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Walnut Creek #4
The Trustworthy One
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray returns to the charming and evocative Walnut Creek Series with an unforgettable novel following one broken young woman whose search for peace leads her back to her hometown, where she rediscovers her faith and reconnects with those she loves most.
Kendra Troyer always knew she would leave Walnut Creek the first chance she got. When she was accepted into design school, she tried her best not to look back at the four siblings she was abandoning, but ahead to Columbus, where she was determined to stay—far away from her abusive home and far away from Nate Miller, the boy she vowed to despise for the rest of her life.
Though she suffered through dark times in Columbus, Kendra found her faith in the Lord again, and years later, when she learned one of her good friends had died, she realized it was time to go home to those she left behind.
Back in Walnut Creek, Kendra has a life she never could have imagined: her own design shop, a pretty little house, and a tight-knit group of friends. After she settles down, though, unexpected visitors come knocking and dark memories begin to resurface. Complicating things even further is the ever-present Nate Miller, who now owns the hardware store two doors down and whose very presence stirs in Kendra a fierce need to turn away and hide from her past. But Nate is persistent in setting things right between them.
As Kendra tries to come to terms with the anger she holds from her childhood, will she be able to open her heart to forgiveness and find the comfort she has always longed for in Walnut Creek?
Kendra Troyer always knew she would leave Walnut Creek the first chance she got. When she was accepted into design school, she tried her best not to look back at the four siblings she was abandoning, but ahead to Columbus, where she was determined to stay—far away from her abusive home and far away from Nate Miller, the boy she vowed to despise for the rest of her life.
Though she suffered through dark times in Columbus, Kendra found her faith in the Lord again, and years later, when she learned one of her good friends had died, she realized it was time to go home to those she left behind.
Back in Walnut Creek, Kendra has a life she never could have imagined: her own design shop, a pretty little house, and a tight-knit group of friends. After she settles down, though, unexpected visitors come knocking and dark memories begin to resurface. Complicating things even further is the ever-present Nate Miller, who now owns the hardware store two doors down and whose very presence stirs in Kendra a fierce need to turn away and hide from her past. But Nate is persistent in setting things right between them.
As Kendra tries to come to terms with the anger she holds from her childhood, will she be able to open her heart to forgiveness and find the comfort she has always longed for in Walnut Creek?
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2020
133 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Shepard Gray
129 books2,329 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 94 reviews
July 19, 2020
Shelley Shephard Gray brings the Walnut Creek series to a close with book four , The trust worthy One. In this book the main character is Kendra Troyer. Gray gives her readers a look into Kendra's life both from her childhood and her teen years then on to her life as an adult. She was raised in an Amish family but she suffered terrible physical and mental abuse that left it's scars on her life.
Kendra's growing up years were more than any child should have to bare. Subjected to a father that beat her and a mother that lived in denial, at seven years old Kendra tried her best to protect her younger siblings. Often she went without eating so her four siblings could have what there was on hand to eat.
In later years at school Kendra had a learning disability. Because of this she was made fun of by some of the other students. One such student was Nate Miller , who would say cruel things about her,even as she grew older . Eventually Kendra got tired of the beatings and left home when she was just seventeen.
Even then her life was anything but easy . Still she made the best of things and eventually moved back to Walnut Creek. Back in her hometown she opens her own design shop and gets settled in. Along comes Nate Miller who owns the hardware store close by. He tries to befriend Kendra and wonders why she is so cold towards him. Kendra can't forget the cruel things he said about her to the other students at school. Will she be able to forgive Nate and become friends with him? Can she learn to trust him or will she hold on to her bitterness she harbors in her heart when she thinks about her school years.
There are a lot of other situations that spring up in this story to make it seem very real . I found myself drawn into the book almost from the beginning. Kendra found a special place in my heart and I found myself rooting for her to overcome her past hurts. I thought the author left the best till the last.
All readers of Amish Fiction or fans of Shelley Shepard Gray will love this book. If you have read the other books in this series you don't want to miss this one. In order to get the most out of your reading experience I recommend that you start at book one The Patient One. There are three Eshorts to this series too. Friend's To the End , A Precious Gift and Promises of Tomorrow which is book 4.5 and to be read after The Trustworthy One.
I borrowed a hard cover copy of the book from the local Library. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
Kendra's growing up years were more than any child should have to bare. Subjected to a father that beat her and a mother that lived in denial, at seven years old Kendra tried her best to protect her younger siblings. Often she went without eating so her four siblings could have what there was on hand to eat.
In later years at school Kendra had a learning disability. Because of this she was made fun of by some of the other students. One such student was Nate Miller , who would say cruel things about her,even as she grew older . Eventually Kendra got tired of the beatings and left home when she was just seventeen.
Even then her life was anything but easy . Still she made the best of things and eventually moved back to Walnut Creek. Back in her hometown she opens her own design shop and gets settled in. Along comes Nate Miller who owns the hardware store close by. He tries to befriend Kendra and wonders why she is so cold towards him. Kendra can't forget the cruel things he said about her to the other students at school. Will she be able to forgive Nate and become friends with him? Can she learn to trust him or will she hold on to her bitterness she harbors in her heart when she thinks about her school years.
There are a lot of other situations that spring up in this story to make it seem very real . I found myself drawn into the book almost from the beginning. Kendra found a special place in my heart and I found myself rooting for her to overcome her past hurts. I thought the author left the best till the last.
All readers of Amish Fiction or fans of Shelley Shepard Gray will love this book. If you have read the other books in this series you don't want to miss this one. In order to get the most out of your reading experience I recommend that you start at book one The Patient One. There are three Eshorts to this series too. Friend's To the End , A Precious Gift and Promises of Tomorrow which is book 4.5 and to be read after The Trustworthy One.
I borrowed a hard cover copy of the book from the local Library. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
December 31, 2021
I am sorry to see this series end. I have read all of the books in it and enjoyed it immensely.
There are a lot of serious issues dealt with in this series and the author does a marvelous job of it.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing their mental and spiritual growth.
They are flawed, like we all are and we see forgiveness, redemption and second chances.
Inspirational and highly recommended series.
Pub Date 01 Jun 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
There are a lot of serious issues dealt with in this series and the author does a marvelous job of it.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing their mental and spiritual growth.
They are flawed, like we all are and we see forgiveness, redemption and second chances.
Inspirational and highly recommended series.
Pub Date 01 Jun 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
May 4, 2020
I enjoyed being back with the "8", and we meet one who envied those who were members, but her life as a child was in shambles. Some guessed that things were not good for Kendra and her siblings, but really didn't know the extent.
Now pulling her self up by her bootstraps, this young woman has returned to her hometown and is opening her own business. We meet again these folks that are always there for one another, we now see them embracing Kendra, and the author gives us so much more.
There are so many emotions here, and some are so very hard, there are tears, and smiles, guilt and forgiveness, but there is also "love", in all forms.
I hate to see this series end, I want to continue with this group and move on with them in their lives, and do I see a wedding here, yes, but there are also some new babies on the way!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gallery Books, and was not required to give a positive review.
Now pulling her self up by her bootstraps, this young woman has returned to her hometown and is opening her own business. We meet again these folks that are always there for one another, we now see them embracing Kendra, and the author gives us so much more.
There are so many emotions here, and some are so very hard, there are tears, and smiles, guilt and forgiveness, but there is also "love", in all forms.
I hate to see this series end, I want to continue with this group and move on with them in their lives, and do I see a wedding here, yes, but there are also some new babies on the way!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gallery Books, and was not required to give a positive review.
July 16, 2021
Despite abusive parents and a very hard home life, Kendra always puts her younger siblings first in THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE. But at seventeen she has to leave and make her own way. After falling off the rails and going to rehab she comes home to try and start a new life. THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE is such a sweet story. Kendra knew she would leave Walnut Creek even though she was leaving her four siblings at home. Her home life was awful, with an alcoholic and mean father, a helpless mother and never enough food to eat for her family. She decides to move back after several years and opens a store. Her youngest sister comes to live with her. She refuses to see her parents and tries to overcome all the hardships of her childhood.
The Walnut Creek series just keeps getting better with each book and THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE is exactly why. All of the characters from this series have been fantastic. Kendra lived through a horrible childhood and was able to survive it and she was able to make a good life for herself. She didn’t know that her life would get even better once she met Nate Miller. These two people helped each other to really grow. I loved how each chapter started with a part of a tale from when Kendra was younger. I did not want to put this book down.
THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE tells the story of “The Eight”. A group of eight friends who have been best friends since they were young. They are English, Mennonite, and Amish. They have remained steadfast friends, through thick and thin. But, life is short and “The Eight” has become “The Seven”, when one of the group commits suicide. How will each of the seven people deal with their past and present life is truly heart breaking at times! THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE Is a tough read because of the horrific details of the main character’s childhood at home with her dysfunctional parents. It is another in-depth and insightful story by one of my favorite Amish fiction authors.
Everyone of the main characters is trying to move on from the horrible accident, but they are trying to do it alone and it just isn’t working. Someone needs to pull them all together and remind them of their faith. THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE teaches us that all religions grieve, no matter how we are raised. We might all grieve differently, but we all do it. My emotions were all over the place as they always are reading a Shelley Shepard Gray story and I’m excited to read the next book in this series, called Promises of Tomorrow. I loved how she made me feel all of the anxiety and tension that the characters were dealing with. Besides all of that, there is also romance, forgiveness, and healing. A perfect way to spend the day on the couch with your favorite beverage, lost in the pages of a heart tugging but beautiful story.
The Walnut Creek series just keeps getting better with each book and THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE is exactly why. All of the characters from this series have been fantastic. Kendra lived through a horrible childhood and was able to survive it and she was able to make a good life for herself. She didn’t know that her life would get even better once she met Nate Miller. These two people helped each other to really grow. I loved how each chapter started with a part of a tale from when Kendra was younger. I did not want to put this book down.
THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE tells the story of “The Eight”. A group of eight friends who have been best friends since they were young. They are English, Mennonite, and Amish. They have remained steadfast friends, through thick and thin. But, life is short and “The Eight” has become “The Seven”, when one of the group commits suicide. How will each of the seven people deal with their past and present life is truly heart breaking at times! THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE Is a tough read because of the horrific details of the main character’s childhood at home with her dysfunctional parents. It is another in-depth and insightful story by one of my favorite Amish fiction authors.
Everyone of the main characters is trying to move on from the horrible accident, but they are trying to do it alone and it just isn’t working. Someone needs to pull them all together and remind them of their faith. THE TRUSTWORTHY ONE teaches us that all religions grieve, no matter how we are raised. We might all grieve differently, but we all do it. My emotions were all over the place as they always are reading a Shelley Shepard Gray story and I’m excited to read the next book in this series, called Promises of Tomorrow. I loved how she made me feel all of the anxiety and tension that the characters were dealing with. Besides all of that, there is also romance, forgiveness, and healing. A perfect way to spend the day on the couch with your favorite beverage, lost in the pages of a heart tugging but beautiful story.
April 9, 2020
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book thanks to netgalley and the publisher. I have not read the 3 previous books in this series but I always enjoy reading Shelley Shepherd Gray and this book did not disappoint. The book had a lot of relational issues that made it a book that was hard to put down!
June 10, 2020
He'd embarrassed her. Made her feel like she was less than everyone else. And that had hurt so bad that she'd tried to avoid him at all costs. In short, Nate Miller was a constant reminder of how badly she'd wanted to fit in and how impossible that goal had seemed back when she was fourteen.
The series continues to center around Andy who had committed suicide and the friends that he left behind. One of those friends was Kendra. Kendra had shown a side of herself to Andy that no one knew. She came from a poor abusive Amish family. She was left to care for her younger siblings. She stills carries the baggage of her family and along with other demons that she hung on to for support. But now she is starting her own Amish store and her younger sister is living with her. Nate Miller cannot understand the mistrust Kendra has towards him and when she does tell him, it changes him.
The building of their friendship leads to trust and strength that both Kendra and Nate realized that they didn't have. The prose is how trust is built and the trustworthiness of friends. When Kendra reveals a weakness in her past, she is given new strength when Nate accepts that weakness to who she is today. Together they learn about what forgiveness means and moving forward with friendship and love.
A Special Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
The series continues to center around Andy who had committed suicide and the friends that he left behind. One of those friends was Kendra. Kendra had shown a side of herself to Andy that no one knew. She came from a poor abusive Amish family. She was left to care for her younger siblings. She stills carries the baggage of her family and along with other demons that she hung on to for support. But now she is starting her own Amish store and her younger sister is living with her. Nate Miller cannot understand the mistrust Kendra has towards him and when she does tell him, it changes him.
The building of their friendship leads to trust and strength that both Kendra and Nate realized that they didn't have. The prose is how trust is built and the trustworthiness of friends. When Kendra reveals a weakness in her past, she is given new strength when Nate accepts that weakness to who she is today. Together they learn about what forgiveness means and moving forward with friendship and love.
A Special Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
May 1, 2020
The Trustworthy One by Shelley Shepard Gray has Kendra Troyer opening Tried and True, a furniture and accessories shop, in Walnut Creek, Ohio. Kendra never thought she would return to her hometown. It is filled with bad memories of her abusive home and the comments made by Nate Miller when she was a teen. But Kendra discovered that she missed her four younger siblings and her friends in the Eight. Kendra is working in her shop when Nate stops by bringing up all the old feelings. Nate wants to make things right between them and will not let Kendra dissuade him. Kendra’s younger sister, Naomi has been living with their maternal grandparents. Naomi wants to live with Kendra and take care of her for a change. What does the future hold for Kendra, Naomi and Nate? The Trustworthy One is the 4th novel in The Walnut Creek Series. I recommend reading the series in order because it will give you a better understanding of the group called the “Eight”. It will also give you a chance to know the characters and their situations. I found The Trustworthy One to be well-written with developed, flawed characters. I find the characters to be realistic, relatable and likeable. Kendra Troyer comes from an abusive home. Her father was a drunk, bully and abuser and Kendra’s mother used drugs to deal with the situation. Kendra took care of her siblings. She took the brunt of the abuse and made sure that they had food to eat (even if she went without). When Kendra had a chance to escape, she took it, but she feels guilty for leaving her siblings behind. Kendra has never fully dealt with her feelings. The situation was worsened as a teen by careless, unkind and humiliating remarks made by Nate. Kendra and Naomi need to find a way to overcome the past and forgive if they are to move forward. Nate uses charm, persistence and kindness in dealing with Kendra. Kendra was technically not a part of the eight (a group of close friends who are Englisch, Amish and Mennonite), but they became her friends. Kendra needs this close group of friends. We get to see how each member of the group is doing and I like Kendra’s story about Andy that is told in bits before each chapter. I like how the author dealt with such a difficult and sensitive subject. The ending was satisfying and left me smiling. My favorite line from The Trustworthy One is “All of us are a work in progress.” The Trustworthy One is a poignant tale with fabulous furniture shop, a painful past, fantastic friends, persecuting parents, and delicious delights.
July 19, 2020
Gray gives a different outlook from the Amish and Mennonite world where some of these subjects just aren't talked about. I like how she shows us the Amish and Mennonites aren't that different from everyone else and she doesn't beat around the bush about it.
I have enjoyed this series because it shows true friendship among the 8 and how they keep it going after one of their own does something so horrific that you never hear about from this particular group,
A lot of life's lessons are learned here and lots of over comings as well.
I've loved Grays stories from the beginning. I think what I like best about her stories is that her characters seem realistic and believable and at times lovable just simply from the things that life manages to throw at them. And of course, they always come out for the better than they started out with.
I know one thing, I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. Just wonderful and at the same time perfect!
Forgiveness and Love are the main theme in this story along with abuse, drugs etc.
Forgiveness is important. It's what Jesus would want us to do. Plus, it would give ourselves some peace knowing that we tried even if the other person didn't want to.
I do want to add that I admire Kendra very much. She's my favorite besides Marie. Kendra is very brave young woman who has overcome much in her life and has come out much stronger. I found myself rooting for her throughout the whole book. She didn't disappoint me. Way to go Kendra!
I highly recommend this book. Gray is an awesome author!
My thanks to Gallery books and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book and I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
I have enjoyed this series because it shows true friendship among the 8 and how they keep it going after one of their own does something so horrific that you never hear about from this particular group,
A lot of life's lessons are learned here and lots of over comings as well.
I've loved Grays stories from the beginning. I think what I like best about her stories is that her characters seem realistic and believable and at times lovable just simply from the things that life manages to throw at them. And of course, they always come out for the better than they started out with.
I know one thing, I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. Just wonderful and at the same time perfect!
Forgiveness and Love are the main theme in this story along with abuse, drugs etc.
Forgiveness is important. It's what Jesus would want us to do. Plus, it would give ourselves some peace knowing that we tried even if the other person didn't want to.
I do want to add that I admire Kendra very much. She's my favorite besides Marie. Kendra is very brave young woman who has overcome much in her life and has come out much stronger. I found myself rooting for her throughout the whole book. She didn't disappoint me. Way to go Kendra!
I highly recommend this book. Gray is an awesome author!
My thanks to Gallery books and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book and I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
October 6, 2020
A beautiful story of sacrifice, forgiveness, and new beginnings.
May 9, 2020
The Trustworthy One by Shelley Shepard Gray is the fourth and final full-length novel in her Walnut Creek series, though there is a novella to come. Though part of a series, it reads well as a standalone.
Kendra Troyer envied the Eight, a group of popular kids in her school, until she realized that privilege and popularity didn’t make you worthy of friendship. Nate Miller isn’t a part of the Eight, like her he is friends with some of them, which gives them something in common. Unfortunately, with one unthinking action Nate earns Kendra’s lifelong resentment.
Kendra leaves her abusive home life and her four siblings behind and flees to Columbus and design school vowing never to return. She finds herself during her stay in Columbus and returns to Walnut Creek after the death of a friend. Kendra has obtained some confidence and success and joins a circle of friends that includes Nate Miller. She hasn’t forgotten Nate’s childhood action that devastated her and made her even more aware of her sad circumstances. Kendra can forgive him with words but can she forgive him in her heart?
The Trustworthy One is a story of family, faith and forgiveness. It’s well-written and holds the reader’s attention. The characters are likable and believable. Ms. Gray includes enough backstory to give the reader an understanding of the full storyline of the series. I enjoyed this novel and rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this novel to all readers of religious fiction.
My thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Kendra Troyer envied the Eight, a group of popular kids in her school, until she realized that privilege and popularity didn’t make you worthy of friendship. Nate Miller isn’t a part of the Eight, like her he is friends with some of them, which gives them something in common. Unfortunately, with one unthinking action Nate earns Kendra’s lifelong resentment.
Kendra leaves her abusive home life and her four siblings behind and flees to Columbus and design school vowing never to return. She finds herself during her stay in Columbus and returns to Walnut Creek after the death of a friend. Kendra has obtained some confidence and success and joins a circle of friends that includes Nate Miller. She hasn’t forgotten Nate’s childhood action that devastated her and made her even more aware of her sad circumstances. Kendra can forgive him with words but can she forgive him in her heart?
The Trustworthy One is a story of family, faith and forgiveness. It’s well-written and holds the reader’s attention. The characters are likable and believable. Ms. Gray includes enough backstory to give the reader an understanding of the full storyline of the series. I enjoyed this novel and rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this novel to all readers of religious fiction.
My thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
April 12, 2020
I enjoy reading Shelley Shepard Gray. Her books are always true to life. She writes about real conflicts and uncomfortable situations. The Trustworthy One doesn't disappoint. The story follows Kendra as she returns to her hometown to open up a business. She is soon joined by her younger sister Naomi. As the story progresses, you realize that Kendra has issues from her past, including an abusive childhood and school bullying. After escaping from her family, Kendra still struggles until she finally gets control of her life and returns to her hometown. She has tremendous guilt for leaving her siblings that she practically raised herself. When the youngest sister, Naomi, who is sixteen, comes to live with her, she again feels that same overwhelming responsibility. Kendra and Naomi both need to come to terms with forgiveness. Even when the siblings reunite it is obvious that the abuse they suffered has created problems in all their lives. But it is up to each one to move on and forgive. Woven throughout the story are Kendra's childhood friends known as the eight. While Kendra was never part of the eight she was still included in the circle of friendship. And now they have all come together to help her become a success and realize that she is loved for who she is and not her past. I gave The Trustworthy One four stars because, at times, the story was a little confusing. I understand how important the eight were to the story but, because I had not read the previous books in the series I was a little lost at times. But, with that being said, it is a wonderful story about forgiveness and love and overcoming tragedy. I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Netgalley.
May 15, 2020
A 4 1/2 if I could give.
Kendra had her share of hurts growing up. Her father who drank and beat her on a regular basis was hard to deal with. But she also cared for her four younger siblings as well Kendra was the buffer that protects them from the father’s abuse and her mother’s neglect.
As an adult Kendra now returns to her place of birth in Walnut Creek. Not a decision she has made lightly she thought she would never return. As she sets up her store, she begins to trust and open her heart to neighbors and friends. Her youngest sister comes to live with her; requiring more changes and acknowledgment of the past. As the book progresses we learn more of her past abuse and kindness shown by fellow classmates as a child.
I like that the author doesn’t paint a pretty picture of Kendra’s life and the choices she made to get to this part of her life. I liked the building of the story and would recommend you probably read the series in order. I know there are parts of the background that I missed. A great story of although not forgiveness so much as acceptance of the past and moving on. It was a positive story.
I have never had an e-book that wouldn’t save the progress I had to sync each time to return, hmm.
While I wish I had the time to have read the previous 3 books in this series, I will go back and read them. Shelley Shephard Gray is one of my favorite authors, one reason I requested this book from NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review all thoughts are my own. Thanks to Galley books and the author for the free e-copy of this book.
Kendra had her share of hurts growing up. Her father who drank and beat her on a regular basis was hard to deal with. But she also cared for her four younger siblings as well Kendra was the buffer that protects them from the father’s abuse and her mother’s neglect.
As an adult Kendra now returns to her place of birth in Walnut Creek. Not a decision she has made lightly she thought she would never return. As she sets up her store, she begins to trust and open her heart to neighbors and friends. Her youngest sister comes to live with her; requiring more changes and acknowledgment of the past. As the book progresses we learn more of her past abuse and kindness shown by fellow classmates as a child.
I like that the author doesn’t paint a pretty picture of Kendra’s life and the choices she made to get to this part of her life. I liked the building of the story and would recommend you probably read the series in order. I know there are parts of the background that I missed. A great story of although not forgiveness so much as acceptance of the past and moving on. It was a positive story.
I have never had an e-book that wouldn’t save the progress I had to sync each time to return, hmm.
While I wish I had the time to have read the previous 3 books in this series, I will go back and read them. Shelley Shephard Gray is one of my favorite authors, one reason I requested this book from NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review all thoughts are my own. Thanks to Galley books and the author for the free e-copy of this book.
June 15, 2020
Kendra’s earlier life was not easy with an abusive father and all she endured along with how she was an adult at an early age sacrificing for her younger siblings. I admire how Kendra overcame obstacles in her time away from Walnut Creek when she hit bottom. Her return to her home town wasn’t easy but her strong fortitude and hard work was paying off until Nate Miller entered. The lifetime friends and memories shared even when Kendra and Nate was not part of “the eight” impacted their lives. Their story is one that will keep readers engaged until the end. The lessons of being open, forgiveness and learning to trust gave way to beautiful ending.
Kendra is one of my favorite characters in this series with all she obstacles she overcame even with seeing her younger siblings and how she reacted was realistic. This is the last book in Gray’s Walnut Creek series but it can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend reading each book and novellas to understand each member of this close knit of friends through the years and appreciate barriers they conquered.
Thank you to NetGalley and Galley Books for an ARC of this book. I was under no obligation to write a positive review but have shared my own opinion.
Kendra is one of my favorite characters in this series with all she obstacles she overcame even with seeing her younger siblings and how she reacted was realistic. This is the last book in Gray’s Walnut Creek series but it can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend reading each book and novellas to understand each member of this close knit of friends through the years and appreciate barriers they conquered.
Thank you to NetGalley and Galley Books for an ARC of this book. I was under no obligation to write a positive review but have shared my own opinion.
July 9, 2020
Author Shelley Shepard Gray pens another fascinating story in The Walnut Creek Series. This one is more somber than the rest, dealing with child abuse and neglect, as well as drug abuse. But it also deals with learning to forgive with God’s help. I do suggest reading the series in order so that you get to know the characters as they show up in each book.
Strong, well developed characters give this book an intensity that had me reading quickly. Nate and Kendra have a history from High School and they are thrown together again. Both have grown and developed personally and spiritually. But can Kendra forgive? Can Nate make things right?
If you enjoy contemporary Christian fiction that has depth as well as a romance then you’ll enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Strong, well developed characters give this book an intensity that had me reading quickly. Nate and Kendra have a history from High School and they are thrown together again. Both have grown and developed personally and spiritually. But can Kendra forgive? Can Nate make things right?
If you enjoy contemporary Christian fiction that has depth as well as a romance then you’ll enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
August 16, 2022
This was my 13th Shepard Grey book, the depth of the characters was much more than her earlier offerings. Not everyone in her books are the perfect Amish or Mennonite, but they could be real, with real problems and I appreciate that. Sometimes you get a sense that Amish family's are always together, always there for one another, perfect, and people like to imagine their life like that. In reality there not perfect, they're just like any other family with they're own problems and trials. I throughly enjoyed this.
May 6, 2020
I loved this book!! Great story!! Love this series!! Can't wait for the next book in the series!! Love this author's books!! Received this book from gallery books from netgally!!
October 17, 2020
I loved this story was so good! I even love how the author kind of intertwined 2 stories into one because she told a little bit of Kendra's story with Andy in a little blurb at the beginning of each chapter. But I also loved how through her hardship she found love. This book was really hard to put down after I started reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2020
I have reviewed this book for New York Journal of Books where it will be posted on their site the evening before the release date.
"The Trustworthy One" by Shelley Shepard Gray
Gallery Books
May 5, 2020
10-1982100931
Contemporary Inspirational Romance
Kendra Troyer spends most of her young life caring for her younger siblings and protecting them from their abusive father and submissive mother. She bears the scars of many beatings received for no other reason than her father is easily led to violence. All she wants is to get out of her Amish community in Walnut Creek and find freedom and peace, but she's afraid to leave her brothers and sisters to her father's wrath.
When her siblings are old enough, Kendra does manage to escape the horrors of her life as they are either on their own or relocated to live with grandparents, as is the case with the youngest, Naomi, whom they lovingly call "Nanny."
Kendra is ecstatic to be accepted into design school in Columbus, OH, and is relieved to depart her dysfunctional family. She no longer is forced to deal with her father or the boy from school named Nate Miller who humiliated her in front of her peers.
Columbus doesn't prove to be an easy getaway for Kendra, as she deals with her depression by getting hooked on drugs and alcohol. Lucky for her a school counselor takes pity on her after hearing her sad story and finds placement for her at a rehab facility where she regains her faith in the Lord and is able to get back on the right track.
Upon learning a good friend of hers has died, Kendra returns to Walnut Creek and to the friends she left. She buys a little cottage and starts her own design business vowing to never see her parents again. The hatred she feels for them has caused a huge scar in her heart, and she realizes she can only depend on herself. Old friends welcome Kendra with open arms, and for once, she is at peace. Then Naomi appears at her door asking to live with her and no longer stay with her stuffy grandparents. Happy to have her beloved sister again, she wonders if she is doing the right thing by allowing her to stay. But she accepts her with open arms and enrolls Nanny in her junior year of high school.
Meanwhile, when Kendra bumps into her nemesis, Nate, she wants nothing to do with him, but how can she avoid him when his hardware store is two doors down from her shop? Nate is surprised by Kendra's cool treatment of him, and when she tells him why she dislikes him, he is instantly repentant.
Kendra now is 25 and Nate, a year older, is determined to make amends; while doing so he finds he is surprised that he is falling for her. She has no reason to trust him, but he manages to worm his way into her heart. But can she trust him? She's never been able to trust anyone before, why should she now—especially after he was cruel to her when they were kids? He reminds her he was a callous teenager and determines to show her he is a different person and one she can learn to believe in and maybe fall in love with one day.
As Kendra's business begins to thrive, she reflects her current situation:
"Pleased with all of her accomplishments, she decided it was time to relax for a bit, especially since a new library book was calling her name. After cutting a slice of bread and placing it neatly on a plate, she sat down, feeling a tranquility that eluded her childhood.
"Of course, she wasn't even sure if she longed for peace in those days. Mostly, she just tried to take care of her siblings, avoid her father, and keep everyone fed. More often than not, she'd failed at all three things. Her younger brothers and sisters would go to bed hungry, she'd be sporting a welt from whatever her father had decided to hit her with, and she'd be overwhelmed with schoolwork.
"No, back then, her sense of peace had come from being around her friends or in the pages of a book."
The prologue commences a decade prior when Kendra is in middle school and desperately wanting to be a part of the clique known as "The Eight." The group consists of Amish, Mennonite, and English teens. One of them, Andy Warner, is an Englischer who befriends Kendra. Due to Kendra's abusive home life, the family’s poverty, etc. she is tormented by Nate, and this is when she decides she will hate him for the rest of her life.
The story segues to Kendra's life ten years later and her return to her hometown. Each chapter unveils some fact of Kendra's life at age 15 and the time she spent with Andy. However, throughout the novel, it is not known what happened to him and how he passed. These clips are a bit baffling until one gets further into the plot and can understand how this information relates to Kendra’s current life. This is book 4 in the Walnut Creek Series; maybe it would be helpful to read the prior issues.
"The Trustworthy One" is an apt title for all that Kendra suffers during her early years. Because one is a blood relative, it does not mean they are able to love and nurture family members, and this concern spans all cultures and classes of people. This tale exposes the sad topic of child abuse and how some deal with it. Through her faith and with the help of her good friends, Kendra learns to rely on herself to gain trust and banish the pain from her past to move on to a fulfilling new life.
"The Trustworthy One" by Shelley Shepard Gray
Gallery Books
May 5, 2020
10-1982100931
Contemporary Inspirational Romance
Kendra Troyer spends most of her young life caring for her younger siblings and protecting them from their abusive father and submissive mother. She bears the scars of many beatings received for no other reason than her father is easily led to violence. All she wants is to get out of her Amish community in Walnut Creek and find freedom and peace, but she's afraid to leave her brothers and sisters to her father's wrath.
When her siblings are old enough, Kendra does manage to escape the horrors of her life as they are either on their own or relocated to live with grandparents, as is the case with the youngest, Naomi, whom they lovingly call "Nanny."
Kendra is ecstatic to be accepted into design school in Columbus, OH, and is relieved to depart her dysfunctional family. She no longer is forced to deal with her father or the boy from school named Nate Miller who humiliated her in front of her peers.
Columbus doesn't prove to be an easy getaway for Kendra, as she deals with her depression by getting hooked on drugs and alcohol. Lucky for her a school counselor takes pity on her after hearing her sad story and finds placement for her at a rehab facility where she regains her faith in the Lord and is able to get back on the right track.
Upon learning a good friend of hers has died, Kendra returns to Walnut Creek and to the friends she left. She buys a little cottage and starts her own design business vowing to never see her parents again. The hatred she feels for them has caused a huge scar in her heart, and she realizes she can only depend on herself. Old friends welcome Kendra with open arms, and for once, she is at peace. Then Naomi appears at her door asking to live with her and no longer stay with her stuffy grandparents. Happy to have her beloved sister again, she wonders if she is doing the right thing by allowing her to stay. But she accepts her with open arms and enrolls Nanny in her junior year of high school.
Meanwhile, when Kendra bumps into her nemesis, Nate, she wants nothing to do with him, but how can she avoid him when his hardware store is two doors down from her shop? Nate is surprised by Kendra's cool treatment of him, and when she tells him why she dislikes him, he is instantly repentant.
Kendra now is 25 and Nate, a year older, is determined to make amends; while doing so he finds he is surprised that he is falling for her. She has no reason to trust him, but he manages to worm his way into her heart. But can she trust him? She's never been able to trust anyone before, why should she now—especially after he was cruel to her when they were kids? He reminds her he was a callous teenager and determines to show her he is a different person and one she can learn to believe in and maybe fall in love with one day.
As Kendra's business begins to thrive, she reflects her current situation:
"Pleased with all of her accomplishments, she decided it was time to relax for a bit, especially since a new library book was calling her name. After cutting a slice of bread and placing it neatly on a plate, she sat down, feeling a tranquility that eluded her childhood.
"Of course, she wasn't even sure if she longed for peace in those days. Mostly, she just tried to take care of her siblings, avoid her father, and keep everyone fed. More often than not, she'd failed at all three things. Her younger brothers and sisters would go to bed hungry, she'd be sporting a welt from whatever her father had decided to hit her with, and she'd be overwhelmed with schoolwork.
"No, back then, her sense of peace had come from being around her friends or in the pages of a book."
The prologue commences a decade prior when Kendra is in middle school and desperately wanting to be a part of the clique known as "The Eight." The group consists of Amish, Mennonite, and English teens. One of them, Andy Warner, is an Englischer who befriends Kendra. Due to Kendra's abusive home life, the family’s poverty, etc. she is tormented by Nate, and this is when she decides she will hate him for the rest of her life.
The story segues to Kendra's life ten years later and her return to her hometown. Each chapter unveils some fact of Kendra's life at age 15 and the time she spent with Andy. However, throughout the novel, it is not known what happened to him and how he passed. These clips are a bit baffling until one gets further into the plot and can understand how this information relates to Kendra’s current life. This is book 4 in the Walnut Creek Series; maybe it would be helpful to read the prior issues.
"The Trustworthy One" is an apt title for all that Kendra suffers during her early years. Because one is a blood relative, it does not mean they are able to love and nurture family members, and this concern spans all cultures and classes of people. This tale exposes the sad topic of child abuse and how some deal with it. Through her faith and with the help of her good friends, Kendra learns to rely on herself to gain trust and banish the pain from her past to move on to a fulfilling new life.
May 4, 2020
Kendra Troyer left Walnut Creek when she was accepted into design school. She stayed at home as long as she could taking care of the younger siblings in a home that was abusive. She also wanted to avoid seeing Nate Miller ever again, a boy she said she would despise for the rest of her life after she heard him saying something about her home to others. When a good friend died, she realizes she must return. She decides to stay to open a new shop in town, Walnut Creek. She purchases a small home and then only does she run into Nate again, his shop is in the same location of town. She tries to avoid him but that only seems to make him want to pursue her more. He does apologize when she speaks with him long enough to tell him why she is not happy with him. That doesn’t change things though, it takes a while through many trials and tribulations for her to change her opinion of Nate. I figured out that this book was the fourth in a series that take place in Walnut Creek. The comments at the beginning of each chapter were confusing to me and I didn’t see how they fit into the story line. Also there were other places where I wondered where a few characters stories were going to fit together towards the entire story. They eventually did. The book is based in an Amish Community so is faith based.
I gave the book 4 Stars. It was an advance reader copy from Netgalley.com in the kindle format. My comments and opinions on the books are freely given. #TheTrustworthyOne. #ShelleyShepardGray. #Netgalley.com.
Description
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray returns to the charming and evocative Walnut Creek Series with an unforgettable novel following one broken young woman whose search for peace leads her back to her hometown, where she rediscovers her faith and reconnects with those she loves most.
Kendra Troyer always knew she would leave Walnut Creek the first chance she got. When she was accepted into design school, she tried her best not to look back at the four siblings she was abandoning, but ahead to Columbus, where she was determined to stay—far away from her abusive home and far away from Nate Miller, the boy she vowed to despise for the rest of her life.
Though she suffered through dark times in Columbus, Kendra found her faith in the Lord again, and years later, when she learned one of her good friends had died, she realized it was time to go home to those she left behind.
Back in Walnut Creek, Kendra has a life she never could have imagined: her own design shop, a pretty little house, and a tight-knit group of friends. After she settles down, though, unexpected visitors come knocking and dark memories begin to resurface. Complicating things even further is the ever-present Nate Miller, who now owns the hardware store two doors down and whose very presence stirs in Kendra a fierce need to turn away and hide from her past. But Nate is persistent in setting things right between them.
As Kendra tries to come to terms with the anger she holds from her childhood, will she be able to open her heart to forgiveness and find the comfort she has always longed for in Walnut Creek?
I gave the book 4 Stars. It was an advance reader copy from Netgalley.com in the kindle format. My comments and opinions on the books are freely given. #TheTrustworthyOne. #ShelleyShepardGray. #Netgalley.com.
Description
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray returns to the charming and evocative Walnut Creek Series with an unforgettable novel following one broken young woman whose search for peace leads her back to her hometown, where she rediscovers her faith and reconnects with those she loves most.
Kendra Troyer always knew she would leave Walnut Creek the first chance she got. When she was accepted into design school, she tried her best not to look back at the four siblings she was abandoning, but ahead to Columbus, where she was determined to stay—far away from her abusive home and far away from Nate Miller, the boy she vowed to despise for the rest of her life.
Though she suffered through dark times in Columbus, Kendra found her faith in the Lord again, and years later, when she learned one of her good friends had died, she realized it was time to go home to those she left behind.
Back in Walnut Creek, Kendra has a life she never could have imagined: her own design shop, a pretty little house, and a tight-knit group of friends. After she settles down, though, unexpected visitors come knocking and dark memories begin to resurface. Complicating things even further is the ever-present Nate Miller, who now owns the hardware store two doors down and whose very presence stirs in Kendra a fierce need to turn away and hide from her past. But Nate is persistent in setting things right between them.
As Kendra tries to come to terms with the anger she holds from her childhood, will she be able to open her heart to forgiveness and find the comfort she has always longed for in Walnut Creek?
February 4, 2022
The Trustworthy One is a beautiful story of redemption, forgiveness and family; another sterling gem in the Walnut Creek series. Getting to know the Eight has been a treat, and getting to know Nate and Kendra is a rollercoaster of emotion.
Kendra Troyer grew up dreaming of being a part of the Eight, the close-knit group of friends that grew up together. She was poor, abused by her drunken father, neglected by her mother, practically raising her younger siblings, and to top it all off she is teased for being stupid, when she really just had a learning disability. As soon as she can escape Walnut Creek she is gone, moving to Columbus to go to design school, but now she’s back in Walnut Creek opening up her own design shop two doors down from Nate Miller, the boy that teased her relentlessly, and whom he vowed to hate for the rest of her life.
I hated that Kendra went through the abuse and neglect that she went through as a youth, both from her dysfunctional family and the relentless teasing from Nate Miller, but her story shows that you can rise above dysfunction, and come out stronger for it. It’s so heartwarming to see her find her faith again, and to have the strength to home again.
The chemistry between Nate and Kendra is realistic, as is the story in general. I have a soft spot for enemies that are able to choose forgiveness, to friends who grow to love each other, so I was rooting for them the entire time I was reading. I liked the fact that Kendra wasn’t initially a part of the group, but found her home with the Eight, especially after dreaming of being a part of their group for so long. This is a group of people that I wish were in my life. How they all support each other, and help each other through their circumstances. It truly is inspiring.
I love this heartfelt series so much, the author’s writing is so fluid you truly get lost in Walnut Creek and the lives of the Eight. Though The Trustworthy One is part of a series, you can easily read it as a standalone, as the author does a terrific job of getting the reader caught up, but I think this series has so much more meaning when you read them in order, truly allowing you to connect with the characters on a deeper level.
Thank you Shelley Shepard Gray for another wonderful story that is full of heart and compassion, and gave me all the feels.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from Gallery Books through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
Kendra Troyer grew up dreaming of being a part of the Eight, the close-knit group of friends that grew up together. She was poor, abused by her drunken father, neglected by her mother, practically raising her younger siblings, and to top it all off she is teased for being stupid, when she really just had a learning disability. As soon as she can escape Walnut Creek she is gone, moving to Columbus to go to design school, but now she’s back in Walnut Creek opening up her own design shop two doors down from Nate Miller, the boy that teased her relentlessly, and whom he vowed to hate for the rest of her life.
I hated that Kendra went through the abuse and neglect that she went through as a youth, both from her dysfunctional family and the relentless teasing from Nate Miller, but her story shows that you can rise above dysfunction, and come out stronger for it. It’s so heartwarming to see her find her faith again, and to have the strength to home again.
The chemistry between Nate and Kendra is realistic, as is the story in general. I have a soft spot for enemies that are able to choose forgiveness, to friends who grow to love each other, so I was rooting for them the entire time I was reading. I liked the fact that Kendra wasn’t initially a part of the group, but found her home with the Eight, especially after dreaming of being a part of their group for so long. This is a group of people that I wish were in my life. How they all support each other, and help each other through their circumstances. It truly is inspiring.
I love this heartfelt series so much, the author’s writing is so fluid you truly get lost in Walnut Creek and the lives of the Eight. Though The Trustworthy One is part of a series, you can easily read it as a standalone, as the author does a terrific job of getting the reader caught up, but I think this series has so much more meaning when you read them in order, truly allowing you to connect with the characters on a deeper level.
Thank you Shelley Shepard Gray for another wonderful story that is full of heart and compassion, and gave me all the feels.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from Gallery Books through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
May 26, 2020
I have enjoyed every book I've read by Shelley Shepard Gray. She writes great Amish fiction. In The Trustworty One, Shelley has tackled some of the most heart-rending societal woes known to our world today.
Kendra is the victim of unspeakable abuse by her father, and utter neglect by her mother. She left Walnut Creek as soon as she could make sure her siblings were going to be all right. She often would go without food to make sure they had something to eat.
After seven years she moved back to Walnut Creek to open a store. Just two doors down from her store was the hardware store run by Nate Miller. In the midst of all her hurt, he'd thrown a verbal dart that pierced her soul, but now he sees something entirely different in Kendra.
There was a group called The Eight, who were almost a clique of friends in the New Order Amish Church that Kendra wished she could belong to. There were friends among The Eight who would reach out to Kendra from time to time, but until she moved back to Walnut Creek, they had never really embraced her into their group.
Soon after moving back, her brothers and her mother come to visit her to tell her that her father is terminally ill and that she should go see him in the hospital. The reader will understand her visceral response to the request. Shelley has described through Kendra's words the abuse that Kendra suffered at the hands of her father, and it is unthinkable that someone would treat another human in such a degrading and harmful way.
After her father dies, The Eight come to stand up with Kendra and enfold her while she processed the information.
This is a heart-rending book that will touch every reader. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a group of friends who will stand beside you in your dark days.
Gallery Books and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Kendra is the victim of unspeakable abuse by her father, and utter neglect by her mother. She left Walnut Creek as soon as she could make sure her siblings were going to be all right. She often would go without food to make sure they had something to eat.
After seven years she moved back to Walnut Creek to open a store. Just two doors down from her store was the hardware store run by Nate Miller. In the midst of all her hurt, he'd thrown a verbal dart that pierced her soul, but now he sees something entirely different in Kendra.
There was a group called The Eight, who were almost a clique of friends in the New Order Amish Church that Kendra wished she could belong to. There were friends among The Eight who would reach out to Kendra from time to time, but until she moved back to Walnut Creek, they had never really embraced her into their group.
Soon after moving back, her brothers and her mother come to visit her to tell her that her father is terminally ill and that she should go see him in the hospital. The reader will understand her visceral response to the request. Shelley has described through Kendra's words the abuse that Kendra suffered at the hands of her father, and it is unthinkable that someone would treat another human in such a degrading and harmful way.
After her father dies, The Eight come to stand up with Kendra and enfold her while she processed the information.
This is a heart-rending book that will touch every reader. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a group of friends who will stand beside you in your dark days.
Gallery Books and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 28, 2020
The Trustworthy One is book four in the Walnut Creek series. The series is about a group of eight unlikely friends that come together after the death of one of them. They promise to be there for each other going forward.
The Trustworthy One focuses on Kendra Troyer. She is not one of the eight but always wanted to be one. She had a difficult childhood. Her and her younger siblings were physically abused and neglected. Kendra was the oldest and stood up for her younger siblings often doing without so she could give to them. Finally she leaves her home and goes out on her own. After a brief struggle, Kendra is strong and returns to Walnut Creek to begin a new life. She is busy opening up a store that she has saved the money to run.
Nate Miller runs the hardware store right down the street from Kendra's new shop. When he enters her shop to say hello, he is taken a back by Kendra's negative response to her. Kendra vowed to hate Nate her whole life after she overheard him making fun of her when she was a child. The words hurt her and even as an adult, she does not like him. But Nate is not that man anymore. He vows to make Kendra forgive him. Try and Kendra may, she forgives Nate and soon begins to like him. When circumstances in Kendra's life changes, it brings the painful childhood she faced return full force. Kendra must learn to forgive those in her life that have hurt her. Her group of friends rally around her and help her.
The Trustworthy One is beautifully written and makes you feel as if you know the characters. You find yourself rooting for them and hoping they can develop into the person God intends them to be. The entire series is great but this book is explained so well it could be read as a standalone. I received an ARC of this book and his is my honest review.
The Trustworthy One focuses on Kendra Troyer. She is not one of the eight but always wanted to be one. She had a difficult childhood. Her and her younger siblings were physically abused and neglected. Kendra was the oldest and stood up for her younger siblings often doing without so she could give to them. Finally she leaves her home and goes out on her own. After a brief struggle, Kendra is strong and returns to Walnut Creek to begin a new life. She is busy opening up a store that she has saved the money to run.
Nate Miller runs the hardware store right down the street from Kendra's new shop. When he enters her shop to say hello, he is taken a back by Kendra's negative response to her. Kendra vowed to hate Nate her whole life after she overheard him making fun of her when she was a child. The words hurt her and even as an adult, she does not like him. But Nate is not that man anymore. He vows to make Kendra forgive him. Try and Kendra may, she forgives Nate and soon begins to like him. When circumstances in Kendra's life changes, it brings the painful childhood she faced return full force. Kendra must learn to forgive those in her life that have hurt her. Her group of friends rally around her and help her.
The Trustworthy One is beautifully written and makes you feel as if you know the characters. You find yourself rooting for them and hoping they can develop into the person God intends them to be. The entire series is great but this book is explained so well it could be read as a standalone. I received an ARC of this book and his is my honest review.
January 27, 2023
I have really enjoyed this whole series and I was sad to be winding down with these stories of the eight friends. This book was such a sweet ending to the full length novels about these delightful people. Out of all of these books I think E.A.’s and Kendra’s stories were my favorite.
What I Liked: Kendra’s sweet selflessness inspired me and just how her little sister, Naomi, looked up to her touched my heart. Kendra grew up with an extremely tough childhood. Her father was abusive and her mother did nothing to attempt to help and Kendra suffered the brunt of her father’s drunken rages. Now, as an adult who is opening her own shop, she receives news about her father and faces a decision.
I must say that I really liked the topics discussed in this book. This wasn’t just your generic, “forgive and move on” story. (Don’t get me wrong, forgiveness is really important, but you can work towards forgiveness while still having boundaries in your relationships with others and I’m glad this book took this approach.)
Kendra, even though she struggled with her parents, truly tried to show grace to all of her siblings—even those who misunderstood her or chose to believe the worst about her. I really admired that about this character.
I also liked Nate. I wasn’t sure what I thought about him early on in the story, but I grew to really like his character and I feel like his character development was really good.
I will always look back fondly upon this series as a whole. Shelley Shepard Gray has done a beautiful job of portraying flawed, hurting characters and bringing them on a journey to healing. Every story was different, and I appreciated that because I don’t enjoy feeling like I’m reading the same kind of story over and over. And this author definitely has a way with words that hooks your emotions and keeps you until the last page.
What I Didn’t Like: I don’t think there was really anything in this book that I really disliked. I would say that physical abuse is talked about in this book, so I would only recommend it to older readers or those who can handle that sort of topic in a story.
I give this book 5/5 stars for an enjoyable read by Ms. Gray!
What I Liked: Kendra’s sweet selflessness inspired me and just how her little sister, Naomi, looked up to her touched my heart. Kendra grew up with an extremely tough childhood. Her father was abusive and her mother did nothing to attempt to help and Kendra suffered the brunt of her father’s drunken rages. Now, as an adult who is opening her own shop, she receives news about her father and faces a decision.
I must say that I really liked the topics discussed in this book. This wasn’t just your generic, “forgive and move on” story. (Don’t get me wrong, forgiveness is really important, but you can work towards forgiveness while still having boundaries in your relationships with others and I’m glad this book took this approach.)
Kendra, even though she struggled with her parents, truly tried to show grace to all of her siblings—even those who misunderstood her or chose to believe the worst about her. I really admired that about this character.
I also liked Nate. I wasn’t sure what I thought about him early on in the story, but I grew to really like his character and I feel like his character development was really good.
I will always look back fondly upon this series as a whole. Shelley Shepard Gray has done a beautiful job of portraying flawed, hurting characters and bringing them on a journey to healing. Every story was different, and I appreciated that because I don’t enjoy feeling like I’m reading the same kind of story over and over. And this author definitely has a way with words that hooks your emotions and keeps you until the last page.
What I Didn’t Like: I don’t think there was really anything in this book that I really disliked. I would say that physical abuse is talked about in this book, so I would only recommend it to older readers or those who can handle that sort of topic in a story.
I give this book 5/5 stars for an enjoyable read by Ms. Gray!
June 12, 2020
The Trustworthy One tells the story of Kendra Troyer, a young Amish girl who grew up in an abusive household. Her father is an alcoholic and would beat her and the other children while her mother did nothing. Kendra did everything she could to rear her siblings but when presented with an opportunity to get away she did even though she felt guilty for leaving her younger brothers and sister.
Now Kendra is back in Walnut Creek and she is opening a shop. One of the first people she sees is Nate Miller and he is probably one of the last she wants to see as he hurt her very badly when she was still living in town. But Nate doesn’t remember this and now he sees Kendra with new eyes. They will have to find their way through old hurts to rekindle their friendship.
Kendra’s sister Naomi makes a surprise return too. She had gone to live with their grandparents to get away from their home situation but now Naomi can’t deal with the strictures and her grandparents refusal to see that their daughter is partly to blame to the problems in the house.
I really enjoyed this book because it wasn’t the typical Amish tale. Kendra is a very complicated heroine – she didn’t grow up in a perfect household and she is very flawed but she doesn’t let that stop her or get her down. She works hard at her problems and she tries to help others around her. The romance between her and Nate was sweet – this is Amish fiction so it’s not going to be anything else but sweet. He’s a really good guy with a heart of gold.
The book ended nicely but left a lot of questions unanswered so I have to guess there will be further installments in the Walnut Creek Series. That will certainly be something to look forward to.
Now Kendra is back in Walnut Creek and she is opening a shop. One of the first people she sees is Nate Miller and he is probably one of the last she wants to see as he hurt her very badly when she was still living in town. But Nate doesn’t remember this and now he sees Kendra with new eyes. They will have to find their way through old hurts to rekindle their friendship.
Kendra’s sister Naomi makes a surprise return too. She had gone to live with their grandparents to get away from their home situation but now Naomi can’t deal with the strictures and her grandparents refusal to see that their daughter is partly to blame to the problems in the house.
I really enjoyed this book because it wasn’t the typical Amish tale. Kendra is a very complicated heroine – she didn’t grow up in a perfect household and she is very flawed but she doesn’t let that stop her or get her down. She works hard at her problems and she tries to help others around her. The romance between her and Nate was sweet – this is Amish fiction so it’s not going to be anything else but sweet. He’s a really good guy with a heart of gold.
The book ended nicely but left a lot of questions unanswered so I have to guess there will be further installments in the Walnut Creek Series. That will certainly be something to look forward to.
May 5, 2020
The Trustworthy One is an outstanding story written by Shelley Shepard Gray in her The Walnut Creek series. This is the fifth story following the group of friends dubbed The 8. The characters are extremely likeable and realistic. The story is filled with love, compassion, forgiveness, and faith. This story centers around Kendra Troyer and her life both past and present. The author has done an amazing job telling this story with such emotion that the reader will definitely not want to put it down.
Kendra Troyer is now a grown Amish woman and struggling to put her past behind her. Kendra has done several things she is not proud of. She deals with her demons and moves forward. As Kendra is preparing to open her new store her younger sister Naomi shows up with troubles and emotions that need to addressed. Kendra has also been reaquainted with someone from her childhood that causes her to revisit times she thought she had put behind her. Nate, of course, doesn't realize the impact of his behavior as a teenager has held over Kendra. As this emtionally charged story plays out Nate is determined to right his wrongs, Kendra is forced to face her abusive past, and secrets are revealed. I enjoyed getting to know Kendra's story and it brought me to tears in many places.
Although I did receive a free complimentary ebook copy of this story from the author and Netgalley I was not requested to post a favorable response. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.
Congratulations to Shelley Shepard Gray for writing another wonderful story continuing her series that her readers can truly enjoy.
Kendra Troyer is now a grown Amish woman and struggling to put her past behind her. Kendra has done several things she is not proud of. She deals with her demons and moves forward. As Kendra is preparing to open her new store her younger sister Naomi shows up with troubles and emotions that need to addressed. Kendra has also been reaquainted with someone from her childhood that causes her to revisit times she thought she had put behind her. Nate, of course, doesn't realize the impact of his behavior as a teenager has held over Kendra. As this emtionally charged story plays out Nate is determined to right his wrongs, Kendra is forced to face her abusive past, and secrets are revealed. I enjoyed getting to know Kendra's story and it brought me to tears in many places.
Although I did receive a free complimentary ebook copy of this story from the author and Netgalley I was not requested to post a favorable response. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.
Congratulations to Shelley Shepard Gray for writing another wonderful story continuing her series that her readers can truly enjoy.
May 10, 2020
This is a story about Kendra, a young woman in her mid twenties who has lived through many hardships in her life and which still bring about resentment and anger although she is trying to move on with her life with the opening of her own business and a new outlook on life. The story is about forgiveness, relationships, and personal growth in a young adult. There were parts of the book that I really enjoyed especially the building of a relationship from forgiveness between Kendra and Nate. I was confused by the random few sentences at the beginning of each chapter. To me, those sentences had no context to the story and had me lost and confused until I finally realized it was Kendra remembering an event from her youth/teen years but for which I still feel played very little part to the entire story. Also confusing at the beginning was a recurring reference to "The Eight" which I also finally realized was a group of high school friends but before the realization of the reference, just had me lost. At times, I felt the story was disjointed in the switching of story lines (Kendra/Nate vs Naomi (Kendra's sister)/ Kane without much of a connection between the two storylines at first. While I somewhat felt connected to the characters, I was not fully invested in them and feel that the book might be better suited for a teen and young adult audience. Overall, the premise of the story was good and felt the last third of the book was better than the beginning. I would recommend to others especially if teen/young adult. I thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC copy received and am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 8, 2020
When Kendra Troyer ran from Walnut Creek, the scars on her body mirrored the scars on her heart. In her case, the physical scars came at the hands, and feet, of her abusive father. The scars on her heart came from her mother's neglect, and her classmates' callousness in the face of her obvious poverty. Feeling guilty for leaving her siblings to the terror that was their home, Kendra fell into drinking and pills to get through her days. Now clean, she has returned to Walnut Creek to open a home furnishings store, a huge accomplishment for someone with her background.
Nate Miller owns the hardware store just two doors down from Kendra's new shop. He doesn't understand why she has avoided him for the past 10 years. Any time she comes through town, she makes sure they don't interact, which is tough, since they have the same set of friends. When he finds out how his youthful tongue gouged new wounds in her already damaged heart, he is remorseful. Can he ever become a man she can count on?
When Kendra's youngest sister, Naomi, asks to move in with her big sister, she agrees with some reservations but when her brothers arrive, with their neglectful mother in tow, Kendra's heart nearly breaks with the pressure they put on her to forgive their parents. Their father is dying from the consequences of his own actions. With Nate's help, can she stand strong when her family asks for more than she can give?
This was a tough story to read in some ways. Kendra's father's abuse was nearly constant from the time she was 5 years old, and the beatings didn't stop until she left home. How any parent could treat a child that way is beyond my understanding. For that man to be Amish, a peace-loving faith, hurts even more. And, for no one to step in for her???? Unbelievable. There is no way that no one noticed her bruises!
This is a story about forgiveness and learning to trust when you've never had anyone trustworthy in your life before. I can absolutely recommend this, book #4 in the Walnut Creek series.
Nate Miller owns the hardware store just two doors down from Kendra's new shop. He doesn't understand why she has avoided him for the past 10 years. Any time she comes through town, she makes sure they don't interact, which is tough, since they have the same set of friends. When he finds out how his youthful tongue gouged new wounds in her already damaged heart, he is remorseful. Can he ever become a man she can count on?
When Kendra's youngest sister, Naomi, asks to move in with her big sister, she agrees with some reservations but when her brothers arrive, with their neglectful mother in tow, Kendra's heart nearly breaks with the pressure they put on her to forgive their parents. Their father is dying from the consequences of his own actions. With Nate's help, can she stand strong when her family asks for more than she can give?
This was a tough story to read in some ways. Kendra's father's abuse was nearly constant from the time she was 5 years old, and the beatings didn't stop until she left home. How any parent could treat a child that way is beyond my understanding. For that man to be Amish, a peace-loving faith, hurts even more. And, for no one to step in for her???? Unbelievable. There is no way that no one noticed her bruises!
This is a story about forgiveness and learning to trust when you've never had anyone trustworthy in your life before. I can absolutely recommend this, book #4 in the Walnut Creek series.
June 16, 2020
I have read the other books in this series and really enjoyed them and getting to know "the 8"-a group of close knit friends from high school. Each book focuses on a couple of the kids from this group which includes flashbacks of high school, growing up and present day. Although this is a series, they can be read as stand along books.
This is not a light-hearted Amish read. This story deals with issues like addiction, neglect, severe abuse, depression, suicide and bullying. Despite all that, it was still enjoyable to read and realistic and emotional. The characters and town were great to read about and kept my interest from beginning to end.
I really liked the main character Kendra and her desire to improve her life and not let her past define her. I liked that although she let go of the anger and bitterness of the past, she didn't just simply forgive and move on. In my opinion, that's not realistic...especially with trauma and abuse victims. I believe a person can heal and move on without telling an abuser that they "forgive" them-Christian or not.
I liked Nate's true remorse and persistence to make amends and help Kendra and her family. He was a great character and it was nice to see the maturity and responsibility.
I am sad to see this series end and I look forward to reading more books by this author. Her writing and books over the years has definitely changed my opinion of Amish Christian books.
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
This is not a light-hearted Amish read. This story deals with issues like addiction, neglect, severe abuse, depression, suicide and bullying. Despite all that, it was still enjoyable to read and realistic and emotional. The characters and town were great to read about and kept my interest from beginning to end.
I really liked the main character Kendra and her desire to improve her life and not let her past define her. I liked that although she let go of the anger and bitterness of the past, she didn't just simply forgive and move on. In my opinion, that's not realistic...especially with trauma and abuse victims. I believe a person can heal and move on without telling an abuser that they "forgive" them-Christian or not.
I liked Nate's true remorse and persistence to make amends and help Kendra and her family. He was a great character and it was nice to see the maturity and responsibility.
I am sad to see this series end and I look forward to reading more books by this author. Her writing and books over the years has definitely changed my opinion of Amish Christian books.
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
June 25, 2020
#TheTrustworthyOne#Net Galley
Another great book by. ShropsHire Gray. This story shows that even Amish and it Mennonite people are like everyone else. Kendra who had an abusive father and a neglectful mother would protect her younger siblings. She finally left home to get away and went to design school. She had also been teased and made fun of by other kids in her town because of being poor and her family living conditions. She receives word that a good friend has died by suicide and she goes home to those she left behind. Her younger siblings have moved on with their lives..She decides to open a shop two doors down from the hardware that is owned by her childhood net Hate and she still goes to dispose him forever. Nate is an adult now and finally realized how bad to was towards Kendra as a teenager. He apologized but can Kendra accept his apology ? Kendra little sister who had been living with the grandmother but wants to move in with Kendra. Does Kendra forgive Nate ? Will Kendra friends who were part of the "eight" that she aS on the fringes. of the trouble there for her ? Will they help her shop too be a success and love her, and let the past stay in the past? Will her subjunctive her forgiveness for leaving ? Will her friendship with Hate become stronger ? Will she be able to trust him ? Will she find love and a happy life after her trials and burdens of her earlier life ? Thank you Net Galley for allowing me a read and review this book.
Another great book by. ShropsHire Gray. This story shows that even Amish and it Mennonite people are like everyone else. Kendra who had an abusive father and a neglectful mother would protect her younger siblings. She finally left home to get away and went to design school. She had also been teased and made fun of by other kids in her town because of being poor and her family living conditions. She receives word that a good friend has died by suicide and she goes home to those she left behind. Her younger siblings have moved on with their lives..She decides to open a shop two doors down from the hardware that is owned by her childhood net Hate and she still goes to dispose him forever. Nate is an adult now and finally realized how bad to was towards Kendra as a teenager. He apologized but can Kendra accept his apology ? Kendra little sister who had been living with the grandmother but wants to move in with Kendra. Does Kendra forgive Nate ? Will Kendra friends who were part of the "eight" that she aS on the fringes. of the trouble there for her ? Will they help her shop too be a success and love her, and let the past stay in the past? Will her subjunctive her forgiveness for leaving ? Will her friendship with Hate become stronger ? Will she be able to trust him ? Will she find love and a happy life after her trials and burdens of her earlier life ? Thank you Net Galley for allowing me a read and review this book.
May 5, 2020
Title: The Trustworthy One
Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher: Gallery Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"The Trustworthy One" by Shelley Shepard Gray
My Speculation:
A read that significantly affected a horrible abused Amish child and also showed how one could overcome the many obstacles to achieve one's dream as it was for Kendra Troyer. We find Kendra had left Walnut Creek but returned with many bad memories of growing up with an abusive father and mother. With opening her store, she still held on to lots of bad memories, but will she find peace through her faith with her friends [The Eight] support? Will one person in particular [Nate Miller] be able to change her mind about him from things Kendra had heard him say about her long ago? The theme of the read is all about trust. Will Kendra be able to learn to trust again after all she had been put through the hands of her abusive parents and learn to move on to a new life? Well, to find out the answers to all of these questions and more, the reader will have to pick up the reader to see how this author will bring it all out. This story is not a lighthearted one but one that will make you ponder over long after the read.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book and my giving my honest opinion of the read.
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