A published author under the name of Shelley Sabga since 2000, Shelley Shepard Gray published her debut work of Amish fiction - Hidden, in 2008 and shame on me for not discovering her books until recently. Most reviews are done soon after they hit the streets, but I enjoyed the book enough that I thought it warranted a mention, albeit a bit late.
Hidden is the first book in Shelley's three-book series - Sisters of the Heart, and she hooked me from the start. It was an easy read without a lot of characters to keep track of, but not so simple as to not be entertaining to anyone who enjoys the Christian fiction genre, and Amish fiction in particular. The plot was enjoyable as well as believable, and I wouldn't have guessed that it was Shelley's first shot at Amish fiction.
The story begins with the main character, Anna, trying to escape an abusive boyfriend by turning to an Amish friend. She seeks refuge at a Bed and Breakfast run by the Amish family she had become acquainted with years before, whose daughter she kept in contact with. Anna doesn't want to involve Katie's family in her troubles, but having nowhere else to turn, she dresses Plain and blends herself into the family.
As the story evolves, we see that Anna is running to something as much as running from, and that her impulsive flight to safety may have sent her to the very place she needed to be.
I recommend any fan of Christian and/or Amish fiction add works by Shelley Shepard Gray to their reading list. If you're like me, you'll be anxiously awaiting her next release.
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