Cara's Book Boudoir: A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft by Shelley Shepard Gray Review

A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft
Amish Brides of Pinecraft #4

By: Shelley Shepard Gray

Releasing October 13, 2014

Avon Inspire

Christmas has come to Pinecraft in bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray's final Amish Brides of Pinecraft novel, an uplifting story that proves anything is possible when you follow your heart.

When manager Beverly Overholt's beloved Orange Blossom Inn is broken into, she's shaken to the core. The inn has been her whole life since arriving in the quaint Amish vacation town of Pinecraft, Florida. Hoping to repair what's been lost, Beverly calls Eric Wagler, the inn's handsome owner. To her surprise, he promises to be on the next flight out of Philadelphia.

Ever since her fiancé jilted her, Beverly's been closed off to love. However, with Eric things feel different. She can't help but be hopeful that their work relationship will turn into something more—even though they are from different worlds. She grew up Amish and is now Mennonite. Eric, on the other hand, grew up on the city streets of Philadelphia. How could they ever find common ground?

But as Beverly and Eric put the inn back together, prepare for Christmas, and even witness romance blossoming for another couple, the trust—and love—between them grows. Will Christmas bring a second chance for Beverly? And if it does, will she be brave enough to take it?

So it has been a while since I have read an Amish/Mennonite romance, which is guess is pretty ironic as I live close to one of the biggest settlements in America, but I guess I have been so wrapped up in contemporary and historical romances that I forgot about this subgenre. But then I saw this story and I don’t know why, but the story seemed to speak to me. SO I delved into this book and I am so very glad that I did as this book opened my eyes up to what I had been missing.

A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft is really three stories in one, but they are all tied in together. But I am only going to tell you about our main characters and leave the rest as a surprise. So we start with one of our main characters Beverly Overholt. Beverly runs the Orange Blossom Inn and has done for the past 3 years since her Aunts death, at one time she thought she owned the whole business, but that turned out to be untrue and she was shocked to find out that englisher Eric Wagler owned the building. But this was 3 years later and she has not only become very comfortable with her role of manager and her relationship with Eric has blossomed too. But now Beverly has to call Eric in Philadelphia to tell him that the inn had been robbed!

Eric has been in love with Beverly since he met her that one fateful day, when he inherited the inn and now he is selling up his life in Pennsylvania and moving to Pinecraft to see if Beverly cares for him. But Eric has secrets of the past that will come back to haunt him and possibly destroy any feelings Beverly has for him.

But this is a Christmas story and Christmas is a time of forgiveness, happiness and good will to all men and Eric, Beverly and the people of Pinecraft are reminded of that and good things come from such sorrow.

I have not read a Pinecraft story before, but it honestly didn’t matter one little bit! This story is truly a standalone and I love every minute of it! This book really does remind you of humility and that not everything is as it seems. I honestly loved every single one of the characters in this book, because they honestly didn’t feel like characters in a book, but friends that are a vital part of my life!

So, down to the basics; the story was beautifully written, with no potholes and flowed smoothly. The book really provokes you to this about the hardships of people, not only in the story, but also in real life, but she does it in such an amazing way that it leaves you breathless and filled with joy by the end of the story.

A Christmas Bride in Pinecraft is such an enchanting book and that is why I give it 10 out of 10!

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At Eric’s urging, she’d given herself a week’s vacation. She’d wanted a little time to sleep late, shop, and relax before the next round of guests arrived for Christmas. Taking a week off had sounded like a wonderful idea, especially since she knew how full the inn would be the rest of the month. But now she wondered why it had ever sounded good at all.

Why had she ever thought she needed a break in the first place? If she’d had guests, no one would have dared to come inside. Her mind continued to race. Or, had someone been watching the inn? Had they known it was empty? It was such a disconcerting thought that she couldn’t bear to dwell on it.

“Good to know.” Officer Roberts punched something into his phone. “We’ll do our best to find those responsible, ma’am. But in the meantime, when you’re ready, we’ll need you to walk through the inn and tell us what’s missing.”

He continued on about fingerprints and motives, police reports and pawn shops, but none of what he said made much sense to her. Not that it mattered. Beverly was done listening. She really couldn’t take anymore. Someone had ruined her livelihood. She felt as betrayed as she had when she’d discovered her fiancé had fallen in love with her best friend all those years ago.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to push those thoughts away. This wasn’t the time to revisit those painful wounds.

“Are you going to be all right?” Zack asked. “Do you want me to get you a glass of water or something?”

“I’m fine,” she said at last and tried to mean it.

Because she had no choice.

“Your insurance should cover the damage,” Zack said quickly, as though not having to worry about the financial repercussions would ease her mind. It didn’t. Insurance money could not replace the most valuable thing stolen from her today: her sense of security.

But Beverly nodded anyway. “Jah. I imagine it will.”

“Do you want me to call Eric for ya?” Leona offered. “I don’t mind.”

She looked at Leona and shook her head. “Nee. I’ll do it.”

“Who’s Eric?” the officer asked.

Beverly said, “He’s the owner of the inn.” But in truth, he was more than that. During the last few months, he’d also somehow become the best friend she’d ever had.

She only hoped when he heard her news that would still be the case.

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 Hold 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.