I was reluctant to start reading this book because it was "another Amish book." Seems like there are so many of those these days, but I bought the book on the recommendation of a friend. I "fell for" the protagonist -- liked her in a big way. Her past tugged at my heart and I could totally understand her panic attacks. (However, I found that at one critical point she would totally fall apart; at an equally crucial point in the story she changed into an aggressor. Seemed a bit inconsistent.)The "love thread" in the book sags until the very end. Her riding the fence between two very nice guys didn't move the story along for me. However, I was glad about her final decision.If you're looking for a book with everything in it, this is the book for you: intrique, bad-guy former boyfriend, betrayal by men she trusted, murder, Amish culture, a mentally challenged relative, lost diamonds, a depressed and unhappy grandfather and a mysterious grove. The twists and turns this book took almost wore me out. Readers familiar with Mindy Starns Clark know that she is an incredible writer that can weave an intricate story together in a phenomenal way. Her plots are always complex and her characters believable. It is also very difficult to put down one of her novels because the action is always non-stop.That said, Secrets of Harmony Grove was a rather complicated story. The plot, while interesting from the word "go," had way too many twists and turns. It was a mystery within a mystery, with a few other mysteries served on the side. With all of the subplots, it was not a surprising experience to find several lagging portions in the book.Knowing that Clark has written another Amish/mystery story, it was a given that the two books were easy to compare against each other. While neither book was overtly Amish, each book featured parts of the Amish lifestyle that are not commonly mentioned in strictly Amish novels. For example, this novel dealt with mental illness and Amish ancestry, while her other novel explained the intricacies of DNA research and diseases among the Amish.Readers who enjoy lighthearted stories may wish to bypass this particular novel. Clark is a very talented mystery author, but this novel, in particular, had a few scenes that were darker than her usual fare. It will be interesting to see how she has used this novel, as well as her previous Amish/mystery novel, as she branches out with co-writing Amish novels.3.5 Stars
What do You think about Secrets Of Harmony Grove (2010)?
Excellent book I found it a little slow to start but once it got into the story it was great.
—aayna
I was enjoying the beginning. I started getting bored in the middle but liked the ending.
—ang
This book had a great ending I just wish the middle didnt seem so boring
—greyshin
