The Caregiver by Shelley Shepard Gray

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Caregiver
Avon Inspire; Original edition (March 8, 2011)
by
Shelley Shepard Gray

Two lives converge one stormy night on a train headed to Cleveland. Lucy is traveling by herself via train to Jacob's Crossing to help care for her cousin Mattie, recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Trying to overcome the sudden death of her husband, she's glad to get away and focus on someone else for a while.

The only other Amish people on the train are Calvin Weaver and his little sister, Katie. When their train breaks down outside of Cleveland, Calvin and Lucy band together to face the outside world. But Calvin also carries the weight of past hurts. When an altercation brings both their wounds to light, they question whether they can trust each other.

Once in Jacob's Crossing, Lucy is occupied with caring for Mattie, while Calvin does his best to run his family's farm. But they can't stop thinking about those special hours spent together. Will the bond they formed last? And will Lucy and Calvin be able to put away the pain in their pasts to recognize the happiness that is suddenly in their grasp?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Caregiver, go HERE.

Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado. She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children. When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town's scenic bike trail.

Heidi Says . . . I found it difficult to get into this  book at first.  There seemed to be a lot of  characters and past storylines introduced all at once.  The whole breast cancer storyline got to me – having gone through the battle with cancer with my best friend last year – sitting in the hospital while she got chemo, watching her hair fall out, being with her when she eventually got it all cut off, etc. – it brought back a lot of memories (some good, some not so good). 

I felt that, though the two main characters came to some resolution at the end, most of the “supporting cast” was left hanging.  Hopefully those unanswered questions will be answered in the sequel.