Her Secret Hope

Reviewed by:

Sadie Miller from Maineville, Ohio, a Professional Writing student at Taylor University in Upland, IN.

Title:

Her Secret Hope (Book 3 of 3: A Season in Pinecraft)

Author:

Shelly Shepard Gray

Publisher:

Revell

http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/revell

Publication Date:

2023

Format:

Print book

Length:

273 pages

 OVERVIEW

Lilly Kurtz moves to Pinecraft, Florida, away from her family and the home she never felt accepted in, seeking a new life near her closest friends. Luckily for her, she lands a job at the Marigold Inn. All Lilly wants is to make a new start in a new town where nobody knows her past, but the arrival of the handsome Eddie Byer and his grandmother complicates things.

Eddie, a hardworking farmer haunted by his past relationship, is wary of letting love into his life again. However, he can’t help but be charmed by Lilly’s kind and loving nature, and almost immediately falls for her. Soon the pair learn they grew up only miles from each other in Middletown, Ohio, where Eddie will return once his vacation is over. Lilly has to decide: does she stay in Pinecraft, or move back home to be with Eddie?

Her Secret Hope is the third and final installment of A Season in Pinecraft. However, the books are all meant to be standalone. Even though I haven’t read the other books in the series, I never felt like I was lost, though I could tell they would provide backstory for a few of the characters.

While Her Secret Hope is a standard romance, Shelly Shepard Gray puts a spin on it by including a second, supporting romance. Throughout the book, we alternate between Lilly, Eddie, and Nancy’s (the owner of the Marigold Inn) points of view. While Lilly and Eddie are certainly the main couple, we also see the development of Nancy’s romance. All of the characters have distinct personalities and voices, and we get to see a lot of what goes on in their heads. Lilly and Eddie are charmingly awkward around each other, so watching them grow more and more comfortable is satisfying.

While the book is a romance, it is nice to see that both the characters have lives outside of romance. Lilly is working to support herself, and Eddie looks after his family. The characters have to figure out their personal problems before they can engage fully in a romantic relationship with the other.

While the story is strong, the writing leaves something to be desired. Gray includes beautiful and vivid descriptions of the environment but tends to tell rather than show the characters’ emotions. However, this can be overlooked, and I would still recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, sweet read.

ASSESSMENT

Rating:

3 Stars out of 5

Suggested Audience

I would recommend Her Secret Hope to anyone who loves to read sweet romances.

Christian Impact

All the characters are strong in faith and mention God a lot, reminding themselves and others that God has a plan, and frequently attributing their good fortune to God’s blessing. God is clearly present in the characters’ lives, but it never comes off as preachy to the reader.

https://www.christianbook.com/

https://www.amazon.com/