"5 out of 5 stars!! Leona (Le)—an Amish woman who is unsure if her fiancé is really the right man for her—takes a vacation to Pinecraft with her two best friends and meets a man who changes her perspective for the future.

This engaging novel keeps you wanting more from the very beginning. Even though its plot was based around Leona and Zack (Zachariah/Zachary), with their budding friendship turned romance, it also brings you into the lives of Beverly (an older Mennonite woman who runs an Bed & Breakfast) and Effie (Zack’s Amish little sister who is dealing with Perthes disease) to give you an even broader perspective on the town itself. I enjoyed it all!"

Read more of this review and THREE teasers here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2015/03/blog-tour-idolizing-in-promise... ( )

The Promise of Palm Grove by Shelley Shepard Gray This book it really a good book. Though I did not finish it completely. I did read most of the book. I liked the fact it somewhat different then other amish book. Edmund is a little bully and wants his own way.Leona has been doubting herself about her marriage or engagement to Edmund. She does not know how to tell her friends about it. On the first day in Florida they meet up with Zachary and his friends Danny. They are trying to catch a cat for his neighbor.The girls follow and see them all laughing. The cat goes over to Leona. She able to pick up the cat. Things start to get some action and friendships. Does Leona break it up with Edmund or does she stay with him? Leona must decide to choose her path for a future she wants or what god wants of her. ( )

This book it really a good book. Though I did not finish it completely. I did read most of the book. I liked the fact it somewhat different then other amish book. Edmund is a little bully and wants his own way.

Leona has been doubting herself about her marriage or engagement to Edmund. She does not know how to tell her friends about it. On the first day in Florida they meet up with Zachary and his friends Danny. They are trying to catch a cat for his neighbor.

The girls follow and see them all laughing. The cat goes over to Leona. She able to pick up the cat. Things start to get some action and friendships. Does Leona break it up with Edmund or does she stay with him? Leona must decide to choose her path for a future she wants or what god wants of her. ( )

Title: The Promise of Palm Grove (Amish Brides of Pinecraft #1)
Author: Shelly Shepard Gray
Pages: 288
Year: 2015
Publisher: Avon Publishers
My rating is 5 stars.
The story started a little slow for me as it was building the foundation, which I am sure builds into the next two sequels. After a short time, the plot and climax took off as the women in this small B & B in Florida began having personal issues though not with each other per se. One of the main characters is Beverly who was to have inherited the B & B from her aunt when an English man comes stating he has inherited the business that Beverly has built.
Three young, Amish, single girlfriends come from Ohio for a two-week stay. One of them is engaged to be married to her friend’s brother. There are Sara, Mattie and Lorena who stay at the B & B to have time together before Lorena is married. However, Lorena is having second thoughts about being engaged because of the lack of any type of feelings she has for her future husband. The author adds to the mix a man Lorena begins to develop really deep affection and feelings for.
It doesn’t take long to fall in love with the storyline and while not age specific they are perfectly suited for the YA group. The budding romances, daring to leave the home nest, faith and truth are just some of the themes that come alive in the pages. I look forward to reading the next book, The Proposal at Siesta Key followed by the third book, A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn. I sure hope you will follow where all three lead characters Lorena, Sara and Mattie end their journeys.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ( )

Oh my word. Every time I picked up this book… I had the hardest time putting it down.

Alas, the children dragged me away a few times to do things like teach school and attend to my own writing.

WHERE IS THE JUSTICE… ;-)

The one really good thing is that is that the story distracted me into doing several more minutes of exercise several different times while reading – no way they were taking it away then! HA! Only the intense cramping in my legs pulled my attention away. LOL

Shelley Shepard Gray has another HIT on her hands with The Promise of Palm Grove!

What a wonderful story, so intricately woven around, not just the main characters – but including so many wonderful secondary characters. Something Shelley does like no other author.

WELL DONE Shelley! I can hardly wait for book 2! Is May here yet… ( )