I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Edelweiss+. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray Series: The Amish of Hart County #5
Published by HarperCollins on July 24, 2018
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Clean & Wholesome, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 288
Source: Edelweiss+
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In New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s latest novel of suspense in her Amish of Hart County series, an EMT falls for a woman with ties to an Amish community where people are dying similar, suspicious deaths.
Sadie Detweiler never imagined she’d move to Kentucky, yet here she is: a pregnant, unmarried Amish girl banished by unforgiving parents to live with kin she barely knows. The men are gruff and her cousins are secretive. Worst of all, elderly matriarch Verba becomes mysteriously ill shortly after Sadie moves in. When EMT Noah Freeman arrives, Sadie immediately notices he’s unlike any other Amish man she’s met. Noah is warm, confident, and has an easy way with practically everyone in the community, both Amish and English. Though Sadie is drawn to him, she has little hope he will reciprocate her feelings once he learns she’s with child.
Noah can’t understand how a girl as sweet and lovely as Sadie ended up sleeping on a cot in Verba Stauffer’s kitchen. He also senses Sadie is terrified of something. Concerned, he checks up on her. Eventually they strike up a friendship and soon their attraction is undeniable. When Verba later dies at the hospital and her death is followed by two others, Noah’s boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He agrees—for Sadie’s sake—because only the truth will keep her safe and by his side.
For the love of all the tomatoes, the darkness that shadows this community has a reach that extends the borders of Hart County and even beyond Kentucky. I know that sounds bad but let me explain. Each book has brought us less than ideal families, predominately in the Amish communities. Dysfunctional families with shades of abuse are not uncommon. There are no boundaries for negative family dynamics. Shelley Shepard Gray manages to remind us that these dynamics have as much potential to occur in Amish communities as English communities. I feel like someone is going to take these statements all kinds of skewed, please bear with me as I attempt to make thoughts become words. Most members of these dysfunctional families aren’t out there advertising the issues at home, whether they be physical or emotional. There is a level of embarrassment that plays into this, along with shame and the obvious guilt. The fact that the Amish separate themselves from the English world, as much as possible, it is less likely to be recognized in these communities. While facts tell us that this travesty literally crosses all socioeconomic boundaries, religions, ethnic backgrounds, et al; in our misguided idealizing of the Amish faith we forget that in reality it’s a human problem and Amish are just human. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have even picked up on this if I wasn’t power reading this series, but I digress. Moving on. Sadie isn’t from Hart County but she finds herself there due to human condition; a dysfunctional family and a little jumping the gun on marriage benefits. Pregnant, lied about, not believed by her family, sent packing by her family to cousins in Hart County, and finding herself drowning in even more secrets and subterfuge.
Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the community. I don’t mean to spoiler you but I’m going to so um, if you don’t wanna know? Don’t read this. The Stauffer’s still moonshine. Everyone knows it. Everyone. It’s not a secret, they just think it is. To be fair, Sadie doesn’t know it. It’s not specifically said until deep into the story but I mean. The. Entire. County. Knows. It. Everyone. Perhaps that’s why Sadie’s parents thought they were the worst of the worst. Although, in my opinion, her parent’s aren’t very redeeming themselves. Everyone needs someone to look down on I suppose. Noah. Noah has an annoying streak to him that grated on and off my nerves. He is so convinced that this shy, skittish, young woman is in danger. She’s sworn she’s not in danger. In trouble yes, not in danger. Until he pushes them all so far that her personal situation is revealed in a crowded nursery for all to hear. So much for the ability to share her own news at her own time. I completely blame Noah. I mean, don’t get me wrong he’s totally redeeming but he’s obsessive. Like I said it was grating on and off. His obsession does have some positives to it. He saved Sadie from her family. He saved Sadie from herself. His loved possibly saved them both.
There is so much redemption in this book beyond Sadie and Noah. The Stauffer family finds their own redemption. Stephen and his guilt between bringing his children into the family business after the death of their mother. Stephen and forgiving himself for falling back into the ‘family business’ instead of fighting harder to find another way to support his family when things started falling apart. Monroe, for fighting with himself over the moonshine. His fight to keep it secret while also fighting the fact that he hated doing it. There’s two qoutes I highlighted as I read this book that I think really hit home the theme of redemption that this book has for me. First, Monroe is asking his dad if he still loves him after Esther ends up in the hospital due to the family business. ‘I can,’ he whispered, thinking that was what Jesus did for them. He loved them even when He didn’t understand their actions. The second thing that really clung to me was when Sadie realized that the family she found with the Stauffer’s was the best family she had ever had. That their care and concern and even love for her, even when it came across as sideways, was something she had never had with her family. Finally, she understood what God’s love really was. It didn’t come with conditions or favors or sacrifices. He didn’t want her to be perfect or obedient or demure. He wanted her to be the person He’d intended for her to be. That right there is something I think needs to cling to all of us for a moment or ninety. Until next week . . . with the release of ‘His Promise’.
About Shelley Shepard Gray
I grew up in Houston, Texas, went to Colorado for college, and after living in Arizona, Dallas, and Denver, we moved to southern Ohio about ten years ago.
I’ve always thought of myself as a very hard worker, but not ‘great’ at anything. I’ve obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree…but I never was a gifted student. I took years of ballet and dance, but I never was anywhere near the star of any recital. I love to cook, but I’m certainly not close to being gourmet…and finally I love to write books, but I’ve certainly read far better authors.
Maybe you are a little bit like me. I’ve been married for almost twenty years and have raised two kids. I try to exercise but really should put on my tennis shoes a whole lot more. I’m not a great housekeeper, I hate to drive in the snow, and I don’t think I’ve ever won a Monopoly game. However, I am the best wife and mother I know how to be.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that in God’s eyes that is okay? That from His point of view, we are all exceptional? I treasure that knowledge and am always so thankful for my faith. His faith in me makes me stand a little straighter, smile a little bit more, and be so very grateful for every gift He’s given me.
I started writing about the Amish because their way of life appealed to me. I wanted to write stories about regular. likeable people in extraordinary situations-and who just happened to be Amish.
Getting the opportunity to write Inspirational novels is truly gratifying. With every book, I feel my faith grows stronger. And that makes me feel very special indeed.
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