My Thoughts on Her Heart's Desire by Shelley Shepard Gray

 

About:

What happens when we allow our pasts to define our futures?

Mary Margaret Miller needs an escape from her small Amish community. She boards a bus, all alone, for a vacation in Pinecraft, Florida. Meeting Betsy and Lilly on the way, she's amazed to find two kindred spirits. They become fast friends and determine to have the best two weeks of their lives. For Mary, it starts when she meets Jayson Raber, a handsome and charming carpenter.

Jayson is taken with Mary from the get-go, but he has responsibilities back home in Kentucky--including a girl he's supposed to marry. And when someone from Mary's past shows up in Pinecraft, it seems like her perfect vacation is ruined. But that's nothing compared to what's coming when she realizes what Jayson has been hiding . . .

My Thoughts:

This was a story about two Amish, one from Kentucky and one from Ohio, who meet and fall in love on vacation. They are also carrying their own loads from the past that continue to dictate their future.

Mary Miller is going to Florida for a vacation. She is very excited as it is wintertime in Ohio, and she is looking forward to the sun and flowers and warmth. On the way she meets two other young women, and they make a pact to be friends. Mary cherishes their friendship as she really never had a close one. She was bullied as a young girl. So having friends is wonderful.

She also has never had a beau. She does not quite know what to do with herself as Jayson Raber begins to engage her. He is quite smitten with her, yet he is not free to really pursue his feelings. He is somewhat promised to the neighbor's daughter and his sister needs that match. His father will also disapprove. Trying to please everyone but himself is not working out too well for Jayson as he falls in love with Mary. They certainly have some trials ahead.

This is a bit of a coming-of-age story and a story of letting go of the past and forging ahead with a new future. Not only a story of new beginnings, but of new friendships as well.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books, including Her Heart's Desire and Her Only Wish. Two-time winner of the HOLT Medallion and a Carol Award finalist, Gray lives in Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail. Learn more at www.shelleyshepardgray.com.