Join New York Times Bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter along with Jean Brunstetter in Holmes County for a dramatic new 6-part serial novel.
Meet businessman Joel Byler who has gotten himself into a financial bind and his eccentric, wealthy Amish father who is done bailing out his spoiled son. When will Joel learn he most pay for his own mistakes—and at what cost to his business, his fiancée, and his Amish siblings?
The Amish Millionaire -- A 6-Part Serial Novel #1: The English Son -- March 2016 #2: The Stubborn Father -- April 2016 #3: The Betrayed Fiancee -- May 2016 #4: The Missing Will -- June 2016 #5: The Divided Family -- July 2016 #6: The Selfless Act -- August 2016
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.
Joel still isn't owning up to his responsibility for his money troubles nor his breakup with his girlfriend. He is anxious for the will to be found and to reunite with Kristi as he thinks this will help him get his life back in order. Everyone around him can he see that he is the source of his own problems, and they are praying for divine intervention so that Joel may see the error of his ways.
As the days go by, there is a glimmer of hope that his childhood memories will remind him of happier times when life was simple and not as stressful as his English life seems to have become. Will he realize what he needs to do to have those tranquil days back again?
Joel's family is caring but not pushy as they offer support and concern while still allowing Joel to find his own way in his own time. The added insight into major and minor characters showed just how many people, known and unknown, God places in our lives to pray and care for us.
Is Joel starting to come around...a little bit? I'm not sure! When I started this series, I really assumed that Kristi and Joel would be up together at the end of the story. I'm not so sure of that now. I'm okay with that. I like Kristi. She is a good person.
I liked how Joel was so obsessed with his father's missing will that he could not think or talk about anything else. I'm glad that Kristi left him after he stole most of the money from their joint bank account.
Two stars for Elsie's description of hand washing dishes as "cozy-like wrapping up in a warm blanket on a cold evening." Seems she forgot about the grease and food debris floating on the water.
The search continues for the missing will, and Joel seems to be coming around. He visited his family and was in good spirits. He misses Kristi, but is starting to accept that she is out of his life. Kristi is getting on with her life and is not regretting her decision.
Wow! This was a crazy book. I enjoyed the addition of a new character. I also like seeing how Kristi and Joel are changing. Can't wait to see what happens next.
"For the love of money is the root of all evil". This was originally written as Bible scripture in 1 Timothy 6:10 but these words are now often quoted in our current society and they seem to apply to the troubles that Joel Byler is now experiencing in The Missing Will. Joel is still living as an 'Englisher' after leaving Holmes County and he is still obsessed with money and material possessions. His determination to find his deceased father's missing will and his seemingly unsympathetic reactions to his family's grief over Eustace Byler's recent death have left him estranged from his three sisters and dealing with the end of his relationship with Kristi Palmer.
This is the fourth book in The Amish Millionaire serial that was first published as six different novellas in 2016. I've enjoyed getting to know the members of this Amish family but I have a problem with Joel Byler. He is very self-centered and, even though I know that there is good in everyone, I find myself disliking him. Joel still blames his father for being "selfish" with his money and he seems unable to understand why Kristi decided to end their engagement. I look forward to reading the last two books to see how the authors resolve this story and to learn how they redeem the character of Joel Byler. The Missing Will also ends with another Byler family tragedy and I am eager to learn how these new circumstances will affect this Amish family.
Wanda E. Brunstetter and her daugher-in-law Jean Brunstetter certainly know how to portray the Amish lifestyle and I recommend The Missing Will to anyone who enjoys family drama.
In the fourth book of the "Amish Millionaire" series, the Byler sisters are spending many days going through their deceased father's belongings. It's a huge job because the house, barn, & other out buildings are crammed full of his many collections & he never threw anything away. While doing that, they are keeping their eyes out for their father's will. His sister, Verna, said he had one but she didn't know where he kept it. Meanwhile, Joel went out there to look for his father's will as well--he didn't think his sisters should have that much trouble finding it. Joel calls Kristi many times a day but she won't answer his calls. He sent flowers to her at work; something he had never done before, in an attempt to win her back. Kristi didn't want the flowers so she gave them to an elderly woman who lived in the nursing home where she worked. Joel went to talk to Kristi's dad but but he sent Joel on his way saying he should leave Kristi alone & get on with his life. Joel's sister, Doris, after many years of waiting & hoping is finally "in a family way." She felt ill at a family gathering & went upstairs to lay down. But she fell down the stairs, resulting in many bumps & bruises, a broken arm, & a miscarriage.
Wow . I've heard money is the root of all evil, and this story drives then point home. It's painful to watch Joel distance himself from everything and everyone truly important to him to chase money . Given his Amiab upbringing the unusual obsession with money is shocking and hurtful to his family. The ups and downs of the Byler family is fascinating, and heart breaking. Full of surprises this novellas keeps you turning the pages.
I want to hope there's redemption in store for Joel, but he just keeps digging himself in deeper and deeper: making it clear that money and 'worldly things' are more important to him than his family, or even his former fiancee. This ends on a cliffhanger.
Such an exciting story. I could hardly wait to get into the next book with the adventures in this story. I think Eustace Byler was the hero in this series. He loved his son and stood firm to prove it.
Yes, I am still reading a series that I absolutely do not like the main character, but now I have to finish it just to see how it ends. Why doesn't he help his sisters? UGH!
Read this in two hours. Enjoyed the most of the four in this serial novel so far, probably because it focused more on the Amish family vs the English couple. Love the Pennsylvania Dutch language.