Her Heart's Desire by Shelley Shepard Gray

 

Even in the Amish community, some children are bullied by others as Mary Margaret Miller has experienced in Her Heart’s Desire by Shelley Shepard Gray, the first book in a new series called A Season in Pinecraft. Mary has been picked on by a group of girls since she was 11 years old. Adult Mary takes a bus to Pinecraft, Florida, for a much-needed vacation away from her small Amish community in Ohio. Traveling by bus, she meets two other 20-something Amish women, Betsy and Lilly. The three bond and are determined to have a great two-week trip in this popular area in Florida favored by Amish vacationers.

Staying in a bed and breakfast called Marigold Inn, the ladies are enjoying their breakfast when Mary’s eye is caught by Jayson Raber, who is also enjoying his time in Pinecraft with his friend Danny. While the attraction is mutual, Jayson knows he has a commitment to a woman back in Kentucky for an arranged marriage, and Danny doesn’t mind reminding Jayson about that.

When one of the “mean girls” from Mary’s hometown of Trail is also vacationing in Pinecraft, Mary feels her perfect plan is totally ruined. What if this woman who has mistreated Mary for years tells Jayson about what happened on the playground when Mary was 11? How will Mary take the news that Jayson is engaged to another woman back home? How will Jayson respond to the beautiful Esther from Mary’s hometown?

Having published more than 70 novels, Shelley Shepard Gray writes Amish romances and contemporary women’s fiction. She is a former elementary teacher who now writes full time in her home in Colorado Springs.