Simple Secrets

MEHL, NANCY

SIMPLE SECRETS

Graphic designer Gracie Temple wants it all: the big city lifestyle and a successful job in advertising. And it looks like her life is on the right track when she takes a job at a struggling midszie firm in Witchita.

But when Gracie inherits a house from her unknown uncle in the mostly Mennonite town of Harmony, Kansas, she's not sure what God is trying to tell her. Especially oncer she discovers the hosue comes with a dark legacy and a cast of eccentric neighbours. Will Gracie shake off the dust of this town, or will its secret charms pull her in to stay?

All Sam Goodrich wants is to get married and start a family...and he thought he'd do it with his fiancee. But he can't bring himself to agree to a wedding date. When he meets Gracie Temple, Sam discovers she's everything he doesn't want. He loves his fruit farm, and he loves Harmony. So why does he feel so drawn to an outsider?

When something tries to keep Gracie from discovering the truth behind the town's collection of secrets, will Sam and Gracie cling to their faith to help them decide what's most important -- before it's too late?

WOW...SIMPLE SECRETS IS SIMPLY AMAZING!!!! I PRETTY MUCH READ IT IN ONE SITTING, COMPELTEY DISREGARDING ALL THE CHORES I HAD PLANNED TO GET DONE TODAY BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE. I KEPT TELLING MYSELF 'JUST ONE MORE CHAPTER...I'LL READ TO THE END OF THIS SCENE...OKAY...REALLY, JUST ONE MORE PAGE AND I'LL PUT THIS BOOK DOWN...' BUT I JUST COULDN'T LET IT GO.

MEHL HAS CREATED A MASTERFUL MYSTERY/SUSPENSE. THE CLUES ARE EXPERTLY PLANTED DEEP WITHIN THE LAYERS OF PLOT AND ROMANCE. AS YOU'RE READING, YOU KNOW YOU'VE JUST BEEN GIVEN A CLUE BUT YOU CAN'T QUITE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT YET. I'M USUALLY REALLY GOOD AT FIGURING OUT MYSTERIES BUT MEHL MANAGED TO DISTRACT ME WITH ENOUGH RED HERRINGS TO MAKE MY HEAD SPIN. I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!

THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MENNONITE FAITH AND CUSTOMS WERE FASCINATING AND THIS BOOK IS UNIQUE IN THAT NEITHER THE HERO OR HEROINE ARE OF THE MENNONITE FAITH. THE TOWN OF HARMONY IS AN INSPIRING BLEND OF FAITHS AND BELIEFS WHERE NEIGHBOURS MEET EACH OTHER ON THE COMMON GROUND OF LIVING THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT -- 'LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR'. THEY STRIVE, BUT AS THE STORY PROGRESSES YOU DISCOVER THAT NOT ALL SUCCEED.

THERE ARE WONDERFUL FAITH PROMOTING CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN CHARACTERS WHICH FLOW NATURALLY INTO THE PLOT MAKING THIS AN UPLIFTING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING READ.

MEHL'S CAST OF CHARACTERS ARE SO DIVERSE AND CLEVERLY CRAFTED THAT THEY CAME TO LIFE FOR ME, AS DID THE FICTIONAL TOWN. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO DISCOVER THAT IT DIDN'T EXIST EXCEPT IN THE AUTHOR'S IMAGINATION...AND NOW MINE. I AM ACTUALLY FEELING BEREFT NOW THAT I AM FORCED TO TAKE MY DEPARTURE FROM A TOWN AND PEOPLE I'VE GROWN TO LOVE. I FEEL AS MELANCHOLY AS IF I'M LEAVING A FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT. EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I'LL GET TO GO BACK SOMEDAY, IT CAN'T BE SOON ENOUGH FOR ME! ALAS, THAT WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL DECEMBER 2010 WHEN THE SEQUEL, SIMPLE DECEIT COMES OUT. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!