Saturday, November 18, 2017

Review: The Gift by Shelley Shepard Gray

About the book:


A special Christmas story about love and blessings in the next book in the Amish of Hart County series


The Schwartz family is happy to be spending Christmas on their new farm in Hart County. But when Susanna Schwartz hears gunshots that causes her buggy to overturn, and then her little sister falls through a wooden bridge into the icy creek, it becomes clear from these dangerous "accidents" that someone wants them gone.

Neil Vance has been heartbroken ever since his parents lost their family farm. He knows it's not the Schwartz family's fault, but he can't help but be resentful. Until he meets Susanna. She is kind-hearted and bold, and Neil can't stop thinking about her pretty green eyes.

Neil thinks the accidents are just that, but Susanna's father is convinced the Vance family is responsible. Susanna refuses to believe Neil would do anything to harm her. She's fallen in love with him and knows he is a good man. But her family is ready to pack up and move, and time is running out to uncover the truth before someone gets hurt . . . or worse.


Learn more and purchase a copy.

My Thoughts:

The Gift was another atmospheric Amish read that made me chilly just reading it. This is a story about two families, one who lost the farm and one whose dreams came true at finding and buying a farm that they could actually afford. Starting off with quite a wild ride, we are gripped with a sense of unease and a dark malevolence from the very start. Too many accidents cannot be ignored. Susanna and her family try to reach out to their neighbors to find out why they have been ostracized by the community when they have just moved in. Trying to begin a new life in ideal circumstances is hard enough but when it seems someone wants you off the farm permanently, that is scary.

I really liked the angle of the story where Susanna and Neil Vance-the oldest son of the family that sold the farm- become unlikely friends and reluctant love interests. Not only do we have their story but we get Susanna’s sister, Amanda and their new neighbor’s romance as well. A dark, chilling story within the Christmas season made for an interesting read this holiday season.


I received a copy of this novel for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:



Shelley Shepard Gray is a "New York Times" and "USA Today" bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.


Find out more about Shelley at 

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