New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray weaves a moving and unforgettable exploration of love and friendship in this “slow-burning, enjoyable romance [with] a poignant message about the importance of community, compassion, and doing what’s right rather than what’s easy” (Publishers Weekly). The tragic and untimely death of an old friend has made Elizabeth Anne rethink not only her … friend has made Elizabeth Anne rethink not only her priorities but also her courtship with David, her longtime neighbor and suitor. Though he’s Mennonite like herself and has her parents’ approval, she feels that a spark is missing. Desperate for a change, she breaks things off–wondering if, perhaps, she’s the one who’s missing a spark.
When her family becomes upset with her decision, E.A. turns to her friends for support. One of them is Will, a man with a good heart who has always been there for her. As the two bond over their shared struggle to navigate a future that everyone else seems to have figured out, they are surprised to realize that they have feelings for each other.
But E.A.’s world takes a sudden turn when she realizes that she’s not the only one struggling–Marta, one of her sewing students, is in desperate need of protection. With the aid of Will and several other friends, E.A. begins a journey that is more difficult and rewarding than she could have ever imagined…one that ultimately enables her to find everything she’s been searching for.
“Gray deftly weaves the threads of abuse, friendship, love, and faith into a thought-provoking, emotional story” (Patricia Davids, USA TODAY bestselling author) that is sure to appeal to both new and longtime fans.
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The Protective One by Shelley Shepard Gray is the third book in The Walnut Creek Series. Each one can be read on its own, but you will be missing out on some heartwarming stories. Elizabeth Anne or E.A. as she prefers to be called, is such a kind, patient woman. She is one of the Eight and one of the few remaining single members. E.A. was Marie’s maid of honor at her recent wedding to John. E.A. is feeling at loose ends. She is not happy with her job at Sew & Tell and her beau, David is a little odd. After some horrible remarks from David on the death of her friend, Andy, E.A. breaks off their relationship. After speaking with Will Kurtz, E.A. learns that he is also feeling restless. They start spending time together and they soon realize that their friendship is turning into something more. Will Kurtz is an Amishman who works at the local R.V. factory. He feels that his life is standing still while others are getting married and moving ahead in their jobs. I like how the relationship developed between E.A. and Will. They are cute together. There is humor in the story especially during a scene involving David (he is an odd duck). The Protective One also delves into the dark topics of spousal abuse and stalking. I thought Shelley Shepard Gray did a wonderful job at addressing such difficult subjects. Her portrayal of Marta was realistic. Marta Miner has been married for ten years to an abuser. She has decided it is time to break free, but Marta must wait for the right moment. Marta came up with a plan and then set about executing it. I admired Marta for her bravery. The ending was just wonderful. I appreciated that we get updates on the other members of the Eight. We get to see how the other couples are faring in their relationships. Faith is intertwined throughout the book. As we see, prayer can be a powerful tool. The Protective One is a special story that will linger with you long after you finish it. I cannot wait to read The Trustworthy One. The Protective One is a touching novel with friendship, love, and faith.
Absolutely loved The Protective One. If I could I would given it more than five Stars. I thought the eye catching cover was beautiful. The book was an easy read and with excellent content. Centered around abuse in more than one circumstance, it had this reader on the edge of her seat. The love and support E.A., nickname for Elizabeth Anne, gave to the victim, while in some ways being a victim herself, was heart warming.
Elizabeth Anne was being courted by her next door neighbor David. Their courtship was a half hour each Saturday night and lacking of any romance whatsoever. David left the impression that he was doing Elizabeth a favor courting her. Finally she got the courage to break up with him. David didn’t take this well and refused to except the breakup. He told lies about her to her parents and friends. He was insistent that she rekindle their relationship to the point of stalking her.
Will Kurtz felt that life had passed him by. His friends were getting married and advancing in their careers. Will wasn’t in a relationship and was still working on the assembly line at the trailer factory. Then E.A. invited him over just to talk. While he was there David came over and said terrible things to E.A. Will didn’t like that so he pretended to be there courting Elizabeth . Before he knew what happened E.A. and him were kissing and it sure didn’t seem like pretend.
At the fabric store where E.A. worked she gave sewing classes. She had one student that was nervous, unhappy and stressed out most of the time. Marta Miners husband refused to let her drive and E.A. expected she was a victim of abuse. What could she do to get Marta to open up to her and how could she help her. She liked Marta and considered her to be a friend.
This book is Amish Fiction. It’s book three of Shelley Shepard Grays Walnut Creek Series. If you love Amish Fiction you will want to read this entire series. I would recommend starting at book one, The Patient One so you don’t get confused. I highly recommend it to you.
I borrowed a hard cover copy of this book from the local library. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
I was blown away by The Protective One. Gray did an amazing job handling the very sensitive subject of abuse. Not only did she center her story of Elizabeth and Will around the physical abuse Elizabeth’s student suffers from her husband but she also shows how mental and verbal abuse can be just as damaging and traumatic.
I found myself lying awake long after I finished the book thinking about the characters. Gray showed us that every one of us is affected by abuse in some way. Whether we experience it first hand or know someone who has been abused in some way. I loved how she showed strong friendships can endure almost anything and if we have them we can seek the help we need.
The Protective One will have you laughing and crying from one moment to the next. It is a powerful book that I feel can give someone the courage they need to get out of an abusive relationship.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Gallery Books, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
I could not get into this book. It was too slow.
This book is a great addition to this excellent series. I like the strong core of trust that these friends have in each other. In this book, both Will and E.A. are at a stage of change in their lives . A mutual tragedy has deeply affected both of them, and has them considering their next steps in life as far as jobs and relationships. Will and E. A. begin to realize that their friendship might possibly be transforming into something much deeper. There’s a good mix of Amish and Mennonite friends in this story, and it’s interesting in how they cheerfully manage the differences among them.
There’s some sweet, romantic moments in this book, but there’s also some serious storylines, too. There’s references to one of their friends who committed suicide. Marta’s storyline is about spousal abuse and her attempts to break away from her dangerous situation. If this topic is a trigger for you, be aware that although everything is handled thoughtfully and with hope, it could be distressing for you.
Although this is part of a series, you can read this book on its own. The author did a good job of blending in details from other books and made it easy to fill in the blanks.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I liked this book well enough to still give it 5 stars.
I think the only thing that I didn’t like about it was the use of the nickname E.A. I love the full name Elizabeth Anne so much better! It didn’t make much sense to me. I guess it’s because using a nickname doesn’t give the character much personality.
Now if we’re using the full name, this character really does have a lot to offer but this is just my opinion.
But overall I think the author has done a nice job on this tough subject. And a lot of it really does occur. Some women are just too ashamed or are just too afraid to make the necessary changes. Change is certainly hard enough.
Marta has my admiration! It takes a strong woman to do what she did!! She really could be an excellent role model!!
Her strength is really awesome! Just wow!
I also liked the idea of all of the 7 as I now call them that they are really there for each other and others in their community.
How I wish this were true in real life!!
I also wish that the author would just come out and say the Protective One is really our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord really does love us and offers us Hope at the end of the tunnel so to speak. All we need to do is ask.
I strongly recommend this book! It has all the elements of a good story! Shelley really knows her stuff!
My thanks to Netgalley. NO compensations were received. All opinions are my own!
I always find it amazing how the author, Shelley Shepard Gray can put so much in each of her books. I never had a problem breezing through one of her books, even when I’m in a reading slump or have problems reading. Yet, there I go closing the last page of The Protective One and thinking how much is in there.
A simple Amish story, but packed tight with themes of change, love, courage and friendship, The Protective One is one story that readers will resonate with on one or more levels. There may even be more themes but at this stage, it hasn’t occurred to me yet. The story of the Eight intrigued me to no end, because of the strength of friendship bound our characters together, and to have that level of friendship is amazing. Of course there’s the underlying message of change and having the courage to realize it and take action threads through each of our characters and at one point take its point at us, readers. Elizabeth Anne, aka EA and Will’s friendship to love is a quick one, but it was well executed for readers to understand and accept. Marta’s storyline and how it intertwines with EA’s, along with the message of God’s purpose for us to how He use us, even if it’s something minor, but can be a catalyst, in all just stayed with me. Yes, a simple Amish story, but it will capture your hearts and take a place on your mind long after.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
I really enjoyed this story and read it in one day because I was so enthralled with the story line and characters. It had a layer of drama and suspense with two different characters which kept me hooked from chapter to chapter trying to figure out what they would do next.
I like “EA” and because she was Mennonite and not Amish, the story line and day to day duties were very relatable and had a more modern feel. I also liked Will and seeing their friendship grow during the book and how they helped and complimented each other.
This is a story I would definitely read again and highly recommend to others! Even if you haven’t read other books in this series or author, this can be read as a stand alone book.
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
Gray deftly weaves the threads of abuse, friendship, love, and faith into a thought-provoking, emotional story.
Book 3 in the Walnut Creek Series is another incredible novel by author Shelley Shepard Gray. You can read this as a stand alone, but I would highly recommend Books 1 & 2 simply because they’re so good.
Gray takes on a tough subject in this book but does it well. She doesn’t go into incredible detail, which I appreciated. With well defined characters you will love, The Protective One shows us the importance of community and loyalty. Yet the characters are very human in their feelings as growth happens as they watch friends marry, get advancements in their job, and change with life.
One thing I really enjoyed was the way this group of friends is made up of Amish, Mennonite, and English believers. They didn’t care what faith community each was from. They just loved each other deeply.
If you enjoy Amish fiction then I highly recommend The Protective One.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Now this is the third book in this series, and these people have become friends to me, but if you are reading this one as a first, don’t worry you really won’t be lost. The author keeps you updated as to what has happened I the past, and we learn more about these friends of eight.
This is Elizabeth Anne’s and Will’s story, and a side story of Marta, a woman in need.
Will Elizabeth Anne and Will overcome obstacles, namely David and family, and there are many chuckles here!
I love the faith of these folks, a group of Amish, Mennonite, and English, all there for one another, no matter what the circumstances. Wouldn’t we all want friends like this?
You might just want to go and pick up the other two books, they are equally as good!
I received this book through Net Galley and Gallery Pocket Books. and was not required to give a positive review
I will definitely need to read the first books in this series because this one was so good. I want to learn all about the other characters that were mentioned in this story. I loved how there were a few stories going on that were interconnected. The romance was great but so was the intrigue. This handled the spousal abuse very well. This is a book that you want time to read because you won’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to read the next in the series. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will
Even though this book started out a little slow for me, it quickly picked up and I didn’t want to put it down. Still reeling from a death of a close friend, E.A. is growing more dissatisfied with her boyfriend David. When he insults her deceased friend, she breaks up with him. When E.A. tells her friend Will, he pretends that he is E.A.’s boyfriend. Before too long, they both realize that they have feelings for each other. David though isn’t ready to walk away from E.A… At work, E.A. only real joy is helping Marta master sewing though she worries that Marta might be an abused wife. I received a free copy of this eBook from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This is a wonderful story that encompasses love, friendship, faith, suspense, stalking, and abuse. This is the first book that I have read in the series and it can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone. I plan to put the previous two books in my TBR list. I love how supportive Will and E.A.’s friends are. E.A. and Will are also both so likable. I love this book.
The Protective One is the third inspiring story written by Shelley Shepard Gray in her continuing series, The Walnut Creek series. This story has everything a reader would look for in a story. Fantastic characters, love, disappointment, friendship, fear, and underlying mystery. The characters the author has created are beyond amazing. The story has a fast revolving storyline which definitely keeps the readers interest throughout the entire story. I also enjoyed the mini story in which bits and pieces are revealed at the beginning of each chapter.
This story could be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading the first two books first. This story continues with the lives of a group of young friends dubbed The 8. Within this group there are Amish, Mennonites, and English who have remained friends since early childhood. In this series segment the author centers in on two of the friends Elizabeth Ann but known as EA a very strong outspoken Mennonite young lady and Will. Their friendship over the years has remained strong but standoffish. When EA least expects it Will becomes her protector. This poignant story of friendship is inspiring.
The author has developed this story that touches on so many important issues that could effect anyone’s life. There is an abusive relationship, a stalking issue, and a bully. The way the author has handled each of these issues throughout the story gives the reader pause to consider how they might handle each situation. This is definitely a heartwarming story. So many emotions play out in this story.
I was given the opportunity to read this book in advance of it’s release through Shelley Shepard Gray and Gallery Books. Although I received an advanced copy I was not approached by anyone to post a favorable response. I have rated this outstanding story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to all readers regardless of their preferred genre.
Congratulations to Shelley Shepherd Gray on writing another fantastic story for her readers enjoyment.
This is one story that covered some difficult issues characters faced but with a message of doing what was right despite the pain of exposing the truth. Elizabeth Anne (E.A,) was not happy with how things were going with her suitor David and finally had to take a stand. She did enjoy teaching her student Marta how to sew but sense she was hiding something. Will, one of the seven friends remaining, admire E.A. and became pursing her. They enjoyed adventures she had never experienced. E.A. trusted Will and reached out to him as a friend to enable her to assist another in need. I appreciate the way Shelley Shepard Gray handled the issue of domestic violence and how Marta plan unfolded. The heart pounding moments will bring tears but the end result is friends are protective of one another, just as God is everyone protector. I look forward to the next book in the Walnut Creek series by Shepard. I have not been disappointed with any of the stories even though hard topics are presented they are true to life issues that many friends and loved ones face.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a review but have expressed my own thoughts.