I tried…twice in fact to read this book.

First: I hate Nicole. I just cannot get into her character. The author wants us to believe she’s this courageous, strong female but she acts like a teenager. Especially in terms of her language (omigod is repeatedly hundreds of time in the first 3-4 chapters)

Second: I don’t understand the cover. It doesn’t match the story. This is not an Amish romance story. This is not about the Amish life. There are a couple of Amish characters but it’s almost an after thought.

Searching for Rose is about sisters April and Rose who are so connected that April will stop at nothing to find Rose when she goes missing. The story takes you through many twists and turns. A great read.

Searching for Rose by Dana Becker was an interesting book. I mistakenly assumed that it would be like the other Amish fiction that I enjoy, but this was different. Not in a bad way, just different. The book follows April, a recovering addict and young lady facing jail time, as she searches for her missing sister Rose. April is convinced that Rose's ex-boyfriend Ricky is responsible for her disappearing. Ricky swears he didn't have anything to do with it. With the help of an Amish man named Joseph and her new friend Carmen, she will try to reclaim her life and her sister's. The search will take her deep into Amish land, where she will find that things are not always what she expects.
I enjoyed this book. If you enjoy mysteries, this one will keep you wondering. However, some of the Amish elements seemed too different from the norm for me. But, nonetheless, it is well written and enjoyable, an easy read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book. All opinions are my own.

This storyline is quite different than most Amish novels. It’s a mystery/suspense story, but honestly, there was a darkness/sense of evil that permeated the book. There are good values in it, too, like friendship, love of family and learning to trust, but I still felt unsettled after I finished reading it. It’s very well written, there’s no question about that. The author did a great job of building the tension and suspense and feeling of “something’s about to happen” all the way through the book. This book was a little too creepy feeling for me, but that’s not a failing of the author, just my personal preference in reading. So I’m rating this one a four star, even though I won’t read the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This book was unlike any Amish book I have read, which was both surprising and enjoyable in sense at the same time. And unique!

The story was of April searching for her sister Rose that got missing. I greatly admired April's dedication and determination to find her sister even when things got so much out of hand. Her boldness, courage and strength was remarkable. The woes she has gone through in her young life was so heartbreaking. Just reading about it ached my heart.

Joseph! The quiet Amish guy who had more freedom than others. Seeing him with April was kind of scandalous but I loved how he was with her.

I liked how the author effortlessly oscillated between first person and 3rd person that I was not confused about who was who or what was happening. It was pulled off nicely.

This story was filled with a lot of suspense, mystery and action that is very captivating.

I received this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.

RATING 3.5 STARS

And in feeling so deeply safe, she realized just how lost she'd been.

The bond of sisters is deep in this Amish/English novel. It is not only a little romance, but a thriller and mystery. April has made terrible choices but it all changed when her sister Rose suddenly disappeared. She had to find her. Recovering from series legal matters and putting her life straight again, she took the opportunity to change her life. With the help of Carmen and Joseph, she discovered how lost she really was. Carmen helped her get a job in her bakery down from the street where Joseph worked in a diner. Joseph an Amish man that knew of her sister Rose. Together with her new friends, she find out the her sister is in terrible danger from an evil force.

Maybe you thought of reading Amish novels but thought they might not be for you. This novel may be a good introduction to the Amish genre. There is a little romance between April and Joseph that builds from friendship and a sincere care for the other. Where trust is learned and faith is realized. It also focuses on the value of community and not doing life alone. I enjoyed the characters and the build up to what happen to Rose is part thriller. Looking forward to the next installment.

A special thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Searching For Rose – Dana Becker – NetGalley – 4 Stars
This was the most unusual and spellbinding book I’ve ever read that involve the Amish people. It was an unusual read. I read it fast, it was one of those you didn’t want to put down and I didn’t see some of the twists and turns coming. I would recommend it to anyone who like to read about the Amish or like to read mysteries. The characters were well written and the storyline was really good. It was a little slow starting up but it soon sped up. It doesn’t have as much of the Amish people in it as the cover makes you believe, but the main character helping her search for her sister is Amish.

I received this book through NetGalley.com in kindle format free. I wasn’t required to put up a review, although that is the wish. The thoughts and opinions of this book were mine freely given. I gave it four stars.

Description as found on NetGalley:
Courageous and vulnerable, April has survived Philadelphia’s tough city streets. But when her sister disappears, April’s search will lead her to the Pennsylvania Amish countryside—where the peaceful setting belies a brand of danger all its own . . .

With a childhood shattered by alcoholism and abandonment, April learned the hard way to trust only herself and her younger sister, Rose. But suddenly, Rose is gone without a word—and April’s purpose in life is to find her. She has only one ally: Joseph Young, a handsome Amish man with whom she’s struck up an unlikely flirtation in the bakery where she works. He’s knowledgeable, steadfast—and when they join forces, April’s life takes a radical turn . . .

In the heart of Amish farm country, April and Joseph grow closer. Yet April fears there’s no future for them. Especially when vicious, too-personal warnings and strange attacks make her wonder just whom Joseph is really trying to protect. And as her unconventional investigation roils a community with much to conceal, April will find some secrets are killer—and some dreams may be too lethal to trust . . .

Searching for Rose is a good debut by Dana Becker. I enjoyed this story. I found the writing to be unique and different, which was refreshing. I am giving four stars.

April has been a lot, in her life, but when her sister disappears in Philadelphia she is devastated. She has come to rely on herself alone, to get through life, but now she must learn to accept the help of another....Joseph Young. Young is an Amishman who has a faith that could move mountains. But will she let her guard down and allow the vistages of faith enter her world.

As April and Joseph's friendship grows and blossoms, will there be a happy ending or just another ending, for April? Will they find her sister or will the search be stopped by a lethal secrets?

Grab a comfy chair, light a candle, a warm, toasty drink and enter the world of April, Rose and Joseph......the journey will be well worth your while!!

Searching for Rose is a Christian romance mystery by Dana Becker.

I hate reviews with spoilers, so you won’t read any here. All you’ll get is my humble opinion about the quality of this novel.

April, a troubled young woman, is searching for Rose, her missing sister. Joseph Young, a young Amish man who works in the diner across the street from the bakery where she works, befriends April and aids her in her search. Against the wishes of both communities, April and Joseph become more than friends. The search becomes more dangerous and April begins to suspect Joseph is not at all who he appears to be.

Contrary to the cover, picturing a young Amish woman, Amish life is, for the most part, portrayed only peripherally in this novel. However, there are Amish characters, most notably, Joseph, the male lead. The novel starts slowly, but picks up toward the middle. The characters are interesting with adequate backstories but still somewhat flat. The romance is sweet but somehow intense. There are some dark elements that make this an unusual though interesting novel. This is a story of a young woman’s personal growth, development and awakening with a compelling mystery thrown in as a bonus. The ending is satisfying. I rate Searching for Rose 3 out of 5 stars, deducting for the slow start and flat characters. It is still a good read, and I recommend it to readers who enjoy mystery with a little romance.

My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Searching for Rose by Dana Becker is a unique Amish novel. April has had a difficult life and made some poor choices. The one person she has always been close to is her sister, Rose. When Rose disappears without a trace, April becomes determined to find her. She gets help from a bakery owner and an Amish man who works at the Amish diner next to the bakery. I thought the characters lacked development. Last names for our main characters would have been nice. The pacing is slow in the first half of the book. It does increase in the second half as the mystery picks up speed. The mystery was interesting. There are good clues to help readers figure out who is behind the crime. There are also some disturbing details. I would have liked a better wrap up to the mystery. It felt incomplete. Searching for Rose is more of a romantic suspense than an Amish mystery (which is what I was expecting). April and Joseph become close while looking for Rose. Their relationship is a rocky one. April has a hard time trusting people. I did find some inconsistencies in the book that I hope were corrected before publication. I did like seeing April trying to improve her lot in life. It turns out that Searching for Rose will have a sequel. I hope any unfinished issues from Searching for Rose will be resolved in the follow-up. Searching for Rose is an Amish romantic suspense with a missing sister, an Amish Romeo, a kindhearted baker, and a shocking tale.

I received this book from netgalley.
I loved this I haven't read any from this author. I will have to get in to more.

I received an advance copy of this book to review and I have to tel you it was not like any other Amish story that I have read. April and Rose are sisters and when something happens to one it is imperative that the other do everything possible to find her. The story takes you through all sorts of twists and turns and nobody seems to be who they are but maybe they are in another sense....Interesting ending of how they all get to live Happily Ever After but in a totally different way than when the book started. Read it in one day and recommend it totally.

Looking at the cover of this book I assumed that this was an Amish story, no it is very deep, but really not Amish.
We travel with April as she desperately searches for her sister Rose, and as she looks we meet the people who help her. She has had a troubled life, and we watch as she stumbles, and becomes attached to Joseph. He is Amish and works at the Market, that she is a led to and finds a mentor in Carmen, who has surprises of her own.
This book has quite a dark side, and you wonder how it will all play out. There is a bit of romance, but can it ever be?
You will be turning pages for answers, and there are a lot of surprises.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zebra and was not required to give a positive review.

This book follows April in the search for her younger sister Rose. This book was interesting and can not wait for the sequel.

This was not at all what I was expecting. I've read many Amish novels that are much more believable. April's off and on search for her sister did not ring true. The non-response of the police felt false. Maybe next one?

This is a new to me author and I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a well written book that held my attention and keep me turning the pages. If you like a good mystery with a little romance, you will enjoy reading this book. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Thank you Kensington Books via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Searching for Rose is a well written Amish suspense. Great plot and character development. This one will keep you on the edge of your seat. Suspense fans will not be disappointed. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Searching for Rose by Dana Becker isn't at all what I expected when I selected this book to read -- it exceeded some of my expectations and turned others on their head entirely.  I enjoyed it tremendously, and I recommend this read with great enthusiasm.  

First off, I have often found myself bored early in romantic suspense novels -- probably because I am primarily interested in suspense rather than romance in selecting fiction to read.  I found this novel's plot to be particularly interesting as well as being well-paced to keep the reader's interest.  Specifically, in addition to the love interest at the center of this story, the main character has a lot going on in her life -- in addition to coping with her sister's disappearance (this is the suspense storyline).  Also, the plot has some truly unpredictable twists big and small.  In sum, there is a great balance of suspense, romance and general contemporary fiction-type action to keep the pages turning at a steady pace.

That said, what really sets this novel apart is the textured depiction of the female protagonist's feelings for her love interest.  I think the unlikely nature of a relationship developing between the two (owing to their totally different lifestyles) allows the author to depict certain aspects of falling in love in subtle ways that I found resonant with my own experience as a human being even if/when I couldn't relate to the specific experience of the character (who I personally find extremely disagreeable as a concept).

There seems to be a sequel planned, and I am psyched.  I am especially eager to see how the supporting cast of characters, as it were, are developed further in any future book.  There were a number of characters whose inner life the reader learned a bit about but not much -- and these characters struck me as pretty unusual in terms of both their particular perspectives and dramatic life stories.  I thank the publisher and netgalley for making an e-galley of this new release available to me for free in exchange for this honest feedback.

I enjoyed the idea behind this book. I am used to a different type of romance novel involving the Amish so if you are looking for something that is more “lovey dovey”, this isn’t the book.

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Rose keeps your interest and you will be taken on an adventure with an ending that might surprise you! It’s a good read if you love mystery and a touch of romance.