What do you think?
Rate this book
Home Valley #4
Upon a Winter's Night
A cold night's silent majesty hides a BITTER secret…Though she is deeply loved by her parents, the fact that Lydia Brand is adopted has always made her different from her close-knit Amish community. But as Christmas approaches and she begins to search for answers about her biological parents, more questions surface.Soon it seems that the deaths of two women in her small town may not be coincidences, after all. And her pursuit of the truth has left her only with hints of a dark secret-and threats from an unseen adversary.While she does her best to stave off advances from her parents' preferred suitor, Lydia discovers that her heart truly belongs to the man who's been there all her friend Josh Yoder. It's only with his help that Lydia can ensure that the stillness of a winter's night means peace…and not danger.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
127 people are currently reading
638 people want to read
About the author
Karen Harper
104 books1,500 followersA New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor (The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles, where her Scottish and English roots run deep, and where she has set many of her historical Tudor-era mysteries and her historical novels about real and dynamic British women. Karen's books have been published in many foreign languages and she won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for 2005. Karen has given numerous talks to readers and writers across the county. Her most recent books include THE SOUTH SHORES TRILOGY (CHASING SHADOWS, DROWNING TIDES and FALLING DARKNESS.) Her latest historical is THE ROYAL NANNY. Please visit her website at www.KarenHarperAuthor and her fb page at www.facebook.com/KarenHarperAuthor
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 27, 2018
Nicely written mystery. I really enjoyed the characters and the Amish community.
October 11, 2025
A WINNER
A sweet story about the Amish and the “wordly people” with mystery and intrigue thrown in.
I enjoyed every minute .
A sweet story about the Amish and the “wordly people” with mystery and intrigue thrown in.
I enjoyed every minute .
September 21, 2013
Eh. This was a romance masquerading as a mystery. I'm not sure how accurate the author's portrayal of the Amish is.
May 25, 2022
Upon a Winter's Night is an extraordinary mystery written by Karen Harper. This story has it all two mysterious deaths, a stalker, and the mystery of an adopted young ladies real parents. The characters are perfect for this story and getting to know Lydia Brand and Josh Yoder's stories make for an interesting read. When Lydia decides to go in search of information about her biological parents she really stirs up a secret that might be best left hidden. Suspects keep popping up making it harder for the local police chief to solve everything that was happening. Then Lydia stubbles upon some hidden information that could turn many lives upside down. The attacks increase and the suspense along with it. This story moves at at fast pace and really keeps the reader trying to figure who is really causing all the danger.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response and all opinions are my own. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response and all opinions are my own. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.
January 1, 2022
Wow, what can I say? I read and liked the first three books in this series. However, there were two big problems for me. One was that it felt like it was forced into the series to add a Christmas book. The other was the very aggravating habit of Harper's (and I no longer have the book here to write quotes) to have her protagonist do things like continually calling her unknown birth parents her "real parents" (extremely insensitive to many adoptees and families with adopted children in situations where a child is adopted as an infant) and the parents who raised her, loved her and cared for her her "adoptive parents."
There were a bevvy of issues I had with this, but since I read this in early October I no longer have the list.
There were a bevvy of issues I had with this, but since I read this in early October I no longer have the list.
April 24, 2015
Another exciting story from Karen Harper. I enjoyed it.
Update 4/23/2015 --
I thought I had read this before, but could not remember the story (my memory not being as good as it used to be). Anyway, it was well worth reading again, like all of Karen Harper's Amish stories.
Update 4/23/2015 --
I thought I had read this before, but could not remember the story (my memory not being as good as it used to be). Anyway, it was well worth reading again, like all of Karen Harper's Amish stories.
January 6, 2014
I haven't read any of this series of Amish mysteries but I definitely will look for more of them now. There were interesting facts about the Amish and Mennonite communities in Ohio but it didn't overpower the storyline of murders and sabotage.
March 7, 2014
okay not one her best
February 17, 2024
Like reading a script for a Hallmark movie but one that badly needs condensation and editing. There is no doubt about the conclusion that leads to marriage of the two major characters. But what trials and tribulations will have to keep them apart before they can get there? Murder, sabotage, family secrets, jealousy, vandalism on and on and on. Tedious. But it doesn't require much brain power to get through it. I had never read an "Amish romance" before, and now I know why.
January 25, 2019
I don't think I have ever read a secular book about the Amish. Totally different feel than the billions of Christian books on the same subject. While I admire the Amish, I really can't think of more than two books I have read about them that I enjoyed. One of those was a true story. This book was okay. Pretty predictable. Creepy with the honey incident.
March 11, 2018
Such a wonderful book. I didn't know which book to read and my friends and students picked out this book for me and it was a wonderful choice. The story in this book was so beautifully developed and the characters were easily loveable. One of my favorite reads so far this year. Remarkable.
May 28, 2021
Really enjoyed the mystery in this fourth book of the home valley series. It takes place in Ohio with the Amish and I couldn’t figure out the who done it till the end. So I’m going to rate this as a very good book.
September 9, 2021
An exciting tale of remorse, retribution etc. Giving some light into an alternative existence in the confines of the Amish this story is entertaining and informative. Worth a couple of days to enjoy.
May 21, 2019
Good plot, but some chapters seemed a little lame.
April 27, 2020
Always enjoy an Amish mystery.
June 1, 2021
Good book Keeps you interested
May 15, 2023
An interesting Amish mystery.
December 1, 2013
I won this book from Firstreads. This is my honest review:
This is the first Amish mystery I've read by Karen Harper but it definitely won't be the last one. UPON A WINTER'S NIGHT has just the right combination of mystery, love story, and Amish traditions. Reading it right after Thanksgiving was perfect timing too, as this book's time frame is the Christmas season.
Lydia has a good life with her parents, but she has always wanted to know about her "birth" parents. She had asked about them when she was younger, but was promptly put off by her adoptive parents. She has avoided further hurting her parents by returning to the subject since her Mom has been grieving the loss of her little brother ever since he ran off and drowned in the pond years earlier. Her Dad had secretly gave her a snow globe that was her "birth" mother's but will tell her nothing further.
Her parents are hoping she's decide to allow Gil to court her too. He works in the Amish made furniture store that her dad owns, but her heart is with Josh. She works in the store in the daytime, but volunteers her time helping Josh with his variety of animals that he rents out for Nativity scenes during the Christmas season. When a local woman is found dead in Josh's yard, she is clutching a note that finally sends Lydia in search of her "birth" parents. BUT, someone obviously does not want Lydia to succeed, as threats and fear grip Lydia and those around her.
As the mystery proceeded, I was sure one person than another was the culprit. I'm pretty good at choosing the culprit early on in mysteries, but in this book, I was kept guessing right up until the end. The characters were very realistic also, with themes of love and forgiveness evident throughout the story. Thankfully, Karen Harper has already written a number of Amish books that I can now choose to read !! Definitely recommend this for mystery fans who are not into blood , gore, and flaunting sex!!
This is the first Amish mystery I've read by Karen Harper but it definitely won't be the last one. UPON A WINTER'S NIGHT has just the right combination of mystery, love story, and Amish traditions. Reading it right after Thanksgiving was perfect timing too, as this book's time frame is the Christmas season.
Lydia has a good life with her parents, but she has always wanted to know about her "birth" parents. She had asked about them when she was younger, but was promptly put off by her adoptive parents. She has avoided further hurting her parents by returning to the subject since her Mom has been grieving the loss of her little brother ever since he ran off and drowned in the pond years earlier. Her Dad had secretly gave her a snow globe that was her "birth" mother's but will tell her nothing further.
Her parents are hoping she's decide to allow Gil to court her too. He works in the Amish made furniture store that her dad owns, but her heart is with Josh. She works in the store in the daytime, but volunteers her time helping Josh with his variety of animals that he rents out for Nativity scenes during the Christmas season. When a local woman is found dead in Josh's yard, she is clutching a note that finally sends Lydia in search of her "birth" parents. BUT, someone obviously does not want Lydia to succeed, as threats and fear grip Lydia and those around her.
As the mystery proceeded, I was sure one person than another was the culprit. I'm pretty good at choosing the culprit early on in mysteries, but in this book, I was kept guessing right up until the end. The characters were very realistic also, with themes of love and forgiveness evident throughout the story. Thankfully, Karen Harper has already written a number of Amish books that I can now choose to read !! Definitely recommend this for mystery fans who are not into blood , gore, and flaunting sex!!
August 18, 2013
4 STARS
I enjoyed reading Upon A Winter's Night except it kept me up late because I had to find out who the guilty person was. My guess was wrong. Very suspenseful.
The characters are different for a Amish story. Lydia Brand is adopted. She has no idea who her real parents are. She works in her father's furniture store. Her parents want her to marry their bookkeeper. Lydia keeps telling them she does not want to marry Gid. She volunteers at the farm next door to help feed the animals. Lydia loves the camels.
Josh has a different farm from others. He has camels, donkeys, sheep. In the summer he runs a petting zoo. He spent 4 years out in the world working for a zoo till he came back and joined the Amish Church. Now it is Dec. He rents his animals out for Christmas events.
Lydia finds a woman in a field one snowy night while she is looking for a camel who got loose. She is not sure if the woman is alive and she finds a note in her hand that she picks up to try and read. Puts it in her gloves. Puts her cape on the woman and runs to get help.
Their are a lot of problems that they need to call the police and emergency a lot of different times. They don't have phones so it is more stressful to get the help they need.
It makes me think how much I take simple things in my life for granted. Like being able to call or drive a car.
Lots of drama, action. It is exciting book that keeps your attention. A few of the secondary characters we have met in previous books. This is a clean read. Does not get much into the Amish beliefs. Just about their Christmas beliefs. Their is some violence in the story.
I was given this ebook to read and asked in between to give a honest review of it by Harlequin and Netgalley.
publication: October 29th 2013 by Harlequin MIRA 384 pages ISBN 9780778314721
…
January 31, 2014
For being a not outright religious type, I really tend to enjoy the Amish novels. There is a simplistic beauty in the setting of this novel, with rich family traditions and old-fashioned values at the core of the book.
I enjoyed that this was not just the expected love story, but a novel filled with mystery and suspenseful moments. There were quite a few unexpected plot twists and turns, so it kept my attention and kept me reading, waiting to uncover the big secret at the end.
This book is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone quite easily. I liked that the flow was steady. This was a great book to curl up next to the fireplace with on a cold evening. The religion in this book is not the in-your-face type, and I appreciated that.
The story was pretty easy to digest and the events were mostly believable, so if you don't want to have to suspend belief for every little thing that happens in a book, this might be a good one to choose.
Main characters that can make you feel what they are feeling have always impressed me, and this is the case with this book. You feel the tension, the fear and the love while reading this and want the best outcome for the characters.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable book with a lot to recommend it.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and provided by Netgalley.
I enjoyed that this was not just the expected love story, but a novel filled with mystery and suspenseful moments. There were quite a few unexpected plot twists and turns, so it kept my attention and kept me reading, waiting to uncover the big secret at the end.
This book is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone quite easily. I liked that the flow was steady. This was a great book to curl up next to the fireplace with on a cold evening. The religion in this book is not the in-your-face type, and I appreciated that.
The story was pretty easy to digest and the events were mostly believable, so if you don't want to have to suspend belief for every little thing that happens in a book, this might be a good one to choose.
Main characters that can make you feel what they are feeling have always impressed me, and this is the case with this book. You feel the tension, the fear and the love while reading this and want the best outcome for the characters.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable book with a lot to recommend it.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher and provided by Netgalley.
August 12, 2016
This was my first book that I have read by this author and I think that it was a pretty good book. I love Amish stories and found this one to be described fairly accurate from how other books are depicted in this environment.
This story has a little bit of everything from secrets and mystery to holiday and coming of age issues. Lydia is an adopted child that is seeking information about her past to help her figure things out, but the more she seeks the more questions that she finds.
After tragedy hits their community everyone is on edge about what is going on and what it means to them. In the midst of the fear that has arisen since the tragedy, Lydia is dealing with her parents trying to arrange her marriage to one, whom she just recently discovered, does not hold her heart.
With her constant companion at her side, she must find a way to figure out what dangers lurk in the night as well as find peace about her past so that she can move into her future.
A very good book with well-developed characters that will help you enjoy the story from the first to the last page. If Amish stories are something that you enjoy you will most likely enjoy this read.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review which has been stated above.
This story has a little bit of everything from secrets and mystery to holiday and coming of age issues. Lydia is an adopted child that is seeking information about her past to help her figure things out, but the more she seeks the more questions that she finds.
After tragedy hits their community everyone is on edge about what is going on and what it means to them. In the midst of the fear that has arisen since the tragedy, Lydia is dealing with her parents trying to arrange her marriage to one, whom she just recently discovered, does not hold her heart.
With her constant companion at her side, she must find a way to figure out what dangers lurk in the night as well as find peace about her past so that she can move into her future.
A very good book with well-developed characters that will help you enjoy the story from the first to the last page. If Amish stories are something that you enjoy you will most likely enjoy this read.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review which has been stated above.
March 20, 2014
Amish Romantic Mystery
+ Mediocre, brainless and boring. Writing did absolutely nothing to pull me in. Your typical commercialized, mass produced romance book.
+Found the storyline totally unbelievable and agree with another reviewer who didn't feel it was an accurate depiction of Amish life
+ Found myself having to force myself to finish it and pushing aside better books just to get get it finish for review. Anyone who knows my reading habits, it took me over 2 months to finish a 373 page book!
+ There are some great Amish (romance) mysteries out there. This isn't one of them. I felt the author was writing to make a genre that is popular right now fit to her writing style versus a good grasp of the actual genre.
+ I had read the first in the series and had noted these comments, but in this book, they have really been ramped up.
Full blog review in progress.
+ Mediocre, brainless and boring. Writing did absolutely nothing to pull me in. Your typical commercialized, mass produced romance book.
+Found the storyline totally unbelievable and agree with another reviewer who didn't feel it was an accurate depiction of Amish life
+ Found myself having to force myself to finish it and pushing aside better books just to get get it finish for review. Anyone who knows my reading habits, it took me over 2 months to finish a 373 page book!
+ There are some great Amish (romance) mysteries out there. This isn't one of them. I felt the author was writing to make a genre that is popular right now fit to her writing style versus a good grasp of the actual genre.
+ I had read the first in the series and had noted these comments, but in this book, they have really been ramped up.
Full blog review in progress.
November 3, 2013
This would not be my normal book selection, but I am very glad I read it! Even though it contains a very foreign world, the book was easy to read and actually interesting and informative. The characters were engaging, both primary and secondary. They were written with enough detail to view them as humans. flaws and all, but they were easy to connect with emotionally. The book is fast paced, suspenseful and has the kind of twists and turns that keep you reading much too late into the night. I must confess, I didn't figure it out! I understand this is part of a series, but it stood alone quite well. I would read more from The author.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2014
Another enjoyable mystery featuring the Amish of Home Valley by Harper. This is set in the same area as the Home Valley Amish trilogy, and some familiar characters have cameos. Lydia is set apart from similar central characters in that she is adopted in an area where that is not as common, nor is it common to come from a small family. This provides the fuel for a search for her birth parents, but Lydia's search is also timed with some murders and frightening occurrences, leading her to wonder if someone doesn't want her to know her roots. This also has a nice seasonal feel to it, being set near Christmas.
December 6, 2014
This novel didn't feel as well-researched in the Amish aspects as other novels I've read. That said, I did enjoy the mystery/suspense of the novel, and thought I had figured out the murderer a few times, only to be surprised at who and why.
This is the 4th (albeit standalone) novel in the series. I'm not sure right now if I'll finish the series eventually, but will revisit that question at a later time.
This is the 4th (albeit standalone) novel in the series. I'm not sure right now if I'll finish the series eventually, but will revisit that question at a later time.
February 9, 2014
There were a couple of things concerning the Amish lifestyle that I felt were contrived and off. Which is the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars.
The main character is Amish but I felt she was also portrayed as unintelligent. There were words she claimed to not understand. Amish go to school through 8th grade so I found that unbelievable. Early in the story she didn't seem to know what a cell phone was but later in the story she did.
The main character is Amish but I felt she was also portrayed as unintelligent. There were words she claimed to not understand. Amish go to school through 8th grade so I found that unbelievable. Early in the story she didn't seem to know what a cell phone was but later in the story she did.
January 12, 2014
This is the ninth book to feature the Amish of Home Valley. The main character is Lydia Brand who is adopted and begins to search for information about her birth parents. Her parents won't help her so she must seek help from the Englische. Lydia learns some facts but that just raises more questions.
February 8, 2015
An excellent story! I always enjoy Karen Harper's books! This story is so good that I kept reading it every chance I had because I wanted to find out what was going to happen next. This story takes place in Amish country and blends in the English with the Amish in the suspense and mystery of the happenings.
March 31, 2014
As I am originally from Akron near the Amish enclaves in Ohio and a resident of Columbus for the last 30+ years, I enjoyed the little references to the local communities. The mystery and love story were well intertwined although I must confess I knew who the one player was almost from the beginning. I did like this book and will be looking for more from this author's Amish stories.
Read
December 29, 2014"Harper's thorough knowledge of the Amish community lends credibility and authenticity, providing details about the families and how they might handle the outside world - including law enforcement, business, medicine and holiday traditions." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews