Plain Roots

by Becki Willis

"A gripping novel with multiple layers," this domestic thriller will touch your heart and stay with you long after the last page. Taryn is searching for her birth mother, but what she finds isn’t what she expects. Her quest takes her to the Amish countryside of Lancaster County, PA. How could somewhere so tranquil and serene hold such dark secrets? Named 2019 Best Mystery by the Texas Association of Authors. Free with Kindle Unlimited. Taryn Clark thought she’d outgrown the need to find her birth mother. She thought that a successful career and a comfortable life in the city were enough to be happy. Did she really need to know about the woman who had given her away? She thought she knew the answer, until an accidental discovery awakens old yearnings of being part of something bigger than herself. Her new quest takes her to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and the heart of the Plain community. Aided by her unique eye color, a healthy dose of luck, and the private investigator she hires, Taryn finds her birth family easily enough, but finding the truth is another matter. In all her musings, she never imagined a scenario where her mother might be Amish. She never imagined that the fabric of her life might be a patchwork of faith and fear, stitched together with a dark family secret. Taryn is determined to trace her roots, even if it means digging in the mud to do so. Now she’s caught in the quicksand of a shocking discovery and the consequences of choices made, almost forty years ago. She’ll risk everything—including her life—to uncover the truth. This thriller/ love story/ family saga has it all! From the award-winning and best-selling author of Keep Your Doors Locked , Forgotten Boxes and The Sisters, Texas Series. Readers say this is "her best yet!" Edited for content consistency with Amish input.

Genres: Amish, Fiction, Mystery, Amish Fiction, Womens Fiction

378 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Best-selling indie and hybrid author Becki Willis loves crafting stories with believable characters in believable situations. Many of her stories stem from her own personal experiences. (No worries; she's never actually murdered anyone).

When she’s not plotting danger and adventure for her imaginary friends, Becki enjoys reading, spending time with her family, unraveling a good mystery (real or imagined), dark chocolate, and a good cup of coffee.

A professed history geek, Becki often weaves pieces of the past into her novels. Family is a central theme in her stories and in her life. She and her husband enjoy traveling but believe coming home to their Texas ranch is the best part of any trip.

Becki has won numerous awards—including two Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards, InD’Tale’s coveted RONE, and been named Finalist for two Claymore Awards—but feels the real compliments come from her readers. Drop in for an e-visit anytime at beckiwillis.ccp@gmail.com, or www.beckiwillis.com.

Reviews

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional and lovely read.
Taryn is a woman looking for her past. She was given in adoption and she is now trying to find her roots. She employs Bryce, a private investigator who helps her in the search. The search takes them to the heart of the Amish community.
Here the story is woven around the secrets of Taryn’s natural family and a little crime.
The story was an emotional roller coaster which had it all as Taryn comes to know of who she really is.
Lovely read.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, emotional, and addictive page-turner are just a few words to describe Becki Willis’ “Plain Roots.”

Read full review in the 2019 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story! I enjoyed this suspenseful book about an adopted woman looking for her roots. It's a turbulent tale of her growing up years in foster care and when she finally goes in search for her real mom after finding a note from her, Taryn is shocked to realize she may have a large family in Amish country. She hires a private investigator, Bryce, and he goes on this crazy journey with her. Looking for her mother, and finding her family and discovering a sordid tale of drugs and crime and possible murder. It makes for an interesting book, because on the one hand, she finally knows who her mother is, and on the other hand, she doesn't know what happened to her. She meets a wonderful group of people, a family like everything she's always dreamed of, and uncovers some awful things from the past.

I feel like the Amish heritage in the book adds a great dimension to the story, and I got totally caught up in it. I really enjoyed the relationship of Taryn and Bryce, as they worked together to figure out the mystery, and I highly recommend this book, Plain Roots by Becki Willis.

[Hope W · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent book! The story is well written with a plot that captivated my attention to the point that I could not put it down. The characters are developed and heartfelt. I found myself being drawn in as the author wove a story of yearning for family, mystery, crime, and past secrets. There are twists and turns around every corner and my emotions went up, down, and around right along with Taryn's journey. I loved watching Taryn and Lillian grow closer as they experience and read words from the past ( you will have to read to find out these deeply emotional words). This is the 1st book I have read from this author and I look forward to reading more of the works from this talented writer. I highly recommend this 5 star read! I voluntarily received an arc copy of this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A woman on a quest to find her family. Taryn is a successful woman, but discovering a letter/note from her birth mother sends her on a quest to find her mother and her family. Taeryn's determination is what really pushes her to keep moving forward even with the small amount of information that she has. She has a difficult journey ahead, but it is a journey worth taking.
Plain Roots by Becki Willis is the first book that I have read by this author but it is a story that I truly enjoyed. That author builds a beautiful story about a young woman who discovers a note from her birth mother. She then embarks on a journey to discover who her birth mother was. Taryn ends up stumbling on a serious mystery as her mother went to great lengths to remain hidden. The author builds layers of mystery into the story that keep the reader engaged and wanting to discover as much as the main character, why the mother did what she did. Taryn is an interesting character. The author gives us some reflective moments, but if you're expecting to find Taryn enjoying her life and THEN discovering the note...you'll be disappointed.
There really isn't anything that I don't like about this book. The author does a good job making sure that the book is free of as many errors as possible. The characters are engaging and interesting. I appreciate how true to life each of the characters is in the story.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's a beautifully done story about a young woman looking to find her family and with the help of certain people she meets she's able to do exactly that. There are layers to the story and so it is sure to keep the reader engaged and enjoying the story as it reveals itself a layer at a time.

[Peta Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely captivating book from start to finish. This book has it all. If Amish books are a favourite you will thoroughly enjoy Plain Roots.

Becki Willis writes beautifully and you will be drawn into Taryn's search for answers to the many questions of her parentage.

After a life through the Foster system, Taryn finally ends up with a forever family but after their divorce and the death of her mother, Taryn comes to the devastating conclusion that a family is something she will never have.

When Taryn decides to clean out her life, she finds a box at the back of her closet and in it she finds a 45 word letter and a receipt from the hospital she was born in. With just these two pieces of information, Taryn is compelled to go on a journey of discovery in which she will find so much more than she bargained for and everything she was waiting for.

Thanks to NetGalley and Clear Creek Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this exceptional book.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a young age, Taryn had known she was adopted. She had always had a longing to know more about her biological family. The discovery of a note from her birth mother and a Lancaster County hospital bill matching her date of birth came at the same time Taryn found herself with a lot of free time. Now was the time for her to find her roots and some answers. If a mother's love for her child is supposed to be powerful, why did her mother give her up?
The narrative moves quickly. There are surprises, set backs, mystery and danger with a bit of romance mixed in. I found this to be a well crafted and interesting story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did an excellent job of creating a great storyline. It was intriguing and intricate, but it still seemed relatable and down to earth. The book is full of well developed characters with different backgrounds. The Amish aspect to the book was very interesting to me and I felt the author did a wonderful job showcasing their way of life and beliefs. I don't personally know a lot about the Amish, but I felt the author was very respectful of their beliefs. I felt the overall tone of the book was well written and you sympathize with the heroine throughout the story. I had an enjoyable experience reading this book and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Heather W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taryn needs to know the truth about her birth parents after finding an old letter and a hospital bill. This search leads her to Amish country and the Plain people. She also finds danger as she and her private investigator dig deeper into old family secrets. This story is wonderfully heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. This is a very interesting book that tells us more about the Amish way of life.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book by this Author that I have read. I found this story to be well written wit suspense, drama, danger, twists, turns, secrets, a mystery, a villain, and romance. Taryn Clark goes to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to find her roots she meets private investigator, Bryce who she hires to help her. I enjoyed how their story came together. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Jeanne Loudin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

What an amazing, wonderful book. A great storyline, and the characters derived straight from Lancaster County. Last year I had my first opportunity to visit and spent 3 entire days visiting shoppers, eating their amazing food offerings. This story took me right back to spend a damp rainy day under my quilt! Thank you Becki Willis.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those in foster care wonder what it would be like to have a forever home. Having roots that grew so deep and so strong that one could never tug them free no matter how hard one tried.

Taryn grew up in the foster care system. She was one of the lucky ones in that she became successful in her career as a lawyer. She did not have any family roots at all. No parents, no grandparents, and no love interest. Having some down time from her work, she discovers a letter that was hidden with the few things that she did have when her birth mother had given her up for adoption. The letter lead her to a coffee shop by accident which lead her to the nurse that delivered her so many years ago. With her unique eye color, the nurse remembered a frightened woman that left her baby behind. Taryn is than lead to an Amish family that carries the same eye unique eye color. With the help of her birth mother's sister and investigator (turned into a love interest), Taryn discovers that her roots do go very deep. She also discovers that someone is going out of there way to keep Taryn from the truth.

It was a thrilling read and could easily become adapted to a movie.

A special thank you to Clear Creek Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[CHM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started to give this a 3 star rating then took up to 4 after considering the consecutive hours I spent reading.
Taryn, the main character looking for family and roots, had quite a bit of drama, more than I cared for but I still enjoyed the story.

[reader 1085 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story, great likeable, believable characters. Romance, a bit of suspense with a lot of heartwarming moments. I was given a free ARC by the author. My review is freely and honestly given

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!
Can you imagine how it would feel to grow up in foster care then having fate step in and you start the search for your family. Taryn has help finding them, but what she finds is so much more than she expected. This is a very real story there is good and bad with happy and sad mix into this beautifully written story. The title is right on! This is a book that I consider a must read I highly recommend it. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Sherri Geisler Locke]

Taryn who was adopted at birth then ends up in foster care, goes searching for her birth mother. She finds mystery and intrigue and danger. With the help of Bryce a PI she hires she tries to discover the story of what happened to her birth mother and father. Along the way she meets a lot of people who know more than they tell but are intent on keeping their secrets. This was a real page turner. I found myself reading late into the night until my eyes would not stay open a minute longer then picking it up again as soon as I could the next day. one of the most intriguing books I have read in a long time.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plain Roots - This is my favorite book so far by this author. Well written, well planned and well executed, this story is difficult to put down, especially when the storylines come together. The story gathers mass and velocity as the pages go by. Emotions run the gamut; trust and love grow through the story gathered together in a richly woven fabric of descriptions and discoveries.

Heartwarming and heartbreaking, happy and sad results from the different meanings of family depending on the viewpoint of the characters . Most of the characters are likable and believable and interesting. The dialog is realistic. Intrigue and suspense range freely throughout the story. I contacted the author to review her work. 5*

Inn the Spirit of Legends - This is an interesting story filled with good locations; good, bad and bumbling characters; and well thought out storylines. Sometimes this author writes unrealistic happenings or dialog, but with this book she's done an excellent job. Ms. Willis does well with her descriptions of the locations and histories, along with her interesting characters, which run the gamut from intelligent to dufus to transparent. There's humor and misunderstandings but the story flows quickly and keeps the reader interested. 5*

Chicken Scratch #1 - This is my first book by this author and I was greatly surprised at how well written, well thought out and laced with humor and intrigue; this little gem is packed. The area is near and dear to my heart since I was born in the area. The people, while not as easily identifiable as in a Jeff Abbott novel, are locals I know. The Texas speak is just as if Ms. Willis and I were at the Creamery (TAMU) sharing milk shakes and local gossip. The kinks and knots in the plot made it hard to put down the book, even to get a tea refill. You can't help but like the characters and root for them. The story, filled with life stories, is actually pretty substantial, not fluff, and Ms. W is an entertaining storyteller. 5*

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy. I fell in love with her Sisters, Texas series, so I was excited to preview this book. I did experience some confusion with some of the story line in the beginning. I won't detail that here so that this doesn't contain any spoilers. It was a minor distraction in the beginning, but did not keep me from finishing, or thoroughly enjoying, the rest of the story. In fact, I reached out to Becki about my confusion and she was very gracious in receiving my feedback and responded promptly! I am intrigued by stories based in or including Amish culture, and this was no exception. This is a charming story, that also has a healthy dose of suspense, topped with a sprinkle of romance. I was anxious to get back to reading it every chance I got. I would give it three and a half stars, but we don't have half-stars, so I'll go with four.

[Sherry Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a masterful tale. Becky Willis does an excellent job of writing a story about a girl searching for a family she has never known.
Taryn is rootless and jobless when she discovers a bill from a hospital and a letter from a woman she thinks might be her mother. Because of her sudden joblessness, she is able to pursue those two clues. She meets her family and discovers that she has Amish (or, as they say, Plain) roots. She lives with them and works with them and continues to try to discover more about her mother and why she abandoned her when she was born. Throw in are a little bit of romance and intrigue and you have a super story. I really enjoyed it and learned a little more about the Amish community.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a page turning story, could not put the book down, Taryn is looking for information on her mother ,that gave her up for adoption , she comes to the Amish community to see what she can find, she contacts a PI to see what he can find, Bryce take the case, she try's to find a room for the night and the girl tells they are full up but she know someone that rents a room. when she gets there she is surprised to see they have the some color eyes she has, then someone is after her, if you like suspense and romance you will love the story. I was given a copy of the book but this is an honest review. if you have read any of Becki's books you have to read this one

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young woman who was adopted at birth searches for her biological family and finds much more than she anticipated in this Becki Willis story set in America's Amish country.
The book features a strong and resourceful heroine who fearlessly follows the leads which will take her to the truth about her family, no matter how painful and dangerous those leads might be. Portrayals of her Amish family and of farm and small town America are detailed and well done and the subtle story telling that takes this book from a bittersweet tale about finding your roots into a suspense-filled thriller makes it an unusual treat.

[Faith E Dower · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yikes!

Becky Willis spent a weekend in Lancaster and failed to research her main themes. And then didn't know the difference between shutter and shudder, bear and bare, cocaine and meth addiction, the fact that Amish carriage horses are Standardbreds not Thoroughbreds, adoption laws, etc, etc. I had to stop halfway through because I was looking for errors to mock rather than "solving" a mystery whose answer had already been pointed out.

If you're not a critical reader and love romance novels, you'll probably enjoy this. (Not a put down, just a reflection of preferences.)

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taryn has been on her own almost all her life. Been adopted at birth and going to foster care at five years old, she doesn’t have any family. When she discover a letter from her birth mother and a receipt from a Hospital in Lancaster county, she knows that she has to try and find her family. But little she knows that the truth about her that she will find it’s going to put her in danger but also will provide her with a huge and loving family and even perhaps a happily ever after.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She had been adopted but when she was six her life was torn apart by death. Now her life seems complete and she never thought she needed to find her real family. Then she find a clue and with the help of a PI she finds she belongs to an Amish background. The secrets may go even deeper. What are all the secrets? Will they find them all out? Find them.out as you read

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taryn Clark wasn’t aware of how much she wanted to find her birth mother until she comes across a note. This sends her looking for the mother and family she never knew. Her search leads to an Amish community, but getting the truth may even harder than she anticipated. Can she reunite with her family or are the secrets too dark and buried too deep?

This contemporary mystery is set in a place where privacy is important and secrets are kept hidden. The setting is unique in that it is an outsider trying to get information from within the closely knit community of the Amish. The characters are well defined, interesting and have distinctive personalities. The mystery of her mother is fraught with obstacles, surprising discoveries, unexpected dangers and her dogged determination that keeps you involved in the story. The writing is excellent, creative and interesting as the author weaves the needs of the characters from different communities together looking for a common outcome. I enjoyed the way the past was presented in journals and letters. It is a highly enjoyable mystery that puts you through an emotional rollercoaster as the characters deal with their internal issues and external obstacles. It is a great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah B White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Riveting Mystery

Taryn's mother gave birth to her very early on January 1, making her eligible for a prize of money for being the first child born at the hospital that year. Without collecting the prize money, her mother left the hospital the next morning, leaving the baby behind. Taryn was adopted but the adoptive mother died. Taryn was placed in foster care always wondering what her birth mother was like. She had an investigator find any information about her birth and birth mother and learned the location of the hospital where she was born. She met a nurse who was present at her birth and learned that her mother had violet eyes, a really unusual color. This information led her to find her birth mother's family. Even though her mother was no longer living, she was able to find her grandparents and other relatives in an Amish settlement in Pennsylvania.

Throughout all of this, someone wanted to murder Taryn because she was getting too close to finding information he wanted to remain hidden. Read this book to solve this mystery. This was an interesting mystery and an interesting read.

[Janet Hartman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for book club.
The concept had promise, but the pace was too slow. The writing seemed amateur - too many poor cliches and metaphors. Too many things through me out of the story so I never developed any sympathy for the characters.
It definitely is not a thriller as some have described it.
Ice cubes in her veins? "With wings on her feet she flew out the door." "Her body was as rigid and fragile as a sheet of ice. One wrong move might shatter her forever."
The main character is a slight woman yet she manages to use a milk jug as a weapon against a much larger man?
I figured out who the Toad was long before it was revealed.
I did learn that the Amish have changed quite a bit since I visited Lancaster back in the 1970s.

[J.E. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not the typical Amish story I'm used to reading. It had intrigue, mystery, and loads of suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. I could not figure out what happened to Taryn's mother until almost the end of the story.

The storyline was fast-paced and full of action and everything came together nicely in the end. The Amish portions of the story seemed to be in character with their lifestyle. The descriptions of the countryside and farms made me visualize it in my head as though I had been there and the authors writing style was easy to follow. Overall, a very enjoyable read with well-written suspense scenes.

[Marla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whirl wind of goodness

I read this book in 2 days. I lost sleep. I couldn't quit thinking about it. I felt like I was there in Amish country. I was standing far enough away to not be seen but close enough to feel like I was living Taryn's life with her. I'm so glad I went ahead and read Plain Roots. I was reluctant because the Amish are plain people, so it seemed that the story line would be as well. Boy, I was really wrong. Get this book and get comfortable you're not going to want to put it down.

[Jan L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plain good

I jumped right in and joined the characters right away. Becki Willis is that type of author, even though this book is very different from her Sisters series. There is suspense all the way to the end and a little romance. I really liked Bryce, but after I read the book and it settled, I'm not sure Taryn will be a favorite. Her situation was emotional but she pushed and bullied the delivery nurse, her newly met aunt and even Bryce, all while saying she wasn't really like that. I was hoping all the way through it was the start of a series but I dont see that door opening. Great setting and background with lots of story already set. Maybe?