Amish Holiday Vendetta

by Laura Scott

Christmas Romance
Get cozy with this heartwarming holiday story! 


From USA TODAY bestselling author Laura Scott...

An Amish widow. An Englischer with a past.

Who’s the real target this Christmas?

Attacked in her barn just before Christmas, Amish quilter Elizabeth Walton doesn’t know why someone wants to harm her. But when gunfire narrowly misses Elizabeth and furniture maker David McKay, the Englischer fears his past has put them both in the crosshairs. David’s determined to protect the pretty widow…but is his presence the real danger? Or is there another motive behind the deadly threats?

From Love Inspired Courage. Danger. Faith.

Genres: Amish, Harlequin, Romance, Christmas, Amish Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Suspense

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published November 29, 2022

Reviews

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Widow Elizabeth Walton, an Amish quilter, is coming home from work and is assaulted when she investigates why the barn door is open.

The question is why?!?

And why was she and David McKay, Englischer furniture maker, fired upon? McKay has a past that might be the reason but then why was Elizabeth assaulted at her home?

Who’s the real target this Christmas? Is there a connection?

My review …
A “Love Inspired Suspense” from Harlequin – Romance promises Courage. Danger. Faith. And “Amish Holiday Vendetta” delivers from the very beginning. Make sure to make your hot chocolate or coffee before you start reading or you will be carrying your tablet or book with you. Laura Scott knows how to grab your attention from the get-go.

On top of being a target, Mammi Ruth, her mother-in-law, blames her for her son’s death even though Elizabeth wasn’t even with him when he fell to his death. And you won’t feel kindly toward the elders of the community when you find out how they acted after Adam’s death.

And I ain’t gonna tell you one more thing. If you like Amish stories, you’ll like it. If you love Amish mysteries, you’ll love it. You like a Christmas, clean romance…

The cover really depicts how Elizabeth must have felt in multiple instances. You didn’t think there were just two that involved her? I highly recommend this latest Amish mystery from Laura Scott. It should be no surprise I rate this one a 5-star read.

I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of “Amish Holiday Vendetta” via NetGalley from the publisher, HARLEQUIN – Romance (U.S. & Canada), Love Inspired Suspense. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 5 stars
#AmishHolidayVendetta #NetGalley #LauraScott

[Kaitlyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

nooooo David don’t become amish your so sexy aha

[Emma Bock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still sad it wasn’t an illegal quilt ring :/

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fast paced and exciting. I loved the many twists and turns that put Elizabeth and David on a tough journey for survival. I loved every minute of it and I couldn't put it down until I was finished. Ms Scott has done a wonderful job and I like how her stories never disappoint me. It's interesting too because in tough situations like this we tend to want to do it ourselves and not rely on anyone else not even God. But if we ask Him like Elizabeth and David did He will help us in our time of need. Maybe not in the way we want but in His own time. His plans are better than ours. A great story! 5 stars for keeping me entertained throughout the whole book. My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Alex Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again, read on a recommendation/joke. I was told the Amish romance genre is blossoming for those who want the most erotic part of their romance to be holding hands. There's probably a way to make that work, but this book wasn't the case. It was simply boring. The suspense while real, felt very contrived to the very end. There was barely any time for any romantic chemistry between the two main characters shown so I was never rooting for them to get together either. The writing was poorly done, but never in a fun way where it could keep me going because of the awfulness. Instead, it felt like it dragged on even with how short the story was. In the end, I faced the same quandary I did with my other romance: is this bad writing or am I simply too far detached from the target audience? It might be a mix of both (just look at that 4.3 star rating on Goodreads!) but I am more inclined to it really is just bad writing through and through.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amish Holiday Vendetta by Laura Scott is a page turner. I was quickly drawn into the story. I liked the main characters, Elizabeth Walton and David McKay. They are characters that you will root for. There is mystery and suspense. I enjoyed all the action (you never knew what would happen next) which kept the story lively. There is romance (naturally). Elizabeth and David grow close during this challenging time in their lives. Elizabeth is a widow who did not have a happy marriage. The last thing Elizabeth wants is to marry again. Elizabeth works hard making and selling her beautiful quilts as well as doing the chores around the house and taking care of her deceased husband’s mother (who likes to be waited on). David is a woodworker who lives like the Amish (without modern amenities), but he is an Englisher. I like that we get to catch up with the characters (Shauna and Liam) from Hiding in Plain Sight. Amish Holiday Vendetta can be read as a standalone, but you are missing out on a captivating tale. Elizabeth’s faith is strong while David’s faith is new. They both trust God to get them through the difficulty. I like that they turned to God for assistance in their time of need (instead of taking matters into their own hands). I loved the ending which left me smiling. The author combined mystery, suspense, and romance into one fetching tale. Amish Holiday Vendetta is an engaging story with a demanding mother-in-law, a barn break in, perilous shots, a strongminded suitor, a caring community, and a dreadful discovery.

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, long story short, I sort of read this on a dare? A bunch of us at my library are reading Amish romances just to see what so many people find so appealing about them, and when I saw an Amish Christmas Romantic Suspense novel from Harlequin I knew I’d found mine.

The writing style and plot are very simple, but the romance is sweet (if a little boring – not because of the lack of sex, but because I didn’t really feel any “spark” between them) and it’s a very fast-paced read. I liked that Elizabeth has a backbone and a mind of her own. I won’t comment on the religious aspects as it’s not really something that interests me in fiction, but I knew that’s what I was getting into when I chose to read this. Suffice to say that religion features strongly. And not to put too fine a point on it, but I’ve rarely read a fiction book with less humor to it than this. Not that I expected an Amish Romantic Suspense novel to be a laugh riot, but on the rare occasion that the book attempts humor, it falls completely flat. Between that and the lack of any demonstrable chemistry between the main characters, the whole thing just felt a bit joyless. I don’t think that feeling is just that it was religious fiction, or that it’s Harlequin, because I’ve read both those things before and found them much more compelling. I was hoping for some kind of insight into why Amish Romance novels are such a big thing but I still don’t really get it. But if that’s your thing, maybe you’ll like this one.

I received an ARC of this eBook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Glenda Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review today is on the Love Inspired Suspense, Amish Holiday Vendetta. This is book two in Laura's Amish series. I don't know about you but I love Amish books and to have them with suspense makes them that much better. Laura is also one of my favorite authors so I was thrilled when this book came in the mail. It is well-written, action-packed, and full of faith. I know you will love this one.

Widow Elizabeth Walton is an Amish quilter. She lives with and cares for her mother-in-law. Ruth can be quite troublesome as she blames her son's death on Elizabeth. She takes the guilt because she never loved him as she should've. She sells her quilts at the community barn or Amish Shope, as it is called. As she walks home late that night, she hears footsteps and a man comes from her barn and attacks her. Will he come back? What was he after?

David McKay is a furniture maker. He is an Englisher but now lives in the Amish community and lives a plain life. He is very attracted to the pretty young widow that works next to his stall but knows there is no future for them. Is her attack because of his past? Can he keep her safe?

An exciting journey for two broken souls. God has a plan for these two, a plan for hope and a future. God has a plan for you too, a good plan for peace and not for destruction. Give Him your heart and watch Him move in your life.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Amish Holiday Vendetta" is a Christian romantic suspense. It's the second in a series. These main characters played a role in the previous book, but this story still works as a standalone. This book didn't spoil the previous novel.

David accidently killed a rich, young man and was sent to prison for it. Since getting out, he's lived like the Amish but hasn't become Amish--partly because he feels like what he did was unforgivable. And what if he losses his temper and "sees red" again during a fight? Elizabeth helps him to better understand God's grace and forgiveness. It seems like the bad guys are out for revenge for that death, yet Elizabeth's also attacked and an Amish man has been spotted nearby several times. They try to sort out who is attacking who and why. The suspense came from repeated attacks on David and Elizabeth as well as damage to their property. The main characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. They supported and built each other up. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this intriguing novel.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you turn the first pages of this read, there is so much action, most you won't see coming!

Now this is the second book in this series, but except for some recurring characters, this can be read alone, but you will probably be hooked, and want more!

We have kind David, and he has some hidden secrets that do come out, he lives among the Amish community adopting their way of living, and then there Elizabeth, a woman who had suffered loosing her husband, and takes care of her mother-in-law. Secrets fall, but you will be ducking as the bullets fly and attacks happen.

You don't want to miss this one, it will keep you guessing, and then changing your mind. Will you be right? I wasn't!

This is a read full of action, and add in some sweet romance, and then a page turner for answers!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Sherry Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Christmas suspense is something new I have not read in all the Amish books I have read through the years. I enjoyed this one very much.

Just a few days before Christmas, Amish widow, Elizabeth, and Englisher, David, who both have shops in an Amish market, become the targets of someone who has a vendetta against them.
Neither one has an idea of who might be out to hurt or kill them. There are so many twists and turns in the book that you will not want to put it down until you have finished it so you can see just who is after them and why. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys both Amish books and mysteries.

I was given an advanced copy of this book by Harlequin Romance and NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Linda Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a good story line. Elizabeth, a widow, makes quilts and sells them at the Amish Shoppe. David makes furniture and also sells them at the Amish Shoppe. Elizabeth is Amish. David wants to become Amish. Someone wants David dead, and they'll do anything to make sure that happens. Elizabeth has two men who want to court her. But she's not interested in either one of them. As you read the book, you'll discover that there are two different mysteries going on.

The mystery was good. But I thought the book dragged at times. Overall, it was an okay book. Not one I would ever go back and reread.

I was given this book by Love Inspired Suspense via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

[Elaine Applebury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE reading Laura Scott’s books! I don’t read very many Amish books, but I make the exception for Ms. Scott’s! She has a well-written story full of action,suspense, and romance. This one had me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next!
Elizabeth Walton is a young Amish widow caring for her mother-in-law as she runs a quilting shop in town. She is attacked while checking to see why her barn door is open. Two Amish men are wanting to court her, but there are several strange happenings going on. Are one of them trying to scare her?
David Mc Kay, an Englischer with a criminal past, is living the Amish way. He builds furniture and is fond of Elizabeth and is determined to protect her, but has his past caught up with him, putting Elizabeth in more danger?

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Holiday Vendetta is a story filled with suspense and mystery written by Laura Scott. I enjoyed this story with it's fast moving plot. The characters are amazing and Mammi Ruth stole my heart. There are two different mysteries to figure out in this story which adds to the storyline. Even with the suspense and drama this is also a story of healing, second chances, and faith.

I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response and all opinions are my own. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.

[Carolyn Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Amish fiction and inspirational suspense. Ms. Scott skillfully combines the two in this book, so it was a very good read for me. It is the second book in a series with many references to characters and events in the first book, but it can be read easily as a standalone. The fast-paced, well-crafted plot twists and turns on the way to a satisfying conclusion. The characters are engaging and relatable. The double mystery is intriguing and doubles the suspense! A gentle faith element and a dash of romance sweeten the read. I totally enjoyed this book and highly recommend it especially to fans of Amish suspense.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sophia · Rating 1 out of 5]

My god..... this was an adventure.
I'll give it this, this book was very entertaining to read, but it was completely terrible both conceptually and technically. I don't want to go into detail about the plot (because it's awful), but jeez. So first of all, this book is actually a sequel sort of, and I didn't realize that fact until more than halfway through the book, so I just kept reading insanely intense backstories for characters I'd never heard of, and most of them were from the previous book that I didn't know existed. So that was very confusing how casually stuff like characters being stabbed and kidnapped was tossed in.
On the topic of characters, most of them were fine, I guess, a little flat, and because they're mostly Amish, they were annoyingly purist and xenophobic. Also, the idea that this book's intense events take place 2 months after the previous one is a little unlikely, but whatever.
Now, let's talk about the fact that this book sucks as a suspense/mystery. This author has no concept of how to set up or execute a mystery. I'm not convinced she didn't just write it all stream of consciousness. The plot structure is all kinds of wonky. She doesn't set up the suspects at the beginning of the book. Instead, she just dumps new characters in at random points. One of the main characters behind the crimes occurring isn't named until like halfway through, and we never actually meet him, he's arrested off page. I also get the sense that she just had characters go places, and then things happened to them at random with no apparent progression or explanation. Then, at the end of the book, there is a huge exposition dump, and two separate characters hold the main character at gun point like three pages apart. Like what. It's completely ridiculous. And the second guy has literally never appeared before then and had been mentioned like once. Plot bad, anyway.
I found multiple grammar errors, continuity errors, and reversed choices. At one point, she refers to a witness as "he" and two paragraphs later decides that the witness is actually a woman. Also, she makes choices and changes her mind and sometimes changes it back several times. The romance is kind of whatever, could be worse, to be honest.
I hated how self-righteous the characters could get, but like, such is the nature of Christianity, right? The book is very preachy with its morals and opinions. Also, one of the antagonists was an atheist, because of course he was. This book is really weird about the Amish setting. It's not pure Amish, they still do some outside stuff like use cars and phones occasionally. Also, the fact that David wants to be Amish, can not relate. The vocabulary in this book was very basic, and I feel like it wasn't proofread.
To be fair, this is definitely not my cup of tea, even if it is someone else's, but yeah. Would not recommend to anyone I know.

[Laura Moreno · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Attacked in her barn just before Christmas, Amish quilter Elizabeth Walton doesn't know why someone wants to harm her. But when gunfire narrowly misses Elizabeth and furniture maker David McKay, the Englischer fears his past has put them both in the crosshairs. David's determined to protect the pretty widow . . . but is his presence the real danger? Or is there another motive behind the deadly threats?" I understand that the Harlequin line of series books limits the author's word count. This means the story advances quickly and sometimes without enough context for my taste. Regardless, the story is interesting and compels the reader to keep reading as the twists and turns are abundant.

[Marilyn Rushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Walton, a widow owns an Amish Quilt store. David McKay an Englischer own the furniture store next to the quilt shop. They have become friends but after Elizabeth is attacked and David is shot at, they began to spend more time together as David is determined to keep her safe. Will the many attacks they face together bring them closer than just friends?
This is a hard to put down book. You will want to read this story of suspense and a little romance.

[Marilyn Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars I wondered if this was in a series, but did not see that it was. If you like amish suspense, mysteries with some romance, you will like this book. Elizabeth and David must learn to overcome their different past and cultures and work together. There are many twist and turns in this book. I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a good quick read. I just finished Hiding In Plain Sight. It was great to see what
happened after. I learned that all things are not Amish or Englisher,use of rides in cars vs driving, using cellphones and other modern technologies. It has a great mystery with believable characters. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, even though it took me a ridiculously long time to read. It seems that sometimes I reach a point in suspense novels where I'm not sure I want to know what's going to happen next. I want to read the end, but I'm a little bit scared about the danger the characters are about to face. So, I set the book aside for a few days...or months.

[Pianosue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of action and drama. Someone has attacked Elizabeth Walton outside her home. Why and for what purpose? Then someone shoots at David McKay a furniture maker. What is going on? Why has someone targeting Elizabeth and David? Can David keep Elizabeth safe? Is someone after her or him or both? and why? Will they be able to figure it out before it's too late?

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice blend of inspirational romance and suspense. There was always something happening and hard to stop reading. Enjoyed the characters of Elizabeth a widow and David and Englisch man who has adopted the ways of the Amish. Set in Amish community in WI. Will read more by this author. 4.5/B+

[JoAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amish Holiday Vendetta is well written suspense. I enjoyed the plot and character dynamics. Recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice easy read, but still provides the element of mystery.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge of your seat, couldn't but down. One book that pulls you in from the beginning with lots of twist and turns.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good not too much violence!!!

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know what you're getting into.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mystery. It's a quick read, and I liked the characters in here.

[Beverly Holton · Rating 5 out of 5]

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