Simple Secrets: Can Love Overcome Evil in the Mennonite Town of Harmony, Kansas? (The Harmony Series, Book 1) [Paperback]

Nancy Mehl (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2010

Gracie Temple's uncle left her a house in a rural Mennonite community. Gracie soon learns he secluded himself for years to protect a secret about her own father. Now it's up to Gracie to decide if she'll keep the secret or if she can afford to expose it. Sam Goodrich loves his fruit farm in Harmony, Kansas. But when he meets city-girl Gracie, he begins to wonder if he could leave it behind for a woman who makes him feel things he's never felt before. When someone tries to keep Gracie from discovering the truth behind the secrets, both must decide what's important in life--before it's too late.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cozy mystery author Mehl (In the Dead of Winter) offers fans a new tale turning on the age-old collision of ultraconservative religion and contemporary grace-driven faith. Gracie Temple (city girl) and Sam Goodrich (smalltown fruit farmer) find themselves thrown together after Gracie inherits her deceased uncle's home in a Mennonite community. From the get-go, Gracie has some negative vibes about the whole situation since her uncle shunned her parents years earlier, when they left the community. Still, Gracie travels to her inheritance and soon discovers a cryptic letter from her uncle making a claim that leaves Gracie's mind and heart spinning. In the days that follow, Gracie and Sam become close allies in the search for truth, and this alliance comes with no little cost. As Gracie notes, all around are friendly, nice people—one of whom is a killer. Mehl's dialogue reads smoothly enough throughout, but even this vital narrative element isn't enough to overcome the all-too-predictable story line. (June)
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Review

Nancy Mehl pieces together an unpretentious mystery. This is a pleasant story where the setting almost becomes a main character. Her descriptions bring the small town to life, and I found myself wanting to visit and get a taste of the simple life. Sam is a strong, very likable hero, whom you cannot help but be a little sweet on. Watching Gracie fall for the town and its people, especially her next door neighbor, is so realistic it is like witnessing your friend falling in love. The mystery had balance of tension and levity without being too easy or hard to solve. Overall, I found this to be a delightful suspense story with just the right amount of romance.

(Venus Cahill Coffee Time Romance )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602605122
• ISBN-13: 978-1602605121
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #288,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband Norman and her son, Danny. She's authored nine books and is currently at work on two new series for Barbour Publishing.

All of Nancy's novels have an added touch - something for your spirit as well as your soul. "I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing," Nancy says. "It's a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn't be writing at all if I didn't believe that this is what He's called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can't overcome with His help." She and her husband attend Believer's Tabernacle in Wichita.

You can find out more about Nancy by visiting her Web site at: www.nancymehl.com or her blog at: www.nancymehl.blogspot.com. You can also find her on FaceBook!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christian mystery-romance at its best....., June 15, 2010

By 

Laurel Johnson (Kansas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simple Secrets: Can Love Overcome Evil in the Mennonite Town of Harmony, Kansas? (The Harmony Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

This first book in Nancy Mehl's latest Christian mystery series is a charmer. Somehow, she manages to pair the perfect characters with the ideal location, then bring them all to life with delightful results. Harmony, Kansas is as much a key character here as Gracie Temple, Mehl's latest series heroine.

Gracie Temple is a graphic designer at a mid-level advertising firm in Wichita, Kansas. She dreams of setting the design world on fire with her creations, but so far that has not happened. Still, Gracie loves her work, loves living in Wichita with all its noise and urban sprawl. When an uncle she never met dies and leaves his property to Gracie, a trip to the boonies is the last thing on her to-do list but she decides to visit Harmony out of curiosity. Her Uncle Benjamin had shunned his relatives since before Gracie's birth. Why? And why leave his property to a niece he'd never met?

Harmony turns out to be a picture perfect little Mennonite village full of happy, quirky people. Some live and dress plain in the Old Order Mennonite way. Others have assimilated modern amenities like TV, phones, and electricity into their lifestyle. The beauty of Benjamin's home and furnishings come as a pleasant surprise. The town folk are friendly and welcoming. On the surface, Harmony seems peaceful and idyllic, but under that perfect surface Gracie senses turmoil. Dark secrets, long hidden, come to light when Gracie finds a letter addressed to her from Uncle Benjamin. An evil man was murdered and buried on Benjamin's property decades ago, and he believed Gracie's father was the killer. She refuses to accept that supposition as fact and begins her own investigation into the past.

Who killed Jacob Glick, and why? Could it have been Sweetie Goodrich, Benjamin's hard faced, soft hearted neighbor? Why does Pastor Abel Mueller's wife go pale each time Jacob Glick's name is mentioned? And can Gracie trust Sweetie's nephew, Sam Goodrich, the roughly handsome fruit farmer? I followed all the hints and red herrings to the wrong conclusions and never did figure out the mystery until Ms. Mehl solved it for me.

Nancy Mehl is my favorite Christian mystery writer for valid reasons. Characters are interesting and complex. The location is intriguing and integral to the storyline. Dialog is realistic, narrative well-written and fast-paced. I eagerly anticipate Book Two of this series, Simple Deceit. Highly recommended to lovers of Christian mysteries or good story telling.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, Inspirational mystery/romance! Simple Secrets by Nancy Mehl, June 7, 2010

By 

April A. Renn "aarenn(AprilR)" (Henderson, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Simple Secrets: Can Love Overcome Evil in the Mennonite Town of Harmony, Kansas? (The Harmony Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

SIMPLE SECRETS by Nancy Mehl is a Inspirational romance/mystery set in modern day Harmony, Kansas. It is the first in The Harmony Series which is fictional town in Kansas, it is about the secrets of this small Mennonite town. It has mystery, romance, secrets, forgiveness, family and the old quote "the truth will set you free". It is well written with depth and detail,fast paced and a page turner. This small Mennonite town is warm, caring, has a truckload of secrets, but this would be a wonderful town to live in, grow up in and raise a family. The characters are also warm, caring and will pull you into the story and feel their heartbreak, their joys, their triumphs and hurt. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy Mennonite stories, which is simpler to the Amish ways but not as strict. This book was received for review and details can be found at My Book Addiction and More and Barbour Publishing.

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't keep this book a Secret!, September 2, 2011

By 

Larry W. Timm - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simple Secrets: Can Love Overcome Evil in the Mennonite Town of Harmony, Kansas? (The Harmony Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

If you're looking for a good mystery to sink your teeth into, then don't pass up this book. Nancy Mehl has prepared a wonderful meal, but be warned: like any enjoyable meal, "Simple Secrets" is the first course in this series from Harmony, Kansas but stay seated at the table because "Simple Deceit" is the next course (and one that I can't wait to enjoy). And Nancy...my compliments to the chef!