Review – His Promise: An Amish Christmas in Hart County

From the back cover: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s latest Christmas novel in her Amish of Hart County series. It’s set to be a white Christmas in Hart County, and Grace King is pet-sitting in a beautiful home with only a difficult dachshund for company. Just as she starts to miss the bustle of her large Amish family, Grace runs into a familiar face. Living right next door is John Michael Miller. He’s a fireman now, but five years ago, he had courted her older sister, then broke her heart. Seeing him again stirs Grace’s anger, but also reminds her of deeper feelings she’s done her best to deny. The infatuation John Michael once saw in Grace’s eyes is long gone, though his complicated attraction to her remains. He had walked away all those years ago when he realized he was falling in love with the wrong sister. Now, as suspicious fires are set in their community, that’s not an option. Grace dismisses his warnings, and John Michael vows to keep an eye on her. But he can’t help wondering if he’s reconnected with Grace, only to risk losing her again. Now all John Michael wants for Christmas is to keep Grace safe, in the hopes that they can one day have a future together. My thoughts: HIS PROMISE is book six in Ms. Gray's Amish of Hart County series but it easily stands alone. There are some previously mentioned characters, but they are nonintrusive and you don't need to read their story to understand this one. Grace is pet-sitting a grumpy dog and at first I think she is not the brightest crayon in the box. She puts the leash on the dog, carries him outside, unhooks the leash and puts him down and the dog promptly runs away. Well, duh. I guess she learns her lesson though, the dog is walked on the leash from then on. The suspense is really low key. There is an arsonist working with a robber and that is keeping the police and fire department busy. Grace sees footprints around the pet owners residence and the door opened, but no one believes her until after Grace invites a lady with beginning dementia to stay with her. There is a stronger than usual, for Ms. Gray's books, faith message, which is really nice. The romance is, of course, pure and wholesomely sweet. Fans of Amish romance, low-grade romantic suspense, and Ms. Gray will love this book. It will make a great gift for the reader on your Christmas list.