His Promise: An Amish Christmas in Hart County by Shelley Shepard Gray

By Debi Lantzer @debiL1611

His Promise by Shelley Shepard Gray
Published by Avon Inspire on October 23, 2018
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Holidays, Literature & Fiction, Romance
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s latest Christmas novel in her Amish of Hart County series.

It’s set to be a white Christmas in Hart County, and Grace King is pet-sitting in a beautiful home with only a difficult dachshund for company. Just as she starts to miss the bustle of her large Amish family, Grace runs into a familiar face. Living right next door is John Michael Miller. He’s a fireman now, but five years ago, he had courted her older sister, then broke her heart. Seeing him again stirs Grace’s anger, but also reminds her of deeper feelings she’s done her best to deny.

The infatuation John Michael once saw in Grace’s eyes is long gone, though his complicated attraction to her remains. He had walked away all those years ago when he realized he was falling in love with the wrong sister. Now, as suspicious fires are set in their community, that’s not an option. Grace dismisses his warnings, and John Michael vows to keep an eye on her. But he can’t help wondering if he’s reconnected with Grace, only to risk losing her again.

Now all John Michael wants for Christmas is to keep Grace safe, in the hopes that they can one day have a future together.

His Promise is the sixth installment from Shelley Shepard Gray’s The Amish of Hart County series.  While we didn’t read all six books in this series, you can read our reviews on three of them – the first book in this series, Her Secret, HERE, the third book in this series, The Gift HERE, and the fourth book in the series, His Risk, HERE.  (Book number two, His Guilt, and book number five, Her Fear, are on my TBR list.)

His Promise can be read as a standalone despite its being sixth in a series.  You can be assured that when you pick up a book written by Shelly Shepard Gray, you will most definitely enjoy it.  

I enjoyed the main characters nineteen years old Grace King, John Michael Miller, Grace’s Mom, and especially Dorma.  Ms. Gray’s description of each of the characters make you feel that you are old friends and you want to help them with the challenges they face and share in their joy.

The story begins with Grace pet-sitting a difficult dachshund named Snooze in a beautiful English home.  Staying behind to work as her family visits her grandparents for Christmas and her friends are out of town.  She believes it will be a lonely Christmas without them.  John Michael Miller a firefighter lives right next door.  Grace has a deep feeling that she tries to deny for John.  He had courted her older sister Beth five years ago and broke her heart.   John had walked away when he realized he was falling in love with the wrong sister as he had feelings for Grace.  John and Grace was meant to be.

This is a sweet romance with suspense woven through out.  Alarming and suspicious things are happening in their community and Grace and  Dorma are in danger.  John Michael realizes the deep feelings he has for Grace, but will he be able to protect her?   He hopes they can have a future together.

I really enjoyed reading this Amish Christmas story in Hart County and as always, I look forward to reading more of Ms. Gray’s books.

About the author: Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner.  Shelley Shepard Gray lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. A busy wife and mother of two, she spends her days writing and keeping track of her two teenagers. Her two dogs keep her company when she writes in her basement. Shelley enjoys writing about the Amish and visits Amish communities in Adams and Holmes counties several times a year. When not spending time with her family or writing, she serves on several committees in her church.  She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.

     

I received a copy of this book without cost from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own or in the case of this review, those of my mom, Gloria!

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