The Forbidden Caller by Shelley Shepard Gray

The Amish Widows Club

Book Summary

 

She finds belonging in the Amish Widows Club--but will she dare to love across an impossible divide?

Twenty-four was too young to become a widow, but Jenna Graber is learning that grief doesn't follow anyone's timeline. Nearly two years after losing her husband, Jimmy, in a workplace accident, she's still struggling to make ends meet while raising her five-year-old daughter. When Jenna is invited to join the Amish Widows Club, blooming friendships stir hope in her heart. And thank goodness for Nelson Harper, the Englisher who runs the mill where Jimmy worked. His steady friendship and generous help have been a lifeline.

Nelson knows he's treading on dangerous ground having fallen for Jenna and her precious daughter--their worlds couldn't feel further apart. Religious differences and Jenna's grief make the divide almost impossible to cross, and Nelson carries a burden that could destroy the trust between them. As long-buried secrets surface, Jenna must face hard truths about the past--and decide what her heart can accept for the future.

An Amish romance novel about grief, healing, and second chances from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray.

My Thoughts

Shelley Shepard Gray’s The Forbidden Caller immediately draws readers in with its tender blend of heart, hope, and quiet strength. This beautifully written story explores loss and grief with compassion, offering characters who feel genuine and easy to care about. Jenna’s path is deeply touching as she begins to heal, finds a true sense of belonging, and slowly opens her heart to hope after being widowed at just twenty-four. Nelson makes a wonderful counterpart to Jenna with his friendly, calm, caring, and patient nature, and I loved watching the connection among Jenna, Nelson, and little Katie grow. Their relationship unfolds gently as they navigate different worlds, grief, faith, friendship, and the first stirrings of romance.

The Amish Widows Club is a thoughtful and meaningful part of the story, providing community, understanding, and support for widows who need space to heal without being rushed into another marriage. Although The Forbidden Caller is the second book in The Amish Widows Club series and can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading The Unexpected Caller first for the fullest experience. Warm, uplifting, and full of grace, The Forbidden Caller is a heartwarming reminder that healing can lead to friendship, love, and renewed hope.

Grab your favorite bookmark, because there are some lovely new reads and exciting book updates waiting for you. The Forbidden Caller is now available from Amazon, and if you’re new to The Amish Widows Club series, you can begin with The Unexpected Caller. The third book, The Persistent Caller, is coming on March 2, 2027. 

I’ll be back on Wednesday, September 16, to feature Sisters of the Midnight Sun by Fiona Valpy. If Amish fiction is your cup of tea, you may also want to take a look at The Amish Candlemaker’s Fake Fall Marriage by McKenzie Boone. And today brings two more wonderful releases to celebrate: Kristan Higgins’s thought-provoking The Me I Used to Be and Amy Clipston’s uplifting A Heart to Cherish. I hope one of these stories finds its way into your hands, your heart, and the happiest corner of your reading stack.

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.