Intriguing mystery -- Beneath Copper Falls

Colleen Coble's Beneath Copper Falls is an intriguing story of murder and mystery that stretches from Washington state to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The story is filled with interesting characters, including several who are involved in and work with search and rescue dogs.  A variety of characters pop up as potential murder suspects before the story starts to turn toward the real criminal.  As a word of caution to potential readers, there are a lot of dark moments as the mystery plays out.

Colleen has written several other books in the Rock Harbor series.  If you have read those, you will already be familiar with many of the characters and their stories.  I had not read any of the others and found no problem with this as a stand-alone. 

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for providing a copy of this book.  I am happy to share my own thoughts in this review.

About the Book:

Dana has already learned that love isn’t safe . . . but could it be different in Rock Harbor?

As a 911 dispatcher, Dana Newell takes pride in being calm in tough circumstances. In addition to her emotionally-charged career, she’s faced enough emergencies in her own life. She recently escaped her abusive fiancé to move to tranquil Rock Harbor where she hopes life will be more peaceful.

But the idyllic town hides more danger and secrets than it first appeared. Dana is continually drawn to her new friend Boone, who has scars inside and out. Then she answers a call at her job only to hear a friend’s desperate screams on the other end. Soon the pain in her past collides with the mysteries of her new home—and threatens to keep her from the future she’s always wanted.

About the Author:

Best-selling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 4 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com.

A great story -- The Promise of a Letter

Kathleen Fuller's The Promise of a Letter, like her previous Amish Letters story, has an interesting set of characters who don't all fit your stereotypical idea of Amish people. Those characters keep the story interesting and provide for a variety of twists and turns in this great story.

Leanna was introduced in the previous story and plays a major role in this one.  She is anything but a typical Amish woman; that fact likely contributes to some of the problems she finds herself dealing with, although much of the difficulty is due to no fault of her own. Her life becomes more complicated when she finds herself, somewhat reluctantly, involved with Roman, who is trying to determine whether or not he really fits into the Amish world.

The Promise of a Letter, as expected by readers of Kathleen Fuller's books, is a well-written, enjoyable Amish story.  Although there are several characters revisited from the first book in the series, it can work as a stand-alone.  I would recommend, however, that fans of great Amish fiction would enjoy both stories.

Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book.  I am happy to share my own thoughts for this review.

About the Book:

A letter brings him back to his Amish family. It will take someone truly extraordinary to make him stay.

Roman is on the verge of leaving the Amish ways. Feeling confined by the strict rules, he longs to do something more with his life. But when things don’t go as planned, Roman’s prospects outside of the community dwindle. Upon learning that his beloved grandmother has died and left a letter urging him to reconcile with his brother in Birch Creek, Roman decides to return home. But he doesn’t plan to stay for long.

Leanna Chupp has always made her own way in her small community of Birch Creek. Though some may call her unconventional—strange, even—Leanna is happy. Her unique outlook on life has meant she’s never had many suitors pursuing courtship, which Leanna doesn’t mind. She is content being single.

But when Roman and Leanna find themselves working together again, everything changes. Though neither fit squarely within the strictures of the Amish faith, their differences could be the very thing to help them form a deeper connection to their community and to each other. The question remains: will this strengthening bond be enough to make Roman stay for good?

About the Author:

Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, and the Amish of Birch Creek series, as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. Visit her online at www.kathleenfuller.com, Twitter: @TheKatJam, and Facebook: Kathleen Fuller.

Enjoyable story -- The Proving

There are lots of Amish authors these days, and there are several whose books I look forward to reading.  One of those is the one who started it all for me -- Beverly Lewis.  And her latest story is another I really enjoyed -- The Proving.

Although there were elements that were pretty predictable from the beginning, there were plenty of interesting characters and details to keep the story very engaging.   The pace of the story was very enjoyable as the different plots lines worked their way out.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of great Amish fiction.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for providing a copy of The Proving.  I am happy to provide my own thoughts for this review.

About the Book:

"Mandy, you are to inherit the farmhouse, including the business of the inn."

She could scarcely find her voice to respond. "Ach, this must be a mistake," she told him, shaking her head as she talked into the phone, feeling befuddled. "The house . . . and everything related to the inn . . . shouldn't that go to Arie Mae?"

After five years as an Englisher, Amanda Dienner is shocked to learn her mother has passed away and left her Lancaster County's most popular Amish bed-and-breakfast. What's more, the inn will only truly be hers if Mandy can successfully run it for twelve months. Reluctantly, Mandy accepts the challenge, no matter that it means facing the family she left behind--or that the inn's clientele expect an Amish hostess! Can Mandy fulfill the terms of her inheritance? Or will this prove a dreadful mistake?

About the Author:

Beverly Lewis (www.beverlylewis.com), born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 17 million books in print. Her stories have been published in twelve languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today. Beverly and her husband, David, live in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, making music, and spending time with their family.