1. Hopeful, Return to Sugarcreek Series #1
    Shelley Shepard Gray
    HarperCollins / 2014 / Trade Paperback
    Our Price$9.49 Retail Price$12.99 Save 27% ($3.50)
    4.8 out of 5 stars for Hopeful, Return to Sugarcreek Series #1. View reviews of this product. 28 Reviews
    Availability: In Stock
    Stock No: WW204462
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  1. Angela
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A wonderful read!!!
    February 5, 2014
    Angela
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    You know the feeling you get when you decide to have a dinner date with a good friend? That is how I feel when I pick up one of Shelley Shepard Gray's books. I absolutely love them. I sit down with the book and I don't get up until the book is finished. I just can't help it.

    Hopeful is no different. With this particular book I happenend to see myself in both main characters, especially Miriam. Miriam just happens to be attracted to the one man, Junior, who cannot see the forrest for the trees. Miriam loves to cook, has a desire to be a wife with her own family, is a loyal friend, and an overall nice person. She just happens to feel that she is not truly beautiful because of her weight. She has a wonderful heart and you can't help but love her yourself. From page one you are in her corner.

    Junior has won her heart a long time ago. He is the oldest sibling, and a father figure to all of them, but especially his little sister. The twist to their story is the fact that Junior likes the local school teacher. Junior is quite the catch. Now that his siblings are growing up and starting their own adventures, he is now ready and willing to find a bride of his own.

    Shelley Shepard Gray can take any character and weave a beautiful story of faith and hope. I think you should take a chance with Hopeful, and see for yourself what it is like to become involved in the lives of Miriam and Junior. You will not be disappointed. I can promise you that you will not be wanting their story to end.
  2. Tina W
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A must read!
    January 1, 2015
    Tina W
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Loved this book. I could relate to the issues brought up in the book.

    It is a must read by all young and old.
  3. Robin Wallace
    Florida
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Hopeful: Return to Sugarcreek, Book One
    July 20, 2014
    Robin Wallace
    Florida
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Hopeful: Return to Sugarcreek, Book One

    Shelley Shepard Gray

    Book Summary: In the Amish town of Sugarcreek, love comes in many forms. But will it come at all for Miriam? Miriam Zehr has worked at the Sugarcreek Inn longer than she cares to admit. The restaurant is a favorite of town residents as well as the many tourists who come to taste the famous Amish fare. Though she always tries to have a smile for every customer, deep down Miriam knows something's missing: a family of her own. Miriam has never felt particularly beautiful, especially because she's always been a bit heavier than other girls her age. When Junior, the man she's pined for all her life, suddenly seeks her out, she's thrilled to be noticed . . . until she realizes he's only asking her to help get the attention of Mary Kathryn Hershberger, her pretty friend. If Miriam helps Junior court Mary Kathryn, she'll get to spend a lot of time with him, but she might lose him in the process. Are these few stolen moments worth a lifetime of sacrifice? Is Miriam right to even hope for the life she dreams of?

    Review: I really loved this story line. I found Miriam and Junior to be well written and believable characters that you could be empathetic to while rooting for Miriam to have her hero at the end no matter what happened. I found the plot and the other characters to be just as enjoyable. I could not believe how quick it was to read. There were no surprised yet it was a great book. I believe that the strong characters and a well written story to be the key to this book Shelley Shepard Gray did an amazing job writing this story! Every book she writes just seems to get better and better.

    I would like to thank Edelweiss -Above the Treeline and Avon Inspire for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
  4. Marianne
    Wanham, Alberta
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    absolutely great
    March 7, 2014
    Marianne
    Wanham, Alberta
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    It seems that no matter our age and circumstance, most young girls, especially those of us that have grown up in homes teaching Christian virtues, do not see themselves as having any beauty, and yet look on their peers as having more than they do. Miriam is a typical young girl in this way. It does not help the situation when the young men, in looking for someone to marry judge others also by this criteria, and thus the conflict. The novel Hopeful reminds us all that not only is beauty only skin deep, it is also in the eye of the beholder.

    Shelley has the talent to bring her novels to the reader in such a way that we feel like we see life through the main characters, and the scenes come alive in her choice of vivid images. This novel is the first one in the Return to Sugarcreek, and I look forward to the next one continuing the saga of those I met this time.

    I received this book free from Amy and Chris at Litfuse Publicity Group and HarperCollins Publishers in exchange for an honest review. A positive critique was not required. The opinions are my own.
  5. Jane Squires
    Wasola, Mo
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Hope in many ways
    February 25, 2014
    Jane Squires
    Wasola, Mo
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    A story of hope in so many ways. All her life Miriam hoped Junior would notice her. Junior had lost both his parents and was raising his brothers and sisters. Kaylene, his youngest sister, was struggling with reading and school. The school teacher, Mary Kathryn, was running from an abusive relationship. All she wanted was free to live her life.

    Miriam gave up hope of ever having a relationship with Junior and was working to move on. But as she did, life changed. Dreams happened. Life became complete.

    Mary Kathryn was about to run again when her life turned upside down. She got her chance to move on.

    Judith finds life and happiness after overcoming grief of a miscarriage and being told she could not have children.

    You will renew your hope and courage to be yourself through reading this book.
Displaying items 1-5 of 28
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