Simple Deceit — Nancy Mehl

Deception Threatens a Town's Simple Soul

Gracie Temple has grown to love the Mennonite town of Harmony, Kansas, and the house bequeathed to her by her late uncle. New friendships among the residents, including the handsome farmer Sam Goodrich, seal her decision to leave Wichita and do freelance graphic design work from her new home.

But when Gracie is assigned a new client who is a developer intent on building an upscale retirement community in Harmony, the town is split. Some welcome the business opportunities while others fear the exploitation of the Mennonite lifestyle and the loss of their simple ways.

As the citizens of Harmony begin to turn on each other, an anonymous note accusing Gracie of being the mother of an abandoned baby causes Sam to seemingly turn his back on her. Soon Gracie is reconsidering her choice to stay in town.

But before she can make a final decision, a major winter storm moves in that will put a friend in danger and take the life of another Harmony resident. The blizzard also forces Gracie to make a choice that just might lead to the final straw between her and Sam.