Shelter from the Storm is a wonderful Amish romance, I meet Gemma Lapp who has to make one of the toughest decisions of her life, until she comes upon Jesse Crump. The two have strong faith and from there the love blossoms. A wonderful Sunday afternoon read!

“Shelter from the Storm” presents a deviation from the usual Amish fiction novels I have read. The author makes a difference by presenting a moral dilemma that I have not found in other Amish fiction. The main character, Gemma, returns home to her parents in Maine after a time in Florida on her own. However, Gemma brings with her a secret; she is expecting a baby and is unmarried.

The plot begins with a snowstorm, in which Gemma and her companion Jesse, a friend from her past, become stranded in an abandoned cabin. After they are rescued and return to the community, the action moves forward quickly. Gemma has to deal not only with her parents and their disappointment of her actions. She is also faced with the censure of the Amish community. Due to complications with her pregnancy, Gemma fears for the safety of her unborn baby. The plot and suspense build throughout these situations, drawing the reader into the story. I encountered many heart-stopping moments in this novel, and was near to tears often during the roller coaster ride of infant health issues and family fears.

I appreciated the author’s ability to portray sensitive topics in a realistic way. The details about caring for a premature infant were described in a straightforward manner. This novel shows that all people make bad decisions, no one is perfect. People from all segments of society have problems to deal with. Sometimes, only faith will carry one through the difficulties of life. I highly recommend this novel to any reader who enjoys Amish fiction.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked how Gemma and jessie overcome their adversity to become friends and then fall in love. It is nice to read a book that is clean and without a lot of swaer words.

I highly recommend this book book. Thank you Harlequin and Netgalley for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

I love a story of forgiveness and second chances! Shelter from the Storm was an inspiring read. Gemma finds herself pregnant by a man who refused to stand by her. Jesse decides to offer her a marriage of convenience. But, will they find love in the process? I loved to see the characters journey and my heart smiled because of this story.
Favorite quotes: "A real friend helps you see your choices. They don't make those choices for you."
"He will help you bear whatever comes into your life if you open your heart to His love."

This is a lovely Amish story in an unusual setting. It also involves more realistic issues than most Plain fiction. The medical content is very accurate (I am an RN like the author). This is my first book by this author but I would definitely read her other works in this series. Lots of emphasis of compassion over rigid dogma.