Elizabeth Ludwig

The town of Sugarcreek is a wonderful place to escape into a mystery! This is second in the series, and Cheryl is settling into life in this small Amish town, where she has temporarily taken over management of her aunt's gift shop. An unlikely trio of detectives – Cheryl, her Amish friend Naomi Miller, and Naomi's handsome stepson Levi – sets out to solve the mystery of a missing twin! I enjoy a series that shows character growth, and this one delivers; life in Sugarcreek is soothing for show more Cheryl's own heartbreak, and her search for peace is an interesting element of the series. This second book in the series contained more heavily Christian/ content than book 1, which isn't surprising since each volume in this cozy series is written by a different writer. Even though I am a tree hugging goddess-loving pagan, the religious tones here did not bother me, maybe because I appreciated how the author explored the theme of forgiveness. I will continue the series for sure (audio available on hoopla). show less

So far this has been the best in the "Mysteries of Martha's Vineyard" for me. Here we have Priscilla Latham Grant back on the case as she finds out what is going on at a local sheep festival. A prize sheep has been sheered, painted blue, and a whole flock of sheep has been set loose. What next? All this is going on while Gerald contemplates life after retirement.

This book hit me in all the feels. I loved the whole thing from beginning to end. After a bummer of a book in the last installment, show more this one certainly upped the ante.

This is a highly recommended insert in the series. show less

Ana is the main character and she tells us the story of her mysterious past. We are led on an adventure of danger and secrets. Why is Ana troubled by horrible nightmares? Why is she using an alias? What horrible things has she lived through in the past that have left scars to her both physically and emotionally? Ana is led back to God and the church when a friend convinces her to volunteer there.

At the church she meets Eoghan who is searching for his sister. Eoghan finds his sister and falls show more in love with Ana. His faith in others is restored through the people he meets at the church. He is also hiding from his past. After he reveals Ana’s secret will he be able to save her?

I found that this was a quick read. I read it in two days. Yes it is a Christian fiction book, but it was not overly loaded with religious material. Occasionally I read Christian fiction and books about the Amish people, a little bit of religion in a book is okay with me. This book affected me more than I thought. I had a dream that someone from my past returned and they were holding a Bible. I’m not sure what all that means? Maybe it is all the herbals that I have started taking? Anyway, this was suspenseful and full of twists and turns and action. It keeps you reading. The chapters are fairly short. The Dark Road Home is actually the character’s journey back to God and their faith. The ending is a happy one, albeit not necessarily realistic. I give this 4 out of 5 stars. Would be a good clean book for a young teen reader. I enjoyed this book even though I am not actively religious. show less

A historical thriller inundated with drama and romance, No Safe Harbor is steeped in the late 1890's of New York City. Rooted within a Christian foundation it is painted with rich Irish culture.

Elizabeth Ludwig obviously possesses quite a bit of knowledge on Irish customs and, gratefully, a talent for coloring the story with the famous Irish humor. The latter is an enormous pleasure, as well as a window for envisioning what it must have been like for my own Irish family arriving to the US show more from their homeland.

In addition to this delicacy, the suspenseful events and unveiling of three-dimensional characters keep those pages turning like a propeller. Being a seasoned enthusiast of countless riveting tales, this one is in a superior class that has you guessing until the end: a trait many writers fail at satisfying their audiences with. Trust is the core ingredient to every mystery occurring in No Safe Harbor. With subtlety and grace, the author abandons the reader in the midst of an alarming cliffhanger upon its conclusion. However, this is not done in a disappointing manner. In fact, with an finale like that, you can bet I snatched up a copy of its sequel the very moment it was offered for review.

A splendid tale, the anticipation is overflowing for the continuation. As an avid book collector, researcher and reviewer, this particular piece worked its way into my schedule unexpectedly. It is a delightful blessing to be introduced to this enchanting story and its marvelous author, Elizabeth Ludwig: most definitely one of my literary highlights of 2012! show less