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Secrets of Harmony Grove

Mindy Starns Clark (Goodreads Author)

4.05 · Rating details · 897 ratings · 104 reviews

From the bestselling author of Shadows of Lancaster County comes an exciting new romantic mystery set in Amish country.

When New York marketing executive Sienna Collins finds herself unemployed, she moves out of her pricey Manhattan apartment to sleepy Harmony Grove, Pennsylvania. She plans on running the bed-and-breakfast she had bought as an investment in Lancaster Count

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Paperback, 368 pages

Published October 1st 2010 by Harvest House Publishers

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Sep 02, 2018 Dale Harcombe rated it really liked it

When Sienna Collins arrives back from a business trip to Boston, she learns she is being investigated by the federal government. She is at a loss to know why. Despite her claims of innocence, she is suspended from her high profile and high paying job at Buzz. Without the income from her job, she escapes to her investment, Harmony Grove Bed and Breakfast. When she arrives nothing is as she expects. She finds an ex-boyfriend dead and the manager of the b and b unconscious. That’s just for starters When Sienna Collins arrives back from a business trip to Boston, she learns she is being investigated by the federal government. She is at a loss to know why. Despite her claims of innocence, she is suspended from her high profile and high paying job at Buzz. Without the income from her job, she escapes to her investment, Harmony Grove Bed and Breakfast. When she arrives nothing is as she expects. She finds an ex-boyfriend dead and the manager of the b and b unconscious. That’s just for starters. The more she learns about what has been going on in Harmony Grove the less Sienna feels she can trust anyone. What had always seemed a peaceful place with many Amish residents, some of them cousins and other family, has become a hot bed of trouble and intrigue. Sienna is not even sure is she can trust the police officer Mike who shows interest in her. And what will her boyfriend Heath think when he finds out all that has been going on? With her faith in human nature shaken by all she has learned, Sienna has no idea who to trust.
Sienna is an interesting character. Though many of her ancestors are Amish, her grandfather left the Amish faith and married a Jewish woman. Her father is a pastor of a church and Sienna is, at times, not sure what she believes or how much impact it has on her life. The mystery that surrounds the Bed and Breakfast and what has been going on in Sienna’s absence is well handled. I liked the ways she had to work through the various differences about belief and attitudes, especially when it came to bearing arms and those she is close to.
This was my first book by this author and it held my interest throughout. I liked the way more and more s secrets are gradually revealed and the varying beliefs and attitude of family which play a big part in the story. I liked the interaction between the main characters and some of the secondary characters as well. The plot kept me guessing at times. A really entertaining read with mystery, secrets, treasure, romance and a few things to think about.
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Aug 04, 2012 CarolynB rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2015

This was a very intense book. I loved it. I loved the characters as well as the plot. I was unable to figure out the mystery until the very end, which made it a very compelling read. 5 stars! Mindy Starns Clark is a very talented writer--one of my top ten favorites.

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Jan 27, 2020 Kate rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I love the kind of novels that pull you in and don't really let go until you've finished the last page. This was one such novel for me. I was intrigued by the opening scene, where Sienna expects to find her bosses celebrating her and her work success, only to find herself suspended without pay for being under investigation by the United States government.
From there, the twists and turns just keep coming and coming, and though I suspected what *kind* of trouble Sienna might be in, the actual spec ...more

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Dec 04, 2010 Diane U rated it really liked it

When Philadelphia marketing executive Sienna Collins finds herself unemployed, she moves out of her pricey Philadelphia condominium to sleepy Harmony Grove, Pennsylvania. She plans on running the bed-and-breakfast she had bought as an investment in Lancaster County. However, when the manager she lets go is later found murdered on the property, Sienna’s troubles take a serious turn.

A handsome local wishes to befriend her, but can she trust him? And when her ex-boyfriend shows up, wanting to recon When Philadelphia marketing executive Sienna Collins finds herself unemployed, she moves out of her pricey Philadelphia condominium to sleepy Harmony Grove, Pennsylvania. She plans on running the bed-and-breakfast she had bought as an investment in Lancaster County. However, when the manager she lets go is later found murdered on the property, Sienna’s troubles take a serious turn.

A handsome local wishes to befriend her, but can she trust him? And when her ex-boyfriend shows up, wanting to reconcile, can she cope with him in the middle of this crisis? Sienna must learn to depend on the Savior she has recently taken into her heart. And she’ll need all the help she can get, because the secrets she uncovers in Harmony Grove threaten her livelihood, her safety, and ultimately her life.

Sienna heads back to Philadelphia from business trip in Boston to discover that she had lost her job and after some soul searching, she headed out to Lancaster, PA to the Bed & Breakfast that she owns. When she gets there, someone is dead and two others are not responding. Things are certainly different here. Her ex-boyfriend, Troy, is dead and left plenty of secrets and lies behind that needed to be sorted through. With the help of her Amish relatives who lived close by, they all worked with the police to figure things out.

Sienna is a very strong and independant woman who has learned to take care of herself. She may not have made the most wise financial decisions but she went back to the B & B that was in her family that she has owned for a couple of years to get away and try to figure things out. Along the way she learns of many family secrets and some that are still unsolved. Her boyfriend Heath travels down to be with her through all of this. She realizes her love for him and for God need to be worked on so she may move on in live.

I enjoyed this book. It is the first one that I have read from Mindy Starns Clark. I love her style of writing. It made me feel like I was in Sienna's head all the time. She developed strong characters and the description of the area was outstanding. I am looking forward to reading more from her soon. ...more

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Dec 05, 2010 Lyn rated it really liked it

Secrets of Harmony Grove was the third book of Mindy Starns Clark I've read. I've enjoyed each one and have come to anticipate her signature "a mystery within a mystery." Clark always tells a parallel story where the past and present intersect. Clark sets up shop in Amish Pennsylvania and does so well. I enjoyed her setting, her characters and the unfolding mystery AND romance. If you want a good mystery to cozy up to the fire with, Secrets of Harmony Grove will not leave you cold!

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Jan 12, 2011 Cheryl-Lynn rated it liked it

I enjoyed this book. It's a good, clean mystery. The only reason its not getting a higher rating from me is at times it just moved slow. It's the same problem I've had with one or two other of Clark's stand alone books. If you like knowing what the main character is thinking and seeing a story slowly play out- then it won't bug you. I'm more an action and less thought type. However for good, clean mysteries I can always recommend this author. Her Million Dollar Mysteries are my favorite!!

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Feb 18, 2011 Carol rated it really liked it

This is a stand alone novel set in Lancaster, Pennsylvania - Amish country. Though the story is not totally about the Amish theirs views and philosphy shapes the story. This is a Christian author and I enjoyed this story of intrigue and secrets and the awful effects of war on people.

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Dec 29, 2018 Jenny Glazebrook rated it really liked it

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The plot was quite complex but well written enough to follow. The suspense wasn't over the top but still kept me wanting to turn the page. A book with poetry, history, character study and interesting facts about animals and plants. I learned more about the Amish and their values, too. So much in one book. As an Aussie, I enjoyed the inclusion of Australian birds in the story. I found the start less gripping than I might have liked but am glad I kept reading. I wi ...more

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Aug 11, 2017 Jana Miller rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christian, thought-provoking, suspense-action-mystery, favorites

I loved everything about this book. Riveting mystery, complex and layered storyline. Fascinating backstories that added texture to the whole thing. I thought the pacing was spot on, and the Christian element was great--not preachy, but introspective. The large cast of characters wasn't distracting or confusing, but each added something different to the story. It was full and fleshed out and I couldn't put it down.

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Feb 19, 2020 C Davis rated it liked it

Shelves: christian-mystery

I am a person who gets bogged down in the details and too much explanation...this made this a hard read for me. I commit to a book and like to see it through until the end, but I had to skim certain parts of the book. Overall, the story was good and even interesting, which is why I gave the book 3 stars. The overall story line was creative and I had not read anything like it before, definitely new concepts which was nice to see, and kept me going.

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Jul 15, 2020 CindyHunt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The mystery of Harmony Grove reaches out...

And grabs you and doesn't let go!
I didn't want to stop reading as the past tragedies of Abe and Daphne's lives was intertwined with the evil that was happening at Harmony Grove. So much history was revealed that brought not only the horror of Buchenwold but the story of the missing diamonds into the present. From the greed and the hidden rooms you felt like you were right there...

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Jun 10, 2020 Margaret Nelson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book sucked me right in and the twists and turns kept me reading. I didn't do much but read until I finished it! The characters were believable, the suspense done just right, and convoluted plot was amazing.

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May 08, 2017 Linda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: amish

A quick read

A good story. I enjoyed it. Curl up with a cup of tea. Not really an Amish story but set in Amish country with
Amish flavor.

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May 23, 2017 Cindy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Harmony Grove

Really enjoyed this book so different then most books , could not wait to see what happened and see which man she picked . Liked book very much.

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May 07, 2018 Suzanne Page rated it it was amazing

Great book! Wish I had 5 more stars I could give it. I hated to have to put it down for any reason. I highly recommend it!

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Sep 25, 2018 Marilyn rated it liked it

Book club selection. Unyeh, not very well written. The books premise was interesting but a lot of time spent getting to the point. Some mystery solved in somewhat unbelievable way.

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Dec 30, 2018 Ev rated it did not like it

Cannot stand the main character! Abort....

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Mar 19, 2019 Stephanie Lawton rated it liked it

Book club selection. Identical formula of her other books. Really not my thing, but the historical insight is interesting.

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Jul 10, 2019 Linda rated it liked it

Just okay.

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May 12, 2020 Jodi marked it as unable-to-read

God is good, turn over to god, etc etc. Way too much. It might have been a good book without that unnecessary nonsense.

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May 25, 2020 Lora Dietrich rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Mystery Diamonds

I really liked this book and couldn't put it down, it kept me intrigued from the beginning to the end.

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May 25, 2020 STEPHEN S MAPES rated it really liked it

Good read

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Jul 01, 2020 Kristin Leppen rated it it was amazing

Didn’t end like I thought it would! Real page turner! I couldn’t put it down!! Would recommend her to anyone who loves a good mystery or suspense novel!

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Feb 04, 2011 Camille rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery, amish-fiction, 5-stars, kindle, lendable, books-i-own, christian-fiction, dark, group-reads

Secrets of Harmony Grove by Mindy Starns Clark

Secrets of Harmony Grove by Mindy Starns Clark was the March group read for the Fans of Amish Fiction group on GoodReads. (A group which excitingly now has over 100 members!!)

I finished it in the first couple days of the month, but I held off posting my review so that I wouldn't ruin anything about the book for our other group members who hadn't gotten through it yet.

Let me start off by saying I *REALLY* liked Secrets of Harmony Grove.

Secrets of Harm ...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Rachel Brand rated it really liked it

Shelves: amish, christian, 2011, mystery-thriller

I can't believe I've not written a review of this book yet, especially as I read it well over a week ago! I was working on two essay deadlines at the time so this review will be more concise than usual as the book isn't so fresh in my mind.

Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery set in an Amish settlement in PA. I've never read anything from Mindy Starns Clark before but I have enjoyed some Amish romantic suspense from Marta Perry. I'd have to say that I probably prefer Marta as her style is a bi I can't believe I've not written a review of this book yet, especially as I read it well over a week ago! I was working on two essay deadlines at the time so this review will be more concise than usual as the book isn't so fresh in my mind.

Overall, I really enjoyed this mystery set in an Amish settlement in PA. I've never read anything from Mindy Starns Clark before but I have enjoyed some Amish romantic suspense from Marta Perry. I'd have to say that I probably prefer Marta as her style is a bit lighter. But Mindy's mystery was incredibly complex. I could not guess who was behind everything, which is unusual for someone who devoured Nancy Drew and Famous Five mysteries as a child! For me, a good mystery is always one that I can't solve before the characters.

But this book was more than just your standard mystery novel. Sienna, the heroine, was trying to simultaneously figure out who had murdered her ex-boyfriend and where her grandfather's diamonds were buried. This brought an entirely different aspect into the story, where Sienna uncovered her family secrets and learned the truth about her grandfather and his first wife. These secrets laid roots in the concentration camps of Nazi Germany and Mindy very delicately revealed some of the horrors of the Holocaust and how these had touched on Sienna's grandfather (an Amish man turned soldier) and his first wife (a German Jew). Sienna's grandfather planted a grove in memory of his deceased wife and it was fascinating to read about the history of it. This aspect of the story was woven through it very well and didn't overshadow the rest of it. Even for someone who is very well educated on the history of the Holocaust, I still felt that Mindy dealt with it in an incredibly touching and enlightening manner.

While I did enjoy the complexity of the mystery, it did seem a bit far-fetched in places. Yes, it was exciting and made me keep turning the pages, but on a couple of occasions I did wonder about how plausible situations were. I know I don't always look to fiction for realism but so many other aspects of the novel were believable that they made others feel a bit out of place. My only other complaint would have to be that while I found Sienna to be an interesting character, I never really connected with her. I could sympathise in places, but the way that a grown woman dealt with relationships kind of baffled me! However, I did enjoy the outcome of her romantic sub-plot; it wasn't predictable in the slightest.

All in all, I did enjoy my first Amish romantic suspense from this author. It was a refreshing departure from my usual romances and historical novels, and definitely a compelling read. While I didn't completely connect with the characters and found the plot unrealistic in places, I wouldn't hold that against this book and would probably read more from this author in the future. 8/10 ...more

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Feb 26, 2011 Laura rated it it was amazing

Title: SECRETS OF HARMONY GROVE
Author: Mindy Starns Clark
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
October 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7369-2625-6
Genre: Inspirational/Amish/suspense

Sienna Collins’ life was falling down around her ears. She had just landed a huge deal with a firm in Boston, but she reports back to her job to find herself suspended without pay because she is under investigation by the government for crimes she knows nothing about.

When Sienna’s ex-boyfriend calls from Pennsylvania, sounding confused ...more

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Apr 10, 2011 Christy rated it liked it

Readers familiar with Mindy Starns Clark know that she is an incredible writer that can weave an intricate story together in a phenomenal way. Her plots are always complex and her characters believable. It is also very difficult to put down one of her novels because the action is always non-stop.

That said, Secrets of Harmony Grove was a rather complicated story. The plot, while interesting from the word "go," had way too many twists and turns. It was a mystery within a mystery, with a few other ...more

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Apr 03, 2011 Maureen Timerman rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011-read

Synopsis: Sienna Collins, owner of the Harmony Grove Bed & Breakfast in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, learns that she is under investigation by the federal government for crimes she knows nothing about. A few hours later she finds her ex-boyfriend, Troy, dead, and her life and livelihood begin to spin wildly out of control. She begins to doubt everyone around her, even the handsome detective assigned to the case.

As Sienna tries to clear her name, she is forced to depend on her faith, the wisdo ...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Darla rated it liked it

(Genre:Fiction/mystery/Christian) Sienna owns a bed and breakfast in Amish country in Pennsylvania, but has very little to do with it's daily operations, as she has hired that out to a manager. She works in the advertising business and spends most of her time and efforts on climbing her career ladder. She has recently started a new job with better pay and more exciting opportunities when she is suddenly laid off by her new employers as they discover that Sienna is being investigated by the attor ...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Cindy rated it liked it

I was delighted to find this book at the library, since I've loved other books by Mindy Starns Clark--particularly her Million Dollar Mysteries, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

This is essentially a good book, but I have to say I struggled with it a bit--thus only giving it three stars.

This is one of those cases where I have to give part of the blame to my frame of mind, distractions, etc. The book is well-written and has an intriguing plot.

Still, I found it almost confusing at times...there was SO m ...more

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About Mindy Starns Clark

Mindy Starns Clark

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Mindy Starns Clark is the bestselling author of more than 30 books, both fiction and nonfiction, and has received numerous literary honors, including two Christy Awards and RT Book Review Magazine’s 2012 Career Achievement Award. Mindy and her husband, John, have two adult children and live near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.