The Survivor

Mattie's body has healed from the cancer that nearly took her life...but can she find the man who can mend her lonely heart?

Mattie has faced more in her twenty-three years than she ever imagined possible. Having successfully battled cancer, she's ready to reenter the world with hope for her future. But while she was in and out of hospitals, other Amish girls her age were courting and finding the men they would marry. The only man who's ever made her heart beat faster is Graham Weaver, her best friend, who has always been there to comfort her, in good times and bad. Is it finally time for their friendship to become something more?

But cruel gossip is spreading, claiming that Graham's the father of the baby Jenna Yoder's carrying. Will Mattie's dreams of a happily-ever-after be crushed before they've left the ground? (back cover excerpt).

My Review:

Once more we find ourselves back together again with Mattie and Graham, the childhood best friends that have weathered more storms together than most will ever experience in our lifetime. Now once more, they put their friendship on hold even while Mattie's cancer is in remission, the rumor of Graham being the father of the baby, Jenna Yoder is carrying. Even though he denies it, Mattie can't help but wonder what motives Jenna would have for lying about Graham if it isn't true.

Meanwhile John Weaver has made a decision to pursue Mary who he has met through his encounters with her and her son, Abel at the Kaffi Haus. The only thing standing in the way is where Mary and Abel's feelings for him are, and whether he is prepared to return back to his Amish ways or remain an English man.

I received the final book in the Families of Honor Series by Shelley Shepard Gray, The Survivor, whose name is well-known for her stories of Amish families, compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. Shelley has written about the families in the series so well, its like a welcome breath of fresh air when you open the first page and begin reading. All of a sudden the reader is magically transported back to Jacob's Crossing and the lives of the characters we have come to know and love are back again, just waiting for us to follow them again.

This series is such an amazing one and I have connected with Mattie so much, not just dealing with cancer, but the strength she shows in helping her friends and family deal with their own personal crisis. Mattie could have played the victim, but in my eyes, she is the hero. Right there every step of the way has been Graham her best friend, who you have been rooting for from day one to see Mattie as more than a friend, but the man who loves her and sees who she really is on the inside.

I award this book, The Survivor a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and having read every single book in this series, I am sad to see it end but know that somewhere out there, the families I come to love as part of my own will always be a part of my life. For those of you looking to begin the journey in the Families of Honor series, start with The Caregiver, then The Protector and ending with The Survivor. Thank you Shelley for writing this series so well!

For more information about this book, the series, the author and where to begin your journey today, click on the links below:

The Survivor by Shelley Shepard Gray