Addie has never quite fit in. Her family history has some unfortunate chapters and she's never been able to connect with her peers, who think she's odd. But sometimes amazing things and great people are right under our noses, if only we'd notice them. And Daniel is about to notice.

This is a sweet story about coming into yourself and learning your own worth. Addie did a lot of growing, partially inspired by her new connection with Daniel, but also with the care of loving friends and family. Her romance with Daniel is sweet, measured, and quiet, but it's easy to care about both of them and cheer for their happiness. Pick this up for a wholesome, happy story about good people finding their way to each other and joyful lives.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

This is a Clean Amish Romance, and this is the first book in the Amish of Apple Creek series. I really enjoyed reading this book. I love seeing the two main characters figuring out what they wanted out of life, and I also find out they need each other. I loved the letter writing in this book because I found the idea of it so cute and fun. This book was so much more than just a romance. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington) or author (Shelley Shepard Gray) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

This was an enjoyable story even with the emotional ups and downs of the characters. Addie Holmes didn’t have the best childhood but had a big heart in assisting others. I truly enjoyed how her rescued donkey, Snickers, was a therapy animal. Addie and Daniel’s story tugged at my heart with a reminder that each individual is unique and had a lot to offer others. The themes of trust, forgiveness and seeing the value of others is well displayed throughout the story. Addie and Daniel will remain in my heart in the months ahead and I look forward to the next book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s new series, The Amish of Apple Creek.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for an early e-copy of this wonderful tale. I have expressed my own thoughts.

An Amish wallflower raised by her grandmother with a sweet, therapy donkey named Snickers feels ignored by almost everyone. Then one day she receives a note from a “Secret Admirer” … and her world seems a little brighter.

My Review …
You won’t like the young women who are Addie’s age and make snarky comments about her behind her back. AND even to her face. The single men in Apple Creek should take note. “She talks to her donkey.” “She’s never had a beau.”

Shoot, I talk to my four-foot manager. And I wear glasses too, at least some of the time. Snarky little twits. Wonder how they talk about little ole ladies?

Addie Byler tells herself that she has a loving grandmother and her moments with those needing Snickers visits are 'wunderbar'. But she does miss having friends her own age. And she knows what was said.

Daniel Miller realizes when standing with his friends and several girls that he did not like their comments about Addie. And he decides to send her an uplifting note, signed “Secret Admirer”. At first, and understandably, Addie thinks it might be a prank. But what if it wasn’t? So she replies and a correspondence begins using a hollow in a tree as their mailbox. And eventually …

The plot …
You are quickly on Addie’s side and want a fulfilling life for her. You will like Daniel who seems to be more mature than his “friends”. Oh, he talks to his dog, Bob, too. Bob thinks Daniel is supposed to be in bed by 10 pm. (So does my manager.)

Emotions …
Some may feel an emotional connection to the two main characters. Ever felt like you were a square peg trying to fit into a round hole? Or had to be around people who you knew were talking about you behind your back? Or seeing it done to someone else but didn’t know what to do that wouldn’t make the situation worse? I admired Daniel for taking action instead of just being empathetic.

“Happily Ever Amish” was truly an enjoyable read and gets a full five stars from this reviewer. Be sure to add this to your “Gotta Read These Amish Books” list.

I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of “Happily Ever Amish” via NetGalley from the publisher, Kensington Books. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 5 stars
#HappilyEverAmish #NetGalley #ShelleyShepardGray

The magical tale of a secret admirer turns into real love. Addie Byler has always been labeled strange. Living a different life than most, Addie knows how blessed and grateful she is. However, the community single men have overlooked this wallflower. When Daniel Miller sees her alone at a party, he decides to send her a little encouragement note. Addie almost dismisses the note as a joke, but decides to answer just in case. Upon receipt of her answering note, Daniel comes to realize she may have more to offer than anyone first thought. However, how does he tell her the truth without losing her? This is truly a story of forgiveness and second chances. The sweet way this author brought them together was fun and endearing. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Happily Ever Amish by Shelley Shepard Gray is the beginning of The Amish of Apple Creek series. It is a sweet story. I enjoyed getting to know Addie Byler and Daniel Miller. Addie has never felt like she fit into the community of Apple Creek. Her mother left her with her grandparents when she was four years old. Addie is now nineteen and takes care of her grandmother. She has a donkey that is a therapy animal (it is a real thing). People find her odd because she talks to her donkey, but they are unaware that Snickers is a smart and intuitive donkey. Daniel takes notice of Addie at a couple’s engagement party. He did not like the comments his friends were making. He decided to send her a note signed “secret admirer.” Daniel wanted to boost Addie’s confidence. They correspond for a few weeks until Daniel accidentally drops one of Addie’s envelopes in front of her. The secret is out, and Daniel needs to show Addie that he was sincere. I like Shelley Shepard Gray’s writing style. It is friendly and draws the reader into the story. I thought the characters were realistic and relatable. I can relate to Addie’s feelings of being different and not fitting in. We get to watch Daniel and Addie learn more about themselves. This enabled to figure out what they wanted. I found Addie’s grandmother to be a spunky woman who was well-respected in the community. I like that the author featured the lost art of letter writing. It does not have the instant gratification of texts. Letters, though, can provide a way for people to express their feelings and for people to get to know one another. Happily Ever Amish had moments that made me smile and others that make you sad. I was rooting for Daniel and Addie. Addie’s story is one that will resonate with many people. I am looking forward to reading Once Upon a Buggy next spring. Happily Ever Amish is a tender tale with a good-natured grandmother, clandestine letters, cruel rumors, a prolix preacher, a darling donkey, and an exposed secret.

sweet, warmhearted romance

I have read many books by Ms Gray and enjoyed them all, this one is no exception. I really enjoyed that our heroine was a bit different and felt out of touch with her peers. She mistrusted the hero's romantic gestures. And our hero mistrusted his own feelings. A nice relaxing, warmhearted book for sitting by the fire. Obviously not literary fiction, but an excellent book to read when you need a break or are feeling a bit down.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-limited e-arc via netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

I loved this wonderful Amish romance. Addie and Daniel are fantastic characters. I love that these two are so alike but also so different. I love the story in how the two get to know each other. I also loved learning how a donkey can be a therapy animal. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Shelley Shephard Gray has done it again. I feel so satisfied and fulfilled when I finish any of her books. The faith content and growth of the characters were great. And the grandmother is a hoot! This is a beautiful story about compassion for others, self sacrifice, forgiveness and restoration. Definitely worth the read!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a few other books by this author and I have enjoyed them all. I ended up liking this book as much as the other books I've read by Shelley Shepard Gray!

This was such a fun and relatively quick read for me. Addie has spent most of her life being raised by her grandmother. Her peers are unkind to her, asking her about her parents and making fun of her for having a donkey for a pet. Daniel is a boy she's grown up with, but doesn't really know. When he starts leaving her secret admirer letters in a tree, and she answers him, what will become of them?

If you're an Amish romance fiction fan, you won't want to miss this one! Release date is Oct 25.

Thanks to #NetGalley & Kensington Books for the ARC e-copy of this book. All opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

#HappilyEverAmish #NetGalley

This book was a wonderful read. I loved watching Addie and Daniel's friendship develop to love and the pet donkey was a wonderful addition. This is a very enjoyable read that you don't want to miss. Loved it!
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Beautiful Story

The book's description labels Addie Byler and Daniel Miller as "Apple Creek's most unlikely couple." While this seems like an appropriate label, as I got to know Addie and Daniel better, I felt like they were more of a likely couple than an unlikely one.

Addie is seen by others as being very odd. They talk about how Addie never had any boys show interest in her during her school years, and has no one showing an interest in courting her now. On top of that she has a pet donkey that she talks to. It's a wonder that people see her as strange, but that's the sad reality of what happens when people look at the superficial instead of what's deep inside. If they had looked deeper, they would have seen a sweet, caring, helpful and hard working young lady.

Enter Daniel. He's known Addie since they were children, but he doesn't really "know" her. What he knows is that others are talking about Addie and making fun of her. Daniel's caring spirit rises to the occasion and he hatches a plan to help Addie by posing as her secret admirer. However, it's a funny thing about the best laid plans. They don't always go as planned and Daniel finds himself truly getting to know Addie and seeing her in a new light.

Along side their story is a subplot that throws in a little intrigue which adds just the right touch to understanding more about Addie, but doesn't deter from Addie and Daniel's truly beautiful story. I loved how their friendship blossomed and deepened turning them from Apple Creek's most unlikely couple to its most likely one.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All comments and opinions are strictly my own.

I read the book Happily Ever Amish, by Shelly Shepard Gray as a courtesy by Netgalley.net. This story is about two characters one is named Addy and the other Daniel. I tend to like the genre of reading stories about the Amish because their message of hope and happiness always makes me feel better. The story had a nice plot, but I found that the story was a bit too long, and at times I couldn’t keep track of the secondary characters. For example, Daniel works at a hospital and they would make mention of different people he worked with. However, while reading the story, when a character was mentioned later on in the story, I couldn’t recall the relationship of each person to Daniel, so it was confusing. Also at the end of the story, the conflict with Addie and her mother took away from the story, which was about Addie and Daniel. Yes, the struggle with her mother is part of the plot, but it was choppy at times. Also, I did not find the ending satisfactory because it seem to have come to quickly. All of a sudden they’re getting married, but I missed the whole romance part. It almost felt with a little editing and revising it would’ve been a really nice story. I am sorry for not writing a glowing review, but with some editing and revising, it would be a seamless story. Thank you.

Wonderful story about Addie Byler, an awkward, sometimes strange presenting, but always kind of heart. Left with her grandmother to raise her Addie doesn't have all the beauty and social skills as other girls in their rumspringa. When Daniel Miller feels bad for Addie, he decides to be the secret admirer to give her the vision to see how someone could have interest in her. What he discovers is her beauty is much deeper and how he has fallen for her. Addie is troubled by what she beleives is a prank and the losses in her life. Can she heal from her abandonment issues and let herself love?

This was a great read, the page flew, and I wanted to pet the donkey!

The author gives us a young woman, Addie, whose lot in life has not been easy, but she has a big heart! Addie, has been picked on in her Amish Community all of her life! We meet her and see how she is willing to help others, including that poor donkey, but all of a sudden someone else has noticed her. Can she trust a so called Secret Admirer? Or is it another way to make a joke of her?

She also is set to have some more surprises come into her life, and will she be ready for them? How would I feel if I were in her shoes?

You don't want to miss this new new series!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was required to give a positive review.

Sometimes the value of a creature or a person fell to the wayside...or the opposite happened. Something forgotten only needed fresh eyes to see its worth.

Addie a young woman living with her grandmother was awkward. Many times she was easy to dismiss because her parents had abandoned her to her grandmother. She lived with insecurities but one thing held true for her, she loved and took care of grandmother and the donkey she adopted. Daniel had grown up with Addie in the small Amish community and had times added to the dismal that Addie had felt. But at the latest engagement party of their peers, he noticed her and saw her for the first time. He saw a value in Addie that he wanted to know. He had thought if he wrote a letter to her as a secret admirer that he would lift her self confidence and maybe start a string of letters.

Addie after receiving the letter was wary of starting a letter writing to someone she probably knew. She did not want to be the butt of bad joke but something urged her to respond and she did with candor.

The relationship was not of only letter writing but Daniel and Addie ran into each other during this time and Daniel had made sure to be intentional with Addie.

The appealing part of their secret romance was how Addie blossomed into a confident young woman. She was at times unable to trust and it came out badly but she recovered that ability to trust and lean on God's sovereignty. Daniel on the other hand saw the value of earning a trust. What it takes and the rewards it offers. There was much more to this story as well. How was Daniel able to reveal his identity and then Addie confronting her past with her parents. I very much enjoyed their story and getting to know them.

A special thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This is a unique twist on the usual courtship. When Daniel’s eyes are opened to a young woman alone at a party, he starts thinking. He has known her since he was young, but Addie has a different lifestyle than most of the local Amish. How many young women have donkeys as pets? She was raised by her grandmother and isn’t very social.
But he decides that he will attempt to be more friendly and speak to her. What transpired is a cute story full of some confusion as usual. I really enjoy Shelly Shepherd Gray’s books. Not a big reason it didn’t hit a 5, but they can’t all be 5’s. I received an ARC from NetGalley but this did not affect my freely given review

Happily Ever Amish by Shelley Shepard Gray is a wonderful book. I enjoyed this book very much. It is a story about Annie who was dropped off at her grandmother’s home when she was five years old. Her mother did not want her anymore. The children at school made fun of Annie because she lived with her grandmother and she also has a pet donkey that she talks to. As years go by Annie grows into a beautiful young lady but is basically an outcast in her age group. She does not have any friends except one girl who is her English driver.

One day Annie gets a letter from a secret admirer. She has no idea who sent her the letter, but she does write back and they start a correspondence. When Annie finds out who sent the letter at first she is very upset but later realizes that the secret admirer is very sincere.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good Amish fiction.. I received a copy of the book from NetGalley.. The opinions expressed are my own

Addie is a sweet Amish girl who doesn’t fit in with others in her community and has no prospects for marriage. Between her glasses, unusual pet, and being raised by her grandmother, she can’t help but feel different. But then Daniel notices her, and decides to look deeper and get to really know her. And they both learn that a person is more than what we think we see on the outside.

This was the first book I’ve read from Shelley Shepard Gray and enjoyed it very much. I am thankful to find more books to read that are clean Christian stories. If you like Beverly Lewis, Tracy Fredrychowski, and Wanda Brunstetter you’ll like this. I look forward to reading more from this author.

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.