Such a great story to finish out the series! Loved reading about Lilly’s story and her amazing journey to find happiness.

Thankful for the opportunity to have and Advanced Readers Copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.

Two years ago, Lilly Kurtz travelled to Pinecraft, FL for a vacation with her friends. Now, all three of her friends are married and living in Pinecraft, and Lilly is taking a chance and moving her things to Florida as well. All she wants is a fresh start in a place where no one knows the secret of her background. At first, all goes well. She's making new friends, enjoys her job, and loves reconnecting with her married friends. Meeting farmer Eddie Byler who is on vacation with his grandmother, seems like the icing on her cake of joy, until she discovers he lives a mere 8 miles from her hometown. She can't imagine returning to a place where she's always felt excluded but she's falling hard for Eddie. Will she have to give him up to have the peace she craves? What happens when one of her "bullies" from back home turns up in Pinecraft? Will her secret past drive Eddie away?

When Lilly is falsely accused of stealing, and her manager doesn't stand behind her, Lilly feels bereft. Is she fooling herself that she can find a place where people trust her and she isn't the object of gossip?

I have enjoyed this series set in Pinecraft. The young women and the men they fall for are all very different, and yet they have the same dream - to find someone who will love them as they are. Lilly and Eddie are drawn to each other from the start, and Eddie proves himself to be worthy of Lilly's trust.

Readers who enjoy Amish romance fiction will enjoy this story. This is the third book in this series by Shelley Shepard Gray, and if you want to get to know Lilly's friends, you'll need to read the first two. I listened to this one on my Libby app and it was a fairly quick book to listen to.

Pinecraft - three friends (Mary Margaret, Lilly, Betsy) went to live in the same village, to stay near and support each other, enjoy each other. Friendship is a good feeling, let you help in difficult time and laugh in happy time.
but life sometimes is strange and let drive you in different way. if the friendship is strong, you always find the way to contact and keep contact to the friends. nice book, easy and lovely to read.
Thank you to let me read this book to: Author, Editor, Interview&Review, Netgalley.

I enjoyed this book, but had a few issues with it. The main characters both seemed too wishy washy to me. I’m not sure how they managed to get together because of that. Lilly was adopted and had felt less than her entire life because of it. All of a sudden at the end of the book, her lifetime beliefs and feelings instantly changed. It doesn’t work that way in real life. Lastly, I felt the only thing that connected them to being Amish was their described clothing. Their attitudes and thoughts didn’t reflect it.

I love this series! I’m so happy to be back in Pinecraft, Florida with the friends I have made in that community. This author sure knows how to write a book that engages the reader from the beginning, with enough twists and turns to keep me reading and falling in love with the characters more and more. I love the growth of Lilly and the way she and Eddie interacted was very realistic and drew me in even more. Redemption is definitely a main theme in this book in particular and one that has stayed with me after closing the last page.

I was given this book as a complimentary copy but was not required to write a review.

Lilly leaves Middlefield, OH to find her place. She accepts a housekeeping job at the Pinecraft bed and breakfast in Sarasota, FL where friends of hers have moved. Lilly struggles with the move as the friends are married and she is single. Guests of the hotel, November and Eddie, also hail from Middlefield which means quick connections are made. Lilly tries to hide her story of being adopted at birth. She has always felt that it sets her apart – seemingly it bothers her more than anyone else. But it has driven a wedge between her and her adopted parents back in Middlefield.

An unfortunate incident at the hotel causes a rift in her experience in Sarasota. Unsettled, Lilly questions her choice to move to Florida.

“Her Secret Hope” by Shelley Shepard Gray is the inspiring and exhilarating story of how Lilly Kurtz left home to find herself but found true love instead. She wants to make a fresh start, without a past and no secrets lurking in the shadows but the past reluctantly refuses to lie dormant. Will Lilly be forced to give up on love to find peace or is love the solution to all of her myriad problems? Lilly frantically escapes her Ohio roots, desperately seeking and trying to find the elusive happiness her heart poignantly yearns for. Adopted at the tender age of two, she carries a chip on her shoulder. Now aged twenty-four, in the Amish community of Pinecraft, Lilly works as a maid at the Marigold Inn, where she meets Eddie Byler, who was jilted in love and smarting from the devastating hurt. As Lilly and Eddie spend more quality time together, they start to care for each other and Eddie slowly begins to heal. However, his penetrating questions about her family puts the budding relationship at risk. Gray’s revealing portrait of a young woman seeking her own unique place in the world, and Lilly’s profound insights into self-worth and faith prove most affecting and worthy of deep contemplation. Here is a book that avid readers would like to invest their time and energy in, with no regrets. Happy reading!

True love came without expectations or rules or boundaries. Instead, it came by itself. Love is more than insecurities or self-doubts, wishes or dreams, it comes to rescue.

Lilly Kurtz is coming back to Pinecraft where her friends have stayed to make a new life. She too wants that for herself. Her life in Ohio has become unsettled. She is adopted and she has increasingly felt the odd one in her family and community. Coming to Pinecraft to find her own way with her Amish beliefs is a new start. A new beginning. She works at a bed and breakfast run by a single English woman who has worked hard for what she has. She is pleased with Lilly and what she brings to her Inn. When Eddie Byler and his grandmother come to visit, there is attraction but Lilly's own insecurities keep a wall between her and Eddie. It is when she is accused of a crime that Eddie proves himself to her.

Of course in all relationships, there is something we learn about our selves and reading about Lilly and Eddie we too can learn how precious it is when we have someone on our side. Someone who fights for you when no one else will. A feel good story.

A special thank you to Revell and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

I have read all the “Season In Pinecraft” books and I absolutely love them! The original 4 Amish girls Mary Margaret, Betsy, Esther and Lilly all travel to Pinecraft Florida and in previous books they find adventure, love, acceptance and hope. If you haven’t read the other books, I highly recommend reading them first.

In this specific book, Lilly is the last to share her story and experiences with trying to find her place in life and to feel truly accepted. I liked getting to know Eddie, a new friend of Lilly. I loved the sweetness of these books, characters and the beautiful setting of Florida. It has been so much fun reading this light hearted book that kept my interest from beginning to end. I am sad to see this series come to an end.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.

Her Secret Hope
A Season in Pinecraft #3
By Shelley Shepard Gray

Lilly Kurtz wants to reset her life, leaving her past and her sense inferiority behind. Pinecraft, Florida, is the perfect place to start over. She has friends there and it's comfortable.

With a job at the Bed and Breakfast that she first stayed in two years ago, Lilly's new life is on track. What Lilly never expected was to find the possibility of love so soon after leaving Ohio behind.

Eddie Byler has taken time from his busy life as a farmer to bring his grandmother on a vacation to Florida. But Eddie is in more need of a break from his busy life than his grandmother. Since his plans for the future and a family were shattered he's been all about work. Lilly has managed to make an impact on him with her sweet and caring personality. And the time she's given to his grandmother is even more important to him.

But Lilly has a secret, one she knows will change everything. One that she's afraid to share. One that shows she's not worthy of love.

Her Secret Hope is an excellent read. This book delves into the feelings that can plague someone who has been adopted. Not knowing why has a way of affecting the way one thinks, feels, and interacts with and around others. This book is moving and in a way explains Lilly desire to please and do her best. When an incident occurs and her new life is thrown into disarray, Lilly is faced with a choice - run from the past yet again or face it.

I really enjoyed this book. The depths of emotion that were presented as Lilly faced new challenges were moving. One could feel her anguish when accusations were made against her. Her shock at being treated as she was. The adage of the customer is always right even when they are wrong is on full display here and such a policy is most definitely wrong if absolutely enforced all the time. Let's just say I would have been in tears too.

This is the best book in the series, and can be read as a standalone title if you haven't read the previous two books. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys contemporary or Amish fiction.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Her Secret Hope is the third story about a group of Amish girls who went on vacation to Pinecraft, Florida. This group of girls called themselves the Wallflowers.

This is Lilly's story. Lilly struggles with who she is as she was adopted as a child and never felt like she belonged. She decides to move to Pinecraft to be near her friends who have settled there with their husbands. She is resigned that she will never find love but is going to work at the hotel there and save money to live on her own.

Lilly is bright and efficient, but is so insecure. She meets Eddie and his grandmother, November and they find her delightful and also different than other girls her age. She is genuine and she is kind.

This story is about Lilly's journey in discovering herself and what she wants. It shows that sometimes the things we want can change.

I loved every minute of this book. It was a delightful escape and had just the right touch of romance, friendship, and real love. There were reminders about the importance of treating people right.

I would recommend this for those who love a good Amish story full of hope.

I received an early copy from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Lilly Kurtz finally did it. She left her home and moved to the Amish community of Pinehurst in Florida where she hoped to become a better version of herself. Her two closest friends lived there, and she planned to make a life for herself. She was immediately hired at a Bed and Breakfast as a maid, and she would try to save enough money to one day buy a house of her own. She wasn't sure she would ever find love the way her friends had, so she would make it on her own. Eddie Byler, a young farmer from Ohio, and his delightful grandmother meet Lilly while on vacation in Pinehurst. Attracted to Lilly from the start, Eddie couldn't understand why she made it so difficult for him to get to know her. Lilly had her reasons, but Eddie is a determined man. Can he convince Lilly of this?

The author has skillfully created two very different protagonists who meet simply by chance or perhaps it was fate. Whatever the reason, a relationship develops but it is not without complications and that is what makes the narrative compelling. As the story progresses, it becomes obvious that sometimes love and trust don't always come easily but can be worth the effort if people are willing to take a chance.

Told with sensitivity and compassion, this well-crafted story is packed with emotion, meaningful relationships and the power of hope. It is well worth reading. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

An excellent ending to an exceptional and inspiring series! This story focuses on Lilly one of the three “wallflowers” who became best friends while stranded in an ice storm while traveling to Pinecraft, FL.

Lilly makes the bold decision to leave her family home and move to Pinecraft to be with her best friends. Lilly, who was adopted by an Amish family as a young toddler, has always felt like she was on the outside looking in especially after discovering her heritage. Moving to Pinecraft forces her to look at her life and how she has felt about everything. She must make some difficult decisions that will shape her future and face issues in her past.

Such a great story to wrap up the series and lets us connect with the other characters and find out more about them. I cannot say enough good things about this book or series! Definitely must reads.

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

This is a sweet story in a series. I would recommend that readers read this series in order as many of the characters are found in this book from the earlier books. I love the way the author took on the theme of adoption and gave us insight into the thoughts of the person that was adopted. Lilly was seeking to find a place where she fit in and felt she belonged. She is also trying to start anew and is hoping to leave her past behind. However, the past does not stay there and that she must allow God to have the ultimate control. Gray does a wonderful job of developing Lilly and allowing us to understand the power of love. I also really enjoyed getting to know Eddie and his unique Grandmother, November. The characters are wonderful, the story is awesome and the author is one to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday, November 30, 2023
Her Secret Hope
"Her Secret Hope" by Shelley Shepard Gray is a great ending to the "A season In Pinecraft series". I love this series from the very first book. You get to walk through each book with one of four friends. To really understand the relationship between all the girls, I recommend you read the series in order.

I love the characters and the description of this wonderful place called Pinecraft. It is a place that you will fall in love with. It's a place that helped these four young ladies overcome different things in their lives.

Thanks to the publisher for giving me the honor of reviewing this book!

I received this complimentary copy from the publisher for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine a lone!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Shelley Shepard Gray’s A season in Pinecraft series is one of my favorites and I was so excited to read this one!

Amish romance books are my go to comfort read. Shelley did an outstanding job writing this book.

The charcters, setting, plot, and conversations are realistic and made me feel a part of the story.

I became emotionally invested in the story and characters' lives.

One of Shelley Shepherd Gray's best books!!

Highly, highly recommend.

“The Lord must have known that the four of them needed each other…”

I’ve enjoyed this A Season in Pinecraft series by Shelley Shepard Gray, and I admit to being sad that we’re saying goodbye to the ‘fab four’ – Mary Margaret, Betsy, Esther and Lilly. It’s been so sweet to watch their bond of friendship form initially and then grow closer over the course of these three books. And I’ve loved having a front row seat as – one by one – they each found a happily-ever-after when they least expected it. A sweet reminder that God’s plans for our lives are so much better than we could orchestrate on our own.

In Her Secret Hope, we at long last get Lilly’s story and it was definitely worth the wait. I very much wanted to reach inside the book and hug Lilly tight, bring her a coffee just the way she likes it, and sit with her on the Magnolia Inn’s porch until I could convince her of how valued she is by God and those who love her. She has never felt fully loved but instead always feels as though she is lacking in some way. I felt very protective of Lilly in this book, and subsequently felt a little betrayed by one of the series’ recurring tertiary characters who treated her quite shabbily at one point in the story. (It served a purpose though, and all ended well, but my purse whomping tote was getting a bit twitchy lol.) I appreciated this exploration of the insecurities that adopted children often experience as they grow up, carrying over into how they see themselves as adults, as friends, as employees, and perhaps most especially as marriage material. It’s not something that’s addressed very much in fiction, but it gives us as readers deeper insight into our friends and family and perhaps even ourselves.

Which brings us to Eddie, who instantly sees what Mary Margaret, Esther, and Betsy saw in Lilly – a special young woman with a big heart who is worthy of feeling loved and cherished just as she is, flaws & insecurities & all. I loved watching him fall for her, especially the moments where his normally-straitlaced personality went up in flames (aka the kissing scenes!) haha. But more than the sparks he and Lilly set off, Eddie made my heart melt in how he watched out for Lilly, protected her, listened to her, appreciated her, and just showed his growing love for her in all those little ways that make him a true hero in my book. I didn’t feel like I truly got inside Eddie’s head as much as I did Lilly’s but he’s such a steady character that it didn’t matter. I also thought that sending Eddie to Pinecraft with his spunky grandmother November was a great writing choice on the part of the author – she balanced him well and I can just see her traipsing around Disney World! I see her as someone who would gladly wear a pair of Minnie Mouse ears over her kapp just because she’s on vacation and can.

Bottom Line: Her Secret Hope by Shelley Shepard Gray is a sweet send-off to a delightful series that has highlighted the bonds of friendship and the unpredictability of love. Each couple in the series has an instant connection/attraction, Lilly and Eddie included, but the author takes them all on journeys that refine and deepen their relationships into something that will last beyond the initial chemistry. I loved getting to hang out with all my favorite characters in this third book, and I enjoyed Lilly and Eddie’s romance from once-upon-a-time to happily-ever-after. A secondary romance adds further layers to this story, as do the various family dynamics that must be navigated. Warmth, humor, and gentle faith threads round out the story, making Her Secret Hope a lovely way to spend an evening.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I loved going back to Pinecraft, Florida to see Lilly and her friends again. I loved how Lilly and Eddie and November meet and become friends. I enjoyed the romance in the story. I loved the laughs and some tears. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Lilly Kurtz's two year dream is finally coming true for her! She's dreamed of moving to Pinecraft, Florida ever since she'd taken a trip there with her friends. The other girls are all living in Pinecraft, and now it's finally Lilly's turn!
She is working at the Marigold Inn and meets guests Eddie and his grandmother, November. A bit of a romance begins to develop between Lilly and Eddie. Lilly has secrets that she doesn't want to share with Eddie. How can she ever have a true relationship with a man with her secrets between them?
You see, Lilly is adopted. Her Amish adoptive parents have made no secret about that to her. However, she feels she doesn't fit in, and is treated differently due to her adoption. Her mother makes comments that are hurtful to Lilly.
Tragedy strikes when Lilly is wrongfully blamed for stealing an item from a guest's room. She knows she didn't take it and would never do something like that, but for some reason, her boss succumbs to the words of the guest and fires Lilly. Whatever will she do now? She, also lived at the Inn. Now, she is both jobless and homeless. She just can't go back home after waiting two years to move here.
Wonderful story with great characters.
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Revell through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Book 3 in author Shelley Shepard Gray’s A Season in Pinecraft series can be read as a standalone and it will make complete sense. Reading books 1 and 2 add to the experience, however.

It amazes me how we put our lives in a box, which is what Lilly has done. She had to live in Pinecraft; no place else would do. But then she meets Eddie, a farmer from Ohio. What a quandary her life becomes.

Lilly feels “less than” and is trying to prove her worth. Eddie is caring for his elderly Mammi. Neither is looking for a relationship but life happens.

If you enjoy Amish fiction that shows the characters developing and growing then I recommend Her Secret Hope.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.