I didn't realise this was the fifth book in a series when I started reading "Her Fear", but I never felt I was disadvantaged not having read the others first. "Her Fear "was a heartwarming read about Sadie, a young Amish girl who was thrown out of home when she discovered she was pregnant. I hated Sadie's abusive father and weak mother. They were both cruel to Sadie and unforgiving. Noah, on the other hand, was a wonderful character who was dedicated to his job and always trying to do what was right. His tenderness towards Sadie was touching.

The storyline was intense and I found myself quickly involved in Sadie's struggles. I am now interested in reading other novels in this series. ( )

4.5 stars.

Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray is an engrossing and touching Amish romance that also features a suspenseful element. Although this newest release is the fifth installment in The Amish of Hart County series, it can be read as a standalone.

Sadie Detweiler's unexpected pregnancy throws her life into turmoil when her suitor refuses to marry her and her parents shun her in order to maintain their standing in the community. Sent to live with relatives in Kentucky, Sadie is uncertain of her new role in the household. This uneasiness increases when soon after her arrival matriarch Verba Stauffer dies of a mysterious illness. Amish EMT Noah Freeman is one of the paramedics who responds to Verba's emergency and he is immediately smitten with Sadie. However, the Stauffer clan is closed off and secretive with outsiders and they urge Sadie to ignore Noah. Noah's concern that Sadie is not safe with her relatives increases in the wake of several other deaths that might linked to the Stauffer's. Will the discovery of Sadie's pregnancy coupled with the Stauffer's reputation ruin her chance for a future with Noah?

Sadie's family is part of a very strict Amish community and her father rules the household with an iron fist. Nevertheless, she is stunned when their believe her suitor's lies when she reveals her pregnancy. Unable to reject her father's plan for her to move to Kentucky, Sadie finds herself on a bus with little money. She quickly senses the tension in the Stauffer home, but she is naively unaware of their secret business dealings. Sadie walks on eggshells around the members of the household and she has no idea why her uncle and cousins are wary of her burgeoning relationship with Noah.

Noah's family is loving and supportive of his decision to become an EMT. In his mid-twenties, he has devoted himself to his new career so he is taken aback by his unexpected interested in Sadie. Despite her efforts to hold him at arms' length, Noah continues to gently court her. Unaware that there is more to her hesitation to become involved with him than her current living arrangement, he is stunned when he learns she is pregnant. Will this unexpected revelation alter Noah's growing affection for her?

Her Fear is a fast-paced and engaging romance that highlights the hidden and unusual aspects of Amish life. The story arc with Noah provides an intriguing glimpse into the "non-traditional" career choices that allow Amish to give back to both their immediate and Englisch communities. The Stauffer's career choice is a very unusual for an Amish family and this aspect of the storyline shows that greed can lead people to make horrible decisions they find difficult to undo. Sadie's plight exposes the abuse that goes on behind closed doors even within tight-knight communities. This newest addition to Shelley Shepard Gray's The Amish of Hart County series is sure to be a hit with old and new fans of this wonderful series.
( )

I'm enjoying this series and this book is no exception. Bringing in bootlegging , and EMT's, this isn't your mother's Amish fiction, but that's why I like it. ( )

Title: Her Fear (The Amish of Hart County #5)
Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Pages: 288
Year: 2018
Publisher: Avon Inspire
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Sadie Detweiler approaches the man who has been courting her and tells him she is expecting his baby. He denies that he is the father and wants her to get an abortion or else she will damage his reputation among the Amish community of which he wants to be leader of. Sadie can’t believe his suggestion. She tells her parents of the pregnancy, hoping they will talk to his parents and a marriage will be agreed upon. Instead, she finds herself disowned by her father, put on a bus to an uncle in Kentucky whom she has never met and alone with first-time motherhood looming in the future. Sadie arrives at the home and tries her best to stay invisible. She can sense something is going on in the household as the tension is almost unbearable sometimes. She is scared and alone until she meets Noah.
Noah Freeman is an Amish EMT-in-training. He has been on the job for almost a year and hopes to be put on the staff full-time soon. He loves his job and his co-workers have found him to be compassionate and competent, as well as being able to speak to the many Amish in their own language. He and his partners are called to Sadie’s house when someone falls violently ill unexpectedly. Noah can sense something going on in the house and Sadie’s fear. He also notices how pretty she is. Noah can’t stop thinking about her and wondering if she is in danger, so he makes an excuse to check up on her. He wants to get to know her better and thinks she feels the same, but her male relatives don’t want him around and let him know that in no uncertain terms.
This author’s writing style is one in which it makes it easy to get involved in the story from the beginning. There is no lengthy and dry history, but instead engaging characters and story line. The plot is one that doesn’t glamorize the Amish people, their beliefs or their lifestyle, but instead shows them to be people who make mistakes, poor choices and act ungodly at times. The added subplot about moonshine was also a good addition to the story. I like how the author includes facts at the end of her stories, telling about real people and places regarding the fictional story. Amish stories are not one of my favorite genres, but this series has been enjoyable and entertaining to read. A sixth book will be released in November 2018, and I will be one of the first to get my copy. ( )

What a story you are about to begin as you turn the pages on the latest sequel to the Hart County Amish, and it will sure keep your attention.
The author has touched on some really deep subjects here including, abandonment, abuse, bootlegging, death, and then you will see how it all ties together.
I have loved all of the books in this series so far, and this one sure doesn’t disappoint, and when finished I was ready to read on in their lives of these new friends.
I received this book through Edelweiss and the Publisher Avon Inspired, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )