MY REVIEW:
I have read two or three Amish books lately with a setting in Pinecraft, Florida. It has been both eye-opening and refreshing to read about Amish and Mennonite life there. I can just see the young people in their traditional attire walking around in flip-flops! Shelley Shepard Gray takes the freedom of the beach a step further by featuring a character who is somewhat of a Mennonite celebrity. I can honestly say that is not something I would have ever imagined.
Both Penny and Michael have experienced tragedy in their lives so when they become acquainted, they immediately sense a bond. Michael is especially attracted to Penny’s innocence and caring personality. At an age when most people their age are already married with children, Michael and Penny have not had a chance for courtship or love because of family expectations. They meet at a time when each of them has grown dissatisfied with their lives and are yearning for independence.
“The Proposal at Siesta Key” is a sweet love story that is not without a few hurdles. The characters are all quite likeable and natural. I liked the way Penny and Michael honored their parents while working to break the apron strings. Their quiet faith was an important part of their story but did not come across as preachy.
I highly recommend this novel as well as all of Gray’s books. Lovers of Amish fiction will certainly enjoy it.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A young Amish woman, yearning for freedom, crosses paths with a handsome Mennonite celebrity in a deeply moving tale of friendship and self-discovery—the second installment in the unforgettable New York Times bestselling author’s new Amish Brides of Pinecraft series.
Penny Troyer rarely disobeys her parents. In the years since her sister’s tragic death, they’ve wanted nothing more than to keep her safe…even if it means never leaving the house.
But tonight, she’s bending the rules because Michael Knoxx, the most famous member of The Knoxx Family Singers, a traveling Mennonite Evangelical family —is scheduled to speak. Penny has heard of Michael—how he lost part of his leg in a terrible accident and uses the experience to inspire others—and knows she must meet him. So, for the first time ever, Penny stands up to her parents and goes out on her own.
Though he speaks about living life to the fullest, Michael knows he needs to take his own advice. Life on the road is grueling and Michael wants to slow down, to rest…to perhaps meet someone who sees him as a man, not just a celebrity. So when a twist of fate allows him the chance to stay a little longer in Pinecraft, Michael knows God is showing him a new path, especially when he discovers how much he and Penny Troyer have in common.
But new friendships can’t stop time. Soon, Michael’s time in Pinecraft will be over and he’ll be back on the road. Her time with Michael has brought her happiness, but will she be able to follow her heart? Or will she be faced with the one thing she’s sure she’ll never have the courage to do?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York Times bestseller, a two-time USA Today bestseller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Holt Medallion winner. She lives in Southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.
Find out more about Shelley at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.