Spring's Renewal: Seasons of Sugarcreek, Book Two [Paperback]

Shelley Shepard Gray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 2010 | Series: Seasons of Sugarcreek (Book 2)

Tim Graber arrives in Sugarcreek to help his aunt and uncle with spring planting. At first, Tim doesnÆt fit in with his many cousins and their crowded lifestyle. But when he meets Clara Slabaugh, the local school teacher, he understands why the Lord brought him to Sugarcreek. Clara is shy and quiet. Scarred from a fire when she was small, Clara has resigned herself to living alone and caring for her mother, who tells her that no man will ever see past her scars, and that Clara needs to keep teaching in order to make ends meet. Her father passed away years ago, and her mother depends on her. But the scars mean nothing to Tim. He appreciates her quiet nature and her wonderful, loving way with children. Yet Tim has a sweetheart back home in Indiana. As these two hearts struggle to determine their path, tragedy strikes, and every other worry seems insignificant in comparison. Though they now face a life they never imagined, will Tim and Clara have the faith to step out and risk everything for a chance at true love?

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Clara is a well-crafted and relatable character. You’ll soon be as partial to Clara as the author, especially as she develops and comes out of her shell.” (Romantic Times BOOKclub )

About the Author

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Families of Honor, Seasons of Sugarcreek, and Sisters of the Heart series. She lives with her family in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Avon Inspire; 1 edition (April 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061852368
• ISBN-13: 978-0061852367
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,710 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shelley Shepard Gray lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. A busy wife and mother of two, she spends her days writing and keeping track of her two teenagers. Her two dogs keep her company when she writes in her basement.

Shelley enjoys writing about the Amish and visits Amish communities in Adams and Holmes counties several times a year. When not spending time with her family or writing, she serves on several committees in her church.

She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.

Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news...or become her friend on FaceBook.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely enjoyed this book, August 21, 2010

By 

Barbara Koehler (Vestavia Hills, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spring's Renewal (Seasons of Sugarcreek) (Kindle Edition)

This is the first book by Shelley Gray that I've read. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The characters quickly developed into "people" that I cared about and wanted to follow through the story. The main protagonists were fleshed out with sufficient depth and behaved unpredictably enough that they were credible and interesting. However, some of the more peripheral characters were fairly shallow and predictable.

One of the things I liked best was the calming effect the book had on me the a reader. It held my interest despite a lack of the gratuitous violence, terror and cruelty that so many authors build into their novels. The glue that held this book together for me was the fundamental human values shared by many of the characters -- love of family, respect for the truth, a regard for the needs of others, and a drive to become the best person they could be.

The book is obviously written from a heavily Christian perspective -- afterall, most of the characters are Amish. That particular world view does not resonate with me, but to Ms. Gray's credit, she presented it in a way that came across as honest and heartfelt, not preachy. She writes with a soft touch that will likely speak to readers of various religious persuasions.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book stands up for it's name, July 13, 2010

By 

Wenda M. Hunt (Vinton, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spring's Renewal: Seasons of Sugarcreek, Book Two (Paperback)

With every book Shelley writes, they get better. I have been enjoying Shelley's books since she started writing the Amish books. I really enjoyed this book with Clara, at first resenting her mother for not allowing her have the surgery, but later learning the lesson that her mother was trying to teach her. This is one book worth reading. Enhance the pain that Clara went through with her disability and see how she learns from her "children". You will have trouble putting this book especially when Ruby comes for a visit. Find you a nice comfortable seat and enjoy your day of reading.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clara is Different, May 23, 2010

By 

Elaine Archibald "elaineteach" (Mount Vernon, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spring's Renewal (Seasons of Sugarcreek) (Kindle Edition)

It was so good to read a story about a disabled abled Amish person. Clara does not feel sorry for herself but she doesn't see her beauty either. I kept reading because I was waiting for her to truly see herself not only through another's eyes but through her own. I truly enjoyed reading this story.