Merry Christmas for A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft + Giveaway


Can love be restored to trust that's lost?

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Title:  A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft
Author:  Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher:  Avon Inspire
Release Date:  October 13, 2015

      

 ABOUT THE BOOK

Beverly Overholt grew up Amish and is now Mennonite.  When the Orange Blossom Inn is robbed, she is understandably shaken. The Inn has been her life.  She notifies Eric Wagler, the handsome owner, who rushes in from Philadelphia ready to help.  She has her guard up after a her previous engagement gone bad. Eric works on breaking down that wall. After their rocky start as surprise business partners, will Eric finally make Beverly his Christmas bride?

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MY THOUGHTS

OK. How shall I start without jumping like a madwoman?! I'm soooooo (get it?) happy to be reading Beverly and Eric's story in this final installment of the Amish Brides of Pinecraft.  After reading Book three, A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn, I wanted to know Beverly's story. Even though Eric just popped in periodically in Book 3, I was still hoping for his story to be told. I'm thrilled it's a story of both of them in this final installment of Amish Brides in Pinecraft, and a Christmas one at that. 

I really enjoyed the simplicity and easy ready of A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn, and even listed as one of the "Best Gifts" under Amish Fiction.  After reading A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft, I would add this one to that list for sure. Why? Something about this novel elicit a certain tenderness that is not easy to explain.  Beverly's distrust and cynicism of everything and everyone around her gave way to a certain bitterness that I don't want to see, especially during Christmas time.  I find myself hoping she will see it herself.  My heart aches for what she's been through, and also the way she lets her past cripple her relationships with others. 

QUOTABLE QUOTES
"God doesn't promise us easy lives.  Instead, He promises that we'll have obstacles and bumps and pain...and glory and beauty and love and mercy." (207)
"...we each have our own path to follow. And as time passes, we grown and change; we're never the same people that we were the day before." (69) 
I recently watched It's a Wonderful Life, black and white edition again (a tradition during the holidays), and something jumped out at me.  Clarence, the angel left George a note, "Dear George, remember no man is a failure who has friends."  I started thinking about the movie and what is the lesson there. One of the themes I find similar and relate-able to A Christmas Bride is the idea of asking for help.  Beverly was not able to ask anyone for help, and only through the love and grace of her friends, including Eric, was she able to understand that she truly are blessed with friends that love her.  Sometimes we are so caught up in our own ways that we forget that it's not a shame to ask for help when we need to. And that applies most dearly to our God. If we're not able to trust Him, how are we able to trust others? 

 A lovely conclusion to a series and to a town that I've grown to love through Shelley's books. Shelley gave us a series with soul and depth, and ended it with a story that demonstrated all the reasons why we love to read. Reading A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft was a wonderful gift that I hope to share with you. 
Merry Christmas, everyone!  
'May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.'
~ Romans 15:13

 NOTE:  I received this book through a giveaway and was not required to provide a review.  I enjoyed it so much, I'm adding this to my library for future re-reads. I would like to also give a copy to one lucky reader. Scroll down for more information. 

TO PURCHASE A COPY
      

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times bestseller list.  A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years.  She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.  

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY: website, twitter, facebook

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GIVEAWAY

OK, I like this so much, I'm giving readers of my blog a chance to win a copy.  One winner will receive a paperback copy of A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft & a little something special from me. This giveaway will last 2 weeks ONLY!  Use the Rafflecopter to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through Rafflecopter.  Merry Christmas!

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Thank you for reading my posts. For full blog information and links to giveaways, head over to the blog: http://justcommonly.blogspot.com.

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