Someone is burning the churches in neighboring towns and now they have started running the residents of Kingdom, Kansas off the road ending in the death of one of the elderly men. Hope Kauffman was also run off the road and hurt then after she unhitched Daisy and started down the road for home the red truck turned around and was headed straight at her. About that time Jonathon Wiese came along in his truck and stopped the red truck from hitting her, the mystery man turned around and sped off. Eventually the red truck started appearing in Kingdom, Lizzy and Noah's house was set on fire and then the church a short time later, almost killing Pastor Mendenhall.

Why are these people suddenly terrorizing the residents of Kingdom? Another thing, how do they even know about Kingdom and since the only road into town is being watched, how are they getting in to cause the havoc? Another question is why does the sheriff seem to dislike them so much and seem to have no interest in investigating any of the incidents?

Wow, Nancy started this book out with a bang, from the beginning you are trying to figure out who would want to terrorize the peaceful Mennonites and why. She also shares how people in the same church can come up with different ways to handle the problem and they both seem to be right. I really enjoyed that because as I've gotten older I do try to look at both sides of a problem and when I'm trying to help loved ones who are arguing I try to get them to see the other persons side. Of course all that seems to do is to make the one I'm talking to think that I'm on the other one's side, even though I say I can understand where 'you' are coming from but I know where 'they' are coming from also. I've been both a mother and a daughter so I'm trying to see both sides, they don't buy it, lol.

I was ready for this book to be like a lot of other Mennonite books that I have read before. It is certainly not the same. So many surprises keep jumping out as you read, some very familiar names of places I've been to myself. I always love a book set in Kansas since that's where I spent the majority of my life and most of the towns mentioned are some where my husband's family lived.

Hope lives in a small Mennonite town named Kingdom. It is hard to reach this place from the outside world, and they like it that way. Up until now it has been a very peaceful place to live, only a few outsiders came to visit.

Several things happen that change the way things have always been. First, Jonathan had moved to the town about a year ago and has tried to change some of the way things had always been. On the way home from an outside town Hope is nearly chased down by a pickup, but Jonathan is there to stop them from hurting her and help her get home safely.

This is just the start of all the commotion in the little town of Kingdom. Not only is there turmoil in the town but in Hope's personal life. People are challenged to really use their faith during this time. Hope is also challenged in her personal life, her faith is tested. Will she stay strong, will the whole town stay strong?

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to all who love to read. It is a most enjoyable book, easy to read and hard to put down.

Lizzie Engel is on the run again, she ran away from her home in Kingdom, Kansas, a Mennonite community, five years ago to get away from he mean father and the people that she thought looked down on her for having a child out of wedlock, Charity, by an Englishman.

She has been living in Kansas City since she ran without even telling her mother where she was, she had no communication with anyone from Kingdom all this time. Now all of a sudden she finds herself fired for stealing money she didn't steal, a man in a red baseball cap is stalking her, and she's getting threatening notes mailed to her. Lizzie has no choice but to leave Kansas City with Charity and not tell anyone, again, where she is going, but where can she go? The only place is back to Kingdom in hopes that her parents will let her move back in at least temporarily.

Once Lizzie gets to Kingdom her mother is more than willing to let her move back in but her father refuses to open his home to Lizzie and Charity. She manages to find a job at the local restaurant and can live upstairs but it doesn't take long before she sees her stalker has found her. After the man in the red cap is found dead she finds another note, this time no postage stamp on it. Now she's even more frightened, who could be following her, is she still wanted in Kansas City for theft, who could have killed the man in the red cap, could her father have killed him trying, for once, to do something 'right' for Lizzie, could Noah, her friend since childhood and keeps telling her he'll protect her no matter what have done it, could Clay, Charity's father who suddenly shows up in Kingdom again and offers to support Charity even if Lizzie doesn't want him in their life be the one or is it just a coincidence these things are happening now?

Good mystery Nancy, kept me guessing, I thought I had an idea but wasn't sure and then I kept going back and forth. If you like mysteries you will like this one. I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in the series. I read this one on my Kindle but I have the second one, "Unbreakable", in paperback, so I'm starting it now.

Unbreakable

Nancy Mehl

Book Summary: Mennonite Romantic Suspense Sure to Thrill Readers

Gentle and unassuming, Hope Kauffman has never been one to question the traditions of her Mennonite upbringing. She quietly helps her father run Kingdom Quilts and has agreed to the betrothal he arranged for her with the devout but shy Ebbie Miller. Despite the attempts of Hope and other Kingdom residents to maintain the status quo, changes have already begun to stir in the small Mennonite town. The handsome and charismatic Jonathon Wiese is the leader of the move to reform, while Ebbie insists Kingdom must remain true to its foundation. When Hope's safety is threatened by a mysterious outsider, she can't help but question what she's always been taught about the Mennonite tradition of nonviolence. As it swiftly becomes apparent the threat Hope faced is only the beginning, the town that's always stood so strong finds itself divided. With tensions high and their lives endangered by an unknown enemy, will Hope and the people of Kingdom allow fear and division to break them or will they draw on the strength of the God they serve?

Review: I thought the book got better and better as I continued to read!!! It started out slow for me, about 1/3rd into the book I could not put it down. I really found the mystery fun. It was not a huge who did it but definitely 'a who will Hope chose to marry.' I made up my mind and was very pleased that is the way the story went. I would have been so disappointed if it went any other way. I just could not see the outcome being satisfying had Hope's choice been different. For me I was transformed in my opinion by the halfway mark. It is a good read when how you feel changes dramatically by the end of the book. I am looking forward to reading the 3rd in this series. It has been a fun series thus far. The people of the town have grown and changed which is part of the fun. There was a lot of sadness at the start of the book and that is what contributed to the slowness because it was such a tragedy to get through.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bethany House Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

Hope Kauffman is very happy with her life in the peaceful Mennonite town of Kingdom. She finds great joy in her quilting and running her quilting shop. Her faith is as much a part of her life as eating and sleeping. She never has had any desire to leave or question her Mennonite beliefs.

All her tranquility and way of life is suddenly threatened when someone starts running residents off the highway when they are returning home from town. Hope becomes one of these victims. Jonathan Wiese, new to their community, comes to her rescue. Feelings stir within her for this handsome "knight in shining armor", but she is confused because is promised to marry Ebbie Miller in 2 months. Jonathan is everything Ebbie isn't, dashingly handsome, exciting. She begins to question if she truly loves Ebbie enough to spend her life with him. Jonathan is quick to make his feelings known for her.

The attacks cause a division in the town's people. Ebbie stands by their beliefs of turning the other cheek and no violence. Jonathan aligns with others to believe they should arm themselves to protect their loved ones. As the attacks move into the town Hope gets caught in between the two, unsure which way is right.

The story really brought to light Luke 6:29, And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. A verse I am very familiar with and have tried to live by. Ms. Mehl caused me to search even deeper in my beliefs. I certainly practice turning the other cheek when someone is rude, unkind, or unfair, but would I be able to follow the scripture if a loved one were in danger? Would God expect me to? These are just a few questions I was confronted with. I did come to an answer, but not without examining the meaning of this scripture in a way I never had before.

The story also brought to light standing alone for my faith, no matter what other Christians might think, choose, or in the face of persecution. There are lots of surprises throughout the book. Some I thought I had figured out and I was wrong, so I guess you could say I had double surprises! I not only appreciated the excellent writing, but also how the theme of Luke 6:29 was woven throughout the story. A book you want to read!

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.