4 Innocent and Beautiful Stars!

This is my first book by Ms. Gray and probably one of a handful of Amish stories that I’ve read. It’s not a genre I normally gravitate towards but there was something about the blurb of this book that grabbed my attention so much that I felt I needed to read this book.

Mary Margaret is on her way to Pinecraft, Florida for a vacation away from her Amish hometown in Ohio. On the bus ride she meets Betsy and Lilly two Amish girls also on their way to Florida and when bad weather forces these girls to spend the night together in a motel room, as awful as the room is, it’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Not only does Mary Margaret find new friends but she also finds love with an Amish man Jayson who’s visiting from his home in Kentucky.

There’s so much beauty in this book. It’s a story that is enchanting at times while at others has moments of heartache as there are decisions that need to be made that will have a huge impact of those involved. I thoroughly enjoyed this book thanks to be wonderful writing style, character development and rich and vivid scenes that I could picture in my head. If you’re looking for a book that’s wonderfully written give this author and book a try.

I was given this book to read and review and I was so lucky to receive it. I love stories about women who don't know their own potential and think that there is no reason for someone to like them. We hear the story of Mary Margaret Miller who had an incident happen to her in school and so she was continually teased and ridiculed throughout the rest of her school years. She decides that she really needs a vacation and so she decides to take a two week trip to Pinecraft an Amish vacation spot on the West Coast of Florida by Sarasota. On the bus ride down they encounter a major ice storm in Georgia and so the bus has to stop at a not so nice hotel. Three girls are assigned to one room and so begins a friendship that will last a lifetime.
When they finally get to Pinecraft they are all staying in a wonderful Bed & Breakfast and making plans on what they will do for their time there. Unexpectedly, the one person that Mary has absolutely no desire to see walks into the B&B. This is the girl from her hometown that has made her life miserable. One of the guys that is there with the group goes after her and we find out what exactly took place. The rest of the girls Betsy and Lilly start to discover why this new member of the group is so upsetting to Mary.
Now we start the trip of learning all we can about the group over the next two weeks while they are there visiting. You will be enthralled by just how much all the girls get along and how each of their lives start to intertwine for good. Not saying that there is no turmoil, because of course everyone has ups and downs during their lives but will Shelly bring them all together and make lifelong friends out of them.
This is a great book and you will love sitting on a beach or by the pool or just in your really comfy chair in front of the fire and indulge your imagination with this story.

This was a great read! I enjoyed meeting each of the characters and watching them grow and change throughout the story. The author made this story very easy to create pictures in your mind's eye as you read the story. The characters were very easy to identify with. I enjoyed this easy read!

A heartwarming story of new friends, loves and growing up. I really enjoyed reading about the four girls journeys to adulthood and the trials and tribulations along the way.

I really wanted to like this book, but it just never got off the ground for me. The characters seemed two-dimensional, and their reactions to the smallest issues, juvenile. The plot was predictable - I never finished a chapter thinking, "I wonder what will happen next?!" The story felt more appropriate for young teens than the general Amish market...it was pleasant, but not real enough to move me. I received a complimentary copy from Net Galley, and was not required to post a review.

“Her Heart's Desire” Season in Pinecraft, book 1 by Shelley Shepard Gray
Life and Hard Circumstances
Yes, I loved this story. I do love sweet clean self-discovery and romance offerings. The six leading characters in this story each had very interesting sub-stories and of course some of them entwined with other characters. I hope I get a chance to meet at least some, if not all, of these characters again in this series. Happy Reading ! !
Note: This review expresses my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.

Enjoyable read, I 2ant to be a wall flower and hang with these wonderful girls.

Thankful for more books in the series as I want to see each girl happy.

Shelley Shepard Gray is an extraordinary author and her work really shines in Her Heart's Desire. Like Mary we are all scared, hurt and vulnerable, even though we may not show it on the outside. We may have a hard time opening up to people or we may over-compensate to cover up our insecurities. I love how this book talked about God putting people in the right place at the right time. The characters in this book each have their own unique outlooks on life, but through faith in God and each other they come together. This is an inspiring book that is definitely a must read again and again.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher, Revell, but that in no way influenced my review.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Mary who is amish decides to go on a vacation. She meets two other girls who she becomes friends with. She meets a guy named Jayson who is hiding a secret. This book was a quick read.

I requested to read and review this book for free from Baker Publishing Company. This book can be read by anyone and anywhere. First book in a new amish series that you will love. You will meet a group of wallflower such as Mary, Betsy, Lilly. That learn to blossom on this trip. Sometimes taking a different approach to life is just what you need to see the clarity in your life. Esther comes along and will her past make her be one of the girls group or will what she done in the past keep her from moving forward. Jayson and Danny have been friends for years just because you don't tell someone what is going on doesn't mean they don't know. Michael has had to grow up super quickly but will his faith keeping him moving forward and knowing who to trust.

The sweetness and comfort of this book leads me to write of many the positive things readers can expect from this book. Mary considers herself a wallflower in her Amish community. Traveling to Florida, she happens to meet 2 other Amish young women who have so much in common that they become fast friends. Mary has to deal with another young woman who has bullied her for years, as well as a young man she grows close to. But he reveals that he is engaged to another, leaving her crushed. This book reminds us that there is comfort in like-minded friends, courage to forgive, support from family, wisdom to change our lives when needed, prayers to keep us close to God and happy endings!
The publisher allowed me to read this book. The views expressed are my own.

I never gave any thought to Amish vacation travel. So I found this story interesting. Wallflower Mary is escaping to Florida. Along the way she meets a couple of lovely Amish gals also on vacation. This story is about Mary's adventures and the people she meets. In such a short time she finds friends she always wanted and a man that catches her eye. Sadly her nemesis also arrives. A good story of forgiveness and finding her own desires for her future.

This is a sweet, heartfelt story of three young Amish women who meet on a bus trip to Pinecraft, Florida. Each of the young women, Mary Margaret, Betsy, and Lilly are taking a vacation alone, and could be considered loners. They often feel excluded, and each long for friends; the kind of friends you laugh with and share secrets.

Upon arrival in Pinecraft, they are delighted all are staying at the same Amish bed and breakfast. As they began to hang out together, go shopping, to the beach, each feels they finally have found friends. They have also met a couple handsome Amish young men who bring another dimension to their relationships.
After a few days, another young Amish young woman, Esther arrives at the B&B, coming from the same hometown as Mary, however, because of a difficult and painful past, they are not friends. Betsy and Lilly, however, reach out to befriend Esther.

This is a beautifully written, heartfelt story with relatable characters The friends learn the value of forgiveness, trusting God and experience the gift of friendship.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Her Heart's Desire is book one of A Season in Pinecraft series by Shelley Shepard Gray.

First I have to say I love how the setting is in Florida but also talks about Kentucky.
I was born and raised in KY and moved to FL when I was 18 so that was neat and exciting to read about in this amazing book.

I enjoyed Mary and Jason’s story.
All the characters were what made this book so special.
I loved being in Pinecraft, Florida. The setting is described amazingly and really sets the tone.
I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to become invested in the story as well the characters.
A well-written, emotion-filled romance with believable characters and a love story to give you all the emotional feels.

I can’t wait to read book 3 Her Secret Hope.

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

Thank You NetGalley and Revell for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Four Amish girls meet and become friends on their way to vacation in Florida. This book is about how two of them find love. Book on of this wonderful series. Uplifting.

Her Heart's Desire is the first book in A Season in Pinecrest series. This is a sweet story of an Amish romance.

Three girls on a Trail are on a bus trip to Pinecraft Florida. On the way there, bad weather forces them to stay overnight and share a room. They become friends as they look forward to their adventure in Pinecraft. Once there they quickly adjust to being away from home while staying at a B&B.

Mary Margaret Miller meets Jayson and each enjoy spending time together. But another girl arrives in Pinecraft with her own plans that include Mary Margaret. Mary is not happy to see Esther and tries to avoid her. The other friends have met Esther and like her so Mary tries to make the best of the situation.

Esther meets a young man that is several years younger than her but worries that he may be too young for her. She really enjoys her time with Michael.

The longer they are all together everyone seems to change for the better and learns how to be a better person. Jayson reveals a truth to Mary Margaret that hurts her just before she is to leave. Once she returns home nothing feels the same to her. Feeling as if she doesn't belong, she tries to make the best of it while she works on her small greeting card business. Surprise visitors will change everything for Mary Margarets future.

Esther will also make a decision about her future after she also realizes that she has changed for the better and no longer fits in the community.

I really enjoyed this lighthearted Amish romance. The story is well written with fantastic characters. The book is just under 300 pages, but I was so invested it felt so much shorter. It was a wonderful afternoon read.

Heartwarming!

A little different glimpse of the Amish life with this series. The main characters are from various areas in the mid west that meet while on a solo trip to Pinecraft, FL. Mary, Lilly and Betsy all consider themselves as wallflowers and quickly bond.

Look forward to what's next for this trio.

This has been such an enjoyable book to read. I could feel the excitement as Mary steps on the bus to get out of her comfort zone. She needs this break to regroup and to hopefully find a direction for her life. I loved how the author introduces Betsy and Lillie to the story. Three young women traveling on the same bus going to the same place had to be a God thing. They quickly become friends and I adored the place they were staying at. The adventures they planned sounded exciting and their mutual desire to be friends was good for each of them.

It is hard to say which character I liked the best because they each offer an adventure as they figure out where God is calling them. Mary seems to be the most unsure of her future and tends to hold onto things from the past. At times I thought maybe she was running away so she didn’t have to face her insecurity. I liked the interaction she has with Jayson and how their friendship developed slowly and respectfully. The author illustrates how hard forgiveness can be. I loved reading how Mary and a friend from home run into each other in Pinecraft. I thought it took real courage for Esther to face Mary knowing how hurtful she has been to her. Mary finds it hard to forgive Esther but with God’s guidance we witness how freeing it can be to release bitterness and forgive.

The story is filled with a look at how faith will guide you as you listen to God. He has a plan for each of us. Some of the characters find it hard to wait on God’s direction but when they try to move ahead of Him, they stumble and hurt feelings happen. Jayson is a good example of being afraid to stand up for what he wants. He is so focused on making others happy, he finds that he could miss the opportunity to find love. The author gives us a range of emotions from unhappiness, loneliness, forgiveness and finding peace. I’m excited that this will be a series and can’t wait to follow the characters on their journey as they step out in faith.

What a wonderfully delightful book this was!… Jam packed full of fun and laughs… Lots of light-hearted moments, emotional scenes and parts which will have you laughing out loud!… Filled with lots of love, family and friendships, this book is truly a delight to read.

I have a friend that lived in Pinecraft for a time. I loved hearing about this idyllic place from her so when I realized that Her Heart's Desire is set in Pinecraft I knew I wanted to read it. I'm so glad I did because it was just as delightful as I had hoped.

The story centers around Mary Margaret Miller who has set out on a little getaway to Pinecraft. She's hoping for a bit of a respite from her miserable life at home. Mary Margaret is a bit of an outcast and because of that has become quite lonely. On the bus ride to Pinecraft she connects with two other Amish girls and they become fast friends.

For Mary Margaret this trip feels like a little slice of heaven. She's made new friends, she's found a guy she's interested in and he seems to return the interest. And there's a beach involved. What could possibly go wrong?

One of the main reasons that I enjoy books by Shelley Shepard Gray is that they are relatable. I'm not Amish but I know what it feels like to be ostracized. I know what it feels like to have your bubble burst. I think these feelings are pretty common to all of us at some point in our lives.

Her Heart's Desire is a beautiful story of facing what life throws at you and coming out stronger with your faith intact. I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.