A Time to Laugh Romance Collection

Love & Romance Collections

by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Gail Sattler, Janice Thompson

Get set for five lighthearted adventures in romance from three leading authors. Lois rebounds into the arms of a clown. Shy Tabby takes a ventriloquism class. Distrustful Shannon has a secret admirer. Carolyn is pursued by man who is opposite of her dreams. Tangie puts a Broadway career on hold. Enjoy a few laughs as the brokenhearted learn that a little bit of playful romance can turn life’s disappointments around.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Anthologies, Fiction, Christian Romance

478 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

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.

To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

Reviews

[Alexandra Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get motivation to pray in all circumstances! 💞

What the narration lacked (think: repetitive character details, same-same intimacy descriptions) they more than made up with by inspiring prayer in the everyday.

[Danielle Turko · Rating 4 out of 5]

These 3 authors brought 5 humourous stories together to make any reader swoon, and laugh. In TALKING FOR TWO, Tabby has a hard time letting anyone one, a fact that started when she was a small girl and her younger sister was born, and their father displayed obvious favourtism. Ever since then she has developed a terrible stutter, and so is incredibly shy. She can only beat her stutter when she's with her best friend or the children they work with in their daycare. One day she accidentally stumbles into a ventriloquism class and discovers that when she's talking with her dummy helps calm her stutter, or maybe it her teacher? Tabby's younger sister Lois isn't looking for a new man in CLOWNING AROUND, since she is focusing on her new relationship with God, but Joe the clown seems to keep popping up in her life. Joe can't get past his funny antics long enough to stay serious with Lois, but even a clown can't be funny all the time. In SECRET ADMIRER, Todd has been in love with his best friend's sister for years, but he has been far more likely to pester her instead of letting his feelings show. Unfortunately, one prank too many has left Shannon unable to trust him, let alone want to spend time with him. It will take a miracle, with secrets attached, to get them together. Mitchell signs up for a cooking class because when the question of WHAT'S COOKING comes up for his sister's rehearsal dinner, he quickly learns he can't cook. What he doesn't expect is to fall head over heels with his teacher, Carolyn. There's only one snag: Carolyn is 9 years older than him, and she's only interested in someone closer in age to her. Finally, Tangie is tired of failed productions, so when her grandma mentions that her church is hiring a director for the church productions, she hesitantly accepts. While the job isn't as easy as she thought it would be, the biggest surprise is the SWEET HARMONY she finds with Gregg, the church's music director.
I really enjoyed this book, and you didn't even really notice there were different authors. They managed to thread the stories together so that even though they didn't join, they did feel like the same person wrote them.

[Sarah Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Time to Laugh" is a romance collection of five contemporary stories written by Wanda Brunstetter, Gail Sattler, and Janice Thompson. Tabby takes a ventriloquism class in "Talking for Two" and finds love and learns to love herself. Lois finds Jesus and a wholesome lifestyle in "Clowning Around." Will she take Joe seriously? "Secret Admirer" has Shannon getting notes in her desk. Is it Todd? "What's Cooking" is by Gail Sattler. Will Carolyn accept Mitchell? I can personally relate to this story because I am older than my husband. Lastly is " Sweet Harmony" by Janice Thompson and readers go to Harmony, New Jersey. I love this story because of the reference to Tangie's grandparent ( I miss mine) and the challenges of love and living a godly life.

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

TALKING FOR TWO
Absolutely a delightful story, with many messages in it. One wonders if puppets, and dummies were used today to help kids overcome problems such as shyness if it would help. With love helped restored a courage to be herself. Recommitting to God, that she was worthy. Beautiful told story and of a friend who was her Earth angel to push and help her as needed.
CLOWNING AROUND
Shannon was teased when she was younger, and what was even harder he was a friend of her brother. He now is back in town, has he really changed.
She is now faced with two wanting her attention, which one is real with his affection.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, however, most of these stories were downright predictable and a little repetitive. I did enjoy the stories up until their endings though I just felt like the stories wrapped up too quickly for them to be even remotely believable. My favorite story was the last one which deserves 4 stars.

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a Romance Collection - five contemporary stories by authors - Wanda E. Brunstetter, Gail Sattler and Janice Thompson.

All 5 stories were exceptional.
1. Talking for Two
2. clowning Around
3. Secret Admirer
4. What's Coking
5. Sweet Harmony

Christien Fiction stories of laughter uniting hearts.

Throughly enjoyable reading.

[Marvy Herrera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unexpect, but just what a need it. Even do, has many funny moments. It also has some unexpected themes, that been honest i think are the first booki read that take time to develope them. So i think it's a great choice for read!

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic anthology! Some of the stories made me laugh more than others. These stories were definitely Contemporary Christian fiction. I was able to read a copy of this book via Overdrive, but it did not in any way affect my review. All opinions are my own.

[Doreen Nicolet]

Didn't like.

[~Bri~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book just not my favorite. I wasn't really like into it. Just a bit different then what I like.

[Smutty~ Vibes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book it has 5 short stories well written loved them all.. only thing is I wish they were all full length books I wanted to keep reading more about the people in the stories I didn't want them to end :)

[Tima · Rating 2 out of 5]

Laughter and romance can certainly go together as this anthology reveals. Five contemporary romance stories are told with humor and love. Told from a Christian prospective the five stories are tied together by faith, love and humor.

It's a little bit hard for me to review an anthology with different authors. I really didn't enjoy the humor or plot in a couple of these stories. They felt extremely rushed and lacked feeling. Two of the stories were sweet, but I failed to laugh, so the humor wasn't really there for me. But one of the stories was really fun and entertaining. I'm definitely going to be checking out the author for anything else she might have written. It was a cute book, but I probably should have paid more attention to which authors were writing for it before I picked it up.

I received this book free of charge from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

[Trisha Arias · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't even finish one story !! It was the worst book ever !!!

[Loren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet.

[Amy Roelant]

5 quick CF reads. All romance stories- being a clown, ventriloquist, secret admirer, cooking together, and putting on a play.