Serenity definitely has a secret that she keeps “close to the vest” but actually she has two. Even her two best friends Trini and Abby have no clue. I admired Serenity and her strong faith in light of her hardships and challenges. She had a strong friendship and protector in Stephen who lived next door. But I also enjoyed her friendship and closeness with Angel, her buggy horse. She used him as a sounding board and anyone that tried to interfere was promptly bitten by Angel. When danger arrived in their safe community, it had everyone on edge, especially Serenity. This book had it all, friendship, love, family, faith and danger. It was a fast read for me because I wanted to know the secret(s).
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review.

I have just loved these Heart of the Amish series. In this book, Serenity’s Secret, Serenity Miller who owns the Pink Petal flower shop finds a hand carved horse at a garage sale. For some reason she just loves it and buys it. Then she is attacked in her barn and left tied up. Her neighbor and friend Stephen Lanz rescues her. He secretly loves her and she loves him but Serenity has a secret and she knows that she will never marry. Will she tell Stephen the reason? Can they find who and why she was attacked ? This book is full of hope, Faith, friendship, romance and a touch of mystery. I hope these authors write more series together!
Thank you to Barbour publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. This is my honest review! Must read!!

Sadly I just couldn't get into this book. I DNFed it. It may be because I haven't read the others in the series.

Serenity's Secret by Lisa Jones Baker is book #6 in The Heart of the Amish series. This is the story of Serenity Miller, Arthur, Illinois' local florist, and Stephen Lantz, a local bean and corn farmer. As their friendship grows, Serenity's secret is tearing them apart. And who are the mysterious men who tied up and gagged Serenity in her barn? Will these issues ever be reslolved so life can go back to normal again?

This was a really fun read to me, as one gets re-acquainted with old friends and makes new ones. And I learned a lot of different things about plants, both health-wise and the different meanings of them. If you're an Amish fiction fan, and you've read other stories in this series, you won't want to miss this one!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Barbour for an advanced e-pub of this book. All opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.

#SerenitysSecret #NetGalley

Rating: 5 stars ~ Genre: Amish Mystery ~ Pages: 261 ~ Publish Date: 1 Oct 2024

Serenity has a secret. She is almost a recluse except for owning The Pink Petal Flower Shop. When not there, she is at home—alone, with her doors locked. She lives with the knowledge that she can never marry and never have even one sweet 'bobbli'.

But recently something has been happening on her property. Could it be trespassers? Or is it someone with more sinister motives? A neighbor has been showing up doing such chores as chopping wood. Or repairing something. She stays hidden. But one day, she is attacked and this same kind neighbor saves her from further harm.

The neighbor, Stephen Lantz, also carries a private burden. And somehow, these two hurting people grow to be friends.

“Serenity’s Secret” is a poignant story and sixth in the ‘The Heart of the Amish‘ series. Serenity is first introduced in the third book, “The Quilt Room Secret“, also by Lisa Jones Baker. However, book six can be read without having read “The Quilt Room Secret“. You will enjoy this story as Serenity does have a reason to lock her doors. And Stephen is right, there is something very wrong and she needs protecting.

I received a complimentary DRC of “Serenitys’ Secret” via NetGalley from the publisher, Barbour Publishing | Barbour Fiction. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 5 stars
Series: The Heart of the Amish, book 6
Cover: Poignant
Pages: 261
Publish Date: 1 October 2024
#SerenitysSecret #NetGalley #LisaJonesBaker

This is book six in the series. I've read all the others and have enjoyed each one. In this book Serenity and Stephen seem like they would be the prefect couple, but Serenity has a secret she's keeping, will Stephen find out and if he does will it break them apart? It's a great story with mystery, friendship, love, forgiveness, all the things that make a wonderful book. Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this book, a review was not required it was my own.

There were several things I loved about this book. Real issues, characters growing and changing, trust in God, all of those were very apparent. I loved the suspense, and the mystery of the story. Of course the happy ending is nice.

My biggest issues were that the formatting was not set up well. It jumped back and forth between characters without page breaks or any markings. I'd often have to go back and re read something because I thought it was a continuation from the paragraph above. The next issue is, I can't believe that Amish women would call their best friends their "besties", or an Amish man telling his brother he wants to hear someone's "hubby". Using those words took me out of the story. There were a few grammatical errors,

Serenity Miller loves the life she has where she finds natural remedies and explores garage sales. However, after her neighbor Stephen Lantz saves her from trespassers to her property, life can never be the same. Too many secrets keep her from believing she could love and marry. When trouble comes brewing, will they find themselves? I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Serenity’s Secret by Lisa Jones Baker is the sixth book in The Heart of the Amish series. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series, but I recommend reading the series in order (it will allow you to get to know the characters and their stories). Serenity’s Secret is well-written and engaging. I like that the character’s are realistic with strengths and flaws. It is nice that the relationship between Serenity and Stephen began as a friendship and slowly developed into something more. Of course, if the pair are to have a future, Serenity must reveal her secret. I liked Serenity’s relationship with her rescue horse, Angel. Angel is a horse who knows who he likes and, more importantly, whom he does not like. Serenity’s family and friends have learned to steer clear of Angel, especially the men. I enjoyed catching up with Trini, Abby, and their families. Abby needs to be less pushy and slow her roll if she plans to push Gabriel into courting her. The story is told from Serenity and Stephen’s point-of-view. This does lead to some repetitive details. There is one scene near the end that had me laughing out loud (it cracked me up). I enjoyed learning about the meaning of the different flowers. It is amazing what you can say with a bouquet of flowers. The story has a sweet ending that left me smiling. I like how Serenity’s Secret combines romance, mystery, hope, suspense, forgiveness, and faith into one pleasing story. Serenity’s Secret is a touching tale with intruders on the farm, a secret shame, the Pink Petal, a rescue horse, a thoughtful family, and facing the future.

Serenity Miller is the owner of the Pink Petal Flower Shop. She lives quite close to the Lantz brothers' home they inherited from their Aendi Margaret. When trespassers invade her property Stephen finds and rescues her. His protective nature kicks in along with the growing love he feels for the woman. But Serenity has a secret. She has determined to stay single because of it.

I received an e-copy of the book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. I am expressing my own personal opinion about this novel. This is the sixth book in the series. Abigail and Trini, her best friends along with the Lantz brothers are in the interesting group of characters.
The author, Lisa Jones Baker, writes about Epstein Barr and how it has affected Serenity's past, present and future after suffering with it as a girl. After the trespass Stephen and Serenity grow closer, but her secret is a barrier. There is a shadow over the community as the culprits are being sought. Why did they pick Serenity's property? Are they still watching? What is Serenity's secret?
I like that Aunt Margaret is still a presence in the story as characters recall things she has said or done that was meaningful in their lives. Information about the Epstein Barr virus is interesting. I didn't realize how devastating is can be. This is a good addition to this series with challenges of life today.
Grief and trauma are felt in the story. Faith is crucial to get past these situations.
I give this a 4.5 rating out of 5. I highly recommend Barbour Publishing for stories of faith, honoring God and clean reads.

Serenity's Secret by Lisa Jones Baker

Serenity Holds Her Secrets Close
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.

Serenity Miller has much to love about life as the owner of The Pink Petal in Arthur, Illinois, and enjoys trying natural remedies and exploring garage sales. Then comes the day her neighbor, Stephen Lantz, saves her from trespassers on her property and their friendship deepens into an attraction Serenity knows can never lead to marriage. She holds secrets she can never divulge, despite Stephen’s way of wooing her. But how can Serenity return to her life of contentment after a taste of love? And when danger returns, will it steal her last hope for a bright future?
This is Serenity Miller and Stephen Lantz's story.
Only Gott knew her secret. For some reason, it played heavily on her mind today. Serenity Miller wasn’t sure why. Perhaps it was because of the gusty wind that continuously picked up speed and its low, eerie whistle as it met the cracks in her tall, old barn in Arthur, Illinois.
Maybe it was due to the strong flashes of bright lightning that made loud crackling noises. Or the root of her uneasiness could have something to do with the unique smell of rain and damp air—nature’s obvious signals that a May downpour would start any second.
Before sunrise, Stephen Lantz stepped to the side of the blacktop that led from the Lantz house to Serenity’s and walked toward her home. As usual, he made his way to the side entrance. He knocked. And hummed.
No answer. He knocked louder. Still nothing. He turned to face her shed and glimpsed Serenity’s buggy through the large window.
She’s not inside. I’ll check her barn.
Behind the bales, he spotted Serenity face down on the floor.
Immediately, he knelt next to her and began to untie the face covering. She fought.
His voice shook when he attempted to reassure her. “It’s okay, Serenity. It’s me. It’s Stephen! I’m going to roll you over so that you’re face up. Here.”
I recommend this book.
Serenity's Secret by Lisa Jones Baker is a 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Lisa Jones Baker.

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This never works. Please fix!

Serenity’s Secret (The Heart of the Amish, 6)
Lisa Jones Baker
Genre: Amish Mystery, Romance
Readers are fascinated with the Amish life; I believe it is because deep down inside we all want a simpler lifestyle and a deeper walk with the Lord; perhaps we desire the innocence that we see in the Amish books.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Our main characters are sweet but flawed. Like all of us they have things that bother them, things they aren’t proud of. Serenity Miller lives alone in Arthur, Illinois, where she owns the Pink Petal, a flower shop. She enjoys the simple things in life. Serenity has faced adversities that would have broken a lesser woman. She has taken the challenges life has thrown at her and used them to draw closer to the Lord. Serenity is blessed with friends and family that love her dearly.
Stephen Lantz is Serenity’s neighbor. He is interested in more than friendship, but he isn’t sure Serenity is ready for a relationship. They help each other out as needed. When some men hold her hostage in her barn, Stephen comes to her rescue. He wants to take care of her. What begins as a friendship turns into so much more. However, Serenity has a secret, she allows the secret to influence her thoughts and her choices. Readers watch as Serenity comes to terms with her secret. She learns that even what we perceive as a storm will Passover and there will be sunshine again. Stephen is the perfect mate for Serenity; he has an inner strength that she can depend on.
This is the sixth book in this series however, it stands well alone.
I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley.

Serenity's Secret has mystery, suspense, and a wholesome clean romance. Serenity Miller is saved from an attack in her barn by Stephen Lantz. Being friends for a long time, their lives are about to change.

The Amish life in the story is well-written and the everyday life of their dedication to God and hard work is inspirational. I liked the way the characters strengths and flaws are both laid out for the reader. Lots of surprises in the story that kept me turning the pages. Everything wrapped up nicely in the end.

I received a complimentary copy from the author; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.

Serenity has a good life in her Amish community with her flower shop and her horse Angel. She has strong friendships, including one with her neighbor Stephen. When Stephen finds her in her barn tied up from trespassers, he feels more protective and starts to realize that he might want more than friendship. Serenity has secrets, never plans to marry, and avoids conversation that would expand their relationship. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I love relationships that grow from friendship. This is a sweet romance with a little bit of mystery and suspense. I enjoy reading this series very much.

In Serenity’s Secret, Lisa Jones Baker invites us into the heart of Amish country, weaving a tale rich with faith, hope, and unexpected romance. Serenity Miller, the owner of The Pink Petal in Arthur, Illinois, finds joy in simple pleasures, from exploring natural remedies to scouring garage sales. However, her life takes an emotional turn when her neighbor, Stephen Lantz, steps in to protect her from trespassers on her property, leading their friendship to blossom into something deeper.

What makes this story shine is the sweet romance intertwined with the complexities hidden within Serenity’s heart. She carries a heavy secret that shapes her decisions and understanding of love. Serenity’s journey serves as a poignant reminder that “there’s good in every situation … pay close attention, or you’ll miss the lesson that life teaches us.” Her struggles echo the truth that life isn’t perfect, and neither are people.

The impact of Serenity’s secret, along with the cozy mystery woven throughout, keeps the reader engaged. Gentle reminders of faith, love, contentment, and forgiveness resonate beautifully, providing a backdrop for reflections on trusting God’s plan, even when circumstances feel overwhelming. As Serenity confronts external threats and her internal battles, the narrative illustrates the transformative power of love.

Stephen emerges as a protective figure, balancing strength with tenderness, offering the reassurance Serenity needs. Their connection beautifully highlights how love can bloom in unexpected places and inspire the courage to share our secrets.

As both Serenity and Stephen confront their fears and vulnerabilities, the truth of 1 Peter 5:7—“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you”—comes to mind. They learn to surrender their burdens to God, letting go of preconceived notions and personal dreams. Through this process, they embrace the support offered by one another and God's guidance, which helps them flourish amid challenges and leads them toward a deeper understanding of His true plan for their lives.

Overall, Serenity’s Secret is a delightful read filled with warmth and authenticity. Baker crafts a narrative that speaks to the heart, celebrating the beauty of friendship, romance, and the importance of family and community. I found myself swept away in Serenity’s world; her journey is one I won’t soon forget. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of Amish fiction and anyone seeking a story that intertwines faith, love, and the courage to share secrets with those you love and trust.

I received a digital ARC of Serenity’s Secret from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review in any way or for any reason. My honest and unbiased opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing style, the pacing, and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

In Serenity's Secret, the sixth book in The Heart of the Amish series, I jumped in without reading the earlier books, and even though I usually dislike constant reminders in a series, it worked out this time. The pacing was slow ant first, and it took me five days to finish, which is longer than usual for me. I was busy during those days, so it probably would have been more like a three-day read under normal circumstances. As I read more, I found myself getting drawn into the story. Early on, I thought I had figured out Serenity's secret, but I was completely surprised by the ending! It was so well done that I’m now considering going back to read the previous five books.

The relationship between Serenity and Stephen is sweet, slowly evolving from friendship, which is one of my favorite tropes because it feels more believable. At one point, Trini (secondary character) mentions that when something bad happens to one of the women, the guy falls for them. Nothing like mentioning the trope within the story.

The story had a bit of suspense in it with the trespassers on Serenity’s property. Although I was confused about why this would even play out this way eventually Baker explained everything and it all made sense.

Because this is part of a series, there are many secondary characters, but they were easy to follow thanks to the reminders of who they are. Trini plays a pretty major role in the story and her predicament helps Stephen with some of his thinking about Serenity.

As a Midwesterner myself, I appreciated that the book is set in Arthur, Illinois. By the end of the book, I was hooked on the series and Baker. I can’t wait to read more!

The Heart of the Amish continues with this heartwarming story about Serenity, an Amish lady living on her own in a small Illinois town. Serenity’s love for others is so encouraging. Angel, her horse was quite the protector. Enjoyable characters, a secret that is not easily discovered, faith and love all make this an enjoyable read.

Serenity and Stephen are perfect for each other. Furthermore, they have both fallen in love with the other. Why does Serenity push Stephen away whenever he tries to talk about a future together? Could it be her emotional upset from the trauma she just went through?
This is a story of love that goes beyond, superficial, deep into the heart of God and reaches through to others as we love them in return. This is about lasting friendships, strong sibling relationships and a community that comes together to help when needed. This is about believing God can make a way, even when there seems to be no way. Hardships seem to come one after another but the faith of Serenity and Stephen remains strong. Will they eventually be able to drop the barriers surrounding their hearts and surrender to a love they never dreamed possible? Lisa Jones Baker truly touches the heart with this one along with a bit of intrigue and mystery that kept me turning the pages.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher but was under no obligation to write a review

Book six of the series. Not only is this a friends to lovers romance but also a mystery which will keep you guessing until the end. Loved it.