ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Under the name Shelley Shepard Gray, Shelley writes Amish romances for HarperCollins’ inspirational line, Avon Inspire. Her recent novel, The Protector, the final book in her “Families of Honor” series, hit the New York Times List, and her previous novel in the same series, The Survivor, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. Shelley has won the prestigious Holt Medallion for her books, Forgiven and Grace, and her novels have been chosen as Alternate Selections for the Doubleday/Literary Guild Book Club. Her first novel with Avon Inspire, Hidden, was an Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.
Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two children in college, and is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and currently leads a Bible study group, and she looks forward to the opportunity to continue to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.
When she’s not writing, Shelley often attends conferences and reader retreats in order to give workshops and publicize her work. She’s attended RWA’s national conference six times, the ACFW conference and Romantic Times Magazine’s annual conference as well as traveled to New Jersey, Birmingham, and Tennessee to attend local conferences.
Check out Shelley's Facebook Fan page
ABOUT THE BOOK
Perry Borntrager had been missing from the quiet Amish community of Crittenden, Kentucky, for months when his body was discovered at the bottom of an abandoned well. Everyone had assumed Perry left Crittenden on his own, seduced by the wider world he discovered during his rumspringa, but now the truth has thrown this once-peaceful town into chaos. The first death from mysterious circumstances in Crittenden in more than two decades has invited the scrutiny of the outside world: a police detective arrives to help their local sheriff with the investigation. His questioning begins with Lydia Plank, Perry’s former girlfriend, and Perry’s best friend, the Englisher Walker Anderson.
Lydia and Walker know they didn’t have anything to do with Perry’s death, but they both hold secrets about his final days. Do they dare to open up about the kind of man Perry had become? In the oppressive shadow of these dark times, they discover strength in a most unlikely companionship that offers solace, understanding, and the promise of something more.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Missing, go HERE.
My rating:
I did not expect to enjoy Missing as much as I did! I found the story interesting, the characters great, and the mystery… is STILL a mystery (I can hardly wait to read book two!)!
I don't know if this would be considered Amish fiction (although I think so because there are Amish characters), but if it is, Missing is one of the better books I've read in the genre.
I loved how all of the characters weren't Amish, and how there was a detective from Cincinnati that comes to help on the murder case - that made the story so much more entertaining!
The romance that started to bloom between Lydia and Walker was sweet and that definitely added to the story. There was one surprise regarding Lydia that I did NOT see coming... if you read the book, I'm pretty sure you'll know what I'm talking about.
The ending leaves much to be anticipated in The Search, book two of The Secrets of Crittenden County, which I am really looking forward to reading!
I recommend Missing if you enjoy mysteries or romances! A great book in my opinion! :)
*I received this book for free from the publisher for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
5 stars cant get no better then that, guess I will have to read this one, I know she is a good writer have read some of her work.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing with us today.
Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)