Letters of Wisdom by the gifted storyteller Wanda Brunstetter, is book three in her Friendship Letters series. This is a contemporary Christian Amish series that tackles series issues that everyone, not just Amish, might face. This book was the most intense.
Irma Lapp’s story is told in this captivating novel. Her story of physical and emotional abuse was often difficult to read, but it was true to life. The characters were skillfully crafted. They were believable and made the story come to life. This story is one of repeated behavior, forgiveness, and second chances. It pulls on your heartstrings.
I was totally invested in Irma’s story and at times wished I could hug her. Through the deft pen of the author, my emotions soared and plummeted with the characters’. This tale is full of surprises and kept me turning pages well into the early morning hours. I was fascinated with this poignant story.
After the story ends, there are author notes, recipe, and discussion questions. I highly recommend this riveting Amish novel. It would make a great book club choice. Even though it is book three in the series, it could easily be read and understood as a stand alone. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by the publisher but these are my honest words.
Wanda E Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Life Hacks written by Wanda Brunstetter, extraordinary author of all thing Amish, is a must have for everyone. This helpful book is a collection of hundreds of tips for cooking, cleaning, gardening, health, and much more. Every house needs this book.
Besides all of the useful life hacks, there is a lot of information on the Amish presented in this lovely book. Readers will learn about Amish and Mennonite communities, values, and lifestyle. Woven throughout the entire book are bits of wisdom. I really enjoyed reading those. A variety of beautiful pictures are sprinkled among the information. There is a listing of each person who submitted a hack and where they live.
It was a nice surprise to see that the majority of information in this book was new to me. I was able to glean a lot from it. The book was well organized and easy to navigate. I could find certain subjects without issue.
I highly recommend this pretty, helpful book. It would make a great addition to any home library and a perfect birthday, Valentine’s, Easter, Mother’s Day, or shower gift. I rate it five out of five stars. A copy was provided by the publisher, but these are my honest words.
About Author Wanda E. Brunstetter
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.
Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.
When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Sisters by the Sea by best selling and award winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter, and Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach is a lovely collection of novellas. These four Amish Contemporary Christian stories are written by four women in the same family about four sisters. It is a delightful collection that goes together beautifully.
This is the story of the four Lambright sisters from Amish country near Shipshewana and Middlebury in Indiana. Each novella tells the tale of each sister’s trip to Amish community in Pinecraft or Sarasota, Florida. The stories are as different as the authors and sisters.
The writing is excellent. It takes a bit to get accustomed to the less strict ways of the Florida Amish, but I was totally captivated for each lovely story. The characters were skillfully designed and realistic. It was easy to become engaged with them and their stories. The details made me want to visit Florida and the Pinecraft community.
Each novella had an inspirational message as well as life lessons included within its entertaining pages. Humor and twists were used along with some Amish words. The pages number 401 for the four stories, which make it easy to completely finish one in a sitting. Each story was something original that I had not come across yet. At the end of each novella there is a recipe from the story, along with a picture and bio of the author.
I highly recommend this collection. It would make a nice gift for someone. Fans of Amish fiction will enjoy it. It receives a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Barbour Publishing, but these are my honest words.
About the Authors
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written nearly ninety books translated into four languages. With over 12 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nation’s most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards. Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her with giving readers a deeper understanding of the Amish people and their customs. When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. To learn more about Wanda, visit her
Jean Brunstetter became fascinated with the Amish when she first went to Pennsylvania to visit her father-in-law’s family. Since that time, Jean has become friends with several Amish families and enjoys writing about their way of life. She also likes to put some of the simple practices followed by the Amish into her daily routine. Jean lives in Washington State with her husband, Richard Brunstetter Jr., and their three children but takes every opportunity to visit Amish communities in several states. In addition to writing, Jean enjoys boating, gardening, and spending time on the beach. Visit Jean’s website at http://www.jeanbrunstetter.com.
Richelle Brunstetter lives in the Pacific Northwest and developed a desire to write when she took creative writing in high school. After enrolling in college classes, her overall experience enticed her to become a writer, and she wants to implement what she has learned into her stories. Just starting her writing career, Richelle’s first published story appears in The Beloved Christmas Quilt beside the writings of her grandmother, Wanda E. Brunstetter, and her mother, Jean. Richelle enjoys traveling, her favorite destination being Kauai, Hawaii.
Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach became interested in the Plain people’s culture as a young child after visiting the Lancaster Amish with her parents. Lorine is a music teacher and lives in southwest Idaho with her husband, Bil. They have three daughters and two grandchildren. Lorine enjoys playing the piano, singing, writing, gardening, cooking, and traveling.
Letters of Comfort by best-selling author Wanda E. Brunstetter is Book Two in her series The Friendship Letters. This is a Christian, contemporary Amish fiction. It may be read as a stand alone, but since the book shares characters with Book 1, readers might benefit from reading it first. The author does a stellar job keeping readers appraised on the activities that happened previously.
This is the story of Doretta. The book opens with Doretta and finance William joyfully counting down the days until their wedding. Then tragedy strikes in the form of a buggy accident and things swiftly change. Doretta is critically injured and in a coma. William is killed without her even knowing it.
From page I was invested in the story and its characters. My heart hurt for Doretta for the deep loss she had incurred. Her story was written in an open and honest way. This book shows ways that help those who are hurting. There is a strong message of faith woven throughout the entire fabric of this novel.
With themes of grief, depression, struggles, friendship, faith, and second chances, this is an emotionally charged story. Depression is handled in a realistic way. The characters are expertly crafted and believable. The dialog is authentic. For the most part the story is predictable, but the message of hope and restoration is genuine. This is a deeper, realistic subject series than most Amish ones that I have read. These issues are things that happen to everyone.
I highly recommend this book. It will stay with you and make you ponder over its finely crafted tale for a long time. This would make a great reading group choice. After the conclusion of the story, is a recipe from it. Following that are a note from the author, discussion question guide, and a listing of all of the books written by the author. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by the publisher but these are my honest words.
PRODUCT DETAILS
ASIN : B0BZR27CJ4
Publisher : Barbour Fiction (August 1, 2023)
Publication date : August 1, 2023
Language : English
File size : 3860 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
Print length : 322 pages
Page numbers source ISBN : 1636094872
About Book Two
Doretta Schwartz used to be so happy and passed her positive attitude along to friends in several letters she wrote each month. But that all changed the day she learned of her fiance’s death and a heavy weight of depression fell upon her. Feeling empty, she puts away her letter writing and won’t even respond to calls from friends. William’s twin brother, Warren, is also grieving his loss, while at the same time, trying to be supportive to his parents and Doretta. Doretta responds to Warren’s friendship, but is he just becoming a replacement for the once-in-a-lifetime love she lost?
About the Author
Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of over 100 books with more than 12 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and CBD.
I love cookbooks and will read them like a novel. Going through the sections and looking at pictures of the dishes is exciting as I imagine serving something to family and friends. This newest cookbook offering from beloved Amish author Wanda Brunstetter is fast becoming one of my favorites. There is so much in this beautiful, helpful book.
Throughout the book are over 200 recipes, inspirational quotes, advice, and vivid pictures. There are several indexes with recipe contributors, recipes by each section, and the extremely helpful index of main ingredients. This book is well organized and inviting. It has a spiral binding that allows it to open and lay flat for easy reading.
One of the many things that I love about this useful cookbook is that the ingredients used are ones most cooks have on hand. Some of the recipes will spark a memory of something that was made years ago by a family member. Those are ones that I am eager to try.
I highly recommend this lovely Amish cookbook. I gave two for Mother’s Day gifts and the recipients were delighted. These make great gifts for showers, birthdays, Christmas, or “just because”. If you are a cookbook collector, you will not want to miss having this one. It has many “must try” recipes. This wonderful cookbook gets a 5 star rating from me.
Letters of Trust by best selling author Wanda Brunstetter is the first book in her Christian contemporary Amish series The Friendship Letters. This poignant novel is about a struggle some people have and its affects on the lives of loved ones besides themselves. The life lessons in this book are timeless.
This is the story of Amish newlyweds Eleanor and Vic Lapp. After their marriage they left Indiana and moved back to Vic’s hometown in Pennsylvania. Eleanor and her best friend, Doretta Schwartz, keep in touch with each other by writing letters. As best friends do, they pour our their hearts in these letters knowing their secrets will be kept confidential.
Life is going well for the newlyweds in Pennsylvania. Vic is working and has a ride there with a friend. His family loves Eleanor. Then, one day their lives change when a tragic accident happens.
The author did an amazing job with this heartbreaking story. The characters were realistic and easy to befriend. I love that some Pennsylvania Deutsch words were used. I was able to understand their meaning through the conversation.
In this novel, the subject matter was deeper and more serious than some of the author’s books and most Amish books. It was presented from both sides which I appreciated. This is a book that has stuck with me for days after finishing it.
I highly recommend this book. It is perfect for a reading group. There are discussion questions, author notes, and a recipe from the story included at the end. How fun would it be to eat a treat served in the book while discussing it?! I rate this 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Barbour Publishing, but these are my honest words.
The Apple Creek Announcement is book three in the Creektown Discovery series by best selling author Wanda Brunstetter. This is a Amish contemporary series that is so interesting. If you have not read the first two you will be able to follow this one easily. The other two are just as marvelous as this one.
Two of the series favorites are back again. I love Lois and Orley as well as their antique store. In fact, they are so lovable I wish they had a series dedicated to their back story and future.
This book is the story of Andrea and Brandon. He is a veterinarian and she is a piano teacher and artist. They are newly engaged and have a few issues. Some of the hiccups are minor and others are not. They each write a letter to the newspaper advice column Dear Caroline wanting help. Brandon strikes up a friendship with Orley and asks for his advice, also.
Author Brunstetter has written another page turning story. I was immediately captivated and because engrossed in the tale and characters. At times I even wanted to offer advice. I loved the fact that the engaged couple had a cat and dog that spatted. The author writes believable characters and situations. The dialog was authentic for Amish and taught me a few new words. There are mystery, redemption, humor, conundrums, family issues, adoption, wedding issues, and cute animals.
There are so many life and spiritual lessons in this book. This is a story of love, hope, faith, family, forgiveness and perseverance. As you read make sure you let those messages sink in. After you have read the book, you will want to go back and ponder the lessons. Be sure to catch the recipes at the end after the story.
I highly recommend this book and the other two. It would make a nice selection for a book club. The entire series would be a great choice for that. Fans of contemporary fiction will enjoy this book. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided but these are my honest words.
The Sugarcreek Surprise by award winning author Wanda Brunstetter is a Christian Amish romance novel. It is Book 2 in the Creektown Discoveries Series. It can easily be read as a standalone book.
This is the story of Lisa Miller, a young Amish schoolteacher. She has lived with her grandparents since both of her parents died tragically in an accident. They have taken wonderful care of her. However, she was traumatized by her parents’ death and cannot see a future outside of the safety of their home.
It is also the story of Paul Herschberger. He has moved from Indiana to Sugarcreek, Ohio after his fiancé cheats on him. He is a relatable character and a really nice guy. Mrs. Brunstetter has written a heartwarming, realistic story that is beautiful. It was easy to become invested in the story and lives of Lisa and Paul. There are life and spiritual lessons woven throughout this tale. Twists and turns kept it interesting. I loved it so much that I read it in one sitting. It is definitely a page turner.
Readers that enjoyed Book 1 will be happy to “see” some familiar faces pop up as they read this book.
This is one of my favorite books by the author. It has a lovely story with a heartfelt message. True to her style, the author included recipes at the end along with discussion questions. I love it when authors include those.
I highly recommend this. Any Amish fan will swoon over The Sugarcreek Surprise. Reader groups would enjoy this as a selection. It gets 5 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by the publisher, but these are my honest words.
The Walnut Creek Wish by award winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is a Christian Amish contemporary, romance, fiction. This is the first book in the Creektown Discoveries series. In it we meet Amish antique store owners Orley and Lois Troyer and struggling married English couple Jeff and Rhonda Davis.
The author takes on real life issues in this novel. Her characters will face personal and marital issues that most all of us have faced. If we have not, we know some family or friends who have. True to her unique style of writing, Brunstetter weaves life and inspirational messages throughout her story. I became invested in the characters and what was happening in their life. I rejoiced when they were happy and became sad when they were. The faith messages of turning to God, trusting Him, and the power of prayer were encouraging.
Two of my favorite things are that after her tale concludes, the author treats readers to recipes we have read about previously and a list of questions for group or individual study. This book would make a nice choice for a reading group. It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was received from the Publisher but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book 1 in the Creektown Discoveries Series from NYT Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter
An Antique Store Becomes a Place of Healing for Broken Hearts
Welcome to Walnut Creek, Ohio, where Orley and Lois Troyer own an antique store they call “Memory Keepers.” Though knowledgeable in antiques and their repair, their real talent is in mentoring folks who are hurting and don’t even know it. Enter Jeff, a restaurateur, and Rhonda, a hotel manager, who recently moved to Amish country for the slow pace, but the change of scenery puts even more stress on their already strained marriage. Will an antique sled be the last straw, or will it lead to unexpected revelations and the fulfillment of dreams?
About the Author
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author, Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nations most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.
Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.
When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Best Selling author Wanda Brunstetter has written another fantastic page turning tale with her newest book, The Crow’s Call. This Amish story is different than the ones most often told by author Brunstetter. It is still a Christian Amish Romance but has a mystery to it. I absolutely loved it and could not put it down!
This is the page turning story of the King family. It is so captivating that I was immediately invested in the story. The lives of the family members were very interesting. Each character possessed a unique personality that made them easy to befriend. All are believable and well thought. Even some of the characters from The Prayer Jar series show up in this new series. I enjoyed the new Englisch characters and the lessons they taught.
The story opens with tragedy and heartbreak. It then deals with the timeless issues of loss and dealing with a new normal. The author has offered so many life and faith lessons in this book. Her writing style is superb. There are surprises and twists as the tale unfolds. The conversations are smooth and sound authentic.
I highly recommend this book. The mystery is intriguing, the romance sweet, and the Amish delightful. I loved the inspirational message woven throughout this 5 star book. I am eagerly awaiting Book #2! A copy was provided by the publisher but these are my honest words.
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written more than 100 books translated in four languages. With over 11 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nation’s most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.
Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many
Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.
When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many
Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess 