Murder Freshly Baked

Murder Freshly Baked is full of mystery, love, and faith. What I loved about this book is how the love isn’t boy meets girl so much as caring for those around you. Vannetta had me guessing till the end who the perpetrator was, but I wasn’t surprised. And through it all, I appreciate how the characters try to put God first.

I loved the book. Part of me is sad to say goodbye to the characters.

An Amish Cradle

An Amish Cradle is a four part novella made up of all the good parts of a normal Amish novel that we don't normally get to read. I really enjoyed this twist on the typical Amish story. It's not boy meets girl, but now that they're married and having a baby real life's problems are crashing in around them. The stories deal with step children, life after loss, special needs, and financial struggles. These novellas were so well written two of them were hard for me to read because they hit so close to home. The emotions portrayed were spot on.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves Amish fiction and wonders what happened after the wedding.

Murder Tightly Knit

Murder Tightly Knit is an intriguing suspense novel. First off Vannetta Chapman  leaves behind the sneaky murder in book one by outright murdering her victim in book two. Suddenly we have English and Amish people all trying to figure out who's the killer. As a side note, I love that Vannetta blends the two worlds; it's not Amish in one corner and English in the other. Both worlds may worship separately, but they work together as friends. When the blended group of friends decide to look into the murder they find themselves in danger, building new friendships, and breaking sterio types. Overall, the book is a wonderful read that at times will leaving you guessing. If you're like me there will also be times you want to pop some of the characters in the back of the head. Why do they all feel they must touch and move evidence? To the Murder Tightly Knit characters, don't touch anything just call the police!

Material Witness

I'm not a runner and at almost 36 I probably never will be, but I felt like I was sprinting to keep up with the pace of this book.  It was INTENSE!!!  I felt like death was or could be around every corner.  I kept expecting the murderer to show up at every location.  I'm a bit surprised he didn't go to the one place several people were staying; surely he would have found out they were there.

Material Witness found a lot of our friends in grave danger.  Someone that we've read about since Falling to Pieces dies in town on the year's busiest weekend in Shipshewana.  While tourist are flocking to the town law enforcement are on high alert for the killer.  Cops are everywhere.  The killer and his accomplice keep showing up.

A random inheritance seems like one big puzzle that may just point to a treasure.  Our friends are both hunting for the killer (did you think they would leave it up to law enforcement) and buried treasure.

Material Witness doesn't disappoint.  You have your intense chase of a killer who keeps popping up and love blossoming.  Finally I get my unicorns and rainbows at the end of a good mystery. =)

Now go read it!

I reviewed this book on behalf of NetGalley and loved it!

Update: Material Witness

Why am I on here and not reading?  I don't know.  I found myself glued to the book while my five year old (almost six) was playing at Chick-fil-a.  I realized it was getting late so I had to stop reading and bring her home.  I'm 47% into the book and people are fleeing their homes.  I'll admit I find it intense.  Alright my daughter is heading for the shower so it's my time to get in some quick reading.

My reading buddy when I'm not beating my body at the gym

Reading: Material Witness

I'm back to reading Material Witness by Vannetta Chapman.  So far it's my favorite of the three books.  We have a dead body, a break-in, a shot has been fired leaving another body on the ground, threats made, and one of our friends is being watched by a killer.  What's the motive and why do they think those targeted have the answer?  As much as I would like a nap right now after getting little sleep last night I have to find out what's about to happen.

A Perfect Square

I recently finished A Perfect Square by Vannetta Chapman.  It's the second book in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery series.  I actually liked it better then Falling to Pieces (book one).  To be fair in Falling to Pieces Callie is the prime suspect in the murder and I really identify with her.  We're both from Houston.  We both understand losing a child; I lost a set of twins March 2011.  And although our situation is different, I know what it's like to live without my husband.  And I have to give Callie props for learning how to quilt.  When in the mood I like to sew, quilt, and do crafts.  Now why would I prefer someone like myself to look guilty?  I wouldn't.  Needless to say I was happy when they solved the case.

In A Perfect Square a body is found in a pond on an Amish farm.  The land owner becomes the prime suspect and he won't defend himself.  How do you clear someone who won't talk?  Deborah takes the task on to prove the innocents of her friend.  Callie still has her ongoing battle with the other quilt shop owner in Shipshewana.  Esther finds herself in love with Tobias and two weeks away from her wedding when she finds the body in the pond.  The only problem is her fiancee lives on the farm with his cousin; the one being held for the murder of the girl.  The cousins are close.  Will Tobias still want to get married?  And who is the girl in the pond and how did she get there?

In the middle of all the dead body and hearings chaos Callie has an interesting visitor that starts a hunt for answers.

I really enjoyed this book.  I found myself staying up late more than once trying to finish a chapter which always led to one more.  After about the third time I woke up holding my Kindle I would finally put it away for the night (early morning).  Now go check it out for yourself.  As for me I'm now reading book three, Material Witness.  Now that I've gotten to know the characters better I'm enjoying it better.

Falling to Pieces

The book was a great read.  I asked someone recently if they read Amish books (no) or mystery books (yes).  I suggested she try the series out.  You get a great combo of the two.

Most of the book takes place in town where a body is found and someone keeps hunting for a lost package.  Callie was the last known person to talk to the deceased and she's also the person who found the body so she became the prime suspect.  While dealing with the cops and their never ending accusations Callie and her new Amish friends decide to launch their own investigation.  It's through their efforts everything comes out in the open.

It's intense at moments, heartwarming, and makes you wonder with which guy romance is budding.

I enjoyed the book, but probably shouldn't be reading it while my husband is out of town. =)

Still Reading: Falling to Pieces

Well my assumption on part of the book was wrong.  I won't tell you what I was wrong about; read the book and see for yourself.

Vannetta writes about the Amish in Shipshewana the same as Tricia Goyer does the Amish in Montana.  And how is that?  The Amish and English intermix.  They are friends, "family" and coworkers.  They help each other out no matter who they are or how they live.

At this point in the book someone has been murdered and Callie is the main suspect.  Oh, and once upon a time Callie had a baby.  Perhaps I was fighting sleep at the time, but I don't think she has told what happened to the baby.  Her husband is no longer in the picture either.  I'll let you read the book to see what happens there.

My foot still hurts.  I wanted to go to Sea World tomorrow, but my foot has been cramping all day.  Not cool.  I did workout today, but towards the end I started feeling the cramp coming back. =/

Reading ~ Falling to Pieces

Alright, I was about 21% into reading Material Witness when I realized it's book three.  Once upon a time I read a book review from someone who got the book from NetGalley.  They were harsh!  They were lost and didn't mince words about it.  I read the book and thought it was great, but I had read the two previous books.  I vowed to not review a book unless I've read them in order; if I know there's more then one that is. =)

But let me say this...  Material Witness is SOOOOO good I stayed up late reading it.  It was getting really good, but my body was betraying me.  I kept falling asleep while Callie walked into her garden with Max (her dog).  I pretty sure she wasn't alone.  Was the murderer there?  Possibly.  Was someone else hiding in her bushes?  Why did the murderer look familiar to her?  Oh all the questions going through my head. 

For now, I'm going back to book one.  I'm currently reading Falling to Pieces: A Quilt Shop Murder (A Shipshewana Amish Mystery) by Vannetta Chapman.  I'm 23% into the book.  So far Daisy the quilt shop owner has died, Callie her niece has moved into Daisy's apartment and finally decided to reopen the quilt shop, the local newspaper has slandered Callie, and Callie is learning to enjoy the simple life.  I'm wondering if Mr Stakehorn, the editor, is making his own news. 

If you want to find out what I'm talking about read Falling to Pieces.  I think you'll like it.  So far it doesn't seem like your typical boy meets girl Amish book which I like.

On a random note the bottom of my foot has been cramping since shortly after I got off the elliptical today.  Not fun.  I didn't even know the bottom of your foot could cramp.

Reading Material Witness

I'm reading Material Witness (A Shipshewana Amish Mystery) by Vannetta Chapman.  You can imagine my surprise when my Amish Christmas book begins with a murder.  It sure didn't seem like much of a happy Christmas book.  Well that's because it's not.  I seem to be batting a 1,000 these days with interesting, less traditional Amish books.  Well, less traditional when they have violence in them.  I'm 21% into the book, someone is dead and there's an investigation into who did it.

Well...  It looks like I'm reading book three.  This would be the third time I've read the third book first.  Given that I've been left to guess or be shocked by a couple things like an Amish person not acting like an Amish person only to learn they aren't Amish, I think I will go back and read the other two books.