Oh, this book was simply delightful! In the opening pages of Happily Ever Amish, the author included an Amish proverb that fit the events of this story perfectly. It was “Everything has its beauty – but not everyone sees it.” That really summed up the way Addie was treated by the other Amish young people. She was always left on the outskirts with people her own age and some even gossiped about her and ignored her.
I thought it was sweet that Daniel wanted to do something to lift Addie’s spirits, even though he did not really think about how connecting with her through letters could eventually be an uncomfortable situation to end. I loved the way his eyes were opened to the gem that Addie truly was as they traded letters back and forth.
There was a lot of depth to this story and I liked seeing Daniel and Addie begin to get to know each other in real life, too, apart from the letters. The emotions that both characters felt in this story really resonated with me. There were some beautiful lessons in the novel, too, about forgiveness, grace, and the importance of being kind to others and aware that everyone has worth.
This story made me so happy to read. I loved the interactions between Addie and Daniel both in the letters they exchanged and also as they began to get to know each other in real life. I highly recommend this sweet story!
(5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Addie Byler may be Apple Creek’s resident wallflower, but she knows she has a lot to offer—and much to be grateful for. Raised by her loving grandmother, she lives a life filled with good friends and hard work. Wary of romance, Addie assumes no man will look beyond her glasses and her tendency to talk to her rescue donkey, Snickers—until the day she finds a note from a secret admirer. A prank, most likely. But then, a second note arrives . . .
It’s not that Daniel Miller doesn’t like Addie, he just doesn’t want to court her. She’s too willful, too chatty, too odd. Yet when he learns she’s been teased because she’s never had a beau, he decides to send a little note of encouragement. One note leads to another. And when Addie begins replying with thoughtful messages of her own, he’s struck by her sweetness and warmth.
As chilly winter melts into spring, what began as a gesture of sympathy becomes something much deeper. Daniel fears revealing the truth, but with courage, faith—and a helping hand from their close-knit community—Apple Creek’s most unlikely couple may find their path to happiness . . .
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray writes Amish and Inspirational romances for Simon & Schuster, and Kensington, Harlequin, and contemporary women’s fiction for Blackstone Publishing. With over a million books in print, and translated into more than a dozen languages, her novels have been Holt Medallion winners and Inspirational Readers Choice and Carol finalists.
Shelley has been featured in the Philadelphia Enquirer, Washington Post, Time Magazine, and USA Today. She has also been interviewed on NPR as well as numerous regional radio stations. Publishers Weekly calls her Walnut Creek series “A slow-burning, enjoyable romance… Embedded in this quaint story is a poignant message about the importance of community, compassion, and doing what’s right rather than what’s easy.”
Shelley has hosted several well-attended ‘Girlfriend Getaways’ for Amish reading fans. Her most recent Girlfriend Getaway, hosted with bestselling novelists Amy Clipston and Suzanne Woods Fisher in Sugarcreek, Ohio, was filmed by BuzzFeed and highlighted on NetFlix’s Follow This episode on the popularity of Amish fiction.
Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and later obtained her master’s degree in educational administration. She now lives in southern Colorado near her grown children, walks her dachshunds, bakes too much, and writes full time.
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