"A bucket list is a list of things to do before you die. I have a list of things to do to make me feel like I'm finally living. It's my life list" (location 77). Little does Betsy know how her desire to experience life will affect people all around her. Her boldness in trying new things, difficult things, encourages those around her to do something they've been putting off doing...to take a step of courage. It was beautiful to see.

Betsy is delightful. She's been sheltered because of her health and doesn't want that to hold her back any longer. It made me think a bit about what I'd want to put on my own "life list." I enjoyed seeing her with her new friends and was glad to see her stand up for herself when her parents were tempted to take over again. It was a fun read.

Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Betsy has spent some time in Pinecraft, Florida last year and was lucky enough to meet a great group of friends that she now is very close to. Betsy has spend her life under the microscope of her parents because she has asthma and her parents feel it is a death sentence and that Betsy should not be able to do anything that might challenge her lungs.
But Betsy has other ideas. She has made up a bucket list of things she want to learn to do when she is on her months vacation in Florida. Of course her parents want her to lie still, sleep and have involved Mary Margaret in making this happen. Betsy, though has a least some control over Mary Margaret and has taken her list and started doing things in her life.
She wants to learn things, play golf, learn to swim as well as other activities so she starts by going to the local golf course and signing up for lessons. Not only does she get lessons but she meets August Troyer who is quickly falling in love with her and vise a versa. He takes her under his wing and not only teaches her golf but takes her to lunch at different places so she can experience different foods.
Then there is Anne who meets her on bus to the beach and becomes friends. Anne's sister used to teach swimming and they have a pool in their rented house so they set out to teach her to swim.
The interesting thing is that Betsy's spirit is contagious and so many of the people she meets begin to realize that they are in a rut and want to break out themselves.
Two weeks in to her visit she has an asthma attack and can't get to her medication so she ends up in the hospital. Of course her parents come swooping in ready to take her home even though this is not what Betsy wants. Who will win? Then August hears from his parents who are missionaries that his father has been hurt and his mother wants him on the first plane to Africa. All his life August's parents have dragged him all over the world but cared more for their work than for him. He is living at Snow Golf Course with his aunt and uncle and wants to stay there. He is torn though because as a good Amish son he has to respect his parents wishes. His concern also is Betsy and what this will do in the fight for her to have her own life.

I received this book as an ARC review from Shelly Shepard Gray for my honest opinion and I have agreed. Shelly writes heartwarming books about real life people and opens your heart to so many feelings. Shelly, thank you for trusting me to give an honest review and read your wonderful writing. Thank you Revell for publishing such a good book and allowing her ARC team to give their thoughts on it. Also, thank you to NetGalley for bringing this book to the ARC readers.

Betsy has arrived in Pinecraft with her "life list" of things she would like to accomplish. When she embarks on learning to play golf, she meets golf course manager August, who agrees to take her on as a student. As Betsy works on her list, she makes friends with two women who agree to teach her to swim. Her courage and perseverance in the face of her challenges with asthma impresses her new friends. As she and August grow closer, both of them must content with criticism and skepticism from their parents.

This is the second novel in the Season in Pinecraft series, and readers of the first book will enjoy reading about some characters from the first novel. However, this book works well as a standalone. Readers of fiction about Amish people will find this a welcome addition to the genre, by an veteran author of Amish stories.

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

Betsy Detweiler has spent her life watching from the sidelines. Severe asthma attacks have sent her to the hospital more than once, so her parents' solution has been to remove any activity from her life that they deem stressful. Tired of being sheltered from living, Betsy travels to Pinecraft, Florida to enjoy a bit of freedom, and she goes prepared with a "Life List." She tells people it's not a Bucket List because those are things to do before you die. Her list is all about living her best life, but can other people in her life stop hovering long enough to see that no one knows her health better than she does?

August Troyer grew up moving from missionary post to missionary post with his parents, always feeling like an after-thought in their lives. When his aunt and uncle offered to let him stay with them at their home in Pinecraft, he jumped at the chance to stay in one place. He has never felt "called" to the mission field, in spite of his parents' pressure to join their work. He loves managing his uncle's golf course, and when the beautiful Betsy wanders in looking for golf lessons as part of her Life List, he is intrigued. Could someone like her consider making Pinecraft her permanent home, not just a vacation spot?

I loved Betsy's spunk. Yes, she was nervous about testing her limits, but she was determined to stop living life on the sidelines. Her Life List contained many things that she should have done as a child, but her parents - especially her mother - give overprotective a capital O. She knew others would see her list as a bit ridiculous, but it was all about experiencing life. I also enjoyed the side story with the two older sisters Anna and Danielle. All in all, this was a very statisfying addition to Gray's A Season in Pinecraft series. I look forward to Lily's story next!

Shelley Shepard Gray’s Her Only Wish is a sweet beach read ( although I wasn’t on the beach when I read it!). It is Bitsy’s story. We met her in the last story when she rode the bus with Mary and Lily to Pinecraft in Florida. This time she is visiting with Mary and working on her life list: a list of all the things she wants to do. She meets August at the golf courts since golfing is something she wants to learn. He starts to teach her golf, but also finds himself growing more attracted to her. Bitsy also makes some other new friends and discovers that sometimes life gives you the chance to make plans and also to do more than you planned.

4.5 out of 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book more than the first book of the series. I thought it was more believeable. I loved following along with the characters in this book as they found their way through life and unpredictable situations. I recommend picking this book up if you enjoy clean contemporary love stories that include the Amish. I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

This is a wonderfully written book teaching emotional damage recovery. Nice love story helps smooth the way.
Loved it!!!!!
Highly recommend!!!

Her Only Wish is the second book in the Season in Pinecraft series. This book features August and Betsy.

Betsy is visiting from Kentucky, and she has lived a sheltered life from her faith as well as a childhood illness of asthma. Betsy has been unable to do most things due to her health with an overprotective parent. Betsy has been working on creating a list that she calls a life list, not to be confused with a bucket list, that she wants to accomplish while staying there.

One of the first things she wants to do is to play a round of golf. Knowing nothing about golf she walks innocently across the grass and narrowly avoids being hit by a golf ball. This was innocent and funny at the same time. August alerts her to the incoming ball in flight and is taken with her right away.

Another item on her life list is to learn to swim. Betsy sees living a life as something special since she was kept from living hers while growing up. To see how Betsy sees life is pretty special as most people do not view it in the same way as Betsy. I really liked this story and am looking forward to reading many more from this author.

Her Only Wish by best selling author Shelley Shepard Gray, is Book Two in her Seasons in Pinecraft series. This Christian Amish book is set in the Florida community of Pinecraft, which is very different from those in other states. Even though it is the second book in a series, it may easily be read and followed as a stand alone.

This is the story of Betsy Detweiler. She has been to Pinecraft, Florida on vacation and decides to go back. There is so much to do there. Betsy has a “life list” which is similar to what other people call a bucket list. Her list includes things she wants to learn while she is there, such as how to swim and golf.

The author has created realistic, believable characters and an engaging story. I was immediately invested in it. After reading this, I have a better idea of what the Pinecraft community is like. Now I want to go there and experience it for myself.

This is a lovely Amish book with timeless life and Christian lessons. It has a sweet romance. I highly recommend it to everyone. It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by NetGalley but these are my honest thoughts.

Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray is book two in her A Season in Pinecraft series. Though part of a series, this novel reads well as a standalone.

Betsy Detweiler revisits Pinecraft, Florida to work on her life list. August agrees to help her with one item on her list. August Troyer enjoys living in Florida with his aunt and uncle. Meeting Betsy is just a stroke of good luck for both of them. Neither of them is looking for a relationship, but they may have found one anyway.

Shelley Shepard Gray continues the series with an excellent installment. Her knowledge of Amish culture and customs is readily apparent. The plot is engaging with great characters and dialogue. The novel is an overall success. Her Only Wish is a 5 star read that I highly recommend to all fan of chaste romance, especially Amish romance. ,

My thanks to Revell 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.

4.5 stars

Did you know that the Amish play golf? Well, apparently they do in Pinecraft – one of the many delightful things about Her Only Wish, the next book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s A Season in Pinecraft series. Other delightful things include (but are not limited to), THREE separate romances blossoming, pie from Yoder’s, fun supporting characters, sugary-sand beaches, pie from Yoder’s, sisterly bonds, swim lessons, did I mention pie from Yoder’s?

I very much enjoyed meeting Mary Margaret, Betsy and Lilly in Her Heart’s Desire, so I was happy to reacquaint myself with at least Mary Margaret and Betsy in this second book. (Lilly’s story is next!). In Her Only Wish, we get to tag along with Betsy as she determines to spend her month-long vacation in Florida learning things from her ‘life list’ – things she wants to do to prove she can, after lung issues (and her overprotective parents) have limited her in the past. At the top of her list? Learn to play golf.

Enter August, our sweet hero who helps run his aunt & uncle’s golf course and offers to teach Betsy how to play. Easier said than done, as he quickly discovers – I could easily picture these scenes and chuckled at the mental picture in my head more than once (because I would be doing about as well as Betsy lol). I loved watching these two sincere hearts develop a fast friendship that progresses into something more as Betsy’s vacation continues. August’s issues with his own parents make him a readily sympathetic ear to Betsy’s frustrations, and vice versa, and I appreciated that the author doesn’t necessarily wrap up all of these problems with a nice red bow by the end. Life is messy and sometimes it stays that way, even though joy and goodness are always somewhere to be found too… and that’s a balance that I appreciate Gray’s Amish novels so often reflect.

Bottom Line: Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray is as warm and sunny as its Florida setting, with a few clouds of life that drift in to keep things realistic. In addition to our main protagonists’ romance (which was so sweet), there are two other romances blossoming for supporting characters – including a non-Amish couple. I enjoyed the switches back and forth in perspective between Betsy, August, Nate, and Annie (those last two are each one half of the other romances I mentioned) and the layers each brought to the story. The underlying themes were gentle but meaningful and inspirational, and a couple subplots really touched my heart. If you’re looking for a great sweet romance & a beach read that you can enjoy even if you can’t physically be at the beach, Her Only Wish is what you need!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

What an exceptional book! I loved everything about it! The setting of Pinecraft, Florida is picturesque and beautiful! The story is heartwarming! Betsy is a fantastic character! She has a life list. She wants to accomplish certain things in life and she's very determined to cross items off the list. She meets August! August is extraordinary! He's nice, compassionate, helpful and a devoted family man. Their love story is sweet and romantic! The other characters are fabulous-each great in their own way!
A definite must read!
I was provided a copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews and Reviews for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I also received a copy courtesy of NetGalley.

A nice trip to Florida and Family drama finds ties that needs rewinding. A great beach read full of determination to fulfill promises to one self an build a life to be proud of. Thank you NetGalley for this installment of A Season in Pinecraft.

"Sheltered yet adventurous, Betsy Detweiler is on a mission to get out of Kentucky and experience new things in life. She's got a list--a life list. What better place to start than with her friends in beautiful Pinecraft, Florida?

From the moment Betsy walks into the Snow Bird Golf Course to sign up for lessons, August Troyer is mesmerized. Betsy is a mass of contradictions--beautiful yet awkward, outgoing yet unsure, joyful yet hesitant. She's like no one he's ever met before, and as the only child of missionary parents, he's met a lot of people.

As Betsy and August embark on a month of enjoying life to the fullest, they'll encounter several reasons to back off and play it safe. But playing it safe has its own consequences. This tender romance reminds us that life--and love--requires a fair amount of risk."

This is the second in the A Season in Pinecraft series. I enjoyed the love story between Betsey and August as he taught her to play golf. I love Amish romance and this book was no exception.

Her Only Wish is Gray's second book in the Season in Pinecraft series. The main central characters in this story are Betsy Detwweiler and August Troyer.. Betsy has made a life list, and she's determined to cross off quite a few items on her month-long stay in Pinecraft, FL. Her growing up life was quite sheltered, due to her asthma and weak lungs. Upon going to the Snow Bird Golf Course for the first time to check into getting golf lessons, she meets Austin, who grew up a missionary kid and is now working for his aunt and uncle at the golf course. Will Austin be able to teach Betsy how to golf and complete the 18-hole course? And will they develop a friendship that could turn out to be even more?

I found this to be a delightful Amish story as I reconnected with old characters and met new ones. I'm looking forward to the next installment,

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC e-copy of this book. All opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

#HewOnlyWish #NetGalley

This is the second book in this series that I have read. It is an easy-to-read story. This book focuses on Betsy, one of the three from the first book. Betsy is shy because she stutters and has asthma.

I feel this book is a good read for a young adult or anyone looking for a quick read. It is not your typical Amish story. The story flows well but is not at all deep. You do not really get to know the characters. It doesn't feel real, but that's ok for a fictional tale.

I received this book from Netgalley through the Revell Reads blogger program. I was not required to submit a positive review. All thoughts are my own and freely given.

This is an uplifting story of an Amish girl who has a health problem but is determined that it won’t stop her from fulfilling her “life list.”When Betsy arrives in Pinecraft to spend a month, she has goals that she plans to carry out, including learning how to swim and how to play golf. Having been sheltered all of her life because of her health issues with her lungs, Betsy wants to live life to the fullest and sets out to do so. At the golf course, she meets golf instructor August Troyer, a kind young man who is willing to teach her. Coincidentally, she also meets a young woman who will give her private swim lessons. Betsy’s life has been filled with “no’ and in this book, she finally discovers people who tell her “yes” and encourage her to reach for her dreams. I really enjoyed the story because it was positive and upbeat as well as realistically possible. The characters were well-developed and relatable, with regular flaws and problems of everyday life. The story moved along quickly and although many of the plot elements were predictable, there were a few twists along the way that kept the story interesting and engaging. Pinecraft is such a perfect setting for the story, with its beach and tourist attractions adding to the realism. This is a quick read and a light romance, clean Amish fiction that inspires as it entertains. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Her Only Wish is the second book in a delightful series. It focuses on Betsy Detweiler’s journey while catching us up with the other friends from book one. This story perfectly depicts the complexities of relationships between families and friendships as well as the difficulties of dealing with a lifelong health issue.

Betsy has suffered her whole life with asthma which has left her health compromised. As an adult woman, she struggles under the authority of her parents to be able to live life fully making her create a life list that she wishes to accomplish. Her journey to do this for herself is a lesson for us all to learn from.

Her journey to complete this list introduces her to August Troyer and as well as sisters, Danielle and Annie. Through these three, the complexities of family dynamics between parents and children as well as siblings is so perfectly illustrated.

This story is beautifully written and very thought provoking with its themes. A moving book that left me with a smile on my face and looking forward to book three!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray is the second book in the A Season in Pinecraft series. It is the story of Betsy Detweiler who goes on vacation to Pinecraft, Florida. While there she is determined to fulfill her life list of things she wants to learn to do. She meets many people along her journey and their experiences together tell an incredible story, Shelley Shepard Gray has a way of weaving a story that leaves you so engrossed that you can't bear to put the book down. This is the second book in this series and I highly recommend both books in the series.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Revell Publishers for the Advanced Reader Copy it in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

Do you have a bucket list? Betsy had a must do list. She was determined to fulfill her list. Number one on her list was to learn how to play golf. This might sound easy but nothing is really easy for Betsy.

Betsy met August at the golf course. There was an attraction right away. They both had misunderstandings with their parents. Could Betsy and August come to terms with their parents' expectations?
This lovely story shows how strangers can have a major impact on your life. Betsy came to Florida as a stranger but gained an extended family.

I enjoyed the book. Her Only Wish was touching.

I received this book from Revell Reads to review.