Her Secret Hope is the third in the Season in Pinecraft series. I have really enjoyed reading this series. Three young women meet on their trip south for a vacation. Each of their lives take a turn in Pinecraft, Florida. We all know the saying, "what happens in Pinecraft stays in Pinecraft". Watching how Ms. Gray shows the growth and development of the characters has been fun and relatable.
This is Lily's story. It started a little slower than the other two stories in the series. Lily has never felt settled or accepted anywhere. Being adopted by Amish parents, Lily feels that her parents don't really care about her. Her friends and siblings seem distant. In Pinecraft, she finds her niche or so she thinks. Eddie and his grandmother are enjoying their vacation. They stay at the Inn where Lily is a maid. She and November, Eddie's grandmother, become close. November adds such fun and mischief to the story. When things go topsy turvy, November finds a solution for Lily. Has Lily found her future? Or is this just another failure in her life?
I really have enjoyed the series. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

While I enjoyed this book, it was not my favorite in the series. For some reason, Lilly and Eddie seemed really young to me. It may have been Lilly’s insecurities and their behaviors when they disagreed. It felt more like teens than adults.

The person I really liked was the chef, Phillip. He had so much character and life. He stole the show for me. He was wise, dashing, charismatic, kind. He brought the spice.

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

Her Secret Hope is the third installment from Shelley Shepard Gray's A Season in Pinecraft series. I thought it was a good and clean Amish romance. Four stars.

Her Secret Hope by Shelley Shepard Gray is a sweet story about Lily, the last of three friends who became fast friends on a bus ride to Pinecraft, Florida, at the beginning of the series. Lily is adopted and is afraid that her past will hurt any chances of a future. So, when she lands in Pinecraft to start over, all she is hoping for is a job and maybe a chance to get her own house and do her own thing. However, she soon meets Eddie and his sweet grandmother November. Then she discovers that maybe her inner-most hopes might actually have a chance at coming true. A fun story, like all the rest in the series. Make sure you check it out and see how Lily fares!
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

Her Secret Hope by Shelly Shepard Gray continues the story line of a Season in Pinecraft. Lilly gets her own love story. First though, she must come to peace with her own backstory. She has dreamed of moving to Pinecraft and starting a new life with her friends. Trigger warning, Lilly is struggling with some issues related to being adopted. The topic is handled beautifully, and I love the strong, confident woman Lilly has become. She has a wonderful job, amazing friends, and she is learning to stand in her own identity. An unfortunate event happens at the lodge and many things are called into question. Eddie is a constant and offers a new foundation for Lilly. I loved watching their friendship grow and develop into more. Lilly and Eddie demonstrate how to have some hard conversations with grace and love and I loved seeing the growth that occurred as result.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Her Secret Hope by Shelley Shepard Gray


Summary:
Almost two years after Lilly Kurtz first traveled to Pinecraft, Florida, with friends, she's decided to make a fresh start there. She's ready to be new-and-improved Lilly, a Lilly without a past, a Lilly with no secrets. At first, everything goes well. She gets a job, her coworkers feel like family, and she enjoys reconnecting with her friends. But it turns out the past is reluctant to be left behind.

When Lilly meets hardworking farmer Eddie Byler, she can't get him off of her mind. But then she discovers that Eddie actually lives just a few miles from her hometown in Ohio. Lilly knows that he's not going to like it when he finds out what secrets she's been running from. And she knows she could never follow the man she's falling in love with back to a place where she's never felt accepted.

Will Lilly have to give up on love in order to find peace? Or could it be that love is actually the solution to all of her problems?

Review: 3-Star
I enjoyed the story but didn’t love it. The book was easy to put down and do other stuff and then pick back up read a chapter or two and then go do other stuff. I had trouble connecting with both the storyline and the characters. I know part of the problem was I couldn’t picture the setting of the book in either place.

This was a sweet conclusion to Shelley's latest series A Season in Pinecraft. This last book is about Lilly and Eddie who meet in Pinecraft but are from the same area back home in Ohio. Lilly is trying to get past what she deems as a bad childhood and a bad beginning but Eddie only has eyes for her as soon as he sees her. I enjoyed reading about these friends and am looking forward to whatever Shelley writes next!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 7 November 2023

I am really enjoying this series. I believe that we met all of the main characters in book one but each of the following books has centered on an individual girl. This time around it is Lilly Kurtz.

Somehow she got up the courage to actually move to Pinecraft and take a position at the Marigold Inn. Both of her friends are now living in Pinecraft so it seemed like the logical next step for her. Of course both of her friends were now married so she was a bit surprised by how little time she actually was able to spend with them. It was kind of one of those lonely in a crowd situations.

Of course there has to be an interesting guy involved. That would be Eddie. He is on vacation with his grandma and takes an interest in Lilly. She's very wary of becoming involved with him because he will be leaving soon. But the attraction is strong and keeps her pursuing a relationship with Eddie.

I have enjoyed getting to know Lilly and her story through this series. She is the most shy of the three girls which of course makes her the most cautious. The story of how she and Eddie work through all the hurdles in making their relationship work was the perfect way to end this series.

When you get to the end of a story and you want to know more about what happens to the characters as their lives progress you know the book has been good. That's the way this book and series were for me. My hope is that these characters will make repeat appearances in upcoming stories. I recommend this book and series to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with an Amish twist.

Her Secret Hope by Shelley Shepard Gray has Lilly Kurtz returning to Pinecraft for a fresh start. It has been two years since her first visit to the unique Amish and Mennonite town. Lilly was adopted as a baby and her family never kept it a secret. Actually, it seems one of the first things Mrs. Kurtz’s tells people (heavens knows why). Lilly also did not feel accepted by the children at school. Mary Margaret, Betsy, and Esther are the first true friends Lilly had had in her life. I know what it is like to feel that you do not fit in and to have people judge you. Lilly may be in a new city, but she has still has to learn to let people get to know her. It seems that Lilly keeps a protective a shield around her. The characters are realistic and developed. I like that we get to catch up with Mary Margaret, Betsy, Esther, and their husbands. Lilly gets a job at bed and breakfast that is run by Nancy (the place the young women stayed on their first visit to Pinecraft). I like that we get to catch up with Nancy and her friendly chef. Lilly may believe that she is destined to remain single, but it seems God has other plans for her. Of course, Lilly needs to be willing to let down her barriers and be happy with who she is. I just love November Byler. She is a spirited character. I hope I am as lively and quick witted at that age. I did feel that the story moved a little slow in places and there was a repetition of details. The author captured Pinecraft and Siesta Key. I understood why Lilly liked going to Siesta Key beach, it is a beautiful beach (it is my favorite beach). Her Secret Hope is the third and final book in A Season in Pinecraft series. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the series in order. It will allow you to get to know the characters and their stories. There are good life lessons in Her Secret Hope including that God is in control. Her Secret Hope is a touching tale with a returning friend, a spirited grandmother, a bored farmer, a flirtatious chef, an alarming allegation, and a gracious God.

This book is the third and last book in a series. It isn't essential that you read the first two books, but it helps you understand some of the minor characters. I liked this book, but I enjoyed the first book the most.

The characters are fairly well-developed, and you get a fairly good feel for their personalities. The story flowed well and kept my interest throughout. The story was mostly a love story but did have a slight bit of drama thrown in.

The editing was very well done and did not distract from my reading.

Overall, I give this a 3.5-star review. I would recommend it to my friends.

I received this book through the Revell Reads program. an e-book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. I am not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tender Story

Her Secret Hope is a tender story. It follows Lilly Kurtz who has been shouldering a great burden for her entire life. She thinks that moving to Pinecraft to be near her friends is the solution. In doing so she feels she can release her burden, turn over a new leaf and be the person she longs to be. The plan seems like a good one until she runs into November and her grandson, Eddie. As a special friendship develops between Lilly and Eddie, things seem to go along smoothly, until they don't. How will this affect Lilly's well laid plans, and how will this affect Lilly and Eddie's budding relationship? There's only one way to find out, and I recommend you do that by reading it for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for an advanced copy of the book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and strictly my own.

Another visit to the Amish in Pinecraft is just what I needed to get me out of a reading funk! Lilly Kurtz goes to Pinecraft, carrying a baggage of secrets that she left behind in Ohio, but determined to start her life again on the beaches of Pinecraft. There she meets Eddie Byler, a hard working farmer from the area that she left behind. Although the two are attracted to each other, both have trouble developing relationships because they don’t want to be open with each other. The way the romance progresses is so realistic and heart-warming, with some false starts and several stops before it moved along. The characters are charming, witty and kind. My favorite characters was Eddie’s grandmother, an elderly lady with a lot of wisdom and one who wants to live the end of her life on her own terms. Independent and sassy, she added a lot of humor to the story. I enjoyed the pace of the plot as it was just right for the rhythm of the courtship that was just getting started, but my favorite part of the book was getting to read about characters that I had gotten to know in previous Pinecraft books and how they were thriving together. This book can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend that readers enjoy the entire series because each book is uplifting and faith-filled.
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.”

I am so happy to be back in Pinecraft, Florida with some of my favorite characters from this series. This is Lilly Kurtz' story. She has moved to Pinecraft to be with her friends and try something new in her life. She is hired to work in housekeeping at the Marigold Inn. The owner even provides a room for her at the inn so that she has somewhere to stay. Her friends offer for her to stay with them, but they are newly married, and she does not want to intrude. Lilly takes her job very seriously and always wants to be her best. It does not take long for guests and co-workers to fall in love with Lilly. Lilly has struggled with the fact that she is adopted. Her Amish parents are not her birth parents. They raised her as their own, but she still feels different, and being different caused problems for her with people outside her family. She is on a mission to find herself and her happiness. Even though her friends have found love in Pinecraft, she does not plan on love until the day she meets Eddie Byler. Eddie and his family have a farm that is not far from her hometown in Ohio. Eddie is in town with his lovely grandmother. I fell in love with her. She was a fun loving lady who enjoyed lady. As their relationship deepens, Lilly does not want to share her troubles with Eddie. She fears that he will see her differently.

These characters had great emotional depth, and their personalities and emotions were evident in this book. I wanted to reach into the book and hug Lilly. She was such a kind soul. There is an incident in the book that really got under my skin. You will have to read the book to find out, but you will figure it out quickly. She was very kind, but she also had a backbone. What can I say about Eddie? What a gentleman he was. What kind of young man would travel with their elderly grandmother, but one with such a kind heart. However, he needed great assistance in the romance department. A past painful breakup has skewed his view of women and romance. Shelley Shepard Gray writes with true emotion and it shows up in the written word. Her characters are very realistic, likeable and three dimensional. Lilly and Eddie's faith is deep and true. I have never been an Amish romance fan until I started this series. Shelley Shepard Gray has made me a fan of this genre. So, even if you do not ordinarily read Amish romance, I would highly recommend this book and this series.

Thank you to Revell Books and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Lilly left home to Pinecraft, Florida. Her friends were there. She hoped for a new beginning and a chance to live the life she always dreamed of.

Lilly's discovery was that everything doesn't go as you expect it to. She was with her friends but it still left her longing for what they had.

A chance meeting with November changed her life completely. Can Lilly find the happiness she longs for?

Lilly learns that happiness is within her grasp. But is it worth the risk?

I enjoyed getting to know Lilly. November is an older Amish grandmother that plays matchmaker between Lilly and her grandson, Eddie. It's cute how she goes about putting them together.

The conclusion to the A Season in Pinecraft trilogy finds Lily moving to Pinecraft after two years of dreaming about her move. This story deals with the emotions and insecurities Lily has felt throughout her life. Lily strives to make a new life for herself as a maid at the Marigold Inn but after meeting Eddie and his grandmother, guests at the inn, plans may change. Very enjoyable but predictable story.

Her Secret Hope by Shelley Shepard Gray
(A Season in Pinecraft Book #3): (An Amish Christian Romance Series about Living Fully, Friendships, Heartbreaks, and Finding Love)
Almost two years after Lilly Kurtz first traveled to Pinecraft, Florida, with friends, she's decided to make a fresh start there. She's ready to be new-and-improved Lilly, a Lilly without a past, a Lilly with no secrets. At first, everything goes well. She gets a job, her coworkers feel like family, and she enjoys reconnecting with her friends. But it turns out the past is reluctant to be left behind.
When Lilly meets hardworking farmer Eddie Byler, she can't get him off of her mind. But then she discovers that Eddie actually lives just a few miles from her hometown in Ohio. Lilly knows that he's not going to like it when he finds out what secrets she's been running from. And she knows she could never follow the man she's falling in love with back to a place where she's never felt accepted.
Will Lilly have to give up on love in order to find peace? Or could it be that love is actually the solution to all of her problems?
This is Lilly Kurtz and Eddie Byler's story.
This is Eddie and his grandmother, November's story.
Lilly met Mary Margaret and Betsy on a Trailway bus going to Pinecraft Florida the three girls became best friends.
Lilly Kurtz returns to Pinecraft, Florida from Ohio and is reunited with her friends.
Eddie and his grandmother, November have traveled from Ohio for a vacation.
Eddie and his grandmother, November stay at the Marigold Inn.
I recommend reading.
Her Secret Hope by Shelley Shepard Gray is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Shelley Shepard Gray.
If you enjoy reading Amish books. You will love Her Secret Hope by Shelley Shepard Gray .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

Her Secret Hope encapsulates the essence of a compelling narrative woven with intricate emotional layers and vibrating depth. The third installment in the "A Season in Pinecraft" series, this book is a testament to Gray's unparalleled storytelling finesse, a tale that effortlessly grips the reader from the very first page.

The story takes place almost two years after Lilly Kurtz's initial foray into the idyllic Pinecraft, Florida, portraying her journey with heart-tugging authenticity. Amidst the backdrop of the Marigold Inn, Lilly's encounter with the affable Eddie Byler and his spirited grandmother, November, sets the stage for a love that must confront its share of problems, unfolding with a compelling, slow-burning intensity.

Gray masterfully crafts multidimensional characters. The growth and interaction of these vibrant personalities mirror the intricacies of real life, drawing readers into a world brimming with relatable challenges and heartfelt triumphs. Through nuanced storytelling, Gray seamlessly integrates the journey of familiar characters from the previous books, offering a satisfying continuation and closure to their stories.

Her Secret Hope is a tender exploration of secrets, resilience, and the redemptive power of hope. Lilly's journey serves as a touching reminder of the transformative power of newfound friendships and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity – acknowledging through it all that God is in control. Gray's masterful storytelling not only weaves a captivating tale but also offers subtle yet profound reflections on life and love.

I received an eARC of Her Secret Hope from Revell through NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions in this review are my own. My review focuses on the book's content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

My review for Her Secret Hope by Shelley Shepard Gray's is the 3rd in the Season in Pinecraft Series. It is great when you find one of these books that completely pulls you in and makes you fall in love with the character. This is one of those books for me. I don't know how I missed the first 2. It's a great stand alone too. It was a relaxing and enjoyable read. Book 3 releases November 7th . Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to readthe Advanced copy. I don't have to give a positive review. But it's another 5 Star book for Shelley Shepard Gray. I look forward to reading more buy this Author
Lisa

HER SECRET HOPE is book number three in the series, A Season in Pinecraft by Shelley Shepard Gray.

Thank you Revell for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. I was not required to offer a positive review, and all opinions are my own personal opinions.

It has been Almost two years after Lilly Kurtz first traveled to Pinecraft, Florida. She finally returns to be with her friends and work at the beautiful Marigold Inn where she meets Eddie Byler and his Grandmother, November, who is vacationing there. This is a love match that has to overcome Obstacles and develop slowly.

These characters are strong individuals and it is delightful to she how the grow and interact with one another. We are also allowed to catch up with characters from the other two books in this series. As an added bonus, we get to see Nancy and Phillips love story become a reality.

This story is well written, exciting, and keeps you guessing from beginning. Overall, this is a wonderful five-star addition to your Shelly Shepard Gray library. Anyone who enjoys Amish fiction will enjoy this book.

As with all of her books, Shelley, Shepherd, Gray moves smoothly from one scene to the next.

I highly recommend you order all three books in this series. Book three releases, November 7, 2023.

Her Secret Hope by Shelley Shepard Gray is a wonderful story of secrets, longing, friendship, and hope. The characters are great and the story kept me engaged until the end. Poor Lilly finds herself wrongly accused and the plans she made for her future seem to crumble before her eyes. This is a story filled with formative years heartache, new beginnings, courage, and stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s a wonderful story worth reading,