Road Trip Reads Giveaway (Florida): Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray

today’s book: Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray

Last week we kicked off the summer-long Road Trip Reads Giveaway where we will be visiting all 50 states on the pages of recently released books. Because road trips are always better with friends – and books – right? So grab your fave snacks, a cold soda or bottled water, an upbeat playlist and let’s head to the beach!

today’s stop: Florida

HER ONLY WISH by Shelley Shepard Gray
SERIES: A Season in Pinecraft #2
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary/Amish Romance
PUBLISHER: Revell
RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2023
PAGES: 284

Return to Pinecraft, Florida, for a Sweet Amish Romance

Sheltered yet adventurous, Betsy Detweiler is on a mission to get out of Kentucky and experience new things in life. She’s got a list–a life list. What better place to start than with her friends in beautiful Pinecraft, Florida?

From the moment Betsy walks into the Snow Bird Golf Course to sign up for lessons, August Troyer is mesmerized. Betsy is a mass of contradictions–beautiful yet awkward, outgoing yet unsure, joyful yet hesitant. She’s like no one he’s ever met before, and as the only child of missionary parents, he’s met a lot of people.

As Betsy and August embark on a month of enjoying life to the fullest, they’ll encounter several reasons to back off and play it safe. But playing it safe has its own consequences. This tender romance reminds us that life–and love–requires a fair amount of risk.

Other Books in This Series

Did you know that the Amish play golf? Well, apparently they do in Pinecraft – one of the many delightful things about Her Only Wish, the next book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s A Season in Pinecraft series. Other delightful things include (but are not limited to), THREE separate romances blossoming, pie from Yoder’s, fun supporting characters, sugary-sand beaches, pie from Yoder’s, sisterly bonds, swim lessons, did I mention pie from Yoder’s?

I very much enjoyed meeting Mary Margaret, Betsy and Lilly in Her Heart’s Desire, so I was happy to reacquaint myself with at least Mary Margaret and Betsy in this second book. (Lilly’s story is next!). In Her Only Wish, we get to tag along with Betsy as she determines to spend her month-long vacation in Florida learning things from her ‘life list’ – things she wants to do to prove she can, after lung issues (and her overprotective parents) have limited her in the past. At the top of her list? Learn to play golf.

Enter August, our sweet hero who helps run his aunt & uncle’s golf course and offers to teach Betsy how to play. Easier said than done, as he quickly discovers – I could easily picture these scenes and chuckled at the mental picture in my head more than once (because I would be doing about as well as Betsy lol). I loved watching these two sincere hearts develop a fast friendship that progresses into something more as Betsy’s vacation continues. August’s issues with his own parents make him a readily sympathetic ear to Betsy’s frustrations, and vice versa, and I appreciated that the author doesn’t necessarily wrap up all of these problems with a nice red bow by the end. Life is messy and sometimes it stays that way, even though joy and goodness are always somewhere to be found too…  and that’s a balance that I appreciate Gray’s Amish novels so often reflect.

Bottom Line: Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray is as warm and sunny as its Florida setting, with a few clouds of life that drift in to keep things realistic. In addition to our main protagonists’ romance (which was so sweet), there are two other romances blossoming for supporting characters – including a non-Amish couple. I enjoyed the switches back and forth in perspective between Betsy, August, Nate, and Annie (those last two are each one half of the other romances I mentioned) and the layers each brought to the story. The underlying themes were gentle but meaningful and inspirational, and a couple subplots really touched my heart. If you’re looking for a great sweet romance & a beach read that you can enjoy even if you can’t physically be at the beach, Her Only Wish is what you need!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4.5 stars / loved it!

KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion

affiliate links used

Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books, including Her Heart’s Desire. Two-time winner of the HOLT Medallion and a Carol
Award finalist, Gray lives in Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail. Connect with Shelley on her website.

Revell is offering a print copy of Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray to TWO of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

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What about you? What makes you want to read Her Only Wish by Shelley Shepard Gray? Have you ever visited Florida – specifically, to Pinecraft?