THANKFUL is book two in the Return to Sugarcreek Series.

Christina Kempf fell through the ice on her pond ten years ago and Alden Reese was there to save her. He was her neighbor and when his parents died, Christina's parents took him in and raised him as their own. Now here is the problem. They both have feelings for each other, but don't act on them since neither one of them has ever made their feelings known. They both feel bound by family and friendship and aren't sure about admitting their true feelings. When you are raised as siblings and under strict religious circumstances, can they come together in any other way?

THANKFUL is also the story of a childless couple, Ben and Judith. They have been trying to have a child of their own but God has other plans for them. They decide to adopt and before that can happen, they are chosen to be foster parents to James, whose mom is currently in prison. Can they learn to love a foster child and provide him a stable home even though they might lose him in the end? They are instantly taken with James and feel as If he is the answer to all their prayers. That is until James' family thinks he should be raised by them and not this Amish couple.

Jana works at the Inn with Christina. She is the owner and has been looking to retire for quite some time. She just needs to figure out what to do with the restaurant attached to the Inn that her husband left to her. She has been a widow for twelve years. Will she finally be able to find love? Her friend Pippa suggests that Jana might be ready to find a partner to share the burden of running the restaurant as well as give her some extra time for a life outside of her job. It seems like the perfect suggestion especially when she notices Ross Capshaw, the newest officer to join the police force in Sugarcreek and it seems he is just as interested in her as well.

Shelley has a way of bringing all of her characters to life so much so that you feel as if you are sitting there eating pie and drinking coffee with them and the customers at the Sugarcreek Inn. She creates characters that are very real, funny, fragile, and people you want to get to know better. Shelley Gray has written a moving story that will capture your heart. Once I started reading THANKFUL I couldn't put it down. I was sad when the story ended, because I wanted to remain involved in the character's lives a little while longer. Overall, THANKFUL was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.