He'd embarrassed her. Made her feel like she was less than everyone else. And that had hurt so bad that she'd tried to avoid him at all costs. In short, Nate Miller was a constant reminder of how badly she'd wanted to fit in and how impossible that goal had seemed back when she was fourteen.

The series continues to center around Andy who had committed suicide and the friends that he left behind. One of those friends was Kendra. Kendra had shown a side of herself to Andy that no one knew. She came from a poor abusive Amish family. She was left to care for her younger siblings. She stills carries the baggage of her family and along with other demons that she hung on to for support. But now she is starting her own Amish store and her younger sister is living with her. Nate Miller cannot understand the mistrust Kendra has towards him and when she does tell him, it changes him.

The building of their friendship leads to trust and strength that both Kendra and Nate realized that they didn't have. The prose is how trust is built and the trustworthiness of friends. When Kendra reveals a weakness in her past, she is given new strength when Nate accepts that weakness to who she is today. Together they learn about what forgiveness means and moving forward with friendship and love.

A Special Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

"The Trustworthy One" continues the Walnut Creek Amish saga. In this novel, Kendra works at opening her new gift shop after moving back to Walnut Creek. Kendra deals with demons from her past life, in addition to moving into her new life in the present. The product of an abusive childhood, Kendra has served as a mother to her younger siblings, all of whom have also moved on with their lives. Kendra finds a way to make peace with childhood friends, and finds love in unexpected places. This book deals with themes of dyslexia, abuse, and addiction. Readers of Christian fiction should find this novel an interestingly different one from the usual Amish fiction. It is a clean novel, lacking descriptions of violence, adult scenes, and profanity.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

When Kendra Troyer ran from Walnut Creek, the scars on her body mirrored the scars on her heart. In her case, the physical scars came at the hands, and feet, of her abusive father. The scars on her heart came from her mother's neglect, and her classmates' callousness in the face of her obvious poverty. Feeling guilty for leaving her siblings to the terror that was their home, Kendra fell into drinking and pills to get through her days. Now clean, she has returned to Walnut Creek to open a home furnishings store, a huge accomplishment for someone with her background.

Nate Miller owns the hardware store just two doors down from Kendra's new shop. He doesn't understand why she has avoided him for the past 10 years. Any time she comes through town, she makes sure they don't interact, which is tough, since they have the same set of friends. When he finds out how his youthful tongue gouged new wounds in her already damaged heart, he is remorseful. Can he ever become a man she can count on?

When Kendra's youngest sister, Naomi, asks to move in with her big sister, she agrees with some reservations but when her brothers arrive, with their neglectful mother in tow, Kendra's heart nearly breaks with the pressure they put on her to forgive their parents. Their father is dying from the consequences of his own actions. With Nate's help, can she stand strong when her family asks for more than she can give?

This was a tough story to read in some ways. Kendra's father's abuse was nearly constant from the time she was 5 years old, and the beatings didn't stop until she left home. How any parent could treat a child that way is beyond my understanding. For that man to be Amish, a peace-loving faith, hurts even more. And, for no one to step in for her???? Unbelievable. There is no way that no one noticed her bruises!

This is a story about forgiveness and learning to trust when you've never had anyone trustworthy in your life before. I can absolutely recommend this, book #4 in the Walnut Creek series.

This book definitely has the most serious tone out of the books I’ve read in the series. The author deftly handles topics of child abuse and drug addiction in ways that are sadly realistic and relevant to today. I am thankful after turning the last page, that I still feel the effects of the story—meaning there is no sunshine-and-roses happy ending, but all told, a hopeful one. I think she captures the pain of Kendra’s past well. That said, I wish this book wasn’t a romance (I’m obsessed with romance, so that’s saying something). I like that Kendra and Nate are old friends, but they have absolutely no chemistry. I think it’s because so many other important issues rightly took precedence that the romance seems a bit of an afterthought. However, The Trustworthy One is a nice addition to the series. It’ll be interesting to see the direction of the next book!

I have enjoyed every book I've read by Shelley Shepard Gray. She writes great Amish fiction. In The Trustworty One, Shelley has tackled some of the most heart-rending societal woes known to our world today.

Kendra is the victim of unspeakable abuse by her father, and utter neglect by her mother. She left Walnut Creek as soon as she could make sure her siblings were going to be all right. She often would go without food to make sure they had something to eat.

After seven years she moved back to Walnut Creek to open a store. Just two doors down from her store was the hardware store run by Nate Miller. In the midst of all her hurt, he'd thrown a verbal dart that pierced her soul, but now he sees something entirely different in Kendra.

There was a group called The Eight, who were almost a clique of friends in the New Order Amish Church that Kendra wished she could belong to. There were friends among The Eight who would reach out to Kendra from time to time, but until she moved back to Walnut Creek, they had never really embraced her into their group.

Soon after moving back, her brothers and her mother come to visit her to tell her that her father is terminally ill and that she should go see him in the hospital. The reader will understand her visceral response to the request. Shelley has described through Kendra's words the abuse that Kendra suffered at the hands of her father, and it is unthinkable that someone would treat another human in such a degrading and harmful way.

After her father dies, The Eight come to stand up with Kendra and enfold her while she processed the information.

This is a heart-rending book that will touch every reader. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a group of friends who will stand beside you in your dark days.

Gallery Books and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is another book in this series. I enjoyed reading it and found it hard to put down. I enjoy reading this author's books and look forward to reading the others in this series. Glad I had the opportunity to read this one. I recommend it to others.

I read The Protective One from this series and loved it and this one ranks right up there with it! Another solid gem I have found!

I loved Kendra and felt really badly about her childhood and how emotional she felt for having to leave her younger siblings behind but felt she let her hurt feelings over something a fellow school member said in his teens when he was younger and less understanding about her have to much weight over her life. You can't just hang onto things like that in life or it will certainly drag you down especially when Nate is doing all he can to make things up to her.

I enjoyed when her sister Naomi can into the scene and how even this relationship had suffered over the years because of so many years of childhood abuse... the stress between them and how they come to terms with each other.

You can certainly read these books alone but I do feel you'd get a better understanding of some of the persons mentioned and how they are all connected if you go back and read them all in order.

*I was given a copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.

Kendra Troyer has moved back to Walnut Creek and is opening her own business, Tried and True. Kendra had a very tumultuous childhood. Her father was an abusive drunk who beat his children. Often there wasn't enough food for everyone, and Kendra went without many times so her siblings could eat. Their mother took pills to escape and allowed her children's abuse.
Kendra escaped once she was old enough, but also found other ways in which to escape with drugs and alcohol. Eventually, she went into rehab and got clean. Kendra never felt she was good enough. In school, she longed to be a part of the Eight, but it wasn't to be. Nate made fun of her for being poor and dumb. She wasn't dumb, she had dyslexia.
When she realizes Nate has a store down from hers, she distrusts his acts of friendship and wants nothing to do with him. Past hurts and humiliation run deep.
Her sixteen year old sister, Naomi comes for a visit and wishes to live with Kendra. She has been living with their maternal grandparents for several years. They refuse to acknowledge the abuse their grandchildren endured, and only make excuses for their daughter, the children's mother.
Great story, but I did have trouble with the fact that the Troyer's were Amish, who are supposed to be peaceful people. Also, that their bishop or no one else stepped in and stopped the abuse in the home.
Thanks to the publisher, Gallery Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

“We need to trust ourselves and trust Him too”

There’s a lot of wisdom sprinkled throughout the engaging Walnut Creek Series Books and this last novel in the series is packed full. I loved reading the stories of “the eight”, and this one is the heartwarming saga of Kendra and Nate. The author deals sensitively with some tough issues including parental and substance abuse and all of the after affects those present. Kendra found herself having to be in the “mother” role for her 4 siblings because of her father’s constant physical abuse, and as an adult she still suffers emotionally. Can she learn to trust Nate’s friendship? As in the preceding novels, we find the never-ending faithfulness of the strong bond that holds the eight together, through all life events.

I found this a very enjoyable read and loved the details – Kendra’s little shop, Nate’s hardware store, and especially about the different Amish orders. I will miss these characters!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This book was another one in the author's series. This book was just okay for me. It was cute and sweet but nothing that was really exciting.

A 4 1/2 if I could give.
Kendra had her share of hurts growing up. Her father who drank and beat her on a regular basis was hard to deal with. But she also cared for her four younger siblings as well Kendra was the buffer that protects them from the father’s abuse and her mother’s neglect.
As an adult Kendra now returns to her place of birth in Walnut Creek. Not a decision she has made lightly she thought she would never return. As she sets up her store, she begins to trust and open her heart to neighbors and friends. Her youngest sister comes to live with her; requiring more changes and acknowledgment of the past. As the book progresses we learn more of her past abuse and kindness shown by fellow classmates as a child.
I like that the author doesn’t paint a pretty picture of Kendra’s life and the choices she made to get to this part of her life. I liked the building of the story and would recommend you probably read the series in order. I know there are parts of the background that I missed. A great story of although not forgiveness so much as acceptance of the past and moving on. It was a positive story.

I have never had an e-book that wouldn’t save the progress I had to sync each time to return, hmm.
While I wish I had the time to have read the previous 3 books in this series, I will go back and read them. Shelley Shephard Gray is one of my favorite authors, one reason I requested this book from NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review all thoughts are my own. Thanks to Galley books and the author for the free e-copy of this book.

The Trustworthy One by Shelley Shepard Gray is the fourth and final full-length novel in her Walnut Creek series, though there is a novella to come. Though part of a series, it reads well as a standalone.

Kendra Troyer envied the Eight, a group of popular kids in her school, until she realized that privilege and popularity didn’t make you worthy of friendship. Nate Miller isn’t a part of the Eight, like her he is friends with some of them, which gives them something in common. Unfortunately, with one unthinking action Nate earns Kendra’s lifelong resentment.

Kendra leaves her abusive home life and her four siblings behind and flees to Columbus and design school vowing never to return. She finds herself during her stay in Columbus and returns to Walnut Creek after the death of a friend. Kendra has obtained some confidence and success and joins a circle of friends that includes Nate Miller. She hasn’t forgotten Nate’s childhood action that devastated her and made her even more aware of her sad circumstances. Kendra can forgive him with words but can she forgive him in her heart?

The Trustworthy One is a story of family, faith and forgiveness. It’s well-written and holds the reader’s attention. The characters are likable and believable. Ms. Gray includes enough backstory to give the reader an understanding of the full storyline of the series. I enjoyed this novel and rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this novel to all readers of religious fiction.

My thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

This series gets better with each book. All of the characters from this series have been fantastic. Kendra lived through a horrible childhood and was able to survive it and she was able to make a good life for herself. She didn’t know that her life would get even better once she met Nate Miller. These two people helped each other to really grow. I loved how each chapter started with a part of a tale from when Kendra was younger. I did not want to put this book down. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will

The Trustworthy One by Shelley Shepard Gray has Kendra Troyer opening Tried and True, a furniture and accessories shop, in Walnut Creek, Ohio. Kendra never thought she would return to her hometown. It is filled with bad memories of her abusive home and the comments made by Nate Miller when she was a teen. But Kendra discovered that she missed her four younger siblings and her friends in the Eight. Kendra is working in her shop when Nate stops by bringing up all the old feelings. Nate wants to make things right between them and will not let Kendra dissuade him. Kendra’s younger sister, Naomi has been living with their maternal grandparents. Naomi wants to live with Kendra and take care of her for a change. What does the future hold for Kendra, Naomi and Nate? The Trustworthy One is the 4th novel in The Walnut Creek Series. I recommend reading the series in order because it will give you a better understanding of the group called the “Eight”. It will also give you a chance to know the characters and their situations. I found The Trustworthy One to be well-written with developed, flawed characters. I find the characters to be realistic, relatable and likeable. Kendra Troyer comes from an abusive home. Her father was a drunk, bully and abuser and Kendra’s mother used drugs to deal with the situation. Kendra took care of her siblings. She took the brunt of the abuse and made sure that they had food to eat (even if she went without). When Kendra had a chance to escape, she took it, but she feels guilty for leaving her siblings behind. Kendra has never fully dealt with her feelings. The situation was worsened as a teen by careless, unkind and humiliating remarks made by Nate. Kendra and Naomi need to find a way to overcome the past and forgive if they are to move forward. Nate uses charm, persistence and kindness in dealing with Kendra. Kendra was technically not a part of the eight (a group of close friends who are Englisch, Amish and Mennonite), but they became her friends. Kendra needs this close group of friends. We get to see how each member of the group is doing and I like Kendra’s story about Andy that is told in bits before each chapter. I like how the author dealt with such a difficult and sensitive subject. The ending was satisfying and left me smiling. My favorite line from The Trustworthy One is “All of us are a work in progress.” The Trustworthy One is a poignant tale with fabulous furniture shop, a painful past, fantastic friends, persecuting parents, and delicious delights.

I loved this book!! Great story!! Love this series!! Can't wait for the next book in the series to release!! Love this author's books!! Received this book from gallery books from netgally!!

A beautifully written book that will touch your heart.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gallery Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

Title: The Trustworthy One
Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher: Gallery Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"The Trustworthy One" by Shelley Shepard Gray

My Speculation:

A read that significantly affected a horrible abused Amish child and also showed how one could overcome the many obstacles to achieve one's dream as it was for Kendra Troyer. We find Kendra had left Walnut Creek but returned with many bad memories of growing up with an abusive father and mother. With opening her store, she still held on to lots of bad memories, but will she find peace through her faith with her friends [The Eight] support? Will one person in particular [Nate Miller] be able to change her mind about him from things Kendra had heard him say about her long ago? The theme of the read is all about trust. Will Kendra be able to learn to trust again after all she had been put through the hands of her abusive parents and learn to move on to a new life? Well, to find out the answers to all of these questions and more, the reader will have to pick up the reader to see how this author will bring it all out. This story is not a lighthearted one but one that will make you ponder over long after the read.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book and my giving my honest opinion of the read.

The Trustworthy One (Walnut Creek #4)
by Shelley Shepard Gray
This is the second in the series that I have had the pleasure to read. Its light hearted in majority of context. This particular volume looks at some of the darker side of the Amish and Mennonite world.
The series starts with a suicide and friends drawing back together, the Eight is a group of young children of mix origin that group together to remember their lost friend. The trustworthy one is stepping out of the original Eight to show the other side of the culture and small town. Kendra is a survivor, she protected her younger siblings from their abusive father. The abuse left her with a lot personal daemons, and insecurities. The book shows how to over come adversity, and grief, and allowing yourself to forgive. Its very moving, and will bring the reader to tears. It was a wonderful story.

The meaning of this clever multi-layered title becomes clear as the story plays out. Who is the trustworthy one? God? Kendra, the main character in the novel? Or is it the the people she is learning to trust especially the man who becomes her romantic interest? And who else in the novel is learning to trust and be trustworthy? The story shows us that both becoming trustworthy and learning to trust involve becoming vulnerable and we see how the characters come to navigate learning to trust God, each other, and themselves. The final story in a series of novels set in an Amish community, the main character, Kendra, is the eldest child of an Amish family. She shielded and cared for her younger siblings amidst an abusive father and negligent mother until she was compelled to leave her family at age 18. Although the story treats the terrible situation of family abuse, it does so without gory details and reinforces the fact that abuse is found everywhere, even in an Amish family.

The author authentically investigates forgiveness, starting over, and addiction. I enjoyed reading this book which was clean and promoted Biblical values, but was not preachy. The characters were believable, and I connected with them. I liked getting an insight into the Amish and New order Amish culture and their values.

I recommend this book especially for someone who comes from a similar situation of abuse or who has a friend in that situation. Kendra authentically wrestles with her emotions and struggles to forgive and make herself vulnerable yet is able to keep her boundaries. Overall, this is a nice book to read, which held my interest. It is of the romantic novel genre but sweet and not steamy. It gave me some new insights and food for thought. If you are looking for a wholesome romantic novel that also has some "meat" to it, you will find it in "The Trustworthy One".
How do you rate this book, 1-5 (5 being best) ? 4

I enjoyed being back with the "8", and we meet one who envied those who were members, but her life as a child was in shambles. Some guessed that things were not good for Kendra and her siblings, but really didn't know the extent.
Now pulling her self up by her bootstraps, this young woman has returned to her hometown and is opening her own business. We meet agin these folks that are always there for one another, we now see them embracing Kendra, and the author gives us so much more.
There are so many emotions here, and some are so very hard, there are tears, and smiles, guilt and forgiveness, but there is also "love", in all forms.
I hate to see this series end, I want to continue with this group and move on with them in their lives, and do I see a wedding here, yes, but there are also some new babies on the way!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gallery Books, and was not required to give a positive review.