Starred review from January 26, 2015
Abundant details turn this Amish romantic thriller series launch into a work of art. Perry (Lydia’s Hope) delicately crafts the story of Allison Standish’s struggle to adjust from big-city life to the much slower pace in Laurel Ridge, Penn., where she inherited a home from a grandmother she never knew. While Allison quickly makes friends with sweetly-spoken quilt shop owner Sarah Bitler, it’s her deepening friendship and romance with cabinetmaker Nick Whiting that takes center stage. Not everyone is as welcoming as Sarah and Nick, however. A somewhat sinister mystery surrounds Allison’s inheritance, and there are several people who would be happy to see her gone. With far more emphasis on emotional connections than suspense, the intricately constructed plot features relatable, believable characters faced with realistic struggles both large and small. This is an excellent beginning to what promises to be a series of rewarding, satisfying novels. Agent: Danielle Egan Miller, Browne & Miller Literary.