Tasty Book Tours Book Review: A Son's Vow

Enter to Win a Print Set of

The Amish Brides of Pinecraft Series (Bks 1-4)

A SON'S VOW

The Charmed Amish Life #1

Shelley Shepard Gray

Releasing on January 26, 2016.

Avon Inspire

Shelley Shepard Gray’s first book in her Charmed Amish Life series is set in the quaint Amish village of Charm, Ohio, and tells the stories of the Kinsinger siblings who are each struggling to find both forgiveness and love in the face of tragedy.

Three months ago, everything changed for Darla Kurtz and her family. Darla’s father was responsible for a terrible fire at Charm’s lumber mill which killed five Amish men. And though he, too, lost his life, the town of Charm hasn’t looked at her family the same since. Even Lukas Kinsinger—with whom Darla used to have a close friendship.

Now her brother’s anger at the town is spilling over onto Darla, and she has the bruises to prove it. The accident already cost five lives, but if something doesn’t change soon, Darla fears it will cost her—and her family—even more.

Lukas Kinsinger wants to mourn the loss of his father, but he can hardly find the time to breathe. Suddenly the head of his father’s lumber mill and responsible for taking care of his three siblings, he’s feeling the pressure. He has also never felt more alone—especially with the new tension between he and Darla. But when he learns of her troubles at home, Lukas knows he can’t simply stand by and watch. Someone has to help her before another tragedy occurs.

As Lukas and Darla attempt to repair their families, they discover somethi dng deeper than friendship growing between them. But will Lukas and Darla’s love be accepted after so much loss? Or will the pain of the past overcome any chance of future happiness?

BUY NOW

Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

Before I say anything about the book, I have to comment on how beautiful the cover is, especially the guy on the cover. Drools. There needs to be more covers that look like this...

This story is really one of two families coming out of darkness. It isn't your usual light fluffy Amish read. Two families have a tragedy that pushes them apart when they were very close.

The story revolves around three sets of people who all suffered losses when the local mill caught fire. Darla is getting the brunt of it all. Everyone seems to blame her for what her father might have done. She's also lost the closeness she once had with Lukas Kinsinger who is now running the mill.

Aaron is Darla's brother who is not dealing with with the new responsibilities that fall on his shoulders. He's turning abusive to those that are close to him. He's a character that you almost want to feel sorry for. Sherry tries to get you to feel some sympathy for him. He knows what he's doing but he can't seem to control his anger.

Then there's Hannah, who lost her boyfriend, Paul in the fire. She's putting her life together working for an English family.

All of their lives seem to intersect through Aaron and his troubles.

I was surprised at how little faith seemed to play in this book especially when it came to Aaron and his violence. I would have thought that the Bishop of their district would have stepped in to help Darla and her family. In fact, a lot of the doings of the the residents of Charm seem to be a little progressive for Amish, especially Hannah who seems like she might be ready to leave the Amish faith for an English life. 

I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to finding out what happens in the next book.

Rating 5 flowers

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Hold Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads