Mindy Starns Clark

Dear Readers,

Most of you know that I am not a huge fan of “Anniversary books.”  You know which ones I mean, the Anniversary of the end of the Civil war meant there was suddenly a bunch of books about the civil war, the anniversary of 9-11 meant there was suddenly a bunch of books about 9-11.  So with the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic there has been a number of fiction books out this year. 

Most of you also know that I really like Mindy Starns Clark and the books/mysteries she writes.  So when her book The Echoes of Titanic hit the shelves I was in a bit of a dilemma, do I read it or not.  Well of course I did and I am glad I did.  Of course the boat still sinks and some survive and some don’t, but there was still a good mystery to go with the book and that I really liked.

Kelsey’s beloved Grandmother survived the sinking of the Titanic and started a business, which she has left as a legacy to her family.  Kelsey has been training to take the helm and with her father’s stroke she will need to step in soon.  During the ceremony which is a bit of PR, a distant relative stands up and tells the world, that Adelle was not the one to survive, but her cousin and she pretended to be Adelle just so she could inherit the family money.

With this facing her and a hostile takeover Kelsey needs to race against time to save both her Grandmother’s name and the family business.  Will she be able to find the bonds that could save the company or will everything fall apart before she can even make her mark on the business world? 

To be honest I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book, but I really did.  I shouldn’t have been surprised because it is Mindy writing it and I really like her books.  I guess that taught me something, never doubt a favorite author, they are a favorite for a reason.  J

I read this on vacation and would recommend it as a good summer read.  It kept me interested but was easy to pick up after I had to lay it down.

Happy Reading

MIndy Starns Clark

Dear Readers,

Mindy Starns Clark has been one of my favorite authors since I read her Million Dollar Mysteries.  (See earlier review) The Amish Midwife is her latest. 

It has a  bit of mystery to it, but also an interesting tale of family and pasts that people would like to stay hidden.  Lexi Jaeger (yes I notice that is my last name;-) was adopted.  She has always known that, but she wants to learn her story. 

Just before her father passes he shares a box that they recieved with her from Lexi's birth family.  It doesn't offer many clues as to where she is from or why they gave her up.  The only other clues she has is a family friend that tells her she came from Pennsylvania. 

With very little information, but a want to find her "kin," Lexi sets off to Lancaster county to see if she can find her birth family.  There are many road blocks, with the family involved being the biggest. 

 

Lexi isn't sure she will ever figure it out, but she is determed to find out as much as she can.  When help comes from an unexpected sorce, Lexi starts getting answers to long unanswered questions.

As most of us know that the Amish live by using the "forgive and forget" belief.  We all got to experience this as we watched the horrible murders of the Amish girls a couple of years ago.  I have often wondered about that and how it works in different circumstances.  Does that mean they don't believe in jail or pressing charges? 

In this book Mindy approaches the issue a bit.  There are people that know the answers to the questions that Lexi keeps asking, but they are not telling.  They seem to have only a couple of answers to her questions.  Either " It is not my place to tell." or "Forgive and Forget."  Neither answer helps Lexi in her very real need to know who her parents are.  Is either answer a good one in this case?  I found myself thinking it wasn't.  You can read the story and let me know what you thought.  If I go any farther with this thinking I will giving half the story away and that is no fun.

So instead let me just say...

Happy Reading

Mindy Starns Clark

Dear Readers,

Those of you that have followed my reviews for years know this series well.  The Million Dollar Mysteries is where I first fell in love with Mindy Starns Clark.  The series went out of print a few years ago, much to my sorrow. 



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I am happy to report that they are coming back with wonderful new covers.  I can honestly say if you like Mindy's other books, you will like these also.  The unique thing with this series is, not only does each book have its own mystery, they are all answers to a mystery that runs through the whole series.

Callie is an investigator for an non-profit group that gives out grants to people and organizations that are deserving of them.  Her job is to go and check out the organizations to see if they are on the up and up or if there is a problem. 

Of course this is what leads to her adventures.  Most of the time things are what they seem, but sometimes they aren't and that is usually where the trouble begins. 



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I remember it took me a little bit to warm up to Callie and I believe that Mindy wrote her that way on purpose, then you can listen to her and get to understand who she really is.  I know by the end I felt like she was an old friend and I hated to see the series end. 

The 5 book series startes with A Penny for Your Thoughs, #2 is Don't take any Wooden Nickels, #3 is A Dime a Dozen, #4 is A Quarter for a Kiss and #5 is The Buck stops here.  They are not all out yet, but over the next few months they should all be on the shelf again. 

Happy Reading

Mindy Starns Clark

Dear Readers,

I became a fan of Mindy Starns Clark with a series she did a while ago called the Million Dollar Mysteries.  Each book had its own mystery, but the series had a mystery running through all of the books.   I miss her series, but her stand-alones are just as good.  Secrets of Harmony Grove is her latest.  Again it is set in Amish country, but it is not a typical Amish book that we have all come to know in recent years. 

Harmony Grove is a small community in Lancaster county and Sienna owns a Bed and Breakfast there.  She has pretty much let it run itself and she cashes the checks that come every month.  That is until she finds out she is under investigation from the federal government.  When she arrives in town to check on what is going on around her little B & B she discovers a dead body and more questions than she knows what to do with.

Because of where this book is set, it has many Amish characters in it, but again they are not the focus of the book.  They just happen to be in the story because that is where they live.  I really like that in her books.  What is it like to have Amish neighbors or relatives?  Are they completely standoffish or are they ready to help?  Mindy includes that in the book, which gives her books a bit of a different feel to them.

I will admit I didn't have the complete mystery solved before the end, but that is ok. ( I am going to blame it on my being on vacation :-) It is a good read.

Happy Reading

Mindy Starns Clark

Dear Readers,

Mindy Starns Clark loves to set her books in the south. Her newest, Under the Cajun Moon, is no different. It takes part in New Orleans and the surrounding swampland.

Chloe hasn't been back to New Orleans in years. She really doesn't care to go home either. She doesn't have fond memories of the city or her parents restaurant. But after her mother's frantic phone call telling her that her Dad had been shot, Chloe hurries home. Within hours of arriving home she finds out about a buried treasure, is drugged and accused of murder and is driven around the swamps of the local area.

When Chloe teams up with an old family friend, they set out to prove Chloe's innocence and to find the person who shot her father. As they race through the swamps Chloe is less and less sure of who she can trust, even the guy she is sharing the boat with.

Easily I can say that if you like Mindy's other books, you will like this one. She is so consistent in her writing, she is just great fun to read and recommend. I can also easily say that as many snakes as Chloe runs into, I won't be racing down to New Orleans to visit anytime soon. At least not with out a really big snake. :-)

Happy Reading

Mindy Starns Clark

Dear Readers,
For years Anna has lived with the notoriety of being part of an accident. A horrible, terrible accident that left 3 people dead. One she paid society for and is still paying for everyday. She has vowed never to return home, that is until the frantic phone call from her sister-in-law telling her that her brother has gone missing.

So starts Mindy Starns Clark's book, Shadows of Lancaster County. Mindy has been a favorite of mine since her Million Dollar Mystery series. I recommend this book and those to anyone who loves a good mystery.

Most readers will recognize this county as the heart of Amish fiction. Don't let that stop you from reading this book. Yes, there are Amish in this story, but just as there would be Grand Rapids people in it if someone would write a book about Grand Rapids. They are just part of the story. They are the friends, family and neighbors that get involved in all of our stories. It was a unique and interesting way to look at their life style.

A nice counter balance to the quieter life is the DNA studies that are going on in the area. Anna's brother is working at the company that has been studying genetic disorders of the Amish communities. He seems to have hit a hornets nest and created a mess that has made him go on the run. Now everyone is looking for him. Will Anna be able to understand his message before the killer finds him?

I know this review was written a bit different that I normally do, but I had a hard time starting it, so I did something different. I really enjoyed this book, it is not a hard read and the mystery keeps you turning pages.

Happy Reading

P.S. OK, ok, I will admit I didn't have it figured out who the killer was until Mindy was ready to reveal it. :-)