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Secrets of Harmony Grove
From the bestselling author of Shadows of Lancaster County comes an exciting new romantic mystery set in Amish country.
Sienna Collins, owner of the Harmony Grove Bed & Breakfast in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, learns that she is under investigation by the federal government for crimes she knows nothing about. A few hours later she finds her ex-boyfriend, Troy, dead, and her life and livelihood begin to spin wildly out of control. She begins to doubt everyone around her, even the handsome detective assigned to the case.
As Sienna tries to clear her name, she is forced to depend on her faith, the wisdom of the Amish, and the insight of the man she has recently begun dating. She’ll need all the help she can get, because the secrets she uncovers in Harmony Grove end up threatening not just her bed-and-breakfast, but also her credibility, her beliefs, and ultimately her life.
Sienna Collins, owner of the Harmony Grove Bed & Breakfast in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, learns that she is under investigation by the federal government for crimes she knows nothing about. A few hours later she finds her ex-boyfriend, Troy, dead, and her life and livelihood begin to spin wildly out of control. She begins to doubt everyone around her, even the handsome detective assigned to the case.
As Sienna tries to clear her name, she is forced to depend on her faith, the wisdom of the Amish, and the insight of the man she has recently begun dating. She’ll need all the help she can get, because the secrets she uncovers in Harmony Grove end up threatening not just her bed-and-breakfast, but also her credibility, her beliefs, and ultimately her life.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2010
77 people are currently reading
747 people want to read
About the author
Mindy Starns Clark
56 books630 followersMindy Starns Clark is the bestselling author of more than 30 books, both fiction and nonfiction, and has received numerous literary honors, including two Christy Awards and RT Book Review Magazine’s 2012 Career Achievement Award. Mindy and her husband, John, have two adult children and live near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
September 3, 2018
When Sienna Collins arrives back from a business trip to Boston, she learns she is being investigated by the federal government. She is at a loss to know why. Despite her claims of innocence, she is suspended from her high profile and high paying job at Buzz. Without the income from her job, she escapes to her investment, Harmony Grove Bed and Breakfast. When she arrives nothing is as she expects. She finds an ex-boyfriend dead and the manager of the b and b unconscious. That’s just for starters. The more she learns about what has been going on in Harmony Grove the less Sienna feels she can trust anyone. What had always seemed a peaceful place with many Amish residents, some of them cousins and other family, has become a hot bed of trouble and intrigue. Sienna is not even sure is she can trust the police officer Mike who shows interest in her. And what will her boyfriend Heath think when he finds out all that has been going on? With her faith in human nature shaken by all she has learned, Sienna has no idea who to trust.
Sienna is an interesting character. Though many of her ancestors are Amish, her grandfather left the Amish faith and married a Jewish woman. Her father is a pastor of a church and Sienna is, at times, not sure what she believes or how much impact it has on her life. The mystery that surrounds the Bed and Breakfast and what has been going on in Sienna’s absence is well handled. I liked the ways she had to work through the various differences about belief and attitudes, especially when it came to bearing arms and those she is close to.
This was my first book by this author and it held my interest throughout. I liked the way more and more s secrets are gradually revealed and the varying beliefs and attitude of family which play a big part in the story. I liked the interaction between the main characters and some of the secondary characters as well. The plot kept me guessing at times. A really entertaining read with mystery, secrets, treasure, romance and a few things to think about.
Sienna is an interesting character. Though many of her ancestors are Amish, her grandfather left the Amish faith and married a Jewish woman. Her father is a pastor of a church and Sienna is, at times, not sure what she believes or how much impact it has on her life. The mystery that surrounds the Bed and Breakfast and what has been going on in Sienna’s absence is well handled. I liked the ways she had to work through the various differences about belief and attitudes, especially when it came to bearing arms and those she is close to.
This was my first book by this author and it held my interest throughout. I liked the way more and more s secrets are gradually revealed and the varying beliefs and attitude of family which play a big part in the story. I liked the interaction between the main characters and some of the secondary characters as well. The plot kept me guessing at times. A really entertaining read with mystery, secrets, treasure, romance and a few things to think about.
October 29, 2022
Truly loved this book. Gave it 5 stars despite a couple of minor typo errors I found.
Some wonderful teaching in this book about how to deal with problems or troubles that seem to overwhelm you.
The more a book says to me, the more highlights I do on the Kindle Fire. This book got quite a few.
But the following passage has literally helped me to move from trying to forgive someone to actually doing so.
Thank you Mindy Starns Clark for writing this book. This is one I will re=read again.
Some wonderful teaching in this book about how to deal with problems or troubles that seem to overwhelm you.
The more a book says to me, the more highlights I do on the Kindle Fire. This book got quite a few.
Quotes:
If you can't pray in your own words, pray in [the] Scriptures.
Give it over to God. He's big enough to handle it for you. He made the moon and the stars.
Acknowledge the anxiety to someone else.
Admitting it freely robs it of its power.
But the following passage has literally helped me to move from trying to forgive someone to actually doing so.
...foregiveness wasn't a free pass at all. It was more like a 'passing along' of the debt from me to God. When I forgave, all I was doing was giving up the right to be indolved in a matter that was really between the one who had wronged me and the Creator.
Thank you Mindy Starns Clark for writing this book. This is one I will re=read again.
August 26, 2015
This was a very intense book. I loved it. I loved the characters as well as the plot. I was unable to figure out the mystery until the very end, which made it a very compelling read. 5 stars! Mindy Starns Clark is a very talented writer--one of my top ten favorites.
January 28, 2020
I love the kind of novels that pull you in and don't really let go until you've finished the last page. This was one such novel for me. I was intrigued by the opening scene, where Sienna expects to find her bosses celebrating her and her work success, only to find herself suspended without pay for being under investigation by the United States government.
From there, the twists and turns just keep coming and coming, and though I suspected what *kind* of trouble Sienna might be in, the actual specifics of what happened at Harmony Grove were surprising. The author also had me guessing and second guessing 'whodunnit' as well.
I think, however, that my favourite part of the book was Sienna's journey back to faith. Realising that she'd put God on some sort of 'shelf' when she started doing well in her career, but then realising that she needed Him every day, not just in her troubles, but in her 'gains' as well.
From there, the twists and turns just keep coming and coming, and though I suspected what *kind* of trouble Sienna might be in, the actual specifics of what happened at Harmony Grove were surprising. The author also had me guessing and second guessing 'whodunnit' as well.
I think, however, that my favourite part of the book was Sienna's journey back to faith. Realising that she'd put God on some sort of 'shelf' when she started doing well in her career, but then realising that she needed Him every day, not just in her troubles, but in her 'gains' as well.
November 5, 2022
Sienna recently got a new job but shortly after she started working she gets notified that she was being suspended. It was in regards to a government investigation for crimes she knew nothing about. Then on top of that she gets a phone call from her ex-boyfriend who sounds confused and disoriented. He is over at the Harmony Grove Bed and Breakfast in the heart of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania. Since she is the owner of the B and B she goes over to investigate. There she discovers that Troy is dead, possibly murdered. Things start coming out that nefarious happenings were occurring at the B and B that Sienna knew nothing about. During the upheaval in her life, Sienna turns to her Amish relatives for solace. This book was full of fascinating twists that kept me surprised at each turn.
August 15, 2024
Fact: all consignment stores should have shelves dedicated to Amish fiction
March 20, 2011
When Philadelphia marketing executive Sienna Collins finds herself unemployed, she moves out of her pricey Philadelphia condominium to sleepy Harmony Grove, Pennsylvania. She plans on running the bed-and-breakfast she had bought as an investment in Lancaster County. However, when the manager she lets go is later found murdered on the property, Sienna’s troubles take a serious turn.
A handsome local wishes to befriend her, but can she trust him? And when her ex-boyfriend shows up, wanting to reconcile, can she cope with him in the middle of this crisis? Sienna must learn to depend on the Savior she has recently taken into her heart. And she’ll need all the help she can get, because the secrets she uncovers in Harmony Grove threaten her livelihood, her safety, and ultimately her life.
Sienna heads back to Philadelphia from business trip in Boston to discover that she had lost her job and after some soul searching, she headed out to Lancaster, PA to the Bed & Breakfast that she owns. When she gets there, someone is dead and two others are not responding. Things are certainly different here. Her ex-boyfriend, Troy, is dead and left plenty of secrets and lies behind that needed to be sorted through. With the help of her Amish relatives who lived close by, they all worked with the police to figure things out.
Sienna is a very strong and independant woman who has learned to take care of herself. She may not have made the most wise financial decisions but she went back to the B & B that was in her family that she has owned for a couple of years to get away and try to figure things out. Along the way she learns of many family secrets and some that are still unsolved. Her boyfriend Heath travels down to be with her through all of this. She realizes her love for him and for God need to be worked on so she may move on in live.
I enjoyed this book. It is the first one that I have read from Mindy Starns Clark. I love her style of writing. It made me feel like I was in Sienna's head all the time. She developed strong characters and the description of the area was outstanding. I am looking forward to reading more from her soon.
A handsome local wishes to befriend her, but can she trust him? And when her ex-boyfriend shows up, wanting to reconcile, can she cope with him in the middle of this crisis? Sienna must learn to depend on the Savior she has recently taken into her heart. And she’ll need all the help she can get, because the secrets she uncovers in Harmony Grove threaten her livelihood, her safety, and ultimately her life.
Sienna heads back to Philadelphia from business trip in Boston to discover that she had lost her job and after some soul searching, she headed out to Lancaster, PA to the Bed & Breakfast that she owns. When she gets there, someone is dead and two others are not responding. Things are certainly different here. Her ex-boyfriend, Troy, is dead and left plenty of secrets and lies behind that needed to be sorted through. With the help of her Amish relatives who lived close by, they all worked with the police to figure things out.
Sienna is a very strong and independant woman who has learned to take care of herself. She may not have made the most wise financial decisions but she went back to the B & B that was in her family that she has owned for a couple of years to get away and try to figure things out. Along the way she learns of many family secrets and some that are still unsolved. Her boyfriend Heath travels down to be with her through all of this. She realizes her love for him and for God need to be worked on so she may move on in live.
I enjoyed this book. It is the first one that I have read from Mindy Starns Clark. I love her style of writing. It made me feel like I was in Sienna's head all the time. She developed strong characters and the description of the area was outstanding. I am looking forward to reading more from her soon.
January 26, 2011
Secrets of Harmony Grove was the third book of Mindy Starns Clark I've read. I've enjoyed each one and have come to anticipate her signature "a mystery within a mystery." Clark always tells a parallel story where the past and present intersect. Clark sets up shop in Amish Pennsylvania and does so well. I enjoyed her setting, her characters and the unfolding mystery AND romance. If you want a good mystery to cozy up to the fire with, Secrets of Harmony Grove will not leave you cold!
January 13, 2011
I enjoyed this book. It's a good, clean mystery. The only reason its not getting a higher rating from me is at times it just moved slow. It's the same problem I've had with one or two other of Clark's stand alone books. If you like knowing what the main character is thinking and seeing a story slowly play out- then it won't bug you. I'm more an action and less thought type. However for good, clean mysteries I can always recommend this author. Her Million Dollar Mysteries are my favorite!!
March 3, 2014
Sienna's life is turned upside down when she discovers she is under investigation by the Federal government. Then a former boyfriend is found dead on the property of the bed and breakfast he helped her fix up. What is going on?
As always, Mindy provides a fast start and lots of twists and turns. I didn't feel the pace was consistent in this one, but I still raced through it as quickly as I could.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
As always, Mindy provides a fast start and lots of twists and turns. I didn't feel the pace was consistent in this one, but I still raced through it as quickly as I could.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
February 18, 2011
This is a stand alone novel set in Lancaster, Pennsylvania - Amish country. Though the story is not totally about the Amish theirs views and philosphy shapes the story. This is a Christian author and I enjoyed this story of intrigue and secrets and the awful effects of war on people.
December 29, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The plot was quite complex but well written enough to follow. The suspense wasn't over the top but still kept me wanting to turn the page. A book with poetry, history, character study and interesting facts about animals and plants. I learned more about the Amish and their values, too. So much in one book. As an Aussie, I enjoyed the inclusion of Australian birds in the story. I found the start less gripping than I might have liked but am glad I kept reading. I will be looking out for more books from this author.
August 11, 2017
I loved everything about this book. Riveting mystery, complex and layered storyline. Fascinating backstories that added texture to the whole thing. I thought the pacing was spot on, and the Christian element was great--not preachy, but introspective. The large cast of characters wasn't distracting or confusing, but each added something different to the story. It was full and fleshed out and I couldn't put it down.
February 19, 2020
I am a person who gets bogged down in the details and too much explanation...this made this a hard read for me. I commit to a book and like to see it through until the end, but I had to skim certain parts of the book. Overall, the story was good and even interesting, which is why I gave the book 3 stars. The overall story line was creative and I had not read anything like it before, definitely new concepts which was nice to see, and kept me going.
July 15, 2020
The mystery of Harmony Grove reaches out...
And grabs you and doesn't let go!
I didn't want to stop reading as the past tragedies of Abe and Daphne's lives was intertwined with the evil that was happening at Harmony Grove. So much history was revealed that brought not only the horror of Buchenwold but the story of the missing diamonds into the present. From the greed and the hidden rooms you felt like you were right there...
And grabs you and doesn't let go!
I didn't want to stop reading as the past tragedies of Abe and Daphne's lives was intertwined with the evil that was happening at Harmony Grove. So much history was revealed that brought not only the horror of Buchenwold but the story of the missing diamonds into the present. From the greed and the hidden rooms you felt like you were right there...
August 26, 2021
This is an intricately-woven mystery with a lot of suspense, drama, and trauma. The author included a lot of historical details about the Holocaust and the Nazi death camps, which I always find to be disturbing. There was another disturbing sub-plot regarding animal cruelty.
Otherwise, the story was well-written and included some strong, faith-filled characters.
I borrowed this book from our local public library.
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Otherwise, the story was well-written and included some strong, faith-filled characters.
I borrowed this book from our local public library.
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June 10, 2020
This book sucked me right in and the twists and turns kept me reading. I didn't do much but read until I finished it! The characters were believable, the suspense done just right, and convoluted plot was amazing.
May 9, 2017
A quick read
A good story. I enjoyed it. Curl up with a cup of tea. Not really an Amish story but set in Amish country with
Amish flavor.
A good story. I enjoyed it. Curl up with a cup of tea. Not really an Amish story but set in Amish country with
Amish flavor.
May 23, 2017
Harmony Grove
Really enjoyed this book so different then most books , could not wait to see what happened and see which man she picked . Liked book very much.
Really enjoyed this book so different then most books , could not wait to see what happened and see which man she picked . Liked book very much.
May 7, 2018
Great book! Wish I had 5 more stars I could give it. I hated to have to put it down for any reason. I highly recommend it!
September 25, 2018
Book club selection. Unyeh, not very well written. The books premise was interesting but a lot of time spent getting to the point. Some mystery solved in somewhat unbelievable way.
December 31, 2018
Cannot stand the main character! Abort....
March 20, 2019
Book club selection. Identical formula of her other books. Really not my thing, but the historical insight is interesting.
July 10, 2019
Just okay.
unable-to-read
May 12, 2020God is good, turn over to god, etc etc. Way too much. It might have been a good book without that unnecessary nonsense.
May 25, 2020
Mystery Diamonds
I really liked this book and couldn't put it down, it kept me intrigued from the beginning to the end.
I really liked this book and couldn't put it down, it kept me intrigued from the beginning to the end.
May 26, 2020
Good read
July 1, 2020
Didn’t end like I thought it would! Real page turner! I couldn’t put it down!! Would recommend her to anyone who loves a good mystery or suspense novel!
September 19, 2021
My interest died before the book ended.
June 22, 2022
Awesome book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews