A Daughter's Dream by Shelley Shepard Gray + Giveaways

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"If we fill our houses with regrets of yesterday and worries of tomorrow, we have no today for which to be thankful."

 Amish Proverb, from Country Blessings Cookbook 



Title:  A Daughter's Dream
Series: The Charmed Amish Life, Book 2
Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher:  Avon Inspired, a HarperCollins Imprint
Release Date:  May 24, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Amish Fiction



In Shelley Shepard Gray's second book in her Charmed Amish Life series, a young teacher and farmer discover they have much in common, especially when it comes to healing old wounds from the past . . . and finding love in one another.

Rebecca Kinsinger has always dreamed of being a teacher. But when she's given the opportunity she's been waiting for at Charm Amish School, she's dismayed to discover that teaching is hard work
---work she's afraid she's not very good at.

That is, until Lilly Yoder joins the class. A thirteen-year old who's just lost her parents, Lilly is in need of someone like Rebecca. For the first time since starting her new job, Rebecca feels a sense of purpose. But when she meets Lilly's uncle, Jacob, his good looks and sweet, easy-going temperament are hard to ignore. How can she even entertain romantic thoughts of Jacob when his niece is her student?

Suddenly becoming Lily's sole caregiver, Jacob Yoder never thought he'd be a single parent---or a farmer. Having been living in Florida as a carpenter, Jacob feels more at home wielding a hammer than a backhoe. The only bright spot in his life is Rebecca Kinsinger. As Lily and Rebecca develop a bond, Jacob's fondness for the pretty teacher grows, too.

But when a fateful accident brings them together, Rebecca and Jacob must choose between duty and desire. Will they follow the path before them? Or set out to find true happiness . . . and true love?



A Daughter's Dream by Shelley Shepard Gray is one of those stories that calms you and gives you a sense of peace, even with the many profound topics it delved on. After reading A Son's Vow, Rebecca is one of the my favorite characters, and I was happy to see she's the title character. Shelley continues to give Rebecca a strong voice in this second book of the series, with the addition of a certain sensitivity.  As she attempts to follow her dreams, readers are pulled into her life and ponder with her.  I've dreamt with her and walked in her shoes, and that's what makes her so comforting.

With comfort, there are always some tugging as well. Jacob and Lilly's story of learning to deal with grief and find strength with and for each other, allowing their relationship as parent/child to grow. Lilly's struggles, from teenage angst of grief, new place, new friends and misunderstanding brings the emotional aspect of parenting to light. Shelley's a master of giving readers a story that you can imagine, so inexplicably in your life or in your mind as you read.  Her gentle touch of various themes of sacrifice, love, family and dreams blend and interlace so well, that you raced through without realizing. I finished A Daughter's Dream much quicker than I would've liked and wished there was more. A story I read, and then decided I can't let it end, so I reread the last few chapters.


Rebecca and Jacob's simple love story, Peter and Lilly's budding romance, Rachel and Marcus' acknowledgements, and Lucas and Darla's new marriage all progressed before my eyes. Also, you must not miss what Jacob says to Rebecca on page 236-237. It melt my heart.  There's just a certain calmness with developed simplicity and genuineness, and A Daughter's Dream is all that. 

Since reading the first two books of this series, I had the opportunity to visit Charm, OH, and seeing it as Shelley wrote it was this booknerd's dream come true.  Here are some pics.





I hope you'll have the chance to read The Charmed Amish Life series. Scroll down for some chances to win both A Son's Vow and A Daughter's Dream.


NOTE:  I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own. For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.


TO PURCHASE A COPY

   
Shelley Gray is the author of The Heart of a Hero series. Her Amish novel (written as Shelley Shepard Gray), The Protector, recently made the New York Times bestseller list.  A native of Texas, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Colorado and taught school for ten years.  She and her husband have two children and live in Southern Ohio.  

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY: website, twitter, facebook





Shelley is also 1 of the 34 confirmed authors at this year's Christian Fiction Readers Retreat! Head over to the website to see which other authors will also be joining us! Don't miss the chance! Register now!






Check out Litfuse Publicity Tours' A Daughter's Dream 5-Book Giveaway:




Also, if you're interested in A Son's Vow, Book Mama is having a 3-Book giveaway!

Unsure what to expect? Check out my review of A Son's Vow HERE.








                                                                                                                                                                      




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