This series is off to a perfect start. I could not put this down! You won’t believe everything that is packed into one book.
A Is for Amish by Shelley Shepard Gray
Published by: Kensington Books
Publication Date: June 25, 2024
Series: Amish ABCs – Book 1
Genres: Amish Romance / Christian Romance
Pages: 282
Format: paperback
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Siblings Martin, Kelsey, Beth, and Jonny are as different as can be, but they have one thing in common. They’re all longing to reinvent their lives. Raised by their divorced lapsed-Amish father and English mother, they only knew real stability and a sense of family when visiting their Old Order grandparents, Josiah and Sylvia Schrock, in peaceful Holmes County, Ohio. Now the four want to try living with them and joining their faith—much to the Schrocks’ surprise . . .
Martin, the eldest, is reeling from a bad breakup, so he’s especially determined to make a fresh start. When he meets his grandparents’ neighbor, Patti Coblentz, he’s immediately drawn to her outgoing, helpful nature—but is so overwhelmed that he appears blunt and rude. Is there any way he can drop his defenses enough to admit she’s captured his heart?
Always self-conscious about the birthmark on her temple, Patti is resigned to never marrying and busying herself with the responsibilities of the large home and property she has inherited. Besides, Martin’s ill-mannered behavior and disconcerting directness make him the last man she’d ever want to wed—no matter how handsome he is.
Yet given time and patience—and adhering to their grandparents’ unexpectedly challenging rules—the whole family might just find what they’re looking for, even Martin and Patti.
My Review and Reflections
The four Schrock siblings grew up in a broken home. After their parents’ divorce, Martin (the eldest) took on more and more parenting responsibilities as their parents moved on with their own lives and spent less time paying attention to the children. One of the highlights of their youth was spending time with their Amish grandparents. Now that the four are grown, they wonder if they would be happier with a simpler life—an Amish one. They decide to embark on a journey to discover the truth buried within their hearts about how they want to live.
“She smiled back at him as she shook his hand. It was worm and solid and perfect. The hand of a man who wasn’t afraid to work.” p. 80
Martin’s grandparents, Josiah and Sylvia Schrock, are a little shocked that all of the children want to give being Amish a try. It’s a lot to take in, even though the children did spend a great deal of time with them while growing up—which, of course, is why the siblings think this is a good idea. They have a neighbor, Patti, whom Martin immediately takes a liking to. There’s something about her. However, Patti, who feels like she’ll forever be single, owns her home, her business, so not only is she independent, she’s also Amish. Plus, she finds Martin a little off-putting.
What I Loved About These Characters
All of the characters in A is for Amish are well-developed. They play off each other naturally, and many of the emotions displayed feel realistic. The Amish aren’t depicted as perfect people without character flaws, which adds depth to the story.
I was pleasantly surprised when Kelsey, the third in the sibling line, was featured more prominently in the book than I expected. Of course, I did fear that this would be a very short series because of that. I realize that is the Amish ABCs (three letters) but my preference would be for Gray to go way past that. Maybe, even all the way to Z. I’ll even give her the title: Z is for Zealous. I definitely want to read more, especially about Martin. There’s just something about him that makes you wonder how his life will turn out. His struggles—with his mind, his parents, and, really, everything—resonate with me.
Shelley Shepard Gray’s Writing Still Delivers
As usual, Shelley Shepard Gray does not disappoint. And, even though I don’t typically buy books, I picked this one up when I saw it on the shelf. I stayed up well past my bedtime to find out what would happen between Martin and his grandparents’ neighbor, Patti. Martin seems practical and put together, but it feels like he may be doing a complete 180, shifting from his current career and lifestyle to something entirely different.
Final Thoughts – Finding Faith, Family, and a Simpler Life
I did make the mistake of not writing this review right away because I was afraid I might give everything away, and I still am. So, I’ll wrap things up here. If you like books that explore the real struggles of balancing our modern lifestyle with the desire for a simpler life, you should definitely read this. It provides a realistic view of the internal dialogue we have about how we live today and what truly feels right for our souls.
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