Clip-clop, clip-clop, rattle was the sounds that came through Running Stitch’s, my Amish quilt shop’s, open front door. I recognized it immediately. An Amish buggy. Without looking up from the cutting table where I was cutting surplus fabric in fat quarters, I knew it was a market buggy drawn by two horses with a heavy load in the back. Perhaps the buggy was making its way to the Amish auction that would be later in the day.
Oliver, my French bulldog, watched the buggy roll by at the front door but didn’t venture out. There were birds out they, and Oliver feared birds.
I chuckled to myself that I knew the type of buggy so quickly. I had only been in Amish country permanently for a few weeks, but it already felt like home, much more than my high rise, elegant, city life in Dallas ever had. Maybe I was a country girl at heart. That only made me laugh harder.
“Hmm,” a voice said. “You best not be laughing to yourself while you’re alone in the shop. You don’t know who might happen by and hear you. Folks are already suspicion of your fancy boots.” Anna Graber, an Amish woman who had been my Amish Aunt Eleanor’s best friend, eyed my prized cowboy boots, the one thing from my old life in Dallas that I held onto with a tight grip.
I grinned. “I like to give folks something to talk about.”
Anna snorted as she settled into the rocking chair by the front window. “You are good at too. Did you hear the latest that is making both Amish and Englischers tongues wag?”
“No. And I’m afraid to ask.”
She removed the bar quilt she was piecing from her quilting basket and said nothing more.
“Well! What is it?” I wanted to know.
She threaded her needle. “You said that you were afraid to ask.”
“That’s just an expression. It doesn’t mean that I didn’t want to know.”
Anna pulled a stitch through the fabric. “You Englischers and your expressions. Why don’t you mean what you say? You’d have a much easier time.”
I sighed. “Anna, what’s the rumor? I would like to know, please.”
She smiled. “That the sheriff is sweet on you.”
I put my scissors down, feeling a knot in my stomach take shape. “I take it back. I don’t want to know.”
“Too late,” she said with a little too much pleasure if you asked me. “You will have to deal with it now.”
“Not if I can help it,” I muttered. I clicked my tongue at Oliver. The little black and white Frenchie waddled over to me. “This is the only guy I need in my life.”
Anna made a disbelieving sound but thankfully dropped it… at least for the moment. I knew the rest of the Amish quilting circle would take my singleness up as their next project. I was doomed.
You can read more about Angie in MURDER, PLAIN and SIMPLE, the first book in the new “Amish Quilt” mystery series, published by Obsidian.
Thanks to Penguin, I have one (1) copy of “Murder, Plain and Simple” to give away. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Contest ends September 4; US entries only per publisher’s request.
It’s SUPER SEPTEMBER! Amanda Flower (also writing as Isabella Alan) has three novels releasing in September 2013. To celebrate, she is giving away an authentic Amish Quilt hand-stitched by Amish in Holmes County, Ohio.
Enter to Win an Authentic Amish Quilt from author Amanda Flower! Click HERE to Enter!
Meet the author
Amanda Flower is the author of mysteries for children and adults. She has three novels releasing in September 2013: A Plain Disappearance and Murder, Plain and Simple (Amish cozy mysteries), and Andi Unexpected, a mystery for children ages 8-12. Murder, Plain and Simple she wrote under the pen name Isabella Alan. Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland.
Follow Amanda on Social Media at: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest
Follow Amanda’s alter ego Isabella on Facebook
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
I can’t enter the contest 🙁 but I’m looking forward to reading “Murder, Plain and Simple”. I always enjoy Amanda’s books. Good luck to everybody who enters!
this sounds like an exciting series that i would enjoy!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
This book sounds awesome , would love to win it! Thanks for the chance
I’d definitely be signing up for the giveaway, except my Kindle pre-order of this book should be there when I turn it on this morning. I like this author’s other work, and I’m a sucker for books that feature dogs. So I’m really looking forward to this one.
It’s so much fun reading books about places close to where I live and by local authors too. Looking forward to reading these.
I would love to be entered into this contest. I love Amish mysteries. Thank you
Sounds like another fun series. Count me in please. Dee
Great cover. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I love Amish fiction and I love cozy mysteries so who wouldn’t live an Amish cozy Mystery!! I kknow iI sure would!!!!
masoncml3 at Yahoo dot com
I do enjoy an Amish mystery! Thanks for the chance to win.
Growing up I vacationed in PA Dutch country almost every year. I love reading about the Amish weather non fiction or fiction, mystery is always a favorite. This book sounds great. I hope I’m lucky and win 🙂
I have always wanted to learn to be an expert quilter. This book sounds so interesting – the atmosphere the entire thing.
I would like to win.
Since I know so many people who do quilting (one of my reading groups) I’d love to win this book and maybe learn a bit more about how it’s done. I visited the Brooklyn Museum of Art this past weekend and they have a lovely exhibition of quilts going on right now.
Please enter me in the giveaway Dru.
NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com
Reading Amish mysteries are my favorite as I live near Lancaster, PA, an Amish area. Thanks for heads up on the new book.
I enjoy Amish books, this looks like an interesting story.
Please enter my name in the drawing, thank you!
Sounds like a great new series. I would love to win this book. Thanks!
I would really feel at home with this cozy, I live in the Dallas area and I just came back from a trip to the Amish Country in Indiana. And yes, I did feel at home there! Thank you for this giveaway.
I have a deep admiration for anyone who does quilting since I struggle with putting in a hem, it’s like a work of art. I’ve only read one series of books on Amish so far and loved it, I’ll be looking into this one now.
There are so many Amish based books out now—but I think the cozies are the most fun. Thanks for the good review.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I would love to win this book. Isabella Alan/Amanda Flowers live not too far from me and this new book was just reviewed in our local paper too. I love Holmes County, Ohio. It is a nice place to visit!
I’d love to read this! It sounds really good! Thanks for the giveaway!
Love keeping up with you’re reading and thanks for all the giveaways.
Sounds delightful
I’m from Toledo and I love quilts, although I’ve only made quillows. Looking forward to these releases. How authors manage a life and writing a book (or books) is amazing. Sign me up for the giveaway. Thanks. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
I really admire the beauty and hard work that go in the creation of these lovely pieces. Also, a huge fan of your series of books. Please add me to the giveaway
I love Learning more about the Amish.
I can’t wait to look into this new to me author! Thank you for the review & giveaway.
Looks great – love the French bulldog!
What a lovely cover. The Amish traditions are so interesting, and I’m glad there are books now that incorporate those people and that culture into the stories.
sounds like a great book
Book or quilt…either would be nice to win.
I’m also from Toledo (like Judy Dee). Sounds like a great book. Of course, I always enjoy mysteries that have a pet in them. I haven’t been to Amish areas of the state in years. Down in Mansfield and Ashland, Ohio, there’s an Amish community and you see their buggies. My great-aunt used to live in Ashland so we went there to visit her. I like quilts and own two, but I don’t think I’d ever be able to make one!
catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
I love cozies about Quilts! This one looks great!
Thanks for the chance to win. =)
Love reading all Amish books. Would love a chance to read this one. Thank you.
This would be such a great read, count me in!
Thanks Amanda for introducing us to Angie.
contest is closed.
Those interested in entering the contest for the quilt, you must click on the link
Congrats to Cyn!
Plain and Simple, that’s the way I like things, lol. Thank you for the chance to win this book.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com