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Seasons of Sugarcreek #3
Autumn's Promise
Some promises are meant to be broken. . . . Until Robert Miller met Lilly Allen, his world had been dark. A widower after only two years of marriage, he'd been living in a haze, feeling that, at twenty-four, his life was already over. But thanks to his friendship with Lilly, he now has new reasons to wake up each day. He knows his connection to her doesn't make sense. She's only nineteen, with a past the whole town talks about. Even more, she's not Amish, like Robert. A marriage between the two of them could never happen. Lilly's heart is drawn to Robert, not to his faith. No matter how much she admires his quiet strength and dependability, she doesn't think she could ever give up her independence and reliance on the modern world. Is their love doomed before it even begins?
310 pages, Hardcover
First published August 3, 2010
91 people are currently reading
744 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Shepard Gray
126 books2,313 followersLibrarian Note: AKA Shelley Gray (Western Romance).
Shelley Shepard Gray has published over seventy novels. She currently writes Amish romances for Harper Collins, Kensington, and Simon & Schuster and contemporary women’s fiction for Blackstone Publishing.
Her novels have been Holt Medallion winners and Inspirational Readers Choice and Carol finalists. Shelley’s novels have appeared on both the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.
Her novels have been highlighted in the Philadelphia Enquirer, Washington Post, Time Magazine, and USA Today. She has also been interviewed on NPR as well as numerous regional radio stations.
Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s degree in English literature and elementary education and later obtained her master’s degree in educational administration. She currently lives in Colorado Springs and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two young adults, and always has a dachshund by her side. She is an active member of her church, on Facebook and on Twitter. She also has a website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com.
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Shelley Shepard Gray has published over seventy novels. She currently writes Amish romances for Harper Collins, Kensington, and Simon & Schuster and contemporary women’s fiction for Blackstone Publishing.
Her novels have been Holt Medallion winners and Inspirational Readers Choice and Carol finalists. Shelley’s novels have appeared on both the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.
Her novels have been highlighted in the Philadelphia Enquirer, Washington Post, Time Magazine, and USA Today. She has also been interviewed on NPR as well as numerous regional radio stations.
Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s degree in English literature and elementary education and later obtained her master’s degree in educational administration. She currently lives in Colorado Springs and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two young adults, and always has a dachshund by her side. She is an active member of her church, on Facebook and on Twitter. She also has a website, www.shelleyshepardgray.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
October 28, 2022
I checked out Autumn’s Promise from our library for something fun and light to read since I knew Shelley Shepard Gray would not disappoint. I only wish I had requested the other two books in the series first to all have the background of the characters in this series.
However, I did enjoy reading Lilly and Robert story as they both had experienced painful losses. Even though their backgrounds are totally different they connected when Robert visited the restaurant at the Inn in Sugarcreek where Lilly worked. The secondary characters struggles and lives were evident with how their interaction with Robert or Lilly influenced their thoughts and actions.
Fans of Amish Fiction will want to read Seasons of Sugarcreek in order to gain the most of all the characters.
April 23, 2024
This book was gave to me by my mother-in-law and I enjoyed it.
I thought the characters were well developed and easy to follow yet, very interesting.
I thought the characters were well developed and easy to follow yet, very interesting.
February 11, 2013
"Autumn's Promise"by Shelley Shepard Gray gets 5 stars from me. I think this novel was my favorite in the whole series. I was surprised by the ending but am glad it ended the way it did. I am just sorry that the Seasons Of Sugarcreek novels just have the three books. I would like to read more about Lilly. Lilly and Robert fell in love, even through Robert is Amish and decided to get marry,but then Lilly decided she cannot give up her independence to become Amish. Robert , who lost his first wife due to illness isn't going to lose Lilly so to keep her he makes a change that I didn't see coming. The characters in all three novels of the Seasons Of Sugarcreek trilogy are easy to like and it was easy to imagine that I was watching the story unfold in front of me. Autumn's Promise was also about Caleb Graber realizing that all he had to be was the person God wanted him to be, not the perfect son. I even came close to having tears in my eyes a couple of times reading this book as I was really beginning to think about these characters as real people. These novels are about real life and problems and struggles that families share. I have read 2 series of books by Shelley Shepard Gray and was not disappointed. I will be reading her other series.
February 7, 2014
Sorry, want to remind myself not to read this author again. Sorry that sounds harsh. I felt her portrayal of the Amish was not completely accurate; for example, in this series of books, everyone in the community is very open and talkative about details of courting and upcoming engagements/weddings, which I believe is not generally the case among the Amish. I think in most communities, these things are not spoken of until the wedding is announced.
These books were too much Romance for me, and not enough Amish. I did not feel that the Faith aspect of being Amish was treated as very important. The final straw (SPOILER ALERT) was having an Amish man give up his Amish faith for a woman, something unlikely to happen at the age/stage of this character.
I'd rather stick to authors that know the Amish better, such as Beverly Lewis.
These books were too much Romance for me, and not enough Amish. I did not feel that the Faith aspect of being Amish was treated as very important. The final straw (SPOILER ALERT) was having an Amish man give up his Amish faith for a woman, something unlikely to happen at the age/stage of this character.
I'd rather stick to authors that know the Amish better, such as Beverly Lewis.
November 1, 2016
Autumn's Promise (Seasons of Sugarcreek, #3)
by Shelley Shepard Gray
After suffering from a devastating loss 19 year old Lilly Allen is very depressed. She works as a waitress in town and is an Englisher. She finds out her mother is pregnant and it sets of emotions of sadness and loss in her. Driving to work one day she is crying so hard she pulls off the road into the parking lot of a store. There she meets 24 year old Amish man Robert Miller. His world has been dark after becoming a widower after only 2 years of marriage.He starts to care for Lilly Allen and makes excuses to see her at the restaurant . She starts to open her heart to him as well. Lilly's heart is drawn to Robert, not to his faith. She is ready to join the Amish to be with him and he is ready to leave the Amish to be with her. Will they find a way to compromise and make the relationship work or is it doomed from the start? This is my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it just as much as I did with the first reading. I hope you will enjoy it if you get a chance to read it too.
by Shelley Shepard Gray
After suffering from a devastating loss 19 year old Lilly Allen is very depressed. She works as a waitress in town and is an Englisher. She finds out her mother is pregnant and it sets of emotions of sadness and loss in her. Driving to work one day she is crying so hard she pulls off the road into the parking lot of a store. There she meets 24 year old Amish man Robert Miller. His world has been dark after becoming a widower after only 2 years of marriage.He starts to care for Lilly Allen and makes excuses to see her at the restaurant . She starts to open her heart to him as well. Lilly's heart is drawn to Robert, not to his faith. She is ready to join the Amish to be with him and he is ready to leave the Amish to be with her. Will they find a way to compromise and make the relationship work or is it doomed from the start? This is my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it just as much as I did with the first reading. I hope you will enjoy it if you get a chance to read it too.
September 27, 2010
I'm so happy I happen to run across this author. I've now read both series that she's written and enjoyed both series so much! Great book, although I'm disappointed by the ending. It left me wanting more. I also don't understand why there is not a Summer book written since the series name is "Season's of Sugarcreek".
October 2, 2016
I really enjoyed the very different plot lines in this Amish-themed book. Very well developed characters, and really interesting situations. Highly recommended for those fans of Amish fiction who would enjoy something new and different.
February 20, 2014
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!
“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!
January 5, 2012
**This is book 3 in the Seasons of Sugarcreek Series. If you have not read the first two books, you may not want to continue reading**
According to Goodreads:
Until Robert Miller met Lilly Allen, his world had been dark. A widower after only two years of marriage, he's been living in a haze, filled with grief. He feels his life is already over-even though he's only twenty-five.
But his friendship with Lilly changes everything. For the first time since he can remember, he finds new reasons to wake up each day. Soon, he knows he's falling in love with Lilly. However, he also knows a marriage between the two of them can never happen. Lilly Allen is only eighteen. She had become pregnant out of wedlock. And, she's an Englisher. He, of course, is Amish.
Lilly also feels a strong attraction to Robert. She admires his quiet strength and dependability. She's also in awe of his devotion to his wife's memory. Lilly knows she could never measure up to his perfect Amish wife. She also comes to realize that no matter how much she might love a person, she can't change who she is. She loves Robert--not the Amish faith. No matter how much she loves him...she doesn't know if she'll ever be able to give up her independence and reliance on the modern world in order to say vows.
Coming from different worlds, does their love stand a chance?
Another great book by Shelley Shepard Gray! I have read the first three books of the series within three days!! I can't seem to put them down. I must say, I think this book is my favorite so far. The story of Robert Miller and Lilly Allen pulled at my heart. I must say this story line, an Amish man falling for an English woman; was a little different. Nonetheless, a terrific story!
You can't help who you fall in love with. Robert and Lilly found that out first hand. Even though they are from different worlds, sacrifices were made so they could be together. They knew it wouldn't be easy but they decided to take the blunge. I can't wait to read the last book in the series, A Christmas in Sugarcreek.
I rate this book 5/5!
According to Goodreads:
Until Robert Miller met Lilly Allen, his world had been dark. A widower after only two years of marriage, he's been living in a haze, filled with grief. He feels his life is already over-even though he's only twenty-five.
But his friendship with Lilly changes everything. For the first time since he can remember, he finds new reasons to wake up each day. Soon, he knows he's falling in love with Lilly. However, he also knows a marriage between the two of them can never happen. Lilly Allen is only eighteen. She had become pregnant out of wedlock. And, she's an Englisher. He, of course, is Amish.
Lilly also feels a strong attraction to Robert. She admires his quiet strength and dependability. She's also in awe of his devotion to his wife's memory. Lilly knows she could never measure up to his perfect Amish wife. She also comes to realize that no matter how much she might love a person, she can't change who she is. She loves Robert--not the Amish faith. No matter how much she loves him...she doesn't know if she'll ever be able to give up her independence and reliance on the modern world in order to say vows.
Coming from different worlds, does their love stand a chance?
Another great book by Shelley Shepard Gray! I have read the first three books of the series within three days!! I can't seem to put them down. I must say, I think this book is my favorite so far. The story of Robert Miller and Lilly Allen pulled at my heart. I must say this story line, an Amish man falling for an English woman; was a little different. Nonetheless, a terrific story!
You can't help who you fall in love with. Robert and Lilly found that out first hand. Even though they are from different worlds, sacrifices were made so they could be together. They knew it wouldn't be easy but they decided to take the blunge. I can't wait to read the last book in the series, A Christmas in Sugarcreek.
I rate this book 5/5!
August 14, 2011
From the start of the series with Winter's Awakening Lily Allen , the book character not the famous singer as been a part of bringing the Seasons of Sugarcreek novels to life , in the first book Winter's Awakening we saw Lilly's family move from outside of Amish life as what they call Englischer's to the land of Sugarcreek - an Amish community and try to adopt their lifestyles. In the first book we saw Joshua have feelings for Lily and stray away from Gretta whom at the time he was courting and in book #1 we discovered that Lily was hiding a huge secret. At the end of Book #1 though we saw wrongs corrected and Josh ended up marrying Gretta. In Book #2 Spring's renewal we saw the miscarriage of Lily's baby and the pain she went through at the thought of losing it all, we all wondered when was Lily's story and happy ending coming to arrive.
In Autumn's promise we see the heartbreaking agony that Lily suffers when her parents announce that her mother is pregnant -just as Lily is on her way to getting over her miscarriage. In Spring's renewal we saw the introduction of the character Robert Miller and in Book #3 he springs to action as the lead male as Robert and Lily start getting close , however like usual their are obstacles in their road as he is into the Amish religion where she isn't and she is blinded by her past. However, Lily sets Robert's heart on fire and after losing his wife he thought he could never find love again. Can he prove to Lily that she is worth having and can Lily realise that it is not Robert's Amish lifestyle she is drawn to but himself as a man? Of course , like Lily's life in the rest of the novels we see her go up and down throughout the novel and watch as she decides whether or not Robert is her Prince Amish Charming.
Is Autumn's Promise a season for Lily's dreams to come true or will this season like the previous too pass over her ?
Find out in Shelley Shepard Gray's book #3 of the Season of Sugarcreek.
P.S - Im loving the way my reviews look in Italics
February 5, 2016
What a wonderful end to the series! I am new to Shelley and her novels. I own only one of her novels, but I have yet to read the book. After reading The Seasons of Sugarcreek, I plan to read more of her books. For once, we have an Amish community is portrayed as the loving and caring people that they are known for. It was a good change, and it felt good to see them being more open to outsiders and showing them love and compassion, even when they made mistakes.
This book has to be my favorite in the series. I was upset, when the second book did not have much of Lily’s story. I can understand that the author wanted to switch things up a bit, but being that she was my favorite character in the series, I longed to see her have a happy ending. I admired her strength to move on, when things seem like they couldn’t get any worse. I wondered in the second book, if she and Robert would go anywhere. They seemed like such a good match, and when I read the description for this book, I immediately fangirled!
Another great addition to this book was seeing Caleb’s point of view. We get to follow him along his hard journey to find himself. Should he stay Amish or leave the community? His young boy struggles seem endless as he finds himself in trouble time and time again. I found myself feeling in agreement with his family and friends as they tried to help point him in the right direction. It’s the typical coming of age story, and I loved that the writer added it into her last book. It shows a deep contrast between Lily’s story and Caleb’s. While she dreams of a hopeful future and marriage with Robert, Caleb is struggling to become a young man. They are on two different times of their lives, but they connect so wonderfully as friends. You would think that they were brother and sister.
I really enjoyed reading all of the character’s stories as they suffered and grew stronger. I hope to read more of Shelley’s books in the future!
This book has to be my favorite in the series. I was upset, when the second book did not have much of Lily’s story. I can understand that the author wanted to switch things up a bit, but being that she was my favorite character in the series, I longed to see her have a happy ending. I admired her strength to move on, when things seem like they couldn’t get any worse. I wondered in the second book, if she and Robert would go anywhere. They seemed like such a good match, and when I read the description for this book, I immediately fangirled!
Another great addition to this book was seeing Caleb’s point of view. We get to follow him along his hard journey to find himself. Should he stay Amish or leave the community? His young boy struggles seem endless as he finds himself in trouble time and time again. I found myself feeling in agreement with his family and friends as they tried to help point him in the right direction. It’s the typical coming of age story, and I loved that the writer added it into her last book. It shows a deep contrast between Lily’s story and Caleb’s. While she dreams of a hopeful future and marriage with Robert, Caleb is struggling to become a young man. They are on two different times of their lives, but they connect so wonderfully as friends. You would think that they were brother and sister.
I really enjoyed reading all of the character’s stories as they suffered and grew stronger. I hope to read more of Shelley’s books in the future!
March 2, 2016
I felt this book was a bit disappointing after the second book was pretty good. This one focuses on Lilly some more, who has been in all of the books as a minor character to lead up to this. I like her as a character a lot, but I think that this plot and story was lacking in various ways. Lilly has matured through her circumstances she's gone through over the year. She starts to get to know Robert, an Amish widow who seems to like being around her. They are 5 years apart and can understand a sense of loss in life. I don't think their relationship really developed well and seemed mainly on attraction and hanging out just a couple of times. I feel like the other two books, you were able to get a sense of how the relationships were built much better. This one was too odd and unlike reality though at times it made sense with how things were going.
The second story throughout this book focuses on Caleb who wants to become "English" instead of Amish. He feels like he does too much on the farm and that his little brother isn't doing enough. He can't be perfect like his older brother. He feels like he just doesn't fit in and needs to learn who he is. I think his story went too quickly. I wanted to know what his experience near Cleavland was like since they made a point of him going there and the next chapter he was already home already. It just seemed like a rushed story.
The second story throughout this book focuses on Caleb who wants to become "English" instead of Amish. He feels like he does too much on the farm and that his little brother isn't doing enough. He can't be perfect like his older brother. He feels like he just doesn't fit in and needs to learn who he is. I think his story went too quickly. I wanted to know what his experience near Cleavland was like since they made a point of him going there and the next chapter he was already home already. It just seemed like a rushed story.
September 18, 2010
Autumn's Promise by Shelley Shepard Gray is the third and final book in the Seasons of Sugarcreek series. Lilly Allen is finally recovering from her accidental pregnancy and the subsequent miscarriage that shattered her life when she learns that her mother is pregnant. Robert Miller is still grieving the death of his wife Grace, to cancer several years ago. At twenty-four, he's ready to start looking for love in his life again, and much to his surprise he seems to find that in Lilly, despite his being Amish and she is Englisch. The two wounded souls come together and ease each other's sad burden, but their differences may just be too much to allow them to be together forever, especially with the interference of their families. Gray's books are always some of my favorites in the growing genre of bonnet lit, and she continues to write compelling and poignant stories about the Plain people. Lilly and Robert seem such a natural couple, despite their differences, that as a reader, I was furious with the characters who wanted them apart. The ending is a bit of a surprise, and from the author's note, it appears that it wasn't what the author expected either. Great characters are those that sometimes don't act the way in which the author expects; Lilly and Robert are on that level. Gray has firmly established herself as a terrific writer with this series.
November 13, 2011
This is last book of the Seasons of Sugarcreek series and I wish it would continue on, good stories. #3 Book "Autumn's Promise" was mostly about an Englisher Lily, and an amish man who has been filled with grief since his wife died three yrs ago. Into the mix comes Caleb and his family to round it out. problems of a teenager who is not sure he wants to stay amish and his younger brother Anson who wants to stay a kid and play, chores bore him and he tries to get out of them at every turn. I enjoyed reading how Lily and Robert became close and then were not sure how they would bridge the gap between English and Amish...so different. Can Love make a difference, they have both been hurt by their lives so far and now look to a future together but How...
I liked the ending when Caleb met a girl at Mrs Miller's home that he had known from school and they are both older now, can there be another book in the future? would like to see how Caleb lives his life and what might happen, could he have a future with Rebecca Yoder?
I liked the ending when Caleb met a girl at Mrs Miller's home that he had known from school and they are both older now, can there be another book in the future? would like to see how Caleb lives his life and what might happen, could he have a future with Rebecca Yoder?
October 26, 2015
Lilly has been one of the main secondary characters throughout this series, and I was excited to see where her story would take her. I enjoyed seeing her interactions with her family (especially how she was able to come to a place of peace with her mother), the Grabers, the folks at the Sugarcreek Inn, and especially Robert. I also enjoyed getting to know Robert better as well, and ended up really liking him, after not being so sure of him when we first 'met' him earlier in the series.
I also liked that this book didn't just focus on Lilly and Robert, but we got to see what was going on with Caleb as well. I'm glad that he was finally able to figure out what he wanted, and what God wanted for his life.
All that said, I'm a little unsettled by the ending. At first, I wasn't happy with the choices that the characters made, but after a bit of thinking about it, I wonder if it was the right choice, after all.
I also liked that this book didn't just focus on Lilly and Robert, but we got to see what was going on with Caleb as well. I'm glad that he was finally able to figure out what he wanted, and what God wanted for his life.
All that said, I'm a little unsettled by the ending. At first, I wasn't happy with the choices that the characters made, but after a bit of thinking about it, I wonder if it was the right choice, after all.
September 22, 2018
This is an awesome book about an Amish widower who falls in love with an Englisher who moves to Sugar Creek with her family because she is pregnant. They meet at a point of loss. He still grieves the death of his wife and she grieves the loss of her baby. Neither feels they will be able to love again until they meet. Each fills a need for the other. However, it is understood she will become Amish prior to marriage. But she realizes she cannot give up her independence and communication with the outside world: car, cell phone, computer. She is also a help to the Amish community because of the very things she is expected to give up. Because she is an Englisher, the Amish community, including his family have a hard time trusting her. But love finds a way. I will not give away the details as far as the ending. I loved this story.
January 13, 2012
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
May 6, 2011
I was looking forward to this book and eagerly grabbed it off the library shelf two days ago. Sadly, it didn't live up to expectations. I enjoyed Lilly and Caleb's struggles to make life-changing decisions, but while Caleb's narrative ended satisfactorily I felt Lilly's wrap-up was far too rushed. When the end of a book leaves me with a "Oh, is that it?" feeling, I can't rate it highly. To learn this was the last of the series added to the disappointment. Since the season of Summer was left out, I'd love the final book to visit the following summer. It would be a great wrap to see if Lilly and Caleb are content with their decisions?
August 24, 2017
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An Amish book is always clean and includes many valuable lessons in life.
This was no exception. I really liked it and would recommend!
An Amish book is always clean and includes many valuable lessons in life.
This was no exception. I really liked it and would recommend!
April 28, 2025
I loved this series. I fit three of the 4 books into my challenge. I am glad that I have been ahead in my reading for the year, and read extra books last year as well, so reading a book not for my challenge, this early in the year, should not hurt me. I wanted to read the whole series together and not spread it out through the year to go with the season I am in, I was afraid I would forget the characters. I'm glad I read them together. It made it more special.
This book and relationship between Robert and Lilly doesn't make sense... but sometimes Love if found in unexpected places. Robert and Lilly have many challenges to overcome including the fact that Robert was a young widower and Lilly has a difficult past, is very young still, and is Not Amish. Will their feelings for each other overcome the many challenge and bring their community to see their side of things. Is Lilly's love enough to make her give us so much from the English world for love? Will they find a way? Read this lovely book (but start with the first in the series) and find a lovely Amish story with some characters from the series flowing through the community background.
Using this book for the The 52 Book Club 2025 Challenge prompt #8 - Genre Three: Set in Autumn
This book and relationship between Robert and Lilly doesn't make sense... but sometimes Love if found in unexpected places. Robert and Lilly have many challenges to overcome including the fact that Robert was a young widower and Lilly has a difficult past, is very young still, and is Not Amish. Will their feelings for each other overcome the many challenge and bring their community to see their side of things. Is Lilly's love enough to make her give us so much from the English world for love? Will they find a way? Read this lovely book (but start with the first in the series) and find a lovely Amish story with some characters from the series flowing through the community background.
Using this book for the The 52 Book Club 2025 Challenge prompt #8 - Genre Three: Set in Autumn
November 26, 2020
I could not put this book down!! I had to finish it before going to bed!
Robert meets Lilly and he feels like his life is turning around. Robert is an Amish widower when he meets Lilly, while eating at the local Amish eatery. Lilly and her family moved to the Amish town to get away from Lilly's secret. They fall in love, but will she become Amish for him? Could he leave all that he has ever known and loved for Lilly? You think you know the ending but its even sweeter than you would expect.
Robert meets Lilly and he feels like his life is turning around. Robert is an Amish widower when he meets Lilly, while eating at the local Amish eatery. Lilly and her family moved to the Amish town to get away from Lilly's secret. They fall in love, but will she become Amish for him? Could he leave all that he has ever known and loved for Lilly? You think you know the ending but its even sweeter than you would expect.
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September 24, 2019will read at a later time
October 30, 2010
Title: AUTUMN’S PROMISE
Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher: Avon Inspire
August 2010
ISBN: 978-0-06-185237-4
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Lilly Allen has been pregnant out of wedlock, miscarried and lost her baby and as a result, grew up a lot in the time her parents lived in Sugarcreek. She is a world away in differences from her old friends, and beginning to fit in well in the Amish community she lives in…or so she thinks.
Robert Miller is still mourning the death of his wife, Grace, from three years ago. His friends and family are trying to fix him up with other Amish widows, but the only woman Robert has eyes for is Lilly, a woman he would be shunned for loving.
When Robert and Lilly start to become more than friends, Lilly quickly discovers how she doesn’t exactly fit in with the community. Marriage with Robert could never happen. She would never become Amish—and he would never become Englisch. Is their love doomed before it even begins?
AUTUMN’S PROMISE is the third book in Ms. Gray’s Seasons of Sugarcreek series. The books are a continuation series from the beginning and I recommend reading all the books from start to finish, in order, as they don’t stand alone.
I was looking forward to reading Lilly’s story since Robert started going to the restaurant where she worked and watching her. And the story didn’t disappear. It did drag a little bit in places, but over all, it is well-written and I enjoyed getting to know Lilly better, and getting acquainted with Robert in this book.
If you enjoy reading Amish fiction then you won’t want to miss AUTUMN’S PROMISE or any of the other books in this series. Discussion questions and a prelude to the next book in the series, Grace, are included at the end of the book. $12.99. 310 pages.
Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher: Avon Inspire
August 2010
ISBN: 978-0-06-185237-4
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Lilly Allen has been pregnant out of wedlock, miscarried and lost her baby and as a result, grew up a lot in the time her parents lived in Sugarcreek. She is a world away in differences from her old friends, and beginning to fit in well in the Amish community she lives in…or so she thinks.
Robert Miller is still mourning the death of his wife, Grace, from three years ago. His friends and family are trying to fix him up with other Amish widows, but the only woman Robert has eyes for is Lilly, a woman he would be shunned for loving.
When Robert and Lilly start to become more than friends, Lilly quickly discovers how she doesn’t exactly fit in with the community. Marriage with Robert could never happen. She would never become Amish—and he would never become Englisch. Is their love doomed before it even begins?
AUTUMN’S PROMISE is the third book in Ms. Gray’s Seasons of Sugarcreek series. The books are a continuation series from the beginning and I recommend reading all the books from start to finish, in order, as they don’t stand alone.
I was looking forward to reading Lilly’s story since Robert started going to the restaurant where she worked and watching her. And the story didn’t disappear. It did drag a little bit in places, but over all, it is well-written and I enjoyed getting to know Lilly better, and getting acquainted with Robert in this book.
If you enjoy reading Amish fiction then you won’t want to miss AUTUMN’S PROMISE or any of the other books in this series. Discussion questions and a prelude to the next book in the series, Grace, are included at the end of the book. $12.99. 310 pages.
August 3, 2013
This was my first Playaway book. I checked it out of the library. It's a small rectangular box, that you hook up to your own head phones. That was the only format the library system had of this book. I had read the first book in the series, and wanted to know what happened to the other characters.
This is the third book in the series. I also checked out the 2nd book, but got them out of order. I liked the format, once I figured out I needed a new battery. I have asked members of the Mennonite church, the difference between them and the Amish community. We had a Mennonite family build us a garden shed. One of the boys just told us they used power tools. In this book I learned that the Amish don't drive cars, they don't use electricity, or phones, computers, etc. This book is about a young Amish widower, who falls in love with a Mennonite woman. She had become pregnant, and her family moved her to this community to hide the pregnancy from their former community. She had a miscarriage. Both sets of parents had problems with them marrying. The book deals with their feelings, and what they would have to give up to be married to each other. There is also the story about a sixteen year old Amish boy going through his questioning about being baptized into the Amish church. I enjoyed learning more about these two cultures.
This is the third book in the series. I also checked out the 2nd book, but got them out of order. I liked the format, once I figured out I needed a new battery. I have asked members of the Mennonite church, the difference between them and the Amish community. We had a Mennonite family build us a garden shed. One of the boys just told us they used power tools. In this book I learned that the Amish don't drive cars, they don't use electricity, or phones, computers, etc. This book is about a young Amish widower, who falls in love with a Mennonite woman. She had become pregnant, and her family moved her to this community to hide the pregnancy from their former community. She had a miscarriage. Both sets of parents had problems with them marrying. The book deals with their feelings, and what they would have to give up to be married to each other. There is also the story about a sixteen year old Amish boy going through his questioning about being baptized into the Amish church. I enjoyed learning more about these two cultures.
August 4, 2011
Wow! This is an emotional book. There are previous books in the series so I don't know all that had happened before. Young Caleb is confused at 16. He hangs out with some rowdy english kids who like to drink. He is thinking of leaving the Amish as he don't want to farm or run the family store. And yet the english world is frightening to him as well. Lilly Allen has moved with her family to Sugarcreek because she became pregnant. Her boyfriend had broke up with her. She miscarried after she had hoped to keep her baby. Now her mom is pregnant at age 44 and she is torn and angry. She is found crying in her car by Robert Miller. They had met on previous occasions and something between them seemed to click. Although he is Amish and she is not. Widowed for 3 years now Robert felt little hope in his life. He loved Grace and watched her being taken away by cancer. He knows he should not be attracted to Lilly Allen but can't help it. As they grow closer he gets angry advice from family. Not only is Lilly english but also she had relations before marriage. Just when all seems like it will work out with them, things go backwards and it has a much different ending then you think.
It would be worth reading all the books in this series to see what happened before.
It would be worth reading all the books in this series to see what happened before.
November 20, 2023
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.
August 18, 2017
Although the third in a series, I was able to pick up this book and catch the background without reading the previous books. There were some gaps with unusual friendships between Amish and the public that I didn't catch why they could be so strong, perhaps back reading of other books explained them.
The setting seemed unrealistic. The Amish, although dependent upon others for rides, do not "mingle" much with "world." I'm not sure they would even allow hiring others in their businesses (as waitresses.)
Very predictable with little outside problems. Had to push myself to finish the book.
Wanted to know why the main male character was so willing to shed his beliefs and consider someone "outside the fold." The cause didn't seem warrented.
The couple seemed oblivious over the changes both would have to make until...? His sacrifice was played down---as if it wasn't a sacrifice.
The setting seemed unrealistic. The Amish, although dependent upon others for rides, do not "mingle" much with "world." I'm not sure they would even allow hiring others in their businesses (as waitresses.)
Very predictable with little outside problems. Had to push myself to finish the book.
Wanted to know why the main male character was so willing to shed his beliefs and consider someone "outside the fold." The cause didn't seem warrented.
The couple seemed oblivious over the changes both would have to make until...? His sacrifice was played down---as if it wasn't a sacrifice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2014
Get settled in your favorite spot with "Autumn's Promise" by Shelley Shephard Gray.
This is the third book in the Seasons of Sugarcreek Series.
As with all of the books in this series I was anxious to read this and I was once again enthralled.
This book focuses on the relationship between Englisher Lilly Allen and Amish man Robert Miller.
They are both trying to overcome great difficulties in their lives.
They soon find themselves spending time together and their families are not very keen on the relationship.
A beautiful story with a wonderful and surprising ending.
Shelley Shephard Gray is a gifted and amazing author
This is the third book in the Seasons of Sugarcreek Series.
As with all of the books in this series I was anxious to read this and I was once again enthralled.
This book focuses on the relationship between Englisher Lilly Allen and Amish man Robert Miller.
They are both trying to overcome great difficulties in their lives.
They soon find themselves spending time together and their families are not very keen on the relationship.
A beautiful story with a wonderful and surprising ending.
Shelley Shephard Gray is a gifted and amazing author
September 4, 2010
I really liked this whole series. THere was so much for the writer to go on and write more though. What happened with Caleb and Rebecca could be a whole new story and What happens after Lilly and Robert get married. I know though that this is the end of the series. I feel in love with the charaters and stoies in this series. If you like Beverly Lewis or Wanda Brunstetter, you will love this series too.
September 2, 2010
While I enjoyed the first half of the book and the way the author lets you into the Amish community and explores the relationships between the Englishers and the Amish, the 2nd half of the book was a real let down. All the conflicts were resolved too quickly, and every character has an "a-ha" moment where they all of a sudden understand everything about themselves and their behaviors. It was not true to life.
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