TLC Blog Tour for Winter's Awakening by Shelley Shepard Gray

Winter's Awakening by Shelley Shepard Gray was a wonderful story that hooked me from the start until the very end.

One of my favorite things about this story that makes it rather unique is the way the story follows an Amish family and their English neighbor family at the same time. It's such an interesting contrast seeing these two families' lives mesh together.

I absolutely loved this story and I would highly recommend it to anyone. If you thought you haven't cared for Amish stories in the past, I would urge you to give this one a try. It kind of has the best of both worlds. The story line hooks you from the start and keeps you turning the pages, but the characters will work their way into your heart. The story is one of friendship, love, forgiveness and faith in God.

I've been wanting to read Shelley's books for a long time and this was my first and I am hooked! I am officially a fan! The second book in this series, Spring's Renewal will be coming in May and I cannot wait!




Book Summary:

Joshua Graber knows his future is set. He′s expected to work at his family business, the Graber Country Store. He′s expected to marry Gretta Hershberger, who he′s been courting for several years. But when a new English family moves next door and their lovely teenage daughter, Lilly Allen, catches his eye, Joshua wonders if all the plans for his future are too set in stone.

Gretta doesn′t know what′s going on with Joshua. When they argue and later stew in silence, it feels a lot like the frosty atmosphere at her home. After promising herself to never have a marriage like her parents, she wonders if perhaps another man might be a better match. A man such as Roland Schrock. He′s steady and kind and somewhat boring. If she marries him, she won′t ever have to worry about loving him and getting hurt.

Meanwhile, Lilly is enamored with the Amish way of life, and especially her handsome neighbor Joshua. But despite being drawn to him, she has a secret that will only drive him away. Her family moved to Sugarcreek to hide her pregnancy from their community back home. Once she′s had the baby, they plan to send her off to college without anyone from their old neighborhood knowing the truth. But as Lilly becomes wrapped up in the simplicity and graciousness of the Amish people, she begins to question what′s expected of her, and whether giving up her baby, and leaving Sugarcreek, is what she truly wants.

As the coldest winter on record blows into Sugarcreek, these three young people must struggle to determine the path of their futures.


Purchase the book here or here.


Author Bio:

Shelly Shepard Gray is the author of the Sisters of Heart series: Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. She lives with her family in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time.

Visit Shelley's website here.



This book was provided for review by TLC Book Tours.




Blessings,