This is not an Amish story, despite its misleading cover and even though it has some Amish characters in it. This much contrived and convoluted tale centers on April and her sister Rose, who has gone missing. They have led a troubled life, with problems with the law and drug use. The premise is too broad and too encompassing to lend itself to a cohesive story. The plot jumps from one point to another with little connection. The characters are not well developed. The Amish characters are not true to the Amish lifestyle and religious commitment. It seems to me that the author tried to write suspenseful story but used so many unconnected plot ideas that the end result was just a string of cliched plot ideas. This appears to be the author’s first published novel, and with more experience in the craft, she could create novels that would explore her interesting ideas more fully. ( )

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. ( )

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. ( )