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Amish Romance Suspense

Kate Briggs is a U.S. Marshal who works in WITSEC, the federal witness protection program. After an attempt on her life, her boss sends her to live in a small Amish community until the mole in the agency is found. Will Kate, who is used to the ways of the world, be convincing as a sweet Amish woman?

When a murder is committed in the community, how will Kate assist the handsome police officer heading up the case without revealing her true identity?

And will Kate be able to leave behind her English ways as she finds herself off the grid in more ways than one?



In this 3 book series:
1) Off the Grid
2) In Plain View - Out now!!
3) Safe Hearts - Coming soon!

258 pages, ebook

First published January 22, 2015

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About the author

Ruth Hartzler

142 books179 followers
USA Today Best-selling author Ruth Hartzler spends her days writing, walking her dog, and thinking of ways to murder somebody. That's because Ruth writes cozy mysteries and adventures.
She is best known for her archaeological adventures, for which she relies upon her former career as a college professor of ancient languages and Biblical history.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
87 (46%)
4 stars
44 (23%)
3 stars
43 (22%)
2 stars
11 (5%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Deb.
182 reviews
July 18, 2019
This was a quick short read. It was more like a novella rather than I book. I usually like fiction about Amish people but this book was disappointing it ended rather abruptly. There wasn't much character development. Part of seemed a bit contrived. Kate is in the witness protection program posing as an Amish women who was in an accident and is recovering from amnesia. She supposedly has forgotten how to speak Pennsylvania Dutch but speaks perfect English??? That doesn't make sense but the Amish people are buying it. And of course she has to witness a murder.
I also usually like the religious aspect of Amish fiction but this book doesn't go into that aspect too much since Kate really isn't Amish.
The book had a really interesting premise but I don't think it was carried out well. I won't be reading any other books in this series.
This was a free ebook. I see that there other first in series free books by this author which I may try.
Profile Image for C Allen.
505 reviews16 followers
December 19, 2018
Off The Grid is the first book in the Amish Safe House series by Ruth Hartzler. It is very well written and a very interesting beginning to a series that calls the reader's name to read the whole series.

Kate Briggs is a U.S. Marshal for the WITSEC Federal witness protection program. When her life is threatened, Kate becomes Katie and hides out in an Amish community. Can she pull it off?

You would know there is a murder in the community, and of course, Katie is the only witness. How will Kate assist the handsome police to solve the case without revealing her true identity?

I read Ruth's free download and love the beginning to this series.
Profile Image for Janice .
692 reviews9 followers
April 3, 2019
I read this on the kindle

This is the 1st in a 3 book series

Kate who is a U.S. Marshal who works in the witness protection program, has had to go & hide in the Amish community as some tried to kill her only her boss knows where she is as he believes that there is a mole in the department
While there she find a body of a murdered Amish man & the muderer tries to kill her, she is attracted to Ryan the police officer who doesn't know that she not an Amish woman

A good read will be getting the next 2 books in the series
Profile Image for Jan.
6,532 reviews99 followers
April 6, 2019
There is the romantic angle, but come for the fun and the mystery! Kate learns first hand what her clients in WITSEC have to deal with when she becomes a target and hides in an Amish community half the country away from home. No TV, no Internet, no phone, no personalized clothing. Then she finds a murdered neighbor and defends herself but meets the new cop in town. Excellent read!
Profile Image for Emmie.
1,277 reviews3 followers
March 11, 2019
I received this on Prolific Books and I have to say I want to read the rest of the series! I loved the premise, there is just so much that can happen.
Profile Image for Hunter Q Lee.
502 reviews3 followers
January 8, 2021
My first Amish story. Like Kate, I don't think I would like to live the Amish life. Great story however.
Profile Image for Ann.
953 reviews
January 7, 2022
Delightfully Binge-worthy❣️You are hooked as soon as you start reading...

Very anxious to read more . . .

Next please🐿️ More and more difficult to put down . . .
2,527 reviews13 followers
January 12, 2022
It's some Amish lifestyle (rather than religion), a little (glances) romance and a bit suspense. It's an interesting story of a modern woman hiding in a quiet group.
Profile Image for Wendy.
525 reviews23 followers
February 18, 2016
BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB
(taken from Amazon.com)
Kate Briggs is a U.S. Marshal who works in WITSEC, the federal witness protection program. After an attempt on her life, her boss sends her to live in a small Amish community until the mole is the agency is found. Will Kate, who is used to the ways of the world, be convincing as a sweet Amish woman?

When a murder is committed in the community, how will Kate assist the handsome police officer heading up the case without revealing her true identity?

And will Kate be able to leave behind her English ways as she finds herself off the grid in more ways than one?


MY REVIEW
This was the first book that I've read by Ruth and it was very good, and also a pretty quick read. I enjoyed the story and it isn't over yet! How do you think you could handle living in an Amish community without knowing anything about how they live, act or even dress? Could you hide that you were really an 'Englischer' and having to learn their ways by watching them? I know I couldn't!

I think if you like Amish or mysteries, you will enjoy this book as much as I do. But a warning, you will have to read more to find out the end because this is a short book but you have to read the series evidently to find out what happens. I see two more books, this one I got for $.99, and so far the others are $2.99 each, this is for the Kindle and they are available in paperback at a higher price.

The only problem I had was that fact that there were many grammatical errors in the book. I am finding that this is a problem with most, not all, e-books and I feel it takes away from the smooth reading of a story.
Profile Image for Patrizia.
2,000 reviews43 followers
February 22, 2016
Credevo fosse un libro ed invece è un racconto. Col solito problema dei racconti, secondo me: la storia poteva essere sviluppata meglio, invece è frettolosa. E presenta delle incongruenze: dico io, la protagonista si occupa del programma di protezione dei testimoni e quando si trova lei a doversi nascondere, rischia di far saltare la copertura perché vuole indagare su un omicidio?! Dovrebbe sapere come comportarsi... In più mi sembra un'adolescente quando ha a che fare col detective perché tutte le volte lo definisce "handsome": un altro aggettivo no?
Però l'idea della storia era carina: una sceriffo federale che si deve nascondere fra gli Amish perché minacciata da uno sconosciuto. E visto che ho comprato tutti e tre i libri (racconti?), me li leggerò, anche per scoprire chi è il cattivo.
Profile Image for Diana Montgomery.
847 reviews8 followers
January 28, 2019
This story will keep you flipping the pages to see who done it. I never guessed it so well written. First book by this author I have read. Look forward to reading more. Kate has gone under protection services because of a letter she received in the mail. Placed among the Amish and to act Amish. But seems like trouble has followed her. While she is delivering whoopie pies she witnessed a murder. But it going to be hard to help find the killer and person who attacked her, being she is under protection. Amish just don't get involved. How is she going to get the answers she needs? Well written story. I love the character Kate. This is book one in the Amish Safe House series by Ruth Hartzler.
Profile Image for Alice.
1,196 reviews38 followers
May 23, 2015
Loved the Amish Cultural Heritage

A good, clean story, simply written about Kate, a Federal Marshall employed in the witness protection program who unexpectedly finds herself having to hide in a Amish community. The friction between the ways of the 'Englischer' people and the Amish are portrayed as Kate attempts to blend in. A lot of culture, beliefs and vocabulary of the Amish are explained. Their deeply religious lifestyle and strong community is contrasted to the normal world and show what we have lost with our progress. Filled with biblical quotes this is a very Christian clean read.
Profile Image for Kay (Brigidsmomma) Compton.
772 reviews29 followers
July 11, 2015
This was really good. I like the Amish community setting and the issues of being an Einglisher who doesn't quite know how to be Amish, but is trying, nonetheless. That she has to subjugate her natural police training to stay safely hidden, makes the action of the book work so much better. A good read, and one i think many will enjoy.
Profile Image for Pamela.
749 reviews
February 6, 2015
Loved it

What a wonderfully written book and a unique storyline. Who would think that someone in witness protection would hide in an Amish community. I love Katie and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
2 reviews
February 28, 2015
I love mysteries especially when it's clean and holds my interest. Thanks for a good story that keeps me interested to the end!!

I give it 4 stars. the story was believable. I don't know what I didn't like about the writing. And I'm glad it ended with one book!
.
Profile Image for Patricia.
2,958 reviews18 followers
March 17, 2015
I think what convinced me to buy this Kindle book was that it was written by someone who was Amish. I liked feeling like what I read about the Amish people was authentic. This was a nice story. I did do a little scan-reading.
Profile Image for Pam Craig.
4 reviews
May 2, 2015
Review of this book

I enjoyed reading this book as light reading. I chose it because it is about the Amish people and their simple life style. It was a little too simplistic and did not really develop the main character as I would have liked
However, I did enjoy reading it.
Profile Image for Sharon.
737 reviews
December 21, 2015
I love reading about the Amish life style and this was an enjoyable read. I skimmed through some of the book because I lost interest. This book has no ending but goes into the second book and I like an ending. I've started the second book in the series.
Profile Image for Kristina.
74 reviews
February 7, 2016
I love books about the Amish. Love books about police. This is a perfect combination. Though I would have liked a little more build up of the main character and her love interest. All in all a nice clean read.
9 reviews
May 24, 2015
A good read

Light and easy, quick read...with a nice touch of excitement to it . Not the usual slow Amish type book. Needs spell check!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews