As much as I like Patricia Johns, I just could not get into reading A Deputy in Amish Country. This story was slow in the beginning that it did not grab my attention. I tried to continue reading. I just could not get into the storyline. This is my honest review.

I enjoyed this story of small town deputy Conrad who is protecting a witness, Annabelle. I found both the storyline and characters appealing and likable.
The author has become one of my favorites and I will read whatever she writes.
If you’re looking for a clean, well written novel, you’ll want to read this one.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

The title of this book is A Deputy in Amish Country. The characters mainly are English, but they live next-door to an Amish family and have other Amish families in area. Annabelle is a bank teller who has identified the bank robber. After being questioned by the police department it is decided that she needs to go into witness protection until after the trial. Conrad who is the deputy knows Annabel from helping in the local soup kitchen. He decides to suggest that she is hidden away with him at his brother’s farm in Amish country. All of the characters are very likable. Annabelle has correctly identified the bank robber, but she has failed to mention several bits of information. The reader knows that when these things are made known that it will make a big difference in the way the police look at her. There is a Amish family next-door that has a little girl who comes over quite often to interact with Conrad and Annabel. As the story progresses, Annabelle is having second thoughts about being a witness. At one point she even runs away from the ranch. This review is a five star review and I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys reading a clean romance set in Amish country.
I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Heartwarming) or author (Patricia Johns) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

This was a charming story and it is a delightful start to a new series. I enjoyed the dual POV format that this book was written in. Getting that glimpse into both character's thoughts really is a big plus for me. I better connect to them and can better understand what goes on during a scene.

Conrad is a deputy that requested to provide protection to a witness to a murder. Annabelle is a bank teller who is being threatened and being set up as an accomplice to the bank robbery where the guard was murdered. Conrad and Annabelle volunteer at a local soup kitchen and the two have a somewhat limited connection from this service. As time goes on though, that connection strengthens.

Conrad and his brother live on a ranch in Amish country. Next door lives a father, Wollie; a grandmother, Linda and an adorable little girl, Jane. Jane is such a delightful addition to the story. I was able to picture her so very clearly.

This is a sweet, clean romance with a touch of murder, mystery and mayhem. Can Conrad fully protect the woman that he is coming to love? Will that love interfere with his job as deputy? Will the murderer and accomplices find Annabelle before the trial? Who is helping to frame Annabelle for crimes that she didn't commit? Well you will have to read the story to find out the answers and more!

Beautiful Love Story

Annabelle Richards finds herself in a difficult situation when she not only witnesses a robbery and murder, but she recognizes the culprit. Worse yet, the culprit recognizes her. When Annabelle agrees to testify in court, she falls into a witness protection situation. Enter Deputy Conrad Westhouse. Conrad is involved in the investigation of the crime and further involves himself when he volunteers to protect Annabelle. The protection plan? Annabelle will stay at his family's ranch until the trial. The ranch, which is located deep in Amish country, is a perfect location for maintaining her safety. Keeping Annabelle safe is one thing, but keeping the heart safe is another matter.

I loved this story for so many reasons. I loved that Conrad and Annabelle already knew each before the crime situation. Having worked together as volunteers at a local soup kitchen gave them a prior connection which added much to how their relationship continued to develop. I loved how their conversations and interactions added to their discoveries about each other which in turn contributed to their growing relationship. Elements of humor, intrigue, suspense and some doses of wisdom were also wonderful additions to the story. A few who contributed to those elements were other characters which included Conrad's brother, Wilder, their Amish neighbors, Wollie, Jane, and Linda, as well as some pesky and endearing farm animals.

All of these elements woven together are what make this such a fantastic story. But, the beautiful love story that is at its core just makes it that much more special and one that I highly recommend.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, HARLEQUIN via NetGalley. All comments and opinions are my own.

This is a Small Town Romance, and this is the first book in the Amish Country Haven series. This book is all about a Small Town Deputy Conrad protecting Annabelle who is a witness. Conrad lives next door to an Amish family. Annabelle really starts to like the Amish family that lives next door to Conrad. I love the characters in this book, and I love the small town feeling in this book. I loved the ending of this book so much. I do feel this book took a while to get going. This book does have a little suspense and action in it, but I would not call this book a romantic suspense because I think the romance is the main thing in this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Heartwarming) or author (Patricia Johns) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Title: A Deputy in Amish Country: A Clean Romance
Series: Amish Country Haven, Book 1
Author: Patricia Johns
Genre: Amish, Romance
Publisher: HARLEQUIN – Romance (U.S. & Canada), Harlequin Heartwarming
Release Date: February 22, 2022
Format: Kindle (read), Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 266
Source: NetGalley
Cover: The little girl’s smile is so genuine but somehow, I didn’t picture the Deputy in a beard. It still caught my eye in a set of thumbnails.

Description:
Annabelle Richards witnesses a murder and identifies the killer. Willing to testify, Deputy Conrad Westhouse volunteers to protect her by bringing her to his ranch which is in Amish country. Good at what he does, he can’t believe he is falling for the woman he is protecting. Can he still react to danger as fast when his mind is full of her?

Review:
Oh my. This is a love story. An honest-to-goodness love story. But there is also a real danger. The man Annabelle saw murder someone recognizes her just as she does him. And he has threatened her. But Annabelle says she will testify in court which means she must be in protective custody. Deputy Conrad Westhouse has met Annabelle from the soup kitchen where they both volunteer.

Conrad takes her to his ranch which is in the middle of Amish country where he lives with his brother. Annabelle fits in — maybe a bit TOO well. His brother likes her. His next-door Amish neighbors like her. Even their horses and cattle like her.

Add rustling of calves on a regular basis but only from Amish farms. Why just Amish? And then they take a calf from his next-door neighbors.

My favorite character was Jane, the little Amish girl from next door who decided long before Annabelle appeared that she liked popping in to say “hi” to the Westhouse men. She’s a little chatterbox and as cute as can be. She does, though, forget to tell anyone from her family where she is going. She warns Annabelle about the meanest rooster in the country, Methuselah.

We didn’t name our rooster on the farm when I was growing up but he was a mean one too.
Ever been pecked by a rooster? Hurts like blue blazes.

"A Deputy in Amish Country" could have been a sappy romance but instead, it was charming. Let there be no doubt that Conrad is a hunk. And Annabelle is beautiful, at least Conrad thinks so. But between the beginning and HEA ending (oh, come on — you knew it was going to have a HEA) there is a real story. While the main characters are Englishers, the Amish play a role in this book as well. And not just because they have calves being rustled.

This was a delightful clean read. So enjoyable. And yes, I highly recommend it. if you want a feel-good read, this is it.

I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of "A Deputy in Amish Country" via NetGalley from the publisher, HARLEQUIN – Romance (U.S. & Canada), Harlequin Heartwarming. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

#ADeputyInAmishCountry #NetGalley #PatriciaJohns

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
Conrad and Annabelle are thrown together after a robbery, one in which Annabelle saw and knows the robber. Conrad takes her into protective custody and keeps her at his farm for protection as she is set to testify against the robber.
But is she really that innocent? Will Conrad’s feelings turn into heartbreak if she had something to do with the robbery?
Definitely a page turner and the Amish related additions are heartwarming.