Linda Castillo~ New to Me Amish Mystery Author

After Thanksgiving my middle girl fell ill with a stomach bug that had been going around and since we were resting and getting her on the road to recovery I picked these books up from my Library to pass the days with. 

Now these are not Christian Amish mysteries as there are a few "bad" words and some violence, just to let you know but if you do not have a problem with this than read on...These kept me guessing the whole way! She has a fourth book coming out in 2012 that I will keep an eye out for.

Have you read any good books lately?

This is an exciting new thriller set against an English/Amish backdrop. Some secrets are too terrible to reveal... Some crimes are too unspeakable to solve... Painter's Creek, Ohio may be a sleepy, rural town with both Amish and 'English' residents, but it's also the place where a series of brutal murders shattered the lives of an entire community over a decade ago. When the killing stopped, it left in its aftermath a sense of fragility, and for the young Amish girl, Katie Burkholder, a realization that she didn't belong. Now, 15 years, two dead parents and a wealth of experience later, Katie has been asked to return as Chief of Police. Her Amish background combined with her big-city law enforcement expertise make her the perfect candidate. Katie is certain she has come to terms with the past. Until the first body of a slaughtered young woman is found in a pristine, snowy field...

The sound of a scream in the early morning dawn leads to a case that will change Kate Burkholder's life irrevocably...When the police arrive at the Amish farmstead in Painters Mill they can't imagine the horror that awaits them. An entire family slaughtered: the men shot, the young women tortured and killed. The Amish are peace-loving, gentle folk and the town is shocked by what appears to be a particularly brutal and random killing. But is it random? Every family has its secrets. Kate knows that better than anyone. And as she and Agent John Tomasetti dig deeper into the victim's lives they discover a young woman who was living a lie. A girl who had to live in silence. With her own past resonating, Kate knows she has to maintain some distance. From the case, and from Tomasetti. She knows what could happen if she gets too close. But when she puts herself in the line of fire, she realizes that, this time, there may be no going back.

When Chief of Police, Kate Burkholder, is called to a farm in the Amish community of Painter's Creek, nothing could prepare her for the horror and tragedy she encounters. Solly and Rachel Slabaugh, and his brother Abel, have drowned in the hog pit leaving the four children as orphans. As the investigation progresses, it seems that the Slabaugh deaths were not an accident, and the case suddenly becomes a murder enquiry. Agent John Tomasetti and Kate have worked together before, and now he is called back to Painter's Creek to help seek out the perpetrators of what appear to be serious hate crimes against the Amish. Whether these crimes and the Slabaugh murders are linked is hard to establish because the Amish are very proud and private people who do not enjoy involvement from outside. As the case deepens, Kate develops a bond with the children, particularly the 15-year-old daughter, Solome. Maybe she is reminded of herself at that age, and maybe there's something about this case which stirs up memories for her. The events surrounding the deaths puzzle her - something doesn't feel right. As more information comes to light, a tragic incident turns into something much more shocking.

Beside Still Waters~ A Book Review

• Pub. Date: April 2011
• Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
• Format: Paperback , 320pp
• Sales Rank: 85,012

• ISBN-13: 9781433668685
• ISBN: 1433668688

Raised among the Amish of Indiana, 18-year-old Marianna Sommer plans to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and set up life in the only community she has ever known. But when her older brother chooses the world’s path following his rumschpringe, and a younger sibling begins showing interest in Englisch ways, Marianna’s parents move the family to Montana.Although she is also in her rumschpringe years and not obligated to move, Marianna makes the journey to dutifully help her mother who is expecting another child. Surprisingly, from strangers on the cross-country train ride to the less rigid stance of the new Montana community, many Englisch influences awaken within Marianna—and even her father—the desire to pursue a deeper kind of joy and love for God.After an accident, Marianna tells her friend Ben a defining story about the Sommer family, and his response further illumines the active relationship God seeks with His followers. In due time, she learns the move from Indiana was not about losing anything, but finding out who God really is. Despite all the shake-ups, Marianna feels a sweet peace, like still waters, in her soul.

This is a start to a great new Amish Series. I really felt for Marianna during her move to Montana and having to start fresh with friendships and the loss of everything she left back home. I found it similar to what we are going thru here since we moved from OH to FL. Marianna has a tuogh time making some very adult decisions but in the end she makes the right ones for her and her family. I will be looking for the newest one soon.

This book was provided to me by Litfuse Publicity Group for review, all opinions are my own.

Plain Paradise- A Book Review

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Josephine will discover more than she bargained for as her world collides with the Plain people of Lancaster County.
Josephine Dronberger was a scared teenager when she left her baby in the care of an Old Order Amish couple. But seventeen years have passed and Josie longs to reconnect with her daughter.
Linda—as the couple named the child—is promised to Stephen Ebersol, the bishop’s grandson. They plan to marry in the fall. When her birth mother comes to Paradise, Linda is drawn to a world she’s never known. Will the direction she’s been heading since birth be suddenly derailed, and who will stand by her convictions—mother or daughter?

I read this book only to realize that I have yet to read the book before this one, Plain Promise. I was pleased to realize that you need not read these books in order to understand what is happening. I enjoyed this book since it had me guessing till the end, simply a miracle happened almost at the very last chapter and I was afraid that it wouldn't happen. Simply an enjoyable book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Plain Pursuit - A Review

When Carley Marek takes a hiatus from her job, she leaves Texas and visits her friend Lillian in Amish country, Pennsylvania. Carley isn’t there long when she meets Lillian’s charming—but shunned—brother-in-law, Dr. Noah Stoltzfus.
When Lillian's stepson is stricken with a life-threatening disease, Noah is forbidden to intervene, but he resolves to do whatever it takes to save the boy's life. Carley finds herself caught in the middle of her feelings for Noah and her loyalty to Lillian. And to further complicate matters, everyone around her is talking about God--a God she doesn’t know and who appears to be punishing her for her past mistakes.
When her hiatus is up, Carley must make a life-changing decision: stay and face the path that is set before her, or flee and leave the only love she’s ever known.

Book provided by Thomas Nelson Publishing.

 

I eagerly waited to receive this book and opened it up the night I received it. I love to get lost in a life of an Amish family and this took me to the farm of the Stoltzfus Family. It was easy to understand how Carley would get confused at many of the Amish ways, the most confusing would be the "Shunning". I too do not understand this practice, If the Amish are a very forgiving people then shouldn't they forgive the person and leave it up to God to make them see their mistakes?  I loved how outspoken Carley was in this book and she made her opinions known and ask many a question, even though the Amish do not do this. She is a strong character and I do like her, many of the Amish books I read about have English people in them but seem meek to me. When David gets sick I was scared for him...A disease that requires a Hospital stay and surgery for any 13 year old is scary but for it to be an Amish is worse. The outcome is surprising! Carley is holding in a huge secret that she is afraid to share, now I find this with most books..just say it people!! Talking things out is so much better for everyone in the long run, Right? Her love interest Dr. Noah has a surprising connection to the Stolzfus Family, which starts out being terribly problematic but in the end works itself out in a nice tidy way. The ending is sweet and full of warmth. I do recommend this book for light reading. I hope I haven't given too many details away, read it for yourself.