This is the first book in an older series by this author that I missed reading before. I really enjoyed this quick Amish romance. I enjoyed reading about Gretta and Joshua and especially Anson. I love the troubles that Anson seems to get into. This is a sweet romance and very inspirational. I enjoyed reading about Lilly and seeing how she works through her predicament. I definitely recommend this story. ( )

This was a great story! New neighbors that are English move next door and cause the Amish family to question themselves. I love these books. They are clean and well written. ( )

#1 of Amish series. Mostly from view of young woman who doesn't want a marriage like her parents have, first, I think, I've read in which female not particularly wanting her suitor. Ok story, see what happens with the next book. ( )

“Winter’s Awakening” is the first in Shelley Shepard Gray’s Seasons of Sugarcreek series.

This book was not at all what I expected and that is a very good thing. After reading Shelley’s first series: Sisters of the Heart, I had an idea in my head already of what I could look forward to from her writing and the book appeared to be going away from it all. I was very relieved when I saw where the story truly was going.

Regardless of my misgivings, I was drawn in by the intriguing story and Shelley’s descriptive writing so I did go on to read the story and I have to say, the way it turned out may not have been what I was expecting but it could not have been done any better!
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Honestly Shelley Shepard Gray is probably my favorite Amish Fiction author of the current Amish Fiction craze. Her reflections into the lives that interact and are affected by the Ohio Amish are fresh and refreshing. I enjoyed her previous Sisters of the Heart Series and I am fairly certain that I will be even more impressed with her new Seasons of Sugarcreek Series if this book is any indication.

Most romances these days are all about the new relationship that is budding. This book however shows true romance from a different perspective, the future of a relationship that is already in existence. I have never read a book that touched on the relationship behind marriage quite like Shelley was able to in the pages of this novel.

Reading into the lives of Gretta and Joshua and hearing their thoughts and feeling their emotions while they try to understand whether they were meant for each other in God's divine plan is quite an adventure. Learning the neighbor Lilly's secrets and past relationships and decisions on new ones with throw you for a twist. Reading between the lines on other characters in the way they interact is all so amazing. This book is full of possible routes and choices and really allows a reader to imagine what might be.

I highly encourage you to jump in and read along into the lives of the Sugarcreek Amish and their Englischer neighbors. See if things are how you would imagine they might end up to be. What do you envision your marriage to be? Would you be willing to work on it if it was not quite right?

*Thanks to TLC Book Tours and HarperCollins Avon Inspire for providing a copy for review.* ( )