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dontmissythesereads's review against another edition
4.0
Book #76 read in 2015
I really enjoyed the characters in this novel. Fun read!
I really enjoyed the characters in this novel. Fun read!
flingogal's review against another edition
1.0
I've never had that feeling where I've felt so brain dead after a book, but this one was really not for me.
I thought I'd try out the Amish fiction genre - and either it's not for me, or this was a really bad choice.
The storyline was too plain, and for characters to go from non-speaking next door neighbours to inlove and engaged within two weeks.... it was too much!!
I thought I'd try out the Amish fiction genre - and either it's not for me, or this was a really bad choice.
The storyline was too plain, and for characters to go from non-speaking next door neighbours to inlove and engaged within two weeks.... it was too much!!
booksforchristiangirls's review against another edition
3.0
About this book:
“Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright can see profits in sight for her collection of Amish artisan shops—until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a single hole in the front window and Mr. Gray dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register. Hannah Troyer takes over the shop’s duties, and she and Amber become fast friends as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray’s death to be a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren’t so easily convinced.
Old Testament clues that don’t add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and blossoming romance—all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to solve a mystery and bring peace to the Amish community.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Amish Village Mystery” series.
Spiritual Content- 2 Samuel 22:4 & Daniel 5:25-26 at the beginning; Prayers; A few Scriptures are quoted or mentioned; Talks about God, His will, trusting Him & peace; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of those in the Bible; Tate tries to read the Bible; Church going; Ephesians 5:20 at the Acknowledgments.
*Note: a “as if the demons of hell were chasing me.”.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’, two ‘stupid’s; A man dies (Murder or foul play? Discussions of it.); Blood, dead animals, & warning notes (barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed); Many mentions of poison; Mention of drugs and overdosing; a couple mentions of drunks and drinking; Mentions of gambling.
Sexual Content- two not-detailed kisses, seven border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Noticing; Touches (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of crushes, flutters & dating; Love, falling in love & the emotions.
-Amber Wright, age 45
-Hannah Troyer, age 22
-Tate Bowman, age 52
P.O.V. switches between them
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
While I really appreciate that the murder & warning notes weren’t detailed, it was a bit kissy—which affects the overall ratings…had there been less kisses this book would have gotten a higher rating. It’s a good mystery, though, one where you can follow along and try to figure it out. :)
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2015/06/murder-simply-brewed-by-vanetta-chapman.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright can see profits in sight for her collection of Amish artisan shops—until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a single hole in the front window and Mr. Gray dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register. Hannah Troyer takes over the shop’s duties, and she and Amber become fast friends as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray’s death to be a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren’t so easily convinced.
Old Testament clues that don’t add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and blossoming romance—all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to solve a mystery and bring peace to the Amish community.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Amish Village Mystery” series.
Spiritual Content- 2 Samuel 22:4 & Daniel 5:25-26 at the beginning; Prayers; A few Scriptures are quoted or mentioned; Talks about God, His will, trusting Him & peace; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of those in the Bible; Tate tries to read the Bible; Church going; Ephesians 5:20 at the Acknowledgments.
*Note: a “as if the demons of hell were chasing me.”.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’, two ‘stupid’s; A man dies (Murder or foul play? Discussions of it.); Blood, dead animals, & warning notes (barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed); Many mentions of poison; Mention of drugs and overdosing; a couple mentions of drunks and drinking; Mentions of gambling.
Sexual Content- two not-detailed kisses, seven border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Noticing; Touches (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of crushes, flutters & dating; Love, falling in love & the emotions.
-Amber Wright, age 45
-Hannah Troyer, age 22
-Tate Bowman, age 52
P.O.V. switches between them
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
While I really appreciate that the murder & warning notes weren’t detailed, it was a bit kissy—which affects the overall ratings…had there been less kisses this book would have gotten a higher rating. It’s a good mystery, though, one where you can follow along and try to figure it out. :)
Link to review:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspot.com/2015/06/murder-simply-brewed-by-vanetta-chapman.html
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
stephanie121087's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chynna's review against another edition
3.0
Following the heart attack of coffee shop owner, Ethan Gray, everything seems to be going back to normal until a series of events take place that puts everyone on edge. Murder Simply Brewed is a book not just about Amish life and it’s in and outs – but the potential murder that is on the cards. When a young Amish girl, Hannah Troyer, and her non-Amish employer, Amber Wright, are thrown together because of it, what unfolds is an unlikely friendship with many twists and turns along the way.
I’ve never read any Amish fiction, but the premise of this book seemed too good to pass up. Knowing nothing about Amish life, it was interesting to see how Chapman describe their ways and their culture, and it intrigued me. It must be nice to have a simple life and although I know it isn’t the life for me, it certainly would be a nice break from city life.
The heroine of the story, Amber Wright, was someone I didn’t expect to connect with. This is possibly because I am 21 years old, and in the book she is a middle aged woman. What could we possibly have in common? Apparently, quite a bit. I connected with her on a certain level, though, especially about her questions on love and trying to find it. Hannah Troyer was someone I definitely expected to connect with because we are roughly the same age, and she asks all the same questions I’ve been asking about God.
As a person who is still questioning religion this book opened my eyes. Even if you do believe in God, you can still question His intent and never waver in your faith. It was a refreshing look on things, but for myself I’m still searching.
I also like the added romance element because it wasn’t too in your face, which is something I despise. There were a few parts where my heart swelled with joy, but that could just be the hopeless romantic inside of me. I figured out about halfway through where the story was going to take me, but I was still pleasantly surprised at how it turned out. I love when that happens; even if you figure it out, you still feel a little shock as to what happens.
Still, it was a pleasant book to read. I spent many a bus journey to work pouring over it on my eReader, and it definitely made my journeys better. I’d recommend you read this if you’ve never read Amish fiction, and want to know what’s it like. The book gives you a simplistic view of Amish life, and also entertains you along the way.
I got this book complimentary in exchange for my honest review. No money was handed over.
I’ve never read any Amish fiction, but the premise of this book seemed too good to pass up. Knowing nothing about Amish life, it was interesting to see how Chapman describe their ways and their culture, and it intrigued me. It must be nice to have a simple life and although I know it isn’t the life for me, it certainly would be a nice break from city life.
The heroine of the story, Amber Wright, was someone I didn’t expect to connect with. This is possibly because I am 21 years old, and in the book she is a middle aged woman. What could we possibly have in common? Apparently, quite a bit. I connected with her on a certain level, though, especially about her questions on love and trying to find it. Hannah Troyer was someone I definitely expected to connect with because we are roughly the same age, and she asks all the same questions I’ve been asking about God.
As a person who is still questioning religion this book opened my eyes. Even if you do believe in God, you can still question His intent and never waver in your faith. It was a refreshing look on things, but for myself I’m still searching.
I also like the added romance element because it wasn’t too in your face, which is something I despise. There were a few parts where my heart swelled with joy, but that could just be the hopeless romantic inside of me. I figured out about halfway through where the story was going to take me, but I was still pleasantly surprised at how it turned out. I love when that happens; even if you figure it out, you still feel a little shock as to what happens.
Still, it was a pleasant book to read. I spent many a bus journey to work pouring over it on my eReader, and it definitely made my journeys better. I’d recommend you read this if you’ve never read Amish fiction, and want to know what’s it like. The book gives you a simplistic view of Amish life, and also entertains you along the way.
I got this book complimentary in exchange for my honest review. No money was handed over.
vanessaw's review against another edition
3.0
It was fine. A quick read. I wanted to know who did it and why. Was a bit predictable with some odd things thrown in, for what I felt, was just because, or to make the book longer.
rachelm31f6b's review
4.0
I enjoyed this more than most of my book club. I think the thing I enjoyed was it wasn't your typical amish romance. It was definitely ridiculous because of the romance, too fast slightly unreal (for Amber and Tate anyway). MAny of the characters were too over the top (which is sometimes fun, especially for book club discussions).
If you pick up this book just be aware it is ridiculous and fun. The mystery pieces are well done.
I had an inkling of half the criminal group and knew from one of the first interactions.
Quotes:
"Birthdays always confused her. Was she ending a year or beginning one?"(p. 7).
"People die in all manner of ways and all sorts of places. It doesn't scar a place. It marks a place with special memories because it's where a soul left this world and entered the next"(p. 52).
"She'd had a way of convincing him to do things--not whining but thanking him for is before he'd even begun"(p. 57).
"Selfish? Perhaps, but she was learning that God cared about her dreams. All she had known of romantic love was how it disappointed, how it could hurt, leave you bereft, and how difficult it was to overcome all those feelings. She barely recognized the glimmer of hope now pumping through her veins"(p. 343).
"And all of it might not have happened if it hadn't been for......God had turned that destruction into a blessing. Which seemed to her the biggest miracle of all"(p. 348).
If you pick up this book just be aware it is ridiculous and fun. The mystery pieces are well done.
I had an inkling of half the criminal group and knew from one of the first interactions.
Quotes:
"Birthdays always confused her. Was she ending a year or beginning one?"(p. 7).
"People die in all manner of ways and all sorts of places. It doesn't scar a place. It marks a place with special memories because it's where a soul left this world and entered the next"(p. 52).
"She'd had a way of convincing him to do things--not whining but thanking him for is before he'd even begun"(p. 57).
"Selfish? Perhaps, but she was learning that God cared about her dreams. All she had known of romantic love was how it disappointed, how it could hurt, leave you bereft, and how difficult it was to overcome all those feelings. She barely recognized the glimmer of hope now pumping through her veins"(p. 343).
"And all of it might not have happened if it hadn't been for......God had turned that destruction into a blessing. Which seemed to her the biggest miracle of all"(p. 348).
squidbag's review
3.0
So - Amish fiction.
It's only kind of Amish fiction, inasmuch as a minority of the main characters are Amish. This was more like slick Christian fiction with some Amish people in it, and is apparently, also my first cozy mystery to boot. I expected to be bored, I expected not to like this. I was wrong. While not exactly my cup of tea (and featuring more praying than I'm used to either in life or novels) this was well-written while not being any kind of challenge.
The romance was a little predictable and sappy, and the villain cartoonish, but the overall plain and simple nature of the plot and underlying complications were done well enough to keep this from tipping into mediocrity. Liked it okay - might read the others sometime. I read this more or less to research my readers from the Bookmobile, so mission accomplished.
It's only kind of Amish fiction, inasmuch as a minority of the main characters are Amish. This was more like slick Christian fiction with some Amish people in it, and is apparently, also my first cozy mystery to boot. I expected to be bored, I expected not to like this. I was wrong. While not exactly my cup of tea (and featuring more praying than I'm used to either in life or novels) this was well-written while not being any kind of challenge.
The romance was a little predictable and sappy, and the villain cartoonish, but the overall plain and simple nature of the plot and underlying complications were done well enough to keep this from tipping into mediocrity. Liked it okay - might read the others sometime. I read this more or less to research my readers from the Bookmobile, so mission accomplished.