This will probably be the most difficult book of this series for me to review. In fact, I’m not even certain that I can do it without giving too much away (I detest spoilers) but I’m going to give it my best shot.

“Autumn’s Promise” is the third book in Shelley Shepard Gray’s Seasons of Sugarcreek series and it is most definitely my least favorite ending so far.

However, I give Shelley full marks for her hard work. I am not certain that it was possible to write an ending to such a difficult situation that would have made everyone who read it happy.

Just using the back cover blurb (which doesn’t really give anything away in my opinion) let me give you a couple of hints about my irritation…

First, in my opinion, giving up technology and a car are not at all the same as giving up your independence or who you are as a person. However, I can assure you that at least 70% of the other women who read this book will not agree with me. My opinions on this subject are drawn from my own desire to be a Proverbs 31 woman.

In fact, my beliefs are most likely much closer to the Amish community than at least 90% of the other women who will or have read this book series. My own beliefs and feelings may even be more fervent than a lot of Mennonite women who have grown up straddling two worlds.

Second, no matter what anyone thinks, it is not just as easy for Robert Miller to give up his own ways and change for Lilly. Being Amish is not just a denominational difference. They look at marriage and faith in such different ways than we do and to them a vow to the church is just as much a lifelong commitment as marriage is.

And that truly is the way it is to them. A vow is not something that is meant to be broken – EVER. They do not take a vow lightly and they can not simply walk away from their church. Even the few Amish who leave before being baptized lose much of what makes the Amish community so different from the “Englisch” one.

OK. I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Truly I did enjoy the book. I just wish the ending had been a bit different. However, I will not allow my disappointment to lessen my love of Shelley’s books and I fully intend to finish the series, and the series after, and then go back and read her other series as well.

Shelley is a wonderful writer and she handled the ending extremely well, even if I didn’t care for it – it was beautifully written.

And since I imagine almost everyone would enjoy the ending more than I did, I fully recommend this book to everyone! ( )

Another great book by Shelley Shepard Gray. You will not be disappointed in this one. ( )

In this final novel in the trilogy, author Shelly Shepard Gray illustrates the turmoil that occurs when the communities of the Amish and English mix. Whether it involves friendships or something deeper, it is hard for the two factions to really understand each other. Should an Englisher help a young Amish boy to leave home or encourage him to stay with his family? Can an English woman give up her lifestyle to embrace the Amish religion? If she can’t, can the Amish man who loves her give up his family and faith and be shunned by the Amish community? These are just some of the issues that are explored in this novel. With a well thought out plot and endearing characters, this tale is sure to capture your interest. You will want to read the first to books in the series before concluding with this one. ( )

Again another excellent book in the Seasons of Sugar Series. I read the 1st two. This also was just as good.I liked how the author interwined all the characters throughout the series. She did a great job of developing all the characters as well as show the reader that the amish do have trials and tribulatiosn just as the English Folk do. There is one more book that is also part of this series . It is called Christmas at Sugarcreek ,which I am currently reading. ( )

Whenever I read one book of a series, I usually succumb to reading the remaining books of the series. This is labeled the Seasons of Sugarcreek, stories set in Ohio about an Amish community and the interaction with the English or non-Amish people. The story is written simply, but with wonderful friendship, understanding, and love. In this story, a sixteen-year-old Amish boy must decide his future. Will Caleb remain an Amish farmer or venture into the English world? This story also centers on the budding friendship between Robert, a 24-year-old Amish widower, and Lilly, a 19-year-old non-Amish girl. Yes, even Amish children have trouble with their parents and run amok at times. The central theme is that God watches and gives each person choices ( )