Courageous and vulnerable, April has survived Philadelphia’s tough city streets. But when her sister disappears, April’s search will lead her to the Pennsylvania Amish countryside—where the peaceful setting belies a brand of danger all its own . . . With a childhood shattered by alcoholism and abandonment, April learned the hard way to trust only herself and her younger sister, Rose. But … suddenly, Rose is gone without a word—and April’s purpose in life is to find her. She has only one ally: Joseph Young, a handsome Amish man with whom she’s struck up an unlikely flirtation in the bakery where she works. He’s knowledgeable, steadfast—and when they join forces, April’s life takes a radical turn . . . In the heart of Amish farm country, April and Joseph grow closer. Yet April fears there’s no future for them. Especially when vicious, too-personal warnings and strange attacks make her wonder just whom Joseph is really trying to protect. And as her unconventional investigation roils a community with much to conceal, April will find some secrets are killer—and some dreams may be too lethal to trust . . .
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This book was unlike any Amish book I have read, which was both surprising and enjoyable in sense at the same time. And unique!
The story was of April searching for her sister Rose that got missing. I greatly admired April’s dedication and determination to find her sister even when things got so much out of hand. Her boldness, courage and strength was remarkable. The woes she has gone through in her young life was so heartbreaking. Just reading about it ached my heart.
Joseph! The quiet Amish guy who had more freedom than others. Seeing him with April was kind of scandalous but I loved how he was with her.
I liked how the author effortlessly oscillated between first person and 3rd person that I was not confused about who was who or what was happening. It was pulled off nicely.
This story was filled with a lot of suspense, mystery and action that is very captivating.
I received this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
Searching for Rose is a Christian romance mystery by Dana Becker.
I hate reviews with spoilers, so you won’t read any here. All you’ll get is my humble opinion about the quality of this novel.
April, a troubled young woman, is searching for Rose, her missing sister. Joseph Young, a young Amish man who works in the diner across the street from the bakery where she works, befriends April and aids her in her search. Against the wishes of both communities, April and Joseph become more than friends. The search becomes more dangerous and April begins to suspect Joseph is not at all who he appears to be.
Contrary to the cover, picturing a young Amish woman, Amish life is, for the most part, portrayed only peripherally in this novel. However, there are Amish characters, most notably, Joseph, the male lead. The novel starts slowly, but picks up toward the middle. The characters are interesting with adequate backstories but still somewhat flat. The romance is sweet but somehow intense. There are some dark elements that make this an unusual though interesting novel. This is a story of a young woman’s personal growth, development and awakening with a compelling mystery thrown in as a bonus. The ending is satisfying. I rate Searching for Rose 3 out of 5 stars, deducting for the slow start and flat characters. It is still a good read, and I recommend it to readers who enjoy mystery with a little romance.
My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Searching for Rose by Dana Becker is a unique Amish novel. April has had a difficult life and made some poor choices. The one person she has always been close to is her sister, Rose. When Rose disappears without a trace, April becomes determined to find her. She gets help from a bakery owner and an Amish man who works at the Amish diner next to the bakery. I thought the characters lacked development. Last names for our main characters would have been nice. The pacing is slow in the first half of the book. It does increase in the second half as the mystery picks up speed. The mystery was interesting. There are good clues to help readers figure out who is behind the crime. There are also some disturbing details. I would have liked a better wrap up to the mystery. It felt incomplete. Searching for Rose is more of a romantic suspense than an Amish mystery (which is what I was expecting). April and Joseph become close while looking for Rose. Their relationship is a rocky one. April has a hard time trusting people. I did find some inconsistencies in the book that I hope were corrected before publication. I did like seeing April trying to improve her lot in life. It turns out that Searching for Rose will have a sequel. I hope any unfinished issues from Searching for Rose will be resolved in the follow-up. Searching for Rose is an Amish romantic suspense with a missing sister, an Amish Romeo, a kindhearted baker, and a shocking tale.
I received an advance copy of this book to review and I have to tel you it was not like any other Amish story that I have read. April and Rose are sisters and when something happens to one it is imperative that the other do everything possible to find her. The story takes you through all sorts of twists and turns and nobody seems to be who they are but maybe they are in another sense….Interesting ending of how they all get to live Happily Ever After but in a totally different way than when the book started. Read it in one day and recommend it totally.
Looking at the cover of this book I assumed that this was an Amish story, no it is very deep, but really not Amish.
We travel with April as she desperately searches for her sister Rose, and as she looks we meet the people who help her. She has had a troubled life, and we watch as she stumbles, and becomes attached to Joseph. He is Amish and works at the Market, that she is a led to and finds a mentor in Carmen, who has surprises of her own.
This book has quite a dark side, and you wonder how it will all play out. There is a bit of romance, but can it ever be?
You will be turning pages for answers, and there are a lot of surprises.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zebra and was not required to give a positive review.