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Saturday, July 12, 2014

Book Review and Giveaway: Falling to Pieces, Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series #1 by: Vannetta Chapman

This is a very nice gentle mystery.
Falling to Pieces, Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series #1
by: Vannetta Chapman

  • Series: A Shipshewana Amish Mystery
  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Zondervan (September 26, 2011)
  • ISBN-10: 0310330432
  • Genre: Amish Fiction, Mystery
  • My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0


Product Description
When two women-one Amish, one English-each with different motives, join forces to organize a successful on-line quilt auction, neither expects nor wants a friendship. As different as night and day, Deborah and Callie are uneasy partners who simply want to make the best of a temporary situation. But a murder, a surprising prime suspect, a stubborn detective, and the town's reaction throw the two women together, and they form an unlikely alliance to solve a mystery and catch a killer.


Review:
Deborah is a sweet and strong Amish wife, mother and friend. She is concerned for her two best friends, Melinda who has a very sick child, and Esther, who is grieving after the death of her husband. The three have been making beautiful quilts which they sell through Daisy’s Quilt Shop, which was run by Daisy, an Englisher who had become an accepted part of the community. But Deborah found Daisy dead in her garden and now the shop is owned by Daisy’s niece, Callie.

Callie left her job in Texas and is struggling with depression. She expects to sell the quilt shop and move on but until then she is hunkering down in the apartment above the shop. Callie inherited Max, a faithful Labrador, along with the shop and although a bit of a nuisance he is also turning out to be a good companion.

Deborah and Callie form a tentative friendship when Deborah talks Callie into opening the shop and into selling their recent quilts on eBay. The news editor in town accuses Callie of taking advantage of the Amish even though that is untrue. Callie argues with the man when she demands a retraction and now Callie is under suspicion for his murder. Deborah and her friends take a strong stand to support their new friend, Callie.

Officer Black is the investigator who pushes witnesses until he uncovers the facts and gets his man, or woman. Esther and her friends have had experience with Black when he pushed in the investigation of her husband’s death. Although Officer Black seems really rough, he has a good heart.

The Amish and Englisher characters and relationships are very lovely. The added element of a good mystery makes this a really enjoyable story. I also liked the nuggets of gentle faith and wisdom shared through the real life circumstances. The writing is straight forward making it an easy read.  All of the ladies from book club enjoyed this too and we would be glad to read more by this author. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys Amish stories and also to those who like a good mystery.

I picked these books up at a bargain price at Christianbook.com for our ladies' book club selection for June.

Giveaway:
ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for my gently read Print Copy.

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry! 
I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)
For 3 Extra Bonus entries comment on the review, OR
visit THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE and tell me something you like/learned there.

* This contest is open to U.S. address only for print book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) July 20, 2014.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after July 20, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

8 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing your talents through enjoyable writing.

      Delete
  2. This series has been catching my eye. Would love the chance to read this one and to discover it for myself. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Kimberlee
    girllostinabook@hotmail.com
    www.girllostinabook.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. thank you for the chance to win, looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'v read quite a few Amish mysteries,but none by this author---so I'll have to try her books.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. the author writes about her first sale on her website

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have recently finished the Pebble Creek series and I thoroughly enjoyed them. This books looks equally good.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  7. I read Vanessa Chapman's book, A Perfect Square, and I loved it,, gave it 5 stars on GoodReads. Would be realy happy to win Falling to Pieces.

    CarolNWong@aol.com

    ReplyDelete

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