CANR
WORK TITLE: The Secrets We Keep
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://amywritesromance.com/
CITY: Tulsa
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: LRC June 2023
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in MS; married; husband’s name Rob (a deputy sheriff); children: one son.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
MEMBER:Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, Novelists Inc., Author’s Guild.
WRITINGS
Also the author of the collection, Once a Bride, 2021, and the novel, Forget Me Not, Baby: A Sweet and Clean Christian Romance, 2022.
SIDELIGHTS
Amy Lillard is an American writer of inspirational romance novels. A Mississippi native, she moved to Oklahoma and became a wife and mother as well as the author of scores of novels and novellas since her 2012 debut, Saving Gideon. On her website, Lillard commented on her choice of genre: “I have loved romances since I was in the seventh grade. My grandmother and I used to share them, the old white cover Harlequins, Janet Dailey—Charlotte Lamb. I had a friend who would bring them to school in a brown grocery sack. I could read an entire book in one sitting. I loved them. Once I was finished with it, I passed it to my grandmother to read. So I guess you could say romance was the only choice I could make.”
Much of Lillard’s work features Amish characters and situations. In an interview with Joyce Lamb on the Happy Ever After website, Lillard commented on this aspect of her work: “When I first started writing about the Amish, I wanted to continue to write romance (by genre). I do my best every book to make the stories truly romances with Amish characters, so that the plot of each Amish title I write could be written about another group of people. The outcome might be a little different, but the basic plot would be the same. Because of this, I see inspiration all around. In songs, movies (some romance, some not), the people I meet, the stories they tell, even the guy in front of me at the grocery store. Stories are everywhere. You just have to listen.”
(open new1)In an interview in Kings River Life, Lillard talked with Sandra Murphy about how she got started as a writer. She recalled: “In the early nineties my husband and I got the opportunity to live in the Caribbean, which of course we promptly jumped upon. He had a job down there, and I ended up with a lot of time on my hands. Everyone said I would get bored without a job to keep me busy, and I suppose they were right – I got bored enough to write a book.”
In the same interview, Lillard offered a timeline of the path through genres she took as a writer. She explained: “I first started writing historical romance (sexy) then went to contemporary romance (sexy). Somehow, I found my way to Amish (Christian), then to Amish Mystery (Christian) and on to mysteries, contemporary and clean (for the most part). I love writing all the different types of books. Because I tend to write several books a year, it helps to spread myself out. It keeps my ADD-right brain from getting bored.” Ultimately, Lillard admitted: “I write primarily to entertain, but I do hope that readers come away from my books with a little something more. Even if it is the ability to see the world from someone else’s point of view.”(close new1)
Lillard’s first novel, Saving Gideon, also launched her first series, the “Clover Ridge” books. This novel features Gideon Fisher, an Amish farmer, and wealthy Avery Ann Hamilton, an Englisher, or non-Amish. Both are suffering their own form of heartache and prove to be the savior of the other as they “deepen their faith in themselves and God,” according to RT Book Reviews website writer Patsy Glans, who went on to term this a “sweet love story,” and dub Lillard a “wonderful writer … [who] honors the Amish and their faith with her novels.”
The series continues with Katie’s Choice, which features Katie Rose Fisher, another woman trying to get over a broken heart. She was in love with Samuel, but he decided to leave the Amish community and become an Englisher. Katie is content with her work as a teacher until journalist Zane Carson arrives in Clover Ridge to do a series of articles on the Amish way of life and utilizes Katie as someone who can provide him insight to this world he is unfamiliar with. Slowly, he and Katie begin to find love with each other, and Zane begins to consider staying and becoming Amish. Then Samuel returns, hoping to pick up things with Katie where he left off. Now Katie must make a momentous decision. “Fans of Amish books will not be disappointed in this latest offering,” noted Glans in the online RT Book Reviews.
The series concludes with Gabriel’s Bride, in which two people find unexpected love. Rachel is on her own when her aunt dies and does not want to move away from her Amish home. At the same time, Gabriel is a widower who could use some help with his home and children. When the community disapproves of these two living under the same roof, they make a marriage of convenience that soon turns into true love. “This sweet story is a gentle reminder that God answers prayers in ways we might not expect,” noted RT Book Reviews website writer Kerry Sutherland.
Lillard sets another Amish series around a geographical setting in the “Wells Landing” books, which start with Caroline’s Secret. Caroline Hostetler left her Tennessee home two years ago and has settled down in Wells Landing, Oklahoma, with her young daughter. She harbors a secret but finally finds love with Andrew Fitch. Then it appears that her secret might catch up with her and destroy this relationship. Writing in RT Book Reviews, Glans termed this an “entertaining tale about family problems, peppered with sweet, lovable characters who may just get a second chance at love.” A Publishers Weekly reviewer also had praise, commenting, “Rich with the trappings of Amish culture and tradition, the novel informs as well as entertains.” Courting Emily finds the bishop’s daughter, Emily Ebersol, deeply in love with Luke Lambright who seems to like fast cars more than the Amish way. Meanwhile, Elam Riehl has harbored a love for Emily and thinks he is the better match. Glans dubbed this a “sweet contemporary romance with lovable characters.”
The series continues with Lorie’s Heart, a “charming, contemporary novel with no nonsense characters,” according to Glans, writing again in RT Book Reviews. Lorie Kaufmann is grieving for her deceased father and also trying to understand his newly discovered double life. Zach Calhoun helps her in this effort, and love emerges as a result. Just Plain Sadie is a “beautifully written romance with an adoring character who sees herself as merely ordinary looking,” according to online RT Book Reviews contributor Glans. Sadie Kauffman is confronted with a difficult choice between two good men.
Titus Returns, the fifth series installment, finds Titus Lambert returning to Wells Landing after serving a prison term for vehicular manslaughter. Helping out the twin sister of one of the victims of his traffic accident, Titus and the family of the dead man both find a sort of healing and forgiveness. “Fans of inspirational romance will appreciate Lillard’s vivid characters and positive message,” noted a Publishers Weekly reviewer.
The 2017 series addition, Marrying Jonah, features Sarah Yoder, local school teacher, who has long pined for Jonah Miller. When his intended jilts Jonah, Sarah tries to comfort him and winds up pregnant. The congregation forces them to marry, and though they begin to grow close to one another, these two almost miss their chance at real love. A Publishers Weekly reviewer felt that the author is “skilled at creating memorable characters with enduring faith.”
In Loving Jenna, both Jenna and Buddy are looked down upon by the community for being cognitively slow. Jenna, whose family recently moved to Wells Landing after her father’s death, struggles to make friends under her mother’s strict rules against independent activity. She meets Buddy at church, but both his and her family try to keep them apart when they see the budding romance. A contributor to Publishers Weekly pointed out the “excellent job” that Lillard does in “depicting with accuracy and compassion the difficulties faced by those with mental disabilities.” The same reviewer assumed that the novel would “surely inspire.”
Loving a Lawman launched the “Cattle Creek” series, set in Texas and featuring the Langston family. Older brother Seth has been in love with Jessie McAllen for years, but the problem is that everyone, including Jessie, figures she is intended for Chase, the rodeo brother and ladies’ man. Finally, however, Seth and Jessie share a kiss that leads to sex and unexpected pregnancy. Seth wants to marry her, but Jessie begins to wonder if she is worthy of anyone. B. Nakia Garner, writing in the online RT Book Reviews, felt that Lillard “nicely encapsulates the feel of small-town living.”
The series continues with Healing a Heart, focusing on Jake Langston. His wife died five years ago, leaving him to raise their daughter. Jake has led a celibate life until he has a one-night stand with a beautiful young woman. A few months later, this woman, Bryn Talbot, arrives on his doorstep to let him know she is pregnant. The family convince Bryn to stay for a time, and though Jake and Bryn are truly in love, each is fearful to open themselves to possible new heartache. “This is a quick and easy read as the story has a steady pace that is in no way rushed,” noted Garner in RT Book Reviews.
Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper is the first novel in the “Kappy King Kaper” series. Kapp-maker Kathryn “Kappy” King finds that her neighbor, Ruth, has been murdered. The local bishop asks her to look after Ruth’s son, Jimmy, who has Down’s syndrome, until his sister, Edie, arrives. Edie, however, has been ostracized by the community for leaving. The police eventually arrest Jimmy for his mother’s murder. Kappy and Edie protest and start their own investigation to prove Jimmy’s innocence. Ruth’s prize beagles are also targeted as the two women continue with their investigation. A contributor to Publishers Weekly lamented that “the action builds to a disappointing resolution.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor mentioned that the author “kicks off a new series that seems aimed less at mystery buffs than armchair tourists seeking a rather sentimental look at the Amish lifestyle.”
In Kappy King and the Pickle Kaper, June is killed after her buggy is run off the road while delivering pickles for her family business. When Edie receives some odd text messages afterward, she and Kappy agree to keep this information away from the police and investigate on their own. Edie continues to find difficulty with the community, though, as nobody will talk to her since she left the church. On a personal level, Kappy is still uncertain about accepting Hiram’s marriage proposal. A contributor to Publishers Weekly opined that “appealing characters make up only in part for the slow pace and lack of suspense.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor noted that the novel offers “plenty of details about the Amish lifestyle and a more complex mystery than the heroine’s first case.”
With Kappy King and the Pie Kaper, Alma Miller is in a coma. Police officer Jack found a cryptic message written into the flour at her home. He brings Kappy and Edie in on the mystery in hopes that they can help him figure out what happened. Edie is attracted to Jack but is still ostracized by the community for abandoning it. Kappy has a potential suspect in mind and helps narrow down the possibilities. A contributor to Publishers Weekly suggested that “this cozy is best suited to readers willing to overlook implausible developments.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor reasoned that “experienced readers will have little trouble solving the mystery, but the likable characters and Edie’s slow progress in re-embracing her Amish side will keep fans coming back for more.”
Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder is the start of the “Main Street Book Club Mysteries” series. Arlo Stanley settles in Sugar Springs, Mississippi, after living a nomadic lifestyle with her parents. She runs the Books & More bookstore. When former classmate and author Wally is found dead outside her store, she starts to explore the possibility that he was murdered. Her business partner, Chloe, had an unacknowledged baby with Wally while still in high school. The police eventually arrest her, suspecting that she was involved in his death. Arlo is certain that Chloe is innocent and sets out to prove it. A Kirkus Reviews contributor concluded that this is “a promising series debut, sometimes humorous, often puzzling, and peopled with believable characters.”
In A Murder Like No Author, the late Wally’s bestselling book has been adapted into a film, leaving the town in the national spotlight. A stranger arrives in town claiming that Wally didn’t write the book but is found murdered at his bed and breakfast. Arlo, Chloe, and three older ladies from their book club—Helen, Fern, and Camille—step in to solve the mystery of what happened to the stranger and what, if anything, was behind his claims. A Kirkus Reviews contributor opined that “the book club ladies make a winning team in an amusing tale replete with down-home atmosphere and romance.”
Dairy, Dairy, Quite Contrary is the first novel in the “Sunflower Cafe Mystery” series, which introduces journalist Sissy Yoder, a young woman whose parents used to be practicing Amish. Sissy moves to her parents’ hometown of Yoder, Kansas, after breaking up with her boyfriend and begins working for her Aunt Bethel at the Sunflower Cafe. She befriends local journalist Gavin and tries to get into life in the small town. When the local milkman is found stabbed to death in the cafe’s kitchen, she is considered a prime suspect as a new arrival to town. With Gavin’s help, she sets out to clear her name. A Kirkus Reviews contributor called Sissy Yoder “a promising new sleuth whose lovable dog and incipient love interest combine nicely with Lillard’s trademark Amish lore.”
In A Murder of Aspic Proportions, Sissy and Aunt Bethel find tomato vendor Walt clobbered to death with a shovel at his stall. His tomato plants were ripped out of the ground, and his special fertilizer is missing. Walt earned a bad reputation as the fertilizer that he sold most of the townsfolk stopped producing the results that it had once. With many potential suspects and Emma having admitted to the murder, Sissy begins her own investigation to find who the real killer is. A Kirkus Reviews contributor remarked that “suspects abound, but the true motive is hard to find in this charming combination of murder and romance.”
(open new2)When Hattie Finds Love is the final novel in the “Paradise Valley” series. Fifty-nine-year-old Hattie Schrock co-owns the Poppin’ Paradise Popcorn Shop in Paradise Springs, Missouri’s Amish community. She and cousin Elsie want to see widower Christian Beachy smile for once. They make a bet to see if Hattie can get him to smile over the next sixty days. If not, she is relegated to copper pot-washing duties for the next year. Hattie invites him to participate in the games organized by the Whoopie Pie Widows’ Club. He doesn’t smile, but she starts to see the depth to his character. The two grow closer, but Christian is dismayed after hearing about the bet Hattie made to get him to smile. A contributor to Publishers Weekly found it to be “an enchanting testament to the benefits of looking on the bright side.”
In A Murder for the Sages, Sissy has taken over running Aunt Bethel’s café in the Amish town of Yoder, Kansas, while she is healing from a broken leg. When herb farmer Ginger Reed is found dead after being run over by her own tractor, Sissy does not believe that version of events. Police say it was an accident, but Sissy starts her own investigation to show otherwise with help from a few locals. A Kirkus Reviews contributor noted that there is “plenty to enjoy here, though family angst and romance overshadow the mystery.”
With The Secrets We Keep, Nathan Fisher returns to the Amish community after abandoning that lifestyle many years ago. His father has died and even his own mother won’t speak to him. His former crush, Rachel Hostetler, married and has kids despite waiting for Nate to return for almost four years. She asks for Nate’s help to look into the death of her brother, Albie, who supposedly hung himself and was buried by her father, who also claimed to burn the rope that he hung himself with. Rachel believes he was killed by a group of Englisch boys, leaving Nate with a distraction during his time of mourning. A Kirkus Reviews contributor opined that “fans of Linda Castillo will love this look at the Amish community, filled with mystery and forbidden love.”(close new2)
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2017, review of Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper; April 15, 2018, review of Kappy King and the Pickle Kaper; October 15, 2018, review of Kappy King and the Pie Kaper; August 15, 2019, review of Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder; September 15, 2021, review of A Murder Like No Author; April 15, 2022, review of Dairy, Dairy, Quite Contrary; May 15, 2023, review of A Murder of Aspic Proportions; May 15, 2024, review of A Murder for the Sages; May 1, 2025, review of The Secrets We Keep.
Publishers Weekly, June 2, 2014, review of Caroline’s Secret, p. 45; November 28, 2016, review of Titus Returns, p. 55; March 6, 2017, review of Marrying Jonah, p. 46; April 24, 2017, review of Amish Brides, p. 75; April 24, 2017, review of Amish Brides, p. 75; November 20, 2017, review of Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper, p. 77; May 28, 2018, review of Kappy King and the Pickle Kaper, p. 75; November 12, 2018, review of Kappy King and the Pie Kaper, p. 42; January 27, 2020, review of Loving Jenna, p. 58; October 23, 2023, review of When Hattie Finds Love, p. 34.
ONLINE
Amy Lillard website, https://amywritesromance.com (November 16, 2025).
CanvasRebel, https://canvasrebel.com/ (February 26, 2025), author interview.
Happy Ever After, http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (April 27, 2016), Joyce Lamb, “Interview: Amy Lillard, Author of Just Plain Sadie.”
Kings River Life, https://kingsriverlife.com/ (January 16, 2021), Sandra Murphy, author interview.
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (October 1, 2012), Patsy Glans, review of Saving Gideon; (May 1, 2013), Patsy Glans, review of Katie’s Choice; (August 5, 2014), Patsy Glans, review of Caroline’s Secret; (January 6, 2015), Patsy Glans, review of Courting Emily; (July 28, 2015), Patsy Glans, review of Lorie’s Heart; (September 29, 2015), Patsy Glans, review of The Amish Christmas Sleigh; (March 29, 2016), Patsy Glans, review of Just Plain Sadie; (July 5, 2016), B. Nakia Garner, review of Loving a Lawman; (December 27, 2016), Susannah Balch, review of Titus Returns; (February 7, 2017), B. Nakia Garner, review of Healing a Heart; (March 28, 2017), Susannah Balch, review of Marrying Jonah; (May 30, 2017), Kerry Sutherland, review of Amish Brides; (July 24, 2017), Kerry Sutherland, review of Gabriel’s Bride.
Tulsa People, https://www.tulsapeople.com/ (July 6, 2022), Madison Walters, “From Tulsa to Yoder, Kansas: Local Author Amy Lillard Launches New Mystery Series.”
Amy’s Bio
I’m a wife, mother, and bona fide Southern belle. Published author, expert corn bread maker, Fibro Warrior, and
Squirrel Princess.
I live in Tulsa, though I was born in Mississippi. I moved to the Sooner State when I was seventeen and met my soul mate and best friend not long after. I’ve retained a little of my Mississippi accent though most people think I’m from Texas. (?) Rob and I have been married for over twenty-five years and have a son–a mom proclaimed prodigy, of course!
I love homemade tacos, nail polish, and romance novels–not necessarily in that order. I’m a big fan of classic country music, a staunch proponent of saving the Oxford comma, and I’m shamefully obsessed with all things Harry Potter.
I dislike people trying to convince me to read the Twilight series (I’ll get to it or I won’t, either way I’m good with it), gratuitous violence, and strawberry ice cream. (I know I’m alone on this last one, and again, I’m good with it.)
Favorite movies–(besides HP) French Kiss, Maid of Honor, A Lot Like Love, Just Married, and Sweet Home Alabama. Oh, and Miss Congeniality, Sabrina (both versions) and a 1940’s movie called Dear Ruth. If you haven’t seen it, you should! A-dorable. Anything with Doris Day and most all of Marilyn’s and Audrey’s.
Why I Write What I Write
(A story about genres.)
I have always wanted to be a writer. Since the seventh grade when I got an A on a descriptive paragraph I had to write for English. The teacher praised my use of alliteration, and I was hooked. That is, after I looked the word up in the dictionary because I had no idea what she was talking about. My paragraph about a frog jumping into the still pond waters and the little circles of waves that reached toward the shore one after another was just something in my head. The rest came naturally.
I was bitten by the writing bug early on, but I sincerely thought that no one could survive on a writer’s income. Maybe because I was told by my many English teachers that most of the authors we studied in school—Oscar Wilde, Cervantes, Edgar Allen Poe, Herman Melville, and John Keats—all died penniless.
So having ‘writer’ be my Plan A for life was not going to cut it. I went on to college and studied history and political science. I would get my four-year degree and go on to law school. (Quit laughing, it’s really not that funny.)
What is funny is how God steps in with other plans that I had never considered.
I met my husband and realized that I wanted to be with him more than I truly wanted to go to law school. A decision that I’m so glad I made. I won’t say it was hard to make, just weird giving up a long-time dream and having to tell everyone, “Oh, I changed my mind” when they asked about law school.
Shorty after we were married, he had the opportunity to do some contract work in the Caribbean. Of course we jumped on the chance, and the next thing I knew, I was basking in the sun and surf while everyone else I knew was back home freezing.
I’m hyper by nature and not working soon got the better of me. I found myself getting a bit bored. My mother would send me books to read and there was a place in town to buy a few paperbacks, but it didn’t take long before I learned that the best way to get reading material was to write it myself.
It was on February 14, 1992, that my sister-in-law and I sat down to write the world’s greatest pirate romance. To this day, I’m a little unsure about this moniker, but since neither she nor I can stand the thought of reading it and having it fall from grace, we’re going with it. LOL!
Though Beyond Yesterday never made it onto the store shelves, Bastian and Lindsey did something much more for me. They told me I could write. And furthermore, I could possibly make some money at it.
About a year later I switched from historical to contemporary. My writing partner went on to other things, but I plugged away at the computer, entering contests and winning a few. I sold my first contemporary romance in the early spring of 2000. I was over the moon, but also pregnant. And let me pause here a moment to say, I am not good at being pregnant. A difficult year and a couple of rewrites later, I had a beautiful baby boy and my rights back to my contemporary romance. The publishing house was small, the editor was having some personal problems, and the house folded.
I’ll skip all the family drama and triumphs for the next eleven years, but I continued to work a full-time job and write every chance I got. I submitted to publisher after publisher until one day I decided to see if I could enlist an agent’s help.
Surprise, surprise! I signed with the Seymour Agency and the rest is history.
I found an agent and everything should be smooth sailing now. Stardom here I come!
Uh…not quite. Mary Sue (my agent at the time) worked tirelessly for a couple of years to sell my latest contemporary romance. The other books I had written were waiting for that day when I got my big break. But that break seemed a long time in coming.
I called her one day and to talk to her about my contemporary, and she gave me advice that would change the course of my career. She told me I should write an Amish romance.
Huh?
Amish Romance? Is there such a thing?
She assured me there was, told me to check out some other authors of Amish romance, and give it a try. Honest to heaven, I thought she was kidding. When I realized she wasn’t, I started doing research for Saving Gideon.
What brought about such a change? I had been writing seriously for eighteen years. I had sold one book, then I had a house collapse, too many close calls with Harlequin to count, and all I wanted was a chance to show people (and by people I mean editors) what I could do. I had been saying for years, “I can write. I know I can. All I need is someone to tell me *what* to write, and I’ll do it.”
Well, someone had just told me what to write. So I did.
In the meantime, still a little skeptical about the popularity of the Amish market for books (boy, did I miss the call on that one), I continued to write and try and sell the many contemporary books that I had written over the years. The following February, I signed with a small digital-first press, and my debut book, Brodie’s Bride, was published in June of that same year. It was now 2011.
In September 2011, I signed a contract with B&H for the Clover Ridge Series, and my career was off in two different directions.
I know it may seem a little odd to some readers that I write in so many different genres. (Can you say ADD?) But at least it keeps me from getting bored and it helps me push myself a little more as a writer with each book I write.
The contemporary books help me make my Amish books a bit sexier than some that are out there. And—I like to think—a little more realistic to human nature. I love to take a simple touch or whisper and turn a character inside out with no more than that.
The Amish books help me make my contemporary books more thoughtful and emotional. Each love scene can’t just be about the physical. It has to be about the emotional as well…even more so.
Writing historical books helps me keep things in perspective and takes me back to the days when I started writing–the pirate romance, not the frog-in-the-pond paragraph from seventh grade.
And the mysteries push me out of my comfort zone. They make me take a different look at my characters and help me make my romance characters more intriguing and insightful.
I know that not every one of my readers will enjoy every one of my books–some of my blood kin can’t say they love everything I write. That’s okay. In fact, it’s perfect.
I love writing and sharing my stories with all sorts of readers. I love connecting with readers and often times more genres means more readers I get to meet.
Are there any more genres in my future? You betcha!
And I hope somewhere in all my words you find a genre (or two) that suits you!
Amy loves nothing more than a good book. Except for her family...and maybe homemade tacos...and nail polish. But reading and writing are definitely high on the list.
Born and bred in Mississippi, Amy is a transplanted Southern Belle who now lives in Oklahoma with her deputy husband, their genius son, two spoiled cats, and one very lazy beagle. Oh, and don't forget the stray kitty that has taken up residence on her front porch. ^..^
When she's not creating quirky characters and happy endings, she's chauffeuring her prodigy to guitar lessons, orchestra concerts and baseball practice. She has a variety of hobbies, but her favorite is whatever gets her out of housework.
Amy also writes contemporary romances under the pen name Amie Louellen.
An award winning author, Amy is a member of RWA and ACFW. She loves to hear from readers. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest. For links to the various sites, check her website: www.amylillardbooks.com.
Amy Lillard
USA flag
aka Amie Louellen
Amy Lillard is an award-winning writer who loves reading romance novels from contemporary to Amish. These two genres met in her first book, 2012s Saving Gideon. Born and bred in Mississippi, she now lives with her husband and son in Oklahoma.
Genres: Inspirational, Cozy Mystery, Romance
New and upcoming books
September 2025
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The Amish Nanny's Secret
September 2025
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As Good As Gold
(Oregon Trail )June 2026
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The Amish Rancher's Return
Series
Clover Ridge
1. Saving Gideon (2012)
2. Katie's Choice (2013)
3. Gabriel's Bride (2014)
4. John Paul in Love (2023)
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Wells Landing
1. Caroline's Secret (2014)
2. Courting Emily (2015)
3. Lorie's Heart (2015)
4. Just Plain Sadie (2016)
5. Titus Returns (2016)
6. Marrying Jonah (2017)
7. The Quilting Circle (2017)
8. A Wells Landing Christmas (2018)
9. Loving Jenna (2020)
10. Romancing Nadine (2020)
11. A New Love for Charlotte (2021)
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Brides of Calico Falls
The Gingerbread Bride (2014)
The Wildflower Bride (2017)
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Mayhem & Magnolias
1. Southern Hospitality (2015)
2. Southern Comfort (2019)
3. Southern Charm (2019)
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Cattle Creek
1. Loving a Lawman (2016)
2. Healing A Heart (2017)
3. Besting the Bull Rider (2023)
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Quilting Circle
1. More Than Friendship (2016)
2. More Than A Promise (2016)
3. More Than a Marriage (2017)
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Kappy King Kaper
1. Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper (2017)
2. Kappy King and the Pickle Kaper (2018)
3. Kappy King and the Pie Kaper (2018)
4. This Little Piggy (2022)
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Amish of Pontotoc
1. A Home for Hannah (2018)
2. A Love for Leah (2018)
3. A Family for Gracie (2019)
4. An Amish Husband for Tillie (2020)
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Main Street Book Club Mysteries
1. Can't Judge a Book By Its Murder (2019)
2. A Murder Between the Pages (2020)
3. A Murder Like No Author (2021)
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Paradise Valley
1. Marry Me, Millie (2021)
2. The Amish Matchmaker (2022)
3. One More Time for Joy (2023)
4. When Hattie Finds Love (2023)
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Sunflower Cafe Mystery
1. Dairy, Dairy, Quite Contrary (2022)
2. A Murder of Aspic Proportions (2023)
3. A Murder for the Sages (2024)
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Oregon Trail
As Good As Gold (2025)
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Novels
Brodie's Bride (2011) (as by Amie Louellen)
Can't Buy Me Love (2013)
All You Need Is Love (2013)
Ten Reasons Not to Date a Cop (2013) (as by Amie Louellen)
Love Potion Me, Baby (2014)
aka The Trouble With Love Potions
The Trouble With Millionaires (2014) (as by Amie Louellen)
Always Texas (2014)
aka Welcome Home, Bethie McGee
Welcome Home, Bethie McGee (2014) (as by Amie Louellen)
Blame It On Texas (2017)
Forget Me Not, Baby (2022)
The Amish Christmas Promise (2023)
A Million to One (2023)
The Amish Bachelor's Promise (2025)
The Secrets We Keep (2025)
The Amish Nanny's Secret (2025)
The Amish Rancher's Return (2026)
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Collections
Amish Brides (2017) (with Jennifer Beckstrand and Molly Jebber)
Once a Bride (2021)
A Lancaster Amish Christmas (2024) (with others)
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Novellas and Short Stories
Not So Pretty Penny (2021)
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Series contributed to
Annie's Quilted Mysteries
8. Unsavory Notions (2014)
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12 Brides of Christmas
6. The Gingerbread Bride (2014)
The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection (2015) (with others)
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Vineyard Quilt Mysteries
2. Pattern of Betrayal (2015) (with Mae Fox)
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Love & Romance Collections
The Oregon Trail Romance Collection (2015) (with others)
The Lassoed by Marriage Romance Collection (2016) (with others)
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12 Brides of Summer
The 12 Brides of Summer Collection (2016) (with others)
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Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries
5. O Little Town of Sugarcreek (2018)
12. Shoo, Fly, Shoo! (2016)
18. Stranger Things Have Happened (2016)
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Gold Diggers
1. No Greater Treasure (2019)
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The Amish Christmas Sleigh (2015) (with Molly Jebber and Kelly Long)
Love Inspired December 2023 Box Set - 2 of 2 (2023) (with Tabitha Bouldin and Kate Keedwell)
Love Inspired June 2025 Box Set 2 of 2 (2025) (with Zoey Marie Jackson and Jolene Navarro)
Love Inspired October 2025 Box Set - 2 of 2 (2025) (with Isabella Bruno and Linda Goodnight)
Meet Amy Lillard
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Stories & Insights
February 26, 2025
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Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amy Lillard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amy, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?
We all consider writing a solitary endeavor, but in truth it takes a village. Yet, it is mostly a village of the author’s making. One thing that I would do differently if I could do it over, would be to take more time to go to conferences as an unpublished author. Conferences are essential, in my opinion. They get writers–especially those of us who write full time–out among the living. There are those there who have achieved the dream and are willing to share their knowledge and lessons with the other attendees. There’s nothing like being in a room full of people who all share your goal, who understand the trials, the ups and downs, the disappointments, and the joys of the written word. Yes, you can get this from local writers’ groups, but at a conference, you get that along with publishers and agents. These types of connections can be invaluable when submitting works to an agent or editor. (Oh, I remember her/him from the XYZ conference.) Would it change my path or trajectory? Maybe, and honestly maybe not, but it is one thing that I wish I had done differently way back when.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I get asked all the time, “when did you know you wanted to become a writer?” Writers simply are. The urge to write, for me, has always been a part of my make-up. But I never dreamed that I would write for money…I mean, how is that possible? (Kidding!) But it never truly crossed my mind that writing could be my job until my sister-in-law and I decided to write a sexy pirate romance. Okay, keep in mind a few things. It’s 1992. We are living in the Caribbean and are perhaps a little bored with reading other peoples’ books. That’s how it started and then, of course, things changed. We moved back to the states and into different cities. I went to work full time; she was doing her thing. That’s when I decided I would write a contemporary romance. Flash forward many years (more than I even care to admit). I’ve had many close calls but never managed to publish. I signed with an agent, and she suggested that if I wanted to be traditionally published I should try my hand at writing Amish romance. Wait…what? Is there such a thing? Why, yes, there is. In fact, it’s quite a subgenre.
When I started out, I wasn’t sure what to do, how to formulate a book about Amish people falling in love. So I did my research into Amish life and traditions and then decided…I write romance, so I’m going to take all the parts of a romance, put them in a book, and make the characters Amish. This way, I can stay true to what I love and still see what could happen.
What could happen? I’m forty books in with Amish characters though now some are even mysteries. I do a great deal of research, and I think that, plus my love of traditional romances are what sets my books apart from others. My books are set in unique Amish communities, like Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Kish Valley, Pennsylvania. Most of my Amish romances have traditional romance novel tropes, but since I believe that all romances are character driven, the outcome for an Amish romance secret baby will be very different than one in a more urban, contemporary setting. Of course, the Amish books are clean, chaste, and most have a religious message that might not be found in a ‘regular’ romance.
Is this all I write? No, I’m one of those writers who has trouble staying in their lane. I love to write all sorts of romances and mysteries, though I am most known for my clean Amish romances.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I sort of already answered this question in explaining what I do and my brand. I had been saying for years as I struggled to find a publisher, that if someone would tell me what to write I would write it. Then here comes my agent. I thought she was a little unhinged when she said Amish romance. I mean, you say Amish romance. I say Witness (the movie). Conversation over. Well, not really.
The lesson to be learned here is that everyone needs to have the ability to be open to suggestions and willing to pivot. Now, not all are not going to be able to accept each challenge that comes their way. It’s just not possible. Nor is it healthy. I was also told at one point that I needed to try my hand at erotica. Uh…not my thing. So I let that pivot pass me by while I had friends who found success in it.
Keep in mind…sometimes a suggestion can seem impossible, strange, and completely out-of-this-world, but it might be just what you need. Mull it over. Try it on for size. It could give you a new direction. And if it doesn’t, go about your merry way knowing that your path will be revealed,
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
This is almost embarrassing to say, but I wrote part-time for nineteen years before I finally published. Yes, nineteen *years*. In those years, I moved umpteen times, held down a full-time job, changed genres more than once, came so close I could taste it–as far as signing with a new house that folded before it could even get started. I had a baby, what some would call a difficult child (chronic ear infections, behavior problems, ADHD, and a late diagnosis of autism, highly functioning) and helped my husband get not one, but two, college degrees. Like I said earlier: Writers simply are. Especially fiction writers.
I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t write, I can’t fathom *not writing*. It’s not in me. So to tell you that I wrote for nineteen years before I published sounds like such commitment, and to a non-writer it probably seems that way. But most writers I know are nodding. Would I still be writing fiction had I not become a published author? Yes. I wouldn’t be writing full-time, but I would be writing.
What does this all boil down to? I have a passion for romance novels (pun, sort of intended). I have loved them my entire life. I shared Harlequins and Silhouettes with my grandmother. I shared Johanna Lindsay books with my sister. I read romance novels every chance I got. In junior high, I would come home from school, get my homework finished as soon as I got in, then spend the rest of the evening reading Harlequins. I read one a night, not having a clue how much that author put into those books that I ripped through like a hot knife through butter. I LOVED them.
And I LOVE writing them. Resilience to me is nothing more than passion. If you have a passion for whatever it is that you do, resilience will follow.
Contact Info:
Website: https://www.amywritesromance.com
Instagram: amywritesromance
Facebook: Amy Lillard Author
Youtube: @AmyLillardAuthor
Other: Tiktok @amy_writes_romance
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A Murder Between the Pages By Amy Lillard: Review/Giveaway/Interview
Jan 16, 2021 | 2021 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Sandra Murphy
by Sandra Murphy
This week we have a review of A Murder Between the Pages By Amy Lillard along with an interesting interview with Amy. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book, and a link to purchase it from Amazon and an indie bookstore.
A Murder Between the Pages by Amy Lillard
Review by Sandra Murphy
Arlo and her friend, Chloe, have opened a bookstore and coffee shop. Arlo is in charge of books, while Chloe takes care of the coffee drinks. Anyone who’s tasted Arlo’s coffee, appreciates Chloe all the more.
Arlo pictured a book club of thirty-somethings, debating the merits of beloved books. Instead she got Camille, Fern, and Arlo’s guardian, Helen. They are in their eighties. A few months ago, an author died in front of the store, and the trio was instrumental in finding the killer. Now, they fancy themselves as amateur detectives.
They finagle a way to tag along when Arlo is summoned to Lillyfield mansion to pick up donated books. Judith Whitney, owner of Lillyfield, had a stroke a month ago. The ladies want to see if she’s well enough to talk. They’re reading Missing Girl written by the dead author and are sure it’s the story of Mary Kennedy who disappeared fifty years ago and was presumed dead. This could be their last chance to find out what really happened.
They have an added connection. Haley, the sister of Chloe’s helper in the café, works at Lillyfield. They’ll simply ask to see her and go from there. Unfortunately, when Helen comes to the top of the second floor stairs, she falls and is dead on arrival at the bottom of the steps. Surprisingly, she was already dead when she fell. The ladies agree not to interfere in an active investigation but have no qualms about investigating Mary Kennedy’s disappearance, believing the two cases are linked.
Add in a new boyfriend for Camille, Sam the upstairs private detective who may or may not be interested in Arlo, and a confession, it’s a wonder Arlo can keep track of the trio. They are a wily bunch.
This is the second book in the series. Arlo is a sensible woman, at least when away from the three older women. Camille, Fern, and Helen have no inhibitions about barging into the Sheriff’s office to tell him how to handle a case or into a suspect’s home. They may be older but have hidden depths—and are a delight. The uncertainty between Sam and Arlo will keep readers wanting more.
Lillard also has written eight other mysteries including the Kappy King Amish series, contemporary, Amish, and historical romance books, totaling thirty-four romances.
Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She’s editor for Peace, Love, and Crime: Crime Stories Inspired by the Songs of the ’60s, with twenty-two cozy stories. She also edited A Murder of Crows, twenty-one stories featuring animals and crime (no animals were harmed). She also writes for magazines, newsletters, and the occasional guest blog. Both anthologies are available at the usual outlets, print or ebook.
Interview with Amy Lillard:
KRL: How long have you been writing?
Amy: I actually starting writing in the stone age, aka the nineties. In the early nineties my husband and I got the opportunity to live in the Caribbean, which of course we promptly jumped upon. He had a job down there, and I ended up with a lot of time on my hands. Everyone said I would get bored without a job to keep me busy, and I suppose they were right – I got bored enough to write a book. ?
KRL: When did your first novel come out, what was it called, and would you tell us a little about it?
Amy: My very first novel came out in 2011. It was called Brodie’s Bride and was a short contemporary romance, fish out of water, marriage of inconvenience story. A couple wakes up married in Vegas and must navigate each other’s very different lives in order to wait out the annulment, and of course they fall in love for real long before that!
Amy Lillard
KRL: Have you always written mysteries/suspense and if not what else have you written?
Amy: Mystery/Suspense is actually a fairly new genre for me, but I find it both a challenge and great fun. I first started writing historical romance (sexy) then went to contemporary romance (sexy). Somehow I found my way to Amish (Christian), then to Amish Mystery (Christian) and on to mysteries, contemporary and clean (for the most part). I love writing all the different types of books. Because I tend to write several books a year, it helps to spread myself out. It keeps my ADD-right brain from getting bored.
KRL: What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book/series?
Amy: My editor had asked for a series around a book club and from there…well, I enjoy the older generation. I can’t really say where Helen, Fern, and Camille actually came from. One minute I’m staring at a blank a page and the next I have living, breathing characters. It’s quite remarkable.
KRL: Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to take away from your work?
Amy: I write primarily to entertain, but I do hope that readers come away from my books with a little something more. Even if it is the ability to see the world from someone else’s point of view.
KRL: Do you have a schedule for your writing or just write whenever you can?
Amy: I do schedule writing time. I get up at five each morning, which in itself is a feat since I am not a morning person. Even though I like to sleep in, I am more productive in the morning. There are just too many distractions as the day wears on. When my son was younger I used to stay up and write after I put him to bed. Since he’s twenty now, it’s hard to enforce that 8 P.M bedtime.
KRL: Do you outline? If not, do you have some other interesting way that you keep track of what’s going on, or what needs to happen in your book when you are writing it?
Amy: I outline like there’s no tomorrow! Seriously I like a plan. Truthfully I like a plan in every aspect of my life so it only stands to reason that I would plan my writing out. I guess I’m a little too ADD to write any other way! That’s not to say that I always stay true to my plans. Sometimes I spend all that time mapping out a story then sit down to write and my characters decide that’s not how the story should go at all. Thankfully, this doesn’t happen often, and these are usually my romances. I find that mysteries need to be planned out so that I can see the clues and make sure all the red herrings, evidence, and nuances are in place.
KRL: If you had your ideal, what time of day would you prefer to write?
Amy: My heart says all night long, but I suppose in truth the best time for me to write is earlier in the morning – 5 A.M to about 11 A.M is peak creative time for me.
KRL: Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?
Amy: Yes. Sorry to say it but it was very difficult for me to first get published. Unfortunately, and fortunately, writing is subjective. What one person thinks is fantastic another hates. It’s the same with editors. The stars have to align just right before most of us see that first contract. The trick, I suppose, is to keep on reading, writing, and submitting and never give up if it’s your dream.
KRL: Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you’d like to share?
Amy: When I signed with an agent it was for a long contemporary romance. She shopped it for a year and would forward me the rejection letters as they came in. It wasn’t long (especially since I was still working full time in retail) before I lost track of where she had sent my manuscript, who had read it, and who still hadn’t responded. So, I gathered up all my courage and called her directly. I had planned it all out in my mind – how her assistant or secretary would answer the phone, how I would leave a message, and that would be that. I got my agent on the phone right off and started to ask her about my work! It was during this conversation when she told me that I should write an Amish romance. At first I thought she was joking. Then I said something to the effect of “How am I supposed to write a book about the Amish?” She said to me, “You’re a writer. Write it.” Funnily enough, she didn’t remember saying those words to me, but they changed my life. I did write an Amish book. In fact I’ve written about twenty which led me to eventually writing mysteries. It’s so strange to me how we can say something to a person and not realize the impact it might have on them. This surely impacted me.
KRL: Most interesting book signing story-in a bookstore or other venue?
Amy: I did a signing a couple of years ago at Aaron’s Books in Lititz, PA. (Greatest bookstore ever!) It was the best, but I had met a bunch of readers for an early supper beforehand and they followed me to the signing. I believe there were eleven of us total which was great when we all arrived together. It looked like I had an entourage. So much fun!
I love to connect with readers, so I try to let people know if I’m going to be in an area (pre COVID-19 of course). I love meeting with women’s groups, book clubs and the like. I find that much more satisfying than book signings.
KRL: Future writing goals?
Amy: Tons! I have to say that I have an overactive muse and I have more stories to tell than I believe I will have time to tell them. I would love to continue writing mysteries and use those skills to write chick lit with a small mystery flair. I have children’s books that I would love to see available and more cozies and romances that you can shake a stick at.
KRL: Writing heroes?
Amy: I always cheer for the underdog, so I love a good “overnight” success story. That said, I so admire Stephen King who didn’t even have a home phone when the movie deal came in for Carrie. I love JK Rowling who was on welfare when Harry Potter was finally signed. On a more personal level, I admire Denise Grover Swank who managed to self-publish and make a NYT Bestselling career while being a single (widowed) mom of six kids – three of whom were adopted from different countries after her husband’s death. Simply amazing, and all simply beautiful!
KRL: What kind of research do you do?
Amy: I love doing in person research. There’s nothing like visiting a place to get a feel for it. Of course, with COVID-19 running rampant, those research trips have been seriously curtailed. My research for the Main Street Book Club is a completely personal experience. I grew up just on the other side of Corinth which is mentioned several times throughout the series. The last research trip I took with my best friend was to Yoder, Kansas, to visit the Amish community there. The Sissy Yoder/Sunflower Café mysteries will begin releasing sometime in 2022.
KRL: What do you read?
Amy: I read all over the place. I love Stephen King and Dean Koontz and Agatha Christie, but I also love romance, chick lit, and women’s fiction. I love suspense stories and who-dun-its. I’ll read pretty much anything once.
KRL: Favorite TV or movies?
Amy: I watch a lot of true crime documentaries and movies. These days I seem to gravitate toward series. Making a Murderer, Filthy Rich, anything about the West Memphis Three. And I love shows about serial killers. Which is very ironic seeing as how I can’t watch the news because it’s too depressing and fills me with anxiety.
KRL: Any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?
Amy: Publishing is changing rapidly. Currently I hear that there are over EIGHT MILLION books listed on amazon. Eight. Million. So my advice is to decide why you want to write. Do you want to tell one story, e.g. a family tale that you want to share? Do you want to entertain the masses? Do you want to make a certain best seller list? Have fame and fortune? Writing for money (as in writing is your full-time job) is a different animal than writing because you want to tell Grandma Sadie’s adventures on the Oregon Trail. Neither one is right or wrong, but knowing why you are going into the field will help you navigate from the start. Writers who write for a living don’t always get to tell the story of their heart and more often write for the reader more than for themselves.
KRL: Anything you would like to add?
Amy: Reviews are more important than the average reader believes, even the negative ones. I find that when I’m looking at books, I read the best and the worst of the reviews. The positive ones for obvious reasons, but the one-star reviews because here is where you’ll find out about pitfalls and various parts of the plot that might key you into something in that book that you yourself might not like or understand. So, leave reviews even if the book fell short for you. Just keep in mind that someone took the time to write that book and send it in to be edited. It’s the words of someone’s heart or at the very least their hard work and treat it as such.
KRL: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
Amy: Hmmm…this is always a hard one because I feel like I’m an open book. I suppose the fact that I’m a rabid pro football fan might come as something of a surprise. My husband and I are KC Chiefs season ticket holders. I also love watching the NFL games on television and I have been known to yell at the TV from time to time – but I only yell if the Chiefs are playing. Usually. 😉
KRL: Website? Twitter? Facebook?
Amy: www.amywritesromance.com (Yes, I know. I tried to keep up with an amywritesmysteries site, but it was too much with my work schedule.)
Facebook: Amy Lillard Author @AmyWritesRomance
twitter: @AmyLillard918
Instagram: amywritesromance
When Hattie Finds Love
Amy Lillard. Zebra, $8.99 mass market (304p) ISBN 978-1-4201-5526-6
Lillard (One More Time for Joy) centers the cheery conclusion to the Paradise Valley series on the power of positivity, sweet treats, and second chances. Hattie Schrock, 59-year-old co-owner of Poppin' Paradise Popcorn Shop, is well-known in the Amish community of Paradise Springs, Mo., for her easy smile and sunny disposition. When she and her cousin (and coowner) Elsie realize they've never seen widower Christian Beachy without his perpetual frown, they make a bet: Hattie has 60 days to get Christian to smile, or she must clean the copper pots in the popcorn shop for one year. Hattie invites Christian to a benefit event hosted by the Whoopie Pie Widows' Club, where the two bond over lively games of horseshoes (and whoopie pies). Though Christian still won't smile, Hattie realizes there's more to the gentle, withdrawn widower than meets the eye. But just as their friendship starts to bloom into something more, Christian discovers Hattie's bet, threatening to bring their romance to an end before it can really begin. Lillard's characters are satisfyingly three-dimensional and easy to root for, including Christian, whose cantankerous exterior belies a gentle and generous heart. The result is an enchanting testament to the benefits of looking on the bright side. (Dec.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"When Hattie Finds Love." Publishers Weekly, vol. 270, no. 43, 23 Oct. 2023, p. 34. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A772537173/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0b7519db. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
Lillard, Amy A MURDER FOR THE SAGES Kensington (Fiction None) $8.99 6, 25 ISBN: 9781496733498
A suspicious death sets a town buzzing. Was it accident or murder?
Sissy Yoder's been working in her aunt Bethel's cafe in the mostly Amish town of Yoder, Kansas, while Bethel recovers from a broken leg. She enjoys being away from her mother, who moved the family to Tulsa after leaving the Amish community, and who constantly complains that Sissy's not using her journalism degree and compares Sissy to her brother, a medical student. In fact, Sissy has some secrets of her own. She does very well financially, writing an anonymous agony aunt column for the local paper. And her best friend, geeky reporter Gavin Wainwright, may have a romantic interest in her. Since her arrival in the tiny house she shares with her dog, Duke, Sissy's been involved in solving so many murders that it's only natural she wonders how herb farmer Ginger Reed could've been run over by her own tractor. Several locals suspect Randy Williams, who just got out of prison, but the incompetent deputy sheriff Earl Berry is quick to pronounce it an accident. Unable to ignore Ginger's death, Sissy starts sleuthing with some surprising help from her aunt and Ginger's friend Naomi. Ginger had been fighting with her neighbor over a land disagreement and with her own brother over money. Could either of these disputes have provided a motive for murder? With Gavin by her side, Sissy continues to investigate, putting them all in danger from a desperate killer.
Plenty to enjoy here, though family angst and romance overshadow the mystery.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Lillard, Amy: A MURDER FOR THE SAGES." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A793537168/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8ecb90f5. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
Lillard, Amy THE SECRETS WE KEEP Crooked Lane (Fiction None) $29.99 6, 24 ISBN: 9798892421249
Twelve years after Nathan Fisher left his Amish roots behind, his father's death takes him back to Mississippi, where he grapples with confusion and self-reflection.
Driven by a desire to help his sister, who was born with a heart defect, Nate left home and pursued a career in professional baseball, hoping to earn enough money to get her a heart transplant. His dreams didn't come true, and in his job as a deputy sheriff in Oklahoma, he's been involved in a deadly shooting. Despite being cleared of wrongdoing, Nate can't shake the guilt that haunts him. He returns home for his father's funeral knowing he's not welcome, and even his mother refuses to speak to him since he's under the Bann, a strict Amish law applied to those who leave. The one person who does want to talk to him is Rachel Hostetler, the love of his life, who married after waiting four years for his return. Rachel has two children, but her husband vanished three years ago, and she lives with her father. Rachel's brother, Albie, supposedly hanged himself. Her father burned Albie's clothes and the rope and buried him in secret. Rachel, who can't believe Albie would die by suicide, seeks Nate's help. Albie was being bullied by a group of well-connected "Englisch"--non-Amish--boys Rachel thinks beat and murdered him. A deputy who's willing to listen helps get the body exhumed, raising new riddles only Nate can solve. Though they seem to have no future, Nate can't leave Rachel until the truth is revealed.
Fans of Linda Castillo will love this look at the Amish community, filled with mystery and forbidden love.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Lillard, Amy: THE SECRETS WE KEEP." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A837325677/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6a1d7bdd. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.