I love this story that follows an Amish girl from Kentucky to Pinecraft, Florida. A sweet romance with just the right amount of drama. Highly enjoyable!

I’m disappointed this wasn’t a five star read. That being said I liked the storyline and characters. There is something about Shelley Shepard Gray’s writing draws me in. However this story was just middle of the road. Early on I felt like there were too many characters and events going on. Everything felt a bit rushed to me and I wasn’t able to connect to her book like I normally would. I was happy to see that this is there start of a series, so hopefully she was just trying to lay the groundwork giving us a chance to better focus in future stories.

I always enjoy an Amish book, this one was no different. It is the first in a new series by Shelley Shepard Gray. We meet Mary Margaret Miller as she journeys to Pinecraft, FL for vacation. On the way she meets Betsy and Lilly. They become friends as they consider themselves Wallflowers.

Mary Margaret has had a tough life. She has been bullied all her life. She decides to go on vacation to get away from her town for a little while. Of course, she doesn't know what God has in store for her. Jayson goes to Pinecraft to visit his best friend and get a little breathing room. He has a lot on his shoulders, and thinks he has made the best decision he can for his life moving forward. God as other plans for his life, though.

A book of forgiveness and love that is fully of character development. Once I actually had time to sit down and read, it didn't take me long to finish this book. Gray wrote in a way that made me feel as if I knew these characters. We all deal with some form of bullying in our lives. Gary looks at what it takes to forgive someone that has hurt you. How you can't do it on your own without God's help. Her writing reminded me of Wanda Brunstetter's Amish books. Gray drew me in like Brunstetter always does. Excellent writing and character development. I can't wait to see what happens with either Betsy or Lilly in the next book in the Pinecraft Series.

Tentative Publishcation Date: January 3, 2024

Thanks to Netgalley and Revell for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading😊

#netgalley
#revell
#herheartsdesire
#shelleyshepardgray
#Pinecraftseries
#serieslove2024

I just read the book “Her Heart’s Desire” and I must say that this book was very touching. Shelley does it again with this moving story! I could really relate to the problems that Mary Margaret had in her past and trying to make this one adventure that was to last two weeks one where she could move on to better times. Little did she realize that a special someone, Jayson, helps her get past that awkward time in her life like my own. She meets new friends, Betsy and Lilly on her new adventure that also helps her with her confidence and changes her to the woman she is to become. A blast from her past, Esther, interrupts into this perfect vacation and makes her realize that we all make mistakes in our lives. Moving past the hard times and molding her into the kind, forgiving person she is. Just when she thinks she has everything back in order, she is lied to again. Does she find love in the end or will she live alone forever? Read this heartwarming story and you won’t be sorry. A good corner nook book with your favorite hot drink! You won’t be disappointed!!

I received a complimentary ebook from the publisher

An Amish fiction set on the beach? Delightful.
This is a book about friendship healing old wounds and finding love. The ladies each have their own reasons for leaving and watching them grow thorough the story is wonderful.A cute read.

Loved "Her Heart's Desire,"by Shelley Shephard Gray. It was a wonderful book. Shelley Shephard Gray is a excellent writer. I Love all her books.

HER HEART’S DESIRE is the first book in A Season in Pinecraft series by Shelley Shepard Gray. Its the story of three Amish women who meet on the bus and it is sure to pull on the reader’s heart strings. It will give you all the feels, let me tell you. The three women all have felt like outsiders in their communities and make a pact based on this. My emotions were all over the place and I was giggling one minute and tearing up, the next. I really liked the setting of the small town of Pinecraft and its history. I really got to know the people of this beautiful, small Florida town and I also know I will fall more in love with all of these characters as I still have the third book to read!

HER HEART’S DESIRE is a wonderful story of family and new friends that will worm their way into your heart. Mary Margaret had been bullied most of her childhood by three girls who never left her alone. She is on vacation in Pinecraft, Florida and when she finds out that one of those girls is going to be staying in the same B and B that she is, she is beside herself! To say Mary Margaret is unhappy is a huge understatement! Hang on to your seats! The twists and turns will keep you flipping the pages long into the night. She also has a big secret that she doesn’t share with just anyone!

HER HEART’S DESIRE is a quick read that you can easily read in one sitting and love every minute of it. It is one heck of a crazy emotional roller coaster ride. I have never met a Shelley Shepard Gray book that I didn’t love and once I started reading I knew I was going on one heck of an emotional journey! All of the characters have their flaws and that just makes the reader love them even more. Whatever you are reading, put it down, and run and get this book! If you’ve never read a Shelley Shepard Gray novel (and you know who you are) this would be a perfect one to hook you!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

Her Heart’s Desire is a sweet story about 4 young Amish women on vacation. The women met on the bus ride to Florida, and since they each considered herself a wallflower who wanted a change, they bonded together. There is romance, angst, and insight into modern Amish living, as well as many discussions on faith and forgiveness. This was a delightful book.

This book was so cute. Follow along with a group of Amish ladies that needed to get away. Each one have their own secrets and reasons for feeling left out. You will experience their flaws and see their growth during their vacation away from home. At first I did not like Esther. It definitely took some time for her to grow on me. Her growth ended up making her my favorite.

Mary Margaret travels to Pinecroft, Florida as a time of reflection, away from her home in Trail, Ohio. She needs time to assess where she's going in life. Living with her parents with no prospects of marriage and no friends, she is stuck and searching for more. A childhood nemesis, Esther, is also at the Florida, Amish community. Esther is hurt after long-time friends reject her.

Mary goes in search of direction and finds friendship. Esther goes to escape the hurt of home and looks for forgiveness.

I enjoyed this story. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Her Heart’s Desire by Shelley Shepard Gray is a sweet Amish romance set in Pinecraft, Florida. Mary needs a new perspective and a fresh start. She’s been colored and defined by misunderstandings (and bullies) in her community, and she desperately wants more. She saves her money and travels to Pinecraft, hoping for a new beginning. She meets new people who satisfy all her longings for friendships. She explores, tries new things, and meets new people, including Jayson. Things are going beautifully until her arch nemesis from home arrives at the same inn. Mary learns a lot about herself, friendship, forgiveness, and even love. I loved seeing the beach and a so many other new things through her perspective. Mary starts with a wounded heart and a chip on her shoulder, but quickly learns that whom much is given, much is required. I really enjoyed seeing this wallflower blossom as she meets new friends and discovers love, however complicated it may be.

I do look forward to the rest of the series and seeing what the other new friends discover about life, love, and friendships.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

This was a quick read and a story I could relate to in some ways. The characters were realistic and the story was well told. Everything I would expect from SSG.

Her Heart’s Desire

by Shelley Shepard Gray

Mary is a young Amish lady who was bullied almost all through her childhood. She prays about a new start, and God provides her, through her home business of making greeting cards, with the funds to go to Pinecraft, Florida, for two weeks. Never having traveled far from her home area, she bravely makes the long bus trip alone from Ohio to Florida. She meets two other girls traveling solo to the same inn. They are all seeking a new start for various reasons and soon become fast friends. All is going well for Mary until her worst nightmare comes true in the form of an unwanted visitor from her home town.

Most of the characters in Her Heart’s Desire are either Amish or have decided not to join the Amish church but still share their faith in God and many of their beliefs and customs. You’ll like meeting the characters: so many are kind and generous and are helpful to the trio of girls as they work through past issues and grow in their determination to live their new lives. There are chaste romances with some handsome young men and fun times exploring the local beaches and shops.

I assumed Pinecraft, Florida, was a fictional location, but it is not. Wikipedia says it is a “small neighborhood community of approximately 3,000 Amish and Mennonites…in Sarasota, Florida.” It seems that many Mennonites and Amish enjoy the area as a good place for a winter vacation.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Christian, General Fiction, Romance

Notes: #1 in the Season in Pinecraft Series

Publication: January 3, 2023—Revell

Memorable Lines:

Yep, one could say that his conversation with her had gone as well as a bullfrog jumping into a cement swimming pool.

For a little while, she felt confident, the kind of confidence one gets only when she’s accepted wholeheartedly. It was lovely.

Her former friend’s concerns were twisted, and the things she was concerned about were so silly and so narrow. It was obvious that she wasn’t looking for a change of heart; she simply wanted things to be how they used to be.

Mary Margaret is on her way to sunny Florida from snowy Ohio. She’s traveling alone, but meets a couple other single gals like herself. They’re all Amish and they each have their own troubles they are getting away from. The long bus ride and emergency stop at a motel hear the girls getting to know one another and they decide as a group that no longer want to be “wallflowers,” especially not on their vacation.

It doesn’t take long for Mary and her new friends to go out for walks and check out their surroundings. They also meet new people and check out the beaches. Let’s not forget the cute Amish young men they run into! Mary never expected to run into her childhood nemesis, though!

Ack! Yes. One reason Mary wanted to get away was because of the way other girls she grew up around treated her, made fun of her, and isolated her for many, many years. Her parents called to warn her that Esther was on her way, so Mary mentally prepared herself while trying to act as if everything was fine. But her new friends knew better and Mary hesitantly shared her story about Esther.

Little did Mary expect Esther to stop by to apologize for the way she treated Mary for all those years. Mary didn’t believe Esther and had concerns that Esther would return to being mean once they returned to Ohio. Except Esther actually had her fair share of issues with the other girls who she once teamed up with to make fun of Mary. Can Esther and Mary get past their differences?

Mary also spends a lot of time with a handsome fella, Jayson. He’s been to Florida before, many times actually, hanging out with his best friend, Danny. Jayson is a carpentry finisher by trade and feels obligated to marry his mentor’s daughter and Jason wants to care for his little sister who has type 1 diabetes. But Jayson hid a lot of this information when with Mary. His purpose to vacationing in Florida was a sort of one last time to be free before committing to marrying a woman he doesn’t love. When Mary learns of this she is far from happy.

Their trip needs to come to an end and they need to return back to their respective homes. The girls all vow to keep in touch, via snail mail (they’re Amish, remember?). How great would it be for them to all return to Florida again?

I give this book 5 out of 5 tiaras because of how engrossed I got into the characters. I even found myself talking to the characters when I wanted them to say or do something as if I was right there with them!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Revell for access to this book! My new Amish friends will continue their story in Her Only Wish, releasing this week! Stay tuned for the review for the next book!

A sweet Amish romance. Mary is looking for an escape from her small Amish town where she was never fully accepted by those her age. Hoping for a change, she decides to book a two week vacation in the lovely community of Pinecraft, Florida. Life is different in Pinecraft; she makes her first true friends, has fun in the sun, and just might find love as well. Then Esther, a bully from her past, shows up, and they have to decide if they can put the past in the past and move forward as friends. Both Esther and Mary find potential love in Pinecraft. For Mary, it's with Jayson, a carpenter from Kentucky who is keeping a big secret. For Esther, it's with Michael, a surprisingly mature younger man. Will they be able to open their hearts and accept what comes their way? Pick up this lovely start to a new series and find out.

At its heart, this is a novel about friendship, forgiveness, and faith. It's lovely to see the three girls fall into such an easy friendship at the start, but it's also great to see Mary and Esther work through their past and come together as well. Forgiveness isn't always easy, but the end result is often worth it. The love interests were both endearing men, Jayson with his commitment to taking care of his sister, and Michael with his dedication to self sufficiency. It's easy to wish for a happy ever after for them all. I enjoyed the setting of Pinecraft, and the entire journey of this story as a whole. Looks like the next story will focus on Betsy's story, and I would be interested in picking it up.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An interesting look into the lives of three Amish young women, who are on vacation in the largely Amish population of Pinecrest Florida. They all had problems at home and hope to overcome them during their stay. They experience the highs and lows of beginning romantic relationships, learn to forgive and accept the foibles of a hometown nemesis and gradually discover and like who they really are. I was given an ARC of the book and have voluntarily chosen to write this book.

I enjoyed this book by Shelley Shepard Gray. Shelley takes us back to Pinecraft, Florida in this new series. This book is about love, friendship and forgiveness. I look forward to reading all of this series.

Mary Margaret is an Amish girl from Ohio who is going to Florida for a vacation. She meets 3 other girls there and they become close friends. The book is about these girls find out about themselves and decide to leave Ohio and go to live away from their families. There is emotion, disappointment and love in this book as they find out about themselves and what they really want. I recommend this book for all readers.

I always look forward to the author's newest releases coming out. This one is the start to a new series, and we are once again back in Pinecraft, which I would love to visit someday. It sounds so peaceful.
This is A Season in Pinecraft, #1.
The author is such a master storyteller. no matter the genre she writes, I especially enjoy her Amish stories. Her stories are so compelling with such a nice faith message in them. I always feel so much better after reading her books, such a positive boost they give me.
I was moved by the characters, how they examined who they were and worked on improving their character.
I am looking forward to the next delightful book in this series.

Shelley Shepard Gray has been one of my favorite authors for awhile, so I was excited that I finally got to read the first book in the A Season in Pinecraft series.

I honestly can’t remember ever reading an Amish fiction that is in a beach setting, which gave this novel such a fresh feel. I felt myself aching to visit Pinecraft, Florida! The sound of the sandy beaches, the cool waters and clear blue skies had my imagination running wild with possibilities.

The fast friendships that develop between Mary Margaret, Betty, and Lilly are goals! The trio find kindred spirits in one another as they are all wallflowers in their own communities. With one another they have strength in numbers, and each girl gives the others the courage to do things that they never thought possible. These three women are hard not to fall in love with, and I enjoyed reading about their adventures.

Jayson was another character that I bonded with. I definitely empathize with Jayson and his overprotectiveness over his diabetic sister. I have a teenage son that is type 1 diabetic and I don’t think I’ll ever not worry about him, though I will say Jayson’s sister, Joy, seems a lot more mature and capable of taking care of herself than my son does!

This is a great start to a charming series that I loved so much that I immediately picked up the second book and am currently reading it. Shelley does a masterful job of weaving such captivating tales with relatable characters and picturesque settings. It’s hard not to be enchanted.