About Winter’s Awakening
Joshua Graber knows his future is set. He?s expected to work at his family business, the Graber Country Store. He?s expected to marry Gretta Hershberger, who he?s been courting for several years. But when a new English family moves next door and their lovely teenage daughter, Lilly Allen, catches his eye, Joshua wonders if all the plans for his future are too set in stone.
Gretta doesn?t know what?s going on with Joshua. When they argue and later stew in silence, it feels a lot like the frosty atmosphere at her home. After promising herself to never have a marriage like her parents, she wonders if perhaps another man might be a better match. A man such as Roland Schrock. He?s steady and kind and somewhat boring. If she marries him, she won?t ever have to worry about loving him and getting hurt.
Meanwhile, Lilly is enamored with the Amish way of life, and especially her handsome neighbor Joshua. But despite being drawn to him, she has a secret that will only drive him away. Her family moved to Sugarcreek to hide her pregnancy from their community back home. Once she?s had the baby, they plan to send her off to college without anyone from their old neighborhood knowing the truth. But as Lilly becomes wrapped up in the simplicity and graciousness of the Amish people, she begins to question what?s expected of her, and whether giving up her baby, and leaving Sugarcreek, is what she truly wants.
As the coldest winter on record blows into Sugarcreek, these three young people must struggle to determine the path of their futures.
About Shelley
Before writing for the inspirational market, Shelley wrote several novels as Shelley Galloway. During this time, her books appeared on the Waldenbooks bestseller list, and she also won the prestigious Reviewers’ Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine.
Before writing professionally, Shelley taught school for 10 years. She taught fifth and sixth grade in Arizona, Texas, and Colorado. When her family was transferred to Ohio, her husband encouraged her to finally give writing a serious try. He even found a local writers meeting for her to attend! After a lot of hard work and a lot of luck, she sold her third manuscript.
Shelley is an active member of her church. She volunteers on steering committees, helps with rummage sales, and helps out at the welcome center. She and her husband are also part of a small group that has been instrumental in guiding her faith.
When not writing, Shelley can usually be found with her family. Her two teenagers keep her busy and happy. They all also love to travel.
Find out more about Shelley Shepard Gray and her books at her website.
Shelley’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS
Tuesday, February 2nd: Black ‘n Gold Girl’s Book Spot
Wednesday, February 3rd: Life In Review
Thursday, February 4th: Book Reviews by Bookluver81
Monday, February 8th: Books, Movies, and Chinese Food
Tuesday, February 9th: There’s a Book
Wednesday, February 10th: Café of Dreams
Thursday, February 11th: Sunflowers, Choclate and Little Boys
Tuesday, February 16th: Creative Madness
Thursday, February 18th: Woven By Words
Monday, February 22nd: My Own Little Corner of the World
Tuesday, February 23rd: Heart 2 Heart
Wednesday, February 24th: Overstuffed
Thursday, February 25th: Book Splurge
Monday, March 1st: 2 Kids and Tired Books
Bob Koehler says
Dear Ms. Gray,
I have now read and enjoyed three of your novels: Hidden, Wanted, and Spring’s Renewal. You have a gift for presenting people and stories in a simple way that brings out the comfort and peace that can come with honest and harmonious human relations. You have given me a small window into Amish life which I appreciate.
Although my own religious foundation is far from that of the Amish, and I suspect far from your own (I’m Unitarian), I find it interesting that my ethics and core values are almost identical to those of the characters you depict in the few of your books I have read.
There is one rather glaring exception to this, however. I do not share the Amish belief that formal education should end at the eigth grade level. I get the feeling that the Amish Ordnung not only delares secondary and higher education to be unnecessary, but even considers it potentially harmful.
As the teacher and thoughtful person you appear to be, I wonder whether this bothers you as it does me. If you choose to respond to this note, perhaps you can tell me whether you deal with this discordance in any of your other novels, or whether you perhaps intend to take this on in a future work.
Your books fill an improtant niche and probably foster honesty and compassion in many of your readers. Keep up the good work.
Bob Koehler