Wanted (Sisters of the Heart, Book 2) [Paperback]

Shelley Shepard Gray (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sisters of the Heart | Publication Date: January 6, 2009

For a split second, Katie feels certain she's about to receive everything she's ever wanted. . .

Twenty-year-old Katie Brenneman has always quietly fancied Jonathan Lundy. So when the brokenhearted widower asks her to help him take care of his two young girls, Katie knows it will be a trying time—yet she cannot pass up a golden opportunity to get to know this man better.

Just as she's settling into her new life, a message arrives from Katie's past, threatening to expose her darkest secrets. During her Rumspringa, her running-around years, she experimented with activities forbidden in the Amish way of life. Frightened by how far she'd strayed from her values, Katie ran back home, vowing to cut all ties with the outside world. Now her transgressions are coming back to haunt her, just as Jonathan seems willing to welcome her into his heart.

Will the past destroy Katie's chances for love? Or will Katie allow herself to accept God's love, forgive her past, and receive everything she's ever wanted?

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Will appeal to fans of Amish inspirational fiction.” (Library Journal )

“Shelley Shepard Gray writes with honesty, tenderness and depth. Her characters are admirable, richly-layered and impossible to forget long after the story is done.” (Jillian Hart )

From the Back Cover

Widower Jonathan Lundy, the man twenty-year-old Katie Brenneman has secretly always fancied, asks her to watch his two young girls while his sister pays a visit to Indiana. Katie knows this will be a trying time. Jonathan has made it clear he has no intention of starting a relationship with her. Yet Katie can't pass up the opportunity to get to know him. Just as she's settling into her new life caring for Jonathan's children, Katie receives a threatening note from her past, someone who befriended Katie during her Rumspringa, her running around years. Those years were a dark time for Katie. She dressed English, lied to her parents, and experimented with many activities forbidden in the Amish way of life. After one tumultuous night, Katie realized how far she'd strayed from her values. Scared by the person she'd become, she ran back home and vowed to cut all ties with the outside world. In the meantime, Katie cn't deny how her feelings have grown for Jonathan, and though he seems to be taking a liking to her as well, its hard to know whether his broekn heart will ever allow him to love again. Will Katie be able to forgive herself for her transgressions and allow herself to move forward in her life? Or will her inability to receive God's love keep her from everything she's ever wanted? --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Avon Inspire; 1 edition (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061474460
• ISBN-13: 978-0061474460
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,064 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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everyone just wants to be loved, January 6, 2009

By 

Deborah "Books, Movies and Chinese Food" (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Wanted (Sisters of the Heart, Book 2) (Paperback)

Shelley Shepard Gray's first book, Hidden, was such a refreshing book to read that I was eagerly awaiting the release of the second book in the series. It was good to see that this was a good continuation of the first book. This time we get to see the viewpoint of an Amish girl who's had a taste of the English world but chose to come back. I liked her story because it was more focused on wanting to be loved. It just so happened that she was Amish. It was also still interesting to see how Anna is adapting to the Amish lifestyle. While she's starting to get more comfortable, it was still refreshing and realistic to see her still having trouble fully submerging to her new life. I say this, because I've read other Amish stories where I've seen people give up modern things cold turkey and slip 100% into this new culture and it comes off very fake. The only complaint I had about the book was that it felt a little short. Jonathan and Katie's romantic relationship felt a little rushed. I know that Katie had been pining for him for a while but it seemed like he resisted her for a little bit and then completely caved in. I think more tension between the two would have been interesting to read. I also would have liked more story on Katie's rumspringa. I always find it interesting to read about Amish teens who get a taste of the "English world" before they get baptized. All in all I did very much enjoy this book. It feels different from the other Amish books that are out there. More light hearted and not as dramatic. I'll be looking forward to reading Winnie's story in the next installment of the series.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wanted-A Joyfully Recommended Title!!, May 13, 2009

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wanted (Sisters of the Heart, Book 2) (Paperback)

Katie is a hard working Amish woman who still lives at home, as she is unmarried. She has quietly fancied Jonathan, a widower, for years but has never pursued this attraction due to her upbringing and her past.

She is concerned about her darkest secrets, the things she did during her Rumspringa (her running-around years). She is afraid that members of her community will not understand what she did, as she has a hard time coming to terms with them herself. She is now a member of the church and has cut her ties with those she met during her Rumspringa, and is letting God lead her life.

When an opportunity arises for Katie to help Jonathan with his children she welcomes the opportunity, though her parents do not at first, as they are concerned Katie will be hurt.

Now her past has suddenly surfaced just as she might finally have a chance at love with Jonathan. Will Katie be able to deal with the past and accept forgiveness?

If you need a "pick me up story" that is faith based than you will want to read Wanted. I admit that I not only laughed by I cried while reading about Katie. Ms. Gray has a fan in me with the Sisters of the Heart Series, though I don't normally read inspirational stories. I found that her writing skills pulled me in as well as the way she lets us into the thoughts of here characters, including their worries and concerns. I look forward to the next book in this series. Wanted is definitely recommended by me.

Tanya
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 2nd in Sisters of the Heart series a sweet romance, January 7, 2009

By 

Christina Lockstein "Christy's Book Blog" (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Wanted (Sisters of the Heart, Book 2) (Paperback)

Wanted by Shelley Shepard Gray is the second book in the Sisters of the Heart series that began with Hidden. Katie Brenneman has committed herself to the Amish lifestyle of her parents, but before she became baptized, she ran a little wild during her rumspringa. That time has come to haunt her just when she's finally realizing her dream of a life with widower Jonathan Lundy and his daughters. Katie's struggle to redeem her past is a well told story. How many people do crazy things just to feel wanted by someone? Katie has to accept that just as God has always wanted her, just as she is, Jonathan and her family want to love her as well. Katie and Jonathan's romance is sweetly written, and I loved Katie's spunk. I did feel that the build-up over Katie's past was a bit much considering the small size of her actual sins. I expected something a bit more horrifying than what was finally revealed. Jonathan's story is also moving as he learns to move on from his past marriage to the hope of a future one. I look forward to the next book in the series about Jonathan's sister, Winnie.