Book Review: The Caregiver

Author: Shelly Shepard Gray
Title: The Caregiver
Publisher: Avon Inspire
Publish Date: March 8, 2011
Buy: Amazon
Book Blurb: Two lives converge one stormy night on a train headed to Cleveland.
Lucy is traveling by herself via train to Jacob's Crossing to help care for her cousin Mattie, recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Trying to overcome the sudden death of her husband, she's glad to get away and focus on someone else for a while.

The only other Amish people on the train are Calvin Weaver and his little sister, Katie. When their train breaks down outside of Cleveland, Calvin and Lucy band together to face the outside world. But Calvin also carries the weight of past hurts. When an altercation brings both their wounds to light, they question whether they can trust each other.

Once in Jacob's Crossing, Lucy is occupied with caring for Mattie, while Calvin does his best to run his family's farm. But they can't stop thinking about those special hours spent together. Will the bond they formed last? And will Lucy and Calvin be able to put away the pain in their pasts to recognize the happiness that is suddenly in their grasp?


Review: I never read any of Shelley Shepard Gray's Amish books, but this one looked interesting. Like most of the Amish stories out there, it is full of hardship and sadness. Mattie is only in her early twenties and battling breast cancer. Lucy is coping with the loss of her husband who was a violent man.
 
These two women and their feelings are what carry this story through. Shelley doesn't sugar coat Mattie's illness and you really feel for her and cheer for her, hoping she beats the disease, just as you want Lucy to find love again with Calvin.
 
Those two have a hard time getting it right.
 
If there was one thing that bugged me about the book it was Mattie's age. She was only 22 and had breast cancer. I know that things like that can happen, but it was the one thing that didn't quite work out for me.
 
This is a light read with some heavier themes than most Amish fiction. It is also the start of a new series called Families of Honor. I look forward to reading the next book and looking into her back catalog. When you think of Amish fiction you usually think Beverly Lewis and Wanda Brunstetter. It is nice to have another author to enjoy in that genre
 
 
Rating: 4 flowers