I really enjoyed Shelley Shepard Gray's newest release, Her Heart's Desire. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading sweet Amish fiction. I liked it and am giving it four and a half stars.

Shelley has written another delightful book that kept me engaged from page one. New friendships are created between three young women who arrive in Pinecraft to escape their hometown and issues that happened to them that made them unhappy. They bond and become fast friends. The story is based upon forgiveness, repentance and some clean romance. I highly recommend this book.

All words and opinions are my own. I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Three Amish young women - Mary, Lily and Betsy share a room on their way to Pinecroft, Florida for a vacation. They had no idea that their lives would be changed by the people they would soon meet!
The girls find out that they are all wallflowers - people who stand on the sidelines and watch other people enjoy life, but as they ride bikes and visit local beaches they start to enjoy the more relaxed lifestyle and get to know people.
Mary meets Jayson, a young man near her age who is visiting Pinecraft from Kentucky, Jayson was a finish carpenter and he had a sister Joy 14, with juvenile diabetes.
Mary gets a call from her parents about a new guest in Pinecraft, Emily who made Marys' life miserable with teasing and bullying when she was younger. Emily arrives and she is eventually forgiven by Mary when she asks for forgiveness and they become friends.
Emily meets Michael, a 19 year old Amish boy at the beach and they become friends.
Mary and Emily are only there for 2 weeks but they start falling for the boys, and Jayson hides a big secret.
You will have to read this book for yourself to see what happens....

It took me awhile to connect with these characters. It might be because everything happened so fast. I was disappointed that the parents were mostly shown in an unfavorable light. I did like the friendship between the girls.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this copy.

Mary Margaret is seeking an escape. With the money she has made from her greeting card-making business and a little bit of money her parents give her, she goes to Pinecraft, Florida, for a vacation. On the bus ride there, she meets Lilly and Betsy, two other Amish girls also on vacation. Once she gets to Pinecraft, she finds out that her arch-nemesis from grade school on is coming to Pinecraft as well, and is staying at the same Bed and Breakfast. Mary Margaret has had to overcome years of bullying at Esther's hands and is not exactly excited to see that she will be staying in the same place.

Shelley Shepard Gray has written a book about forgiving the hard things, the deepest hurts, and the betrayals people inflict on one another. This isn't an easy book to read, and it differs from most Amish fiction in that it isn't over-the-top syrupy sweet. Those are things I really liked about it. The characters are flawed which make them all the more believable and relatable. The setting of Pinecraft is one I've read about with other authors too and seems as familiar as being home, so understanding the surroundings is very easy to do.

Both Mary and Esther meet young men whose eyes they catch, so there is a bit of romance for those die-hards who require it. What Shelley has done well is show that even Amish have their difficulties and flaws. One of the most compelling quotes Shelley has included in this book is by Esther, when she asks when it became okay to be mean on purpose instead of gently teasing.

Five Stars, two thumbs up, and an ice cream cone by the ocean.

Revell Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Her Hearts Desire is a beautiful uplifting Amish romance that makes your heart feel so satisfied after reading how young women can live their lives by forgiving and loving one another and finding new friendships and mates, too. Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity yo read this wonderful arc.

This Amish romance features Pinecraft in Florida where the Amish go for retirement or vacation. Three young women meet up on the bus going there. All three have reasons why they were not particularly popular at their home district and they are looking for acceptance. A couple of young Amish men that have had rough childhoods are there when they come. Friendships and Romances and even repentance and forgiveness bloom there in the warm air and sand. It was fun seeing everyone relax in the comfortable ambiance of Pinecraft. Fun story!

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my own honest opinion.

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. The handsome and charming carpenter is taken by Mary from the get-go, but he has responsibilities back home in Kentucky--including a girl he's supposed to marry.

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.

A lovely story about discovering what it is that you really want from life, and the impact that forgiveness can have on your heart and your attitude.

For fans of Amish romance, this is book one in the series, hopefully with many more to come.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.