Her Only Wish, by Shelley Shepard Gray, 2023, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

Her Only Wish is a slightly confusing title to me, as Betsy actually has a list of wishes–her ‘Life List‘. Not to mention she wishes to experience the things on her Life List during one summer month while she is visiting a friend in Pinecraft, Florida.

Betsy’s health condition (asthma) has held her back until now. Her parents have sheltered her and prevented her from doing normal childhood activities like riding a bike and swimming. While she’s away from her parents for this month, she seizes the opportunity to experience this list of things she’s always wanted to do.

She starts by enrolling in golf lessons, where she meets August Troyer. August has also been emerging from controlling parents. He wrestles with life decisions. Should he become a missionary, following in the footsteps of his parents, or continue to manage the golf course for his aunt and uncle? To tell you the result would be a spoiler, but I can say that, like August, missions was a ‘calling’ that I also struggled with in my younger years. This story would have been helpful to me back then.

The story also features two sisters who offer swimming lessons to Betsy. Betsy and her Life List are an inspiration to them and to everyone she meets.

This is the second in the series, ‘A Season in Pinecraft‘. I haven’t read the first book, ‘Her Heart’s Desire‘. Her Only Wish stood alone fine without it. There is enough backstory for me to know that in the first book Betsy met the friend she’s staying with.

Her Only Wish is a sweet story, paced a bit on the slow side. As an older reader I like that, but it seemed to take me a long time to finish. Perhaps because I had distractions this month with company from out of town.

To learn more about the author and her other books, go to shelleyshepardgray.com.