior, Stephanie enjoys motorcycle trips with her family and church friends. Her passionate interests in pioneer women's history, antique quilts, and French, Italian, and Hawaiian language and culture provide endless story-telling possibilities.


 Visit http://www.stephaniegracewhitson.com/
 
My take:  One of my favorite movies is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and when I read the description of the book I immediately thought of that movie and knew that I wanted to read this book.  I have always been  intrigued by the men and women who pioneered not only to our new country but out west too. 

This was not your typical Christian Historical Romance novel.  I enjoyed the women's spunk and determination and their relance on God to help them through the situation.  Great book.