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. … 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.
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Heartwarming, heart-stopping romantic suspense!
Sadie’s back story is sad. Her parents and boyfriend treated her as if she was garbage and they could throw her out when they didn’t want her anymore. I was relieved when she finally, through Noah’s tenderness and love, came to realize that she is worthy because she is a child of God. Hope gave her courage to take a stand against savage treatment from her father, and begin the journey to who she was meant to be.
Noah is quite simply a gut (good) guy. He has always felt called to help others and being an EMT gives him a unique opportunity to use his Pennsylvania Dutch language to translate when they are called out to an Amish home. From the first time he sees Sadie hovering anxiously near the door, he knows something is not right in the Stauffer household. But how is he going to figure out what it is? Why does he even care when he doesn’t know her?
I enjoyed reading Her Fear because it is a different type of Amish story. Sadie is banished to live with kinfolk, the Stauffer’s, in Kentucky, and there is a mystery surrounding the goings-on in that home. I was expecting something creepy, after all it is a SSG novel, but when it was revealed, I was kind of taken aback. In all my years of reading Amish fiction, I don’t think I have come across the subject. I appreciate the author notes in the back of the book discussing Kentucky Amish and their history. I feel like I learned something about a community of people that fascinates me.
The story felt a little rushed, especially near the end, but I still recommend it to fans of Amish fiction and mystery/suspense. It wasn’t nail biting but I was spellbound at times and definitely did not want to put the book down. Gray certainly knows how to fully engage my senses. I’m looking forward to the next book in the Amish of Hart County series. Even though this is book 5 in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone.
I was gifted a paperback copy of the book from the publisher. No review was required. No compensation received.
Shelley Shepard Gray is my all time favorite author and she has done it again. Her writing and the characters bring you right into the story. I love to read about the Amish and I also like suspense, Shelley writes Amish, suspense and romance but it is a clean romance which I really love.
Thank you again for writing such great books! Whether you like Amish, romance or suspense; you won’t be disappointed with Shelley’s books!
A story with an unusual plot, but the characters just didn’t ring quite true to me. The ending wasn’t realistic in the way it wrapped up.
However, the story line kept your attention and you remain uncertain of ending.
Shelley Shepard Gray had me captivated with her wonderful book “HER FEAR”!!
Amish Sadie Detweiler founds herself pregnant and is unmarried. She is sent away by her parents. This story is about fear, hope, forgiveness, and full of suspense . The characters are wonderful! This was a very very good book!!!!
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’.
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.
Sadie finds herself pregnant, the boyfriend lies to everyone, she’s disowned by her family and sent to family in another state with $5.00 in her pocket. She arrives at her uncle’s home to find they didn’t know she was coming. Soon after her arrival her aunt becomes ill, dies and her families secrets start unraveling. Noah meets Sadie when he arrives when her aunt is stricken ill. He’s Amish but works as an EMT. As others become ill and some die with the same symptoms but in different parts of the county the mystery deepens. Sadie learns to be strong in God’s strength and to stand on her own,
Shelley Shepard Gray writes primarily about the simple life of the Amish but she also shows how, as Christians, we can stand on God’s strength and His word. This is one author that I will read no matter what genre’ she writes in. She always touches your heart or emotions. Even though the book is set in Amish country it could be about a young lady, her family and friends in any setting. Shelley writes books that are heartwarming, clean, shows her faith through her characters and the story line will keep you turning the pages. I’ve read most of her books and have thoroughly enjoyed each one. I have her books pre-ordered based on author name & not title. I bought this book and no one asked me to leave a review. All opinions are my own and I read this book in less than two days – didn’t want to put it down. Highly recommend Her Fear and any other books by Shelley Shepard Gray.
Sadie has a strength in her that would rival any person. After being kicked out and her baby’s father denying he had anything to do with it’s conception she moves far away to Hart to live with her uncle and cousins. Noah is an outsider among his Amish community because he’s working to become an EMT. It’s his calling and he’s proud of his accomplishment. He can help others and extending that when the emergency crews have a call at an Amish house. Two lives collide for an emergency call at Sadie’s home and the connection for Noah is undeniable. Noah is a good, honorable man and he cares for those he loves. He will do anything to care for and protect them.
Once again Shelley Shepard Gray has woven a wonderful, Amish romance with multiple layers that keeps a reader engaged from the first page to the end.
Author Shelley Shepard Gray writes in such a way that her stories, especially this series, hold my interest from the very beginning. The books have been so hard to put down!
In this story, Gray addresses the subject of an unwed mother in the Amish community and her abusive family, something you won’t often read about. And Amish moonshiners? I never knew such a thing happened. But the Amish are human and have troubles and trouble makers, just like every segment of society. Hope and faith in God soften this story and bring redemption.
With well-developed characters and great descriptions of the communities you’ll be enthralled. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages quickly to see what happened next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
I have enjoyed reading this series of Amish novels set in Kentucky. Her Fear is definitely my favorite of the series so far!
The author did a very good job of creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in the house that Sadie was living in. As I read the story, I could feel the fears that Sadie had as they weighed her down.
The thread of suspense in this novel, the tense living situation that Sadie was in, the knowledge that Sadie was pregnant out of wedlock, and the Amish EMT made for a very good story which also had a really enjoyable romantic thread running through it. I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
A raw and emotional look at the Amish who have flaws instead of painting them in a perfect light. It deals with an unexpected pregnancy and a lie that sets off a series of events that sends Sadie away. The course has many twists and turns and your heart is broken for her. It is a story of overcoming fear, forgiveness, finding love in unexpected places, and running the race that God has set before us. I love the Amish Proverb, “Do what you can with what you have where you are.” Sadie does just that…she makes the best of a difficult situation and does whatever is required to protect her unborn child. This is a book of Hope and draws you in with its characterization and a story that grabs you from the first line. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Shelley Shepherd Gray often writes about the Amish but she doesn’t portray them as perfect people with no faults or problems. Her characters are like most of us. We try, we falter and we sometimes fail but through God’s love and grace, we can be forgiven. Sadie Detweiler is Amish but she is no different than many other young women who have trusted in the wrong person and then found themselves facing an unplanned pregnancy alone. Sadie is forced to leave her Ohio home and go to live with relatives she barely knows in Hart County, Kentucky and she immediately becomes a part of circumstances that are both mysterious and perhaps life-threatening. Noah Freeman is a young Amish man working as an EMT and he intuitively recognizes her need for friendship and understanding. He steps in to help her and his strength and his kindness support her as she tries to make a life for her unborn child.
This book deals with deceit and manipulation, the illegal production of moonshine, some unexplained deaths and the consequences of breaking the law. I found the title Her Fear very appropriate because there are many kinds of fear woven into this story and they affect several of the characters. Fear of disobedience, fear of discovery, fear of failure, fear of being unable to provide for a child and fear of being alone and never finding happiness. Through it all, however, there is the presence of hope and a reminder that forgiveness is possible and that God will prevail.
Shelley Shepherd Gray possesses a wonderful talent of creating characters who are fallible but never beyond redemption and situations that seem hopeless but never irreparable. I heartily recommend this fifth book of The Amish of Hart County series.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher but I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. These are my honest thoughts.
What a story you are about to begin as you turn the pages on the latest sequel to the Hart County Amish, and it will sure keep your attention.
The author has touched on some really deep subjects here including, abandonment, abuse, bootlegging, death, and then you will see how it all ties together.
I have loved all of the books in this series so far, and this one sure doesn’t disappoint, and when finished I was ready to read on in their lives of these new friends.
I received this book through Edelweiss and the Publisher Avon Inspired, and was not required to give a positive review.
I really enjoyed this book! I really liked the storyline and the characters. It was really different to read about an Amish EMT, but I liked it. It was nice to see a familiar face in this story and to kind of get an update on his life. This whole series is my favorite of Shelley Shepard Gray’s books. I highly recommend them!
*I was provided a free copy of the book from the publisher, but I wasn’t obligated to post a review. All thoughts are my own.*