Customer Reviews

Hidden (Sisters of the Heart, Book 1)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Anna has finally seen her abusive boyfriend for what he is, an overgrown bully, and she knows that she will have to go into hiding to escape him. Since Ron has completely bamboozled her family and support system she knows of only one place to run. She runs to the place where she has always felt completely safe - the Brenneman's Bed and Breakfast. Anna does not have much trouble fitting into the Brenneman's simple way of life as Amish plain folk, and it actually seems to help her to decide what she really wants out of life. Anna is glad she and Katie have stayed friends since the quilting class she took years ago. Now if only Katie's brother Henry would just stop jumping to conclusions about her.

The longer she stays the more she figures out what she wants in life. And the more that Henry learns where he might have misjudged her. Will Anna decide what is best for her or will Ron catch up with her? And will her parents abide by her decisions?

Hidden was a sweet and thoughtful story surrounding not just the simple lifestyle of the Amish. It deals with an individual's real path in life and also deals with actions of abuse, and how someone might get in too deep to see what is happening. I found I was drawn into this story from the beginning and when it ended I was hoping the next book in the series was already out, I'm not that lucky and am now left impatiently waiting for it to be printed. But, that is ok as it will allow me to share my thoughts on Hidden. I think Ms. Shepard Gray did a fine job in telling the story of Anna and what is really important in her life and where she is the most comfortable. It also shows the strength of a community that many see as too simple. I thoroughly enjoyed Hidden and hope you will also.

Tanya
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Hidden by Shelley Shepard Gray is the first book in the Sisters of the Heart series. Anna flees her abusive, powerful boyfriend Rob by going to Ohio's Amish country where her Amish friend Katie lives. Katie's family takes Anna in, and she adopts their clothing and ways in order to hide in their B&B. But Katie's older brother Henry takes an instant dislike to Anna with her fashionable clothing and makeup for bringing possible danger to his family's doorstep. Anna quickly falls in love with the Amish way of life: no constant noise, working together, simple clothing, and time to think and focus on God, and her search for the self that has been hidden is really the most powerful part of the book. Anna's relationship with her parents is very sad and all too realistic. The home she finds with the Amish allows her to become more and rather than remain hidden, for the first time, she finds her true identity. Gray's book is a wonderful story of faith and romance.

THIS AGAIN IS ONE OF THE BOOKS YOU CAN;T PUT DOWN ONCE YOU START READING IT. THIS GAL IS AN AWESOME AUTHOR AND I WILL BUY ANY MORE OF HER BOOKS SHE PUTS OUT. VERY PLEASED AND I READ LOTS OF BOOKS AND COLLECT ALL OF THE AMISH BOOKS I CAN GET MY HANDS ON. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
JUNE THOMPSON--jtpvallred@sbcglobal.net

I loved this book! I am a great fan of Amish romance and thought nobody could top Wanda Brunstetter's novels but she has met her match with Shelley Shephard Gray. I felt Anna was very realistic and human and I really liked that about her character. So many authors protray their heroine as perfect and flawless. I also really liked Henry- definately the strong silent type, but I wish he would have acted a little more concerned when the nutcass boyfriend showed up at the B&B to kidnap her at gunpoint. But then again he is amish so it would be out of character for him to beat the crap out of the guy, which was what I was hoping for. Overall this was an awesome book and it was such a tease getting the first two chapters of the next book in the series. I don't think I can wait till Jan for it to be released.

The book Hidden by Shelley Shepard Gray was a book that held my interest from start to finish.Can hardly wait for her next book, "Wanted" due out in January!!! Keep up the good writing Shelley Shepard..

I found this book in a second-hand bookstore. It was enjoyable enough for a quick read, but the book was too short to appropriately handle the subject matter of domestic violence. It seems difficult to believe that Anna's parents didn't listen at all when she tells them she is afraid of Rob. It was completely unbelievable that once they had doubts about him they would let him search her room trying to find out where she had run.

Also, her quick immersion into the Amish way of life, and her decision to join, was not believable at all. Not to mention how quickly she was accepted as a fiance for the Amish son. Having previously lived in an area close to the Amish, I know this wouldn't happen.

Like I said, easy to read, but it skims the issues too lightly, can't take it seriously and wouldn't read any more in this genre by this author.

This was an excellent book. I loved it! It was so sweet and exciting! I could not put it down!

I met Shelley at the 2008 ACFW conference AFTER I had read her novel. I didn't have the book with me so she graciously signed a book plate for me to bring home from the conference.

This is an Amish story with a difference. Even though I am also an anabaptist (Old German Baptist Brethren) I do not always feel the published Amish stories are "realistic," This one was. I highly recommend this book and will read the next one.

Fabulous, that's the first thing I must say about this book, but I'll come back to that. I do not know the correct terminology, yet I will try. There is just something about the covers of Avon Inpire books, I have loved every one that I have seen and this is my favorite so far. There is just something about the flat finish, instead of a glossy print that I just adore. Not to mention the road with the Amish sky ahead and the image of the blonde girl with green eyes. (A little curious as to why she did not have the curly hair of our character though...) Now, about the actual story. Anna's live is an interesting one. A girl searching to belong and often as most looking in the wrong places for excitement and affection. (The evil in the book reminds me of the evil in that movie Enough. But this is not a story of how to beat up your evil counterpart. This is a story about strength and growth.)This book is a story about the heart, and about doing things that are right. It brings in the idea of political evil and abuse, but everything bad brought in by the author is handled tactfully and revealed in a respectable manner. This is a fabulous book, and a wonderful romance.

Hidden was an adventure that went beyond it's pretty cover. A cross between a movie like Sleeping with the Enemy, and a novel like Deb Raney's Remember to Forget, Hidden is somewhere in the middle in regards to tension, but with a bit of the Amish culture mixed in. I enjoyed this story and read it in just two days. I loved the premise of hiding out in the Amish community. And the hero was incredibly heroic even though he wasn't all that likeable at first. Then again, neither was the heroine. However, she changed through the course of the story and I couldn't help feeling connected to her. While my parents didn't smother and baby me like hers did, I could certainly relate to her feeling like she had to fight for her independence. The coolest part of the story was experiencing with Anna the drastic change in her life from our modern culture with all of its hassles and conveniences to the Amish life, which in many ways seemed so much better despite all she had to give up in the process of fitting in. This story almost makes you want to convert and become one of the Plain people. After all, they seemed more spiritual because they didn't have the insane busyness that we've grown accustomed to. Plus, they worked hard and labored physically, so they were strong and not soft or weak. In short, Hidden never bored me and the plot never dragged, so it was worth my while. I can't wait for the sequel.