Sisters of the Heart

When Anna decides it's time to leave her abusive boyfriend, she doesn't know where to turn. Rob has completely won over her parents, and the entire community, with his good looks and smooth charm. Only Anna has seen his dark side. Desperate, she runs to the only place she's ever felt completely safe-the Amish Brenneman Bed and Breakfast, where Anna met life-long friend Katie Brenneman. The family welcomes her in, and with few questions asked allows her to stay, dressed in Plain clothing, and help around the inn. Katie's older brother Henry is the only one who doesn't take too kindly to the intrusion. He tries to ignore Anna, knowing no good would ever come from caring for an Englisher like her. But as he gets to know Anna, he discovers her good heart and is surprised with her readiness to accept their lifestyle. The more time Anna spends with the Amish, the more she feels she's found a true home. But how can she deny the life she left behind? And will her chance for happiness be stolen away by the man from her past? Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 "Shelley Shepard Gray writes with honesty, tenderness, and depth. Her characters are admirable, richly layered, and impossible to forget long after the story is done." "A touching love story with a riveting portrayal of the Amish way of life. Shelley Shepard Gray has created a romance readers will root for." "Shelley Shepard Gray brings a dazzling new voice to inspirational romance…Hidden is a heartwarming romance that gently reminds us that even in the midst of life's storms, God never abandons us…This is an excellent first novel, and I will be anticipating Ms. Gray's next offering in this fabulous series."

Six women. Four decades. One long, unexpected reunion. Jewel Austin is a foster mother to dozens, but forms a special bond with five foster girls she welcomed under her roof long ago. Through handwritten letters, Jewel keeps in touch with these women she nurtured to adulthood. Now in her eighties, Jewel's time is short, and her last letter spells out an unusual request. The five women have never met but Jewel's last wish is for them to return to Lavender Valley Farm together, back to the refuge where they once found the love and support they craved. Jewel has a keen sense of knowing their needs before they do and she knows they are going to need their sisters of the heart. Life's been hard, but facing the inevitable loss of the only parental figure you've known can be harder. Will the five women be able to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way of granting the beloved matriarch of their family her last wish? Get to know each of the women through Jewel's own letters in Greetings from Lavender Valley, the first book and prequel in the Sisters of the Heart series. Contains mature themes.

A baby to protect. A town to save. Is a marriage of convenience the only answer? Sophia Carr knows her recurring dreams of an identical twin sister are just that - dreams. She also knows that eventually she will inherit the hotel her grandfather built. When a fire at the hotel kills her mother, Sophia returns to Carr Valley to rebuild and ensure that a planned railroad line chooses a route that will keep the town alive. But her grandfather's will states that she must be married to inherit, and the only man she can imagine marrying seems to have forgotten her. Up-and-coming architect Gideon Spencer couldn't say no when his dying friend begged him to marry his widow and raise their baby as his own rather than let a cruel grandfather gain custody. But when the young mother dies, leaving Gideon a single parent, the grandfather poses a new threat unless Gideon manages to marry again. Sadly, the only woman he's interested in is the one he's ignored for six months: Sophia. Knowing he needs to protect the baby, Gideon heads to Carr Valley. When he discovers that Sophia needs a husband as much as he needs a wife, he proposes a six-month marriage of convenience. Sophia agrees but adds a stipulation of her own, one that will test his resolve, even as their wedding day reveals that Sophia's dreams of a twin sister might be more than dreams. As Sophia and Gideon join forces, the stakes couldn't be higher: a baby's life, a town's future, and love.

A woman whose life is in shambles. A man who's fighting for his future. A decades-old mystery. Carr Valley will never be the same. Victoria Holton has it all, or so it seems: beauty, a doting father, betrothal to one of Philadelphia's most eligible bachelors. But all that ends the day her father is imprisoned for embezzlement. Suddenly penniless and shunned because of her father's crime, she flees to Carr Valley, hoping to find refuge with Sophia, her sister of the heart. With her life upended, Victoria longs to find a new purpose, but what can she do? She wishes she could solve a decades-old mystery that's haunting a newfound friend, but the only clue leads nowhere. Her attempts at housekeeping in Sophia's hotel are laughable, and despite a number of would-be suitors, she has no intention of marrying. The only man who interests her is one she could never consider, for if there's one thing Victoria knows, it's that she is not meant to be a minister's wife. Pastor Peter Mulholland has never doubted his calling to the ministry … until now. Even though he can't please everyone, he refuses to let the deacons' demand that he marry determine his future. He knows the kind of wife they expect him to choose, and it's not a woman like Victoria. Besides, what does he have to offer her? Perhaps his critics are right, and it's time for him to leave Carr Valley. But then a stranger arrives and the whispers begin.

For a split second, Katie feels certain she's about to receive everything she's ever wanted… Twenty-year-old Katie Brenneman has always quietly fancied Jonathan Lundy. So when the broken hearted widower asks her to help him take care of his two young girls, Katie knows it will be a trying time-yet she cannot pass up a golden opportunity to get to know this man better. Just as she's settling into her new life, a message arrives from Katie's past, threatening to expose her darkest secrets. During her rumspringa, her running-around years, she experimented with activities forbidden in the Amish way of life. Frightened by how far she'd strayed from her values, Katie ran back home, vowing to cut all ties with the outside world. Now her transgressions are coming back to haunt her, just as Jonathan seems willing to welcome her into his heart. Will the past destroy Katie's chances for love? Or will Katie allow herself to accept God's love, forgive her past, and receive everything she's ever wanted? Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Epilogue "The flawed characters are genuine in this second of a three-book series…a pleasant read." "An endearing inspirational romance…This is an excellent series."

When tragedy strikes, a brother and sister find themselves facing a situation that will shape the rest of their lives. When a fire destroys the Lundys' barn, Winnie is injured trying to get the animals to safety. Confined to a hospital for weeks, out of touch with her loved ones who live too far away to visit by buggy, she must depend on Englisher Samuel Miller to keep her company. Though his family is part of Winnie's tight-knit Amish community, Samuel left years earlier to pursue a university education. Through conversations, and Samuel's dedication to her recovery, a friendship forms. But despite their growing attraction, Winnie knows it can never develop into something more as long as Samuel chooses to remain in the outside world. When Winnie returns home, she finds her brother, Jonathan, struggling with his own dilemma. Cigarette butts were discovered in the debris of the barn and Jonathan is determined to find out who is responsible for destroying his property and putting his family at risk. But in a community founded on grace and forgiveness, will his unwillingness to move on eat away at the trust that is the foundation of their lives? Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Epilogue "Gray has written a story based on a powerful emotion and equally powerful act: anger and forgiveness." "A multidimensional tale of romance and forgiveness…a must read for lovers of inspirational romance who love dynamic characters."

It's Christmastime at the Brenneman Bed & Breakfast, and everyone is excited about closing down for the holiday. Anna and Henry will be celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple, and for Katie and Jonathan Lundy, it's their first Christmas with baby Stefan. Winnie and Samuel Miller plan to stop by as well for a wonderful two weeks of family and rest. But when two unexpected visitors show up, hoping to stay for Christmas, the family must test their commitment to hospitality. Levi is a widower who lost his wife four years ago and can't bear the thought of another Christmas alone. And Melody is a young pregnant woman who won't open up about how she ended up on her own at Christmas at almost nine months pregnant. Anna, who knows a thing or two about keeping secrets, doesn't trust her, and strives to find out the truth about these two strangers who have disrupted their holiday. But as the Christmas spirit descends on them all, along with a snow that traps them at the inn, a healing and hopefulness takes over, allowing new relationships to be built and the boundaries of family to be extended. Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 "Gray's latest embodies the meaning of Christmas. It is a reminder that all situations-good, bad, or inconvenient-happen for a reason: It is God's plan. "Featuring beloved characters from Gray's Sisters of the Heart series, this simple, homespun love story is sure to please fans."

Six Women. Four Decades. One long, unexpected reunion. Georgia Moore is still grieving from the loss of her dear husband, Lee, when she discovers she can't remain in their home. With nowhere to turn, she accepts the invitation to return to Lavender Valley in the hopes that she can once again find a purpose. Lavender Valley Farm needs her, and Georgia soon finds her place managing the household, using her skill with a needle, and assuming a motherly role to her sisters of the heart. Something still feels missing but as the harvest approaches, an unexpected guest visits the farm and might hold the key to changing Georgia's life. Will Georgia be brave enough to embrace the chance of a new future? Contains mature themes.

One letter holds the power to change the lives of five women forever. Harriet "Harry" McKenzie is coming to terms with buttoning up her thirty-year career with the Salem Police Department when she finally sees the letter sitting in her pile of mail. She is shocked to read that Jewel Austin has put her in charge of her estate. The beloved woman was a foster mom and guide to Harry throughout her teenage years and now she's gone. If that isn't enough of a blow, Jewel's will threatens to uproot Harry's entire life. Harry's love and admiration for Jewel runs too deep to deny her last wish. She rushes to take over Jewel's work at Lavender Valley Farm and to care for her beloved dog. Along with adapting to her new chores, Harry must find the other four women who were also foster daughters of Jewel's and convince them to join her at the farm. Along with all these complications, Harry gets involved in helping solve a local crime, and her actions endear her to the small community. Soon, she is faced with a lifechanging decision-but she isn't sure she can do what is asked of her. Will Harry be able to fulfill Jewel's last wish and take a new path in her life? Contains mature themes.

Six Women. Four Decades. One long, unexpected reunion. Olivia Davis credits her foster mom for helping uncover her kind heart and gift for helping animals when she was only a child. With Jewel's encouragement, Olivia becomes a successful nurse in Spokane. Her career brings her immense satisfaction, but her true joy comes from her marriage and the son she loves more than anything. Simon is a rebellious teenager spiraling out of control, and Olivia and her husband are powerless to stop him. After years of heartbreaks and disappointments, Olivia is dealing with the unbearable loss of her family when she receives an unexpected letter. With her life in pieces, she accepts the invitation to return to Lavender Valley Farm to find respite in the small town to soothe her troubled soul. It had been a place of healing forty years ago, but the wounds are far deeper now. Will the sanctuary of her childhood home be the healing balm Olivia desperately needs? Contains mature themes.

Six Women. Four Decades. One long, unexpected reunion. Micki Armstrong lost her husband years ago when her children were very young, but with her love of computers and hard work, she built a wonderful home and life for them in Seattle. Now her son and daughter are in college and she's adjusting to her empty nest, living for their visits during their breaks. But Micki has kept a secret for years and when her daughter discovers it, the bond she thought was unbreakable threatens to shatter, and Micki is left questioning her life's choices. She needs a change of scenery to think, so she agrees to return to Oregon and Lavender Valley Farm, where her love of flowers was born. She hesitates to share her burden with the others, but wonders if Jewel was right and just maybe, she'll find solace and guidance in confiding in her sisters of the heart. Will Micki find a way to rebuild her relationship with her daughter and the respite she craves? Contains mature themes.

Six Women. Four Decades. One long, unexpected reunion. Lydia Morrow has always been a bit of a nomad, but she has upped her game recently and does her best to live off the grid because that's what people do when they're hiding from something. The invitation to return to Lavender Valley Farm makes Lydia suspicious, but Harry's credentials in law enforcement and Lydia's love for Jewel wins her over. Lydia sets out from Yakima in her motorhome, heading toward the promise of safety, and the anonymity of a new small town. Once back at the farm, Lydia indulges her creative culinary side in the very kitchen where her love of cooking was born. Her skills as a renowned chef impress everyone in Lavender Valley. With the reminders of her foster mother's love all around her, Lydia begins to relax and vows to make Jewel's festival an even bigger success. Will Lavender Valley and her new sisters of the heart provide the elusive safety and security Lydia is seeking? Contains mature themes.