Overview: When the coffee shop manager is murdered in Middlebury’s Amish Artisan Village, two women from different walks of life must join together to solve the mystery.Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright is optimistic about the growing profit from her collection of Amish shops—until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a solitary hole in the front window and the store manager lying next to the espresso machine, dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register.
When Amber hires a young Amish woman, Hannah Troyer, to take over the shop’s duties, the two women become fast friends—as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray’s death is a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren't convinced.
Clues that don't add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and a blossoming romance—all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to reveal answers to the mysteries around them.
ISBN-13: 9780310326168 | Publisher: Zondervan | Publication date: 3/25/2014
Series: Amish Village Mystery Series, #1
My Review: I have been reading reviews on these books since they started coming out last year and have been eager to read them. I finally broke down and bought this book and I'm so glad I did! It was certainly worth the money. This was my first book by Vannetta Chapman, so aside from the reviews I'd read, I didn't know what to expect. While this wasn't a fast paced, action packed novel, I didn't expect it to be. It moved along at just the right speed for the subject.
The characters were well written and developed. I could easily relate to their feelings and emotions throughout the story. Putting the pieces of the puzzle together with them was exciting. I enjoyed reading about Hannah and Jesse. Hannah's sweet innocence and adolescent confusion made for an interesting character. Amber is a great manager. She is kind, compassionate, organized, and caring. Her relationship with Tate was swift and sweet. I didn't like Tate at the beginning of the story, but quickly warmed up to him as his character developed.
The message of the story is about learning to be comfortable in the situations we find ourselves in. Life isn't always easy. Sometimes we stop and question why God put us here. In the words of Hannah's Mamm, "Sometimes Gotte (God) has a way of putting us in situations where we're uncomfortable." He does it for our own good and growth.
Overall, this was an exciting story and I look forward to reading more in the Amish Village Mystery Series.
The characters were well written and developed. I could easily relate to their feelings and emotions throughout the story. Putting the pieces of the puzzle together with them was exciting. I enjoyed reading about Hannah and Jesse. Hannah's sweet innocence and adolescent confusion made for an interesting character. Amber is a great manager. She is kind, compassionate, organized, and caring. Her relationship with Tate was swift and sweet. I didn't like Tate at the beginning of the story, but quickly warmed up to him as his character developed.
The message of the story is about learning to be comfortable in the situations we find ourselves in. Life isn't always easy. Sometimes we stop and question why God put us here. In the words of Hannah's Mamm, "Sometimes Gotte (God) has a way of putting us in situations where we're uncomfortable." He does it for our own good and growth.
Overall, this was an exciting story and I look forward to reading more in the Amish Village Mystery Series.
About the Author: Vannetta Chapman holds a BA and MA degree in English and has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving over two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. She published a novel with Abingdon Press called A Simple Amish Christmas in October of 2010. Her first Quilt Shop Murder Mystery, Falling to Pieces (Zondervan) was released in September of 2011 and received the 2012 Carol Award for best mystery. She currently lives in the Texas hill country.
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