Laura Bradford

Danielle’s entire family goes off on a day trip while she stays at home for some “me time.” Then the unthinkable happens, and her life as she knew it is over. She gets through the funerals, but can barely cope with living by herself. A call from an Amish friend she has had since childhood is the lifeline she needs. She goes to spend some time with Lydia, whose quiet manner and strong faith buoys up Dani’s flagging spirit. Well written with real, well-developed characters, this story will tug on your heartstrings. The plot is engrossing, even in its sadness, and yet the hopefulness of joy in the future is there through faith.… (meer)

Emma has tried to be the perfect daughter, but her efforts to make her mother smile and win her approval never seem to succeed. Even her birthday celebrations fall short of those of her siblings, since her birthday happens to fall on the same date her mother’s beloved sister died. An English man is seen leaving trinkets on the sister’s grave every year on the day of her death, and Emma begins to collect and claim these things, and hides them from her family. When she turns 22, a locket with a picture unravels her past and changes her future. Searching for answers about her own life, Emma will have to decide if she really should be English, or if she should remain in the Amish community. This is an interesting story about life choices, about forgiveness, and about giving people the chance to explain their decisions and actions. It’s a well written story, and peopled with likable characters placed in an intriguing plot.… (meer)

Claire is enjoying finding her way through the corn maze, right up to the time she finds the dead body. An Amish man has been killed, and detective Jakob Miller is fearful he may have been murdered by another Amish man, maybe even a member of Jakob's family. Claire is determined to find the killer, and she just hopes the perpetrator isn’t Amish. This is a pretty good mystery in its own right, but the interaction between the characters is also quite interesting. Jakob was raised Amish, but left the Amish for police work. Unfortunately for all, he was first baptized, which means he is now shunned by the people he longs to be with. How all this will eventually play out is not yet known, except maybe to the author of this delightful series!… (meer)

Katie and Hannah may have been twins, but they couldn’t have been more different. Though raised Amish, Hannah chose to become English and moved to New York City where she became a nanny. Katie remained Amish and was baptized. When Katie goes to visit Hannah in New York, it’s a very foreign place to her, but Eric, a friend of Hannah’s boyfriend, meets Katie and escorts her around the city. They have much to teach each other, as it turns out, but what the outcome will be, only time will tell. A lot happens in this tale to keep readers interested and peak their curiosity. Well written and peopled with delightful characters, there are no villains in this tale to thwart the protagonists, but life-changing decisions must be made.… (meer)