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The Prayer Jars #1
The Hope Jar
A Brand-New 3-Book Series from New York Times Bestselling Author Wanda E. Brunstetter.
What happens when making an elderly Amish couple very happy means going along with a lie that gets bigger by the day?
Michelle Taylor is not who her new family in Lancaster County believes her to be. The Lapps were looking for their long-lost granddaughter when they met Michelle and she assumed the identity of Sara Murray. Once homeless and hopeless, Michelle has come to love her new Amish friends and even considers the idea of romance among them.
Finding an old blue jar in the barn that is filled with slips of paper containing thoughts, quotes, and prayers by an unknown author becomes a boost to Michelle’s budding faith— but also convicting. How can she tell the truth without hurting the ones she has truly come to love?
What happens when making an elderly Amish couple very happy means going along with a lie that gets bigger by the day?
Michelle Taylor is not who her new family in Lancaster County believes her to be. The Lapps were looking for their long-lost granddaughter when they met Michelle and she assumed the identity of Sara Murray. Once homeless and hopeless, Michelle has come to love her new Amish friends and even considers the idea of romance among them.
Finding an old blue jar in the barn that is filled with slips of paper containing thoughts, quotes, and prayers by an unknown author becomes a boost to Michelle’s budding faith— but also convicting. How can she tell the truth without hurting the ones she has truly come to love?
311 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2018
435 people are currently reading
3159 people want to read
About the author
Wanda E. Brunstetter
208 books2,327 followersNew 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 394 reviews
September 1, 2019
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he Hope Jar is the first book in The Prayer Jars series by Wanda E. Brunstett. It usually lifts my heart to read an Amish novel, but this one lost my attention early on It had a great concept and the Lapps were exceptionally amiable. This story contains love, faith, deceit, and hopefully forgiveness.
What happens when making an elderly Amish couple very happy means going along with a lie that gets bigger by the day?
Michelle Taylor is not who her new family in Lancaster County believes her to be. The Lapps were looking for their long-lost granddaughter when they met Michelle and she assumed the identity of Sara Murray. Once homeless and hopeless, Michelle has come to love her new Amish friends and even considers the idea of romance among them.
I waited so long to have the opportunity to read the book. However, I found myself very disappointed after all the wait. To me, the characters had little depth to them and the storyline dragged on and on. I felt like it would never end. . . . And the extended deceit by Michelle masquerading as Sarah just put knots in my stomach.
Finding an old blue jar in the barn that is filled with slips of paper containing thoughts, quotes, and prayers by an unknown author become a boost to Michelle’s budding faith— but also convicting. How can she tell the truth without hurting the ones she has truly come to love?
I was impressed with the number of Pennsylvania Dutch language that was included, but I was disappointed in the Lapp's usage of the English words of Grandpa and Grandpa instead of the Pennsylvania Dutch words. That just didn't ring true for me.
The Bible verses were inspirational. However, if the church preaches in high German, which a majority of the people can't understand and the Bible is read only by the head of the household to other members of the family, then how did the phenomenon occur?
This is a clean and wholesome book. I was frustrated that it ended abruptly and had a cliffhanger, which definitely squashed any H.E.A. for this loving family. A cliffhanger is one thing I really do not care for! So, I will pass on the rest of the series. Others may be enthralled and wish to do so. In that case, I hope they enjoy their glimpse into a literary adventure into the Amish world.
..
he Hope Jar is the first book in The Prayer Jars series by Wanda E. Brunstett. It usually lifts my heart to read an Amish novel, but this one lost my attention early on It had a great concept and the Lapps were exceptionally amiable. This story contains love, faith, deceit, and hopefully forgiveness.
What happens when making an elderly Amish couple very happy means going along with a lie that gets bigger by the day?
Michelle Taylor is not who her new family in Lancaster County believes her to be. The Lapps were looking for their long-lost granddaughter when they met Michelle and she assumed the identity of Sara Murray. Once homeless and hopeless, Michelle has come to love her new Amish friends and even considers the idea of romance among them.
I waited so long to have the opportunity to read the book. However, I found myself very disappointed after all the wait. To me, the characters had little depth to them and the storyline dragged on and on. I felt like it would never end. . . . And the extended deceit by Michelle masquerading as Sarah just put knots in my stomach.
Finding an old blue jar in the barn that is filled with slips of paper containing thoughts, quotes, and prayers by an unknown author become a boost to Michelle’s budding faith— but also convicting. How can she tell the truth without hurting the ones she has truly come to love?
I was impressed with the number of Pennsylvania Dutch language that was included, but I was disappointed in the Lapp's usage of the English words of Grandpa and Grandpa instead of the Pennsylvania Dutch words. That just didn't ring true for me.
The Bible verses were inspirational. However, if the church preaches in high German, which a majority of the people can't understand and the Bible is read only by the head of the household to other members of the family, then how did the phenomenon occur?
This is a clean and wholesome book. I was frustrated that it ended abruptly and had a cliffhanger, which definitely squashed any H.E.A. for this loving family. A cliffhanger is one thing I really do not care for! So, I will pass on the rest of the series. Others may be enthralled and wish to do so. In that case, I hope they enjoy their glimpse into a literary adventure into the Amish world.
..
August 7, 2018
Desperate times lead to desperate measures taken. At least they do in the case of Michelle. Facing homelessness and having an abusive boyfriend she flees her situation not quite knowing where she's going or where she'll eventually end up. At the transportation station she is mistaken for an elderly Amish couple's granddaughter. She tries to tell them at first it's not her that's the granddaughter but the grandmother is persistent and she can barely get a word in edgewise. Eventually figuring she'll go along with it for just a short while after all what can be worse than her current situation. She grows to love her new Amish "family" and the members of the community. Her conscience really bothers her when she has to do things to prevent the grandparents real granddaughter from coming around. She hates deceiving the sweet older couple who have taken her in.She is even in a love triangle with two men interested in her, An Englisher and an Amish man. She doesn't pursue either though feeling undeserving of both even though she does enjoy their company. Her life starts to unravel after an injury and her conscience tells her to tell someone the truth. What will happen when she leaves and the real granddaughter shows up at the grandparents house? I can't wait to read the next book in this series. This book was exceptionally great!
Pub Date 01 Aug 2018
Thank you to Barbour Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Pub Date 01 Aug 2018
Thank you to Barbour Publishing, Inc. and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 20, 2018
The Hope Jar
Wanda Brunstetter
Oh how I love a Wanda Brunstetter story! She had my emotions all over the place. Once I started reading THE HOPE JAR it was very hard to stop! The twists and turns made it impossible to put down, as I had to know what was going to happen to Michelle after living the big lie she had everyone believing! What an awesome story. All of Wanda's characters feel genuine and relatable and put your emotions on one heck of a roller coaster ride. As you are reading, you will find yourself cheering for all of them, praying they can work out their problems and be happy once again.
Once you start reading THE HOPE JAR it will be very hard to put down! Wanda sure knows how to put a new twist on Amish fiction. Michelle pretends to be the long lost grand daughter of Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp. They are at the bus station looking for their grand daughter Sara Murray and mistakenly think Michelle is Sara. Michelle's life is at a dead end and she goes along with the Lapps thinking she will pretend to be Sara for a bit until she can get her life under control. While she is on their farm, she learns what it is like to be truly loved and cared for, something she didn't have growing up. She's never had a real family as she grew up in foster care and no one ever took the time to really get to know her and love her.
THE HOPE JAR is without a doubt one of the best Amish books I've read in 2018 so far. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters. When Michelle finds the prayer jar in the barn I found myself thinking of those prayers over and over again! Wanda Brunstetter is such a wonderful and heart tugging author and she had me laughing and crying on the very same page. I am now going to read all of her previous books that I have somehow missed and she is now an auto buy author for me! THE HOPE JAR is the first book in the Prayer Jar series and I can't wait to read the second book, The Forgiving Jar which comes out in February. Grab your copy today and get on the couch!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Wanda Brunstetter
Oh how I love a Wanda Brunstetter story! She had my emotions all over the place. Once I started reading THE HOPE JAR it was very hard to stop! The twists and turns made it impossible to put down, as I had to know what was going to happen to Michelle after living the big lie she had everyone believing! What an awesome story. All of Wanda's characters feel genuine and relatable and put your emotions on one heck of a roller coaster ride. As you are reading, you will find yourself cheering for all of them, praying they can work out their problems and be happy once again.
Once you start reading THE HOPE JAR it will be very hard to put down! Wanda sure knows how to put a new twist on Amish fiction. Michelle pretends to be the long lost grand daughter of Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp. They are at the bus station looking for their grand daughter Sara Murray and mistakenly think Michelle is Sara. Michelle's life is at a dead end and she goes along with the Lapps thinking she will pretend to be Sara for a bit until she can get her life under control. While she is on their farm, she learns what it is like to be truly loved and cared for, something she didn't have growing up. She's never had a real family as she grew up in foster care and no one ever took the time to really get to know her and love her.
THE HOPE JAR is without a doubt one of the best Amish books I've read in 2018 so far. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters. When Michelle finds the prayer jar in the barn I found myself thinking of those prayers over and over again! Wanda Brunstetter is such a wonderful and heart tugging author and she had me laughing and crying on the very same page. I am now going to read all of her previous books that I have somehow missed and she is now an auto buy author for me! THE HOPE JAR is the first book in the Prayer Jar series and I can't wait to read the second book, The Forgiving Jar which comes out in February. Grab your copy today and get on the couch!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 19, 2018
This was by far Wanda's best book to date . My all time favorite book. I can not wait to read the next book in the series The Forgiving Jar.
January 28, 2020
Two and a half stars
Leaving an abusive boyfriend Michelle ends up in Lancaster County, a place which is home to a number of Amish. Among them are Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp. Never having met Sara, they mistakenly take Michelle for their granddaughter who is coming to visit. Michelle goes along with it. At least until he can figure out what to do next. Meanwhile she has to make sure that the real Sara Murray of kept away till Michelle is ready to leave. But then Michelle never counted on getting attached to the couple she now calls Grandma and Grandpa or others, both Amish and English or hovering between the two, who become her friend in this community. When she finds an old jar filled with prayers Michelle wonders about the person who wrote them? Will she ever find out? Or will the real Sara arrive and spoil this comfy home? Since she had abusive parents and was later sent into a foster family, this is really the only time Michelle has felt safe and loved in her life. But it can’t last. Once the real Sara turns up, no-one will want to know Michelle.
Although I am a Christian, Christian fiction is not a favourite genre for me. I read very little of it. But the premise of this sounded interesting. Given Michelle’s background it was not hard to have some empathy for her situation, while still feeling sad and outraged for Mary Ruth and Willis who were being deceived. My biggest issue though was the amount of repetition in this novel and the time it took to get to the end. For me, it just seemed to go on too long. It felt like it could have been cut considerably and it would have improved the end result. There is also one particular plot point concerning Jerry, Michelle’s ex, that is thrown in and yet never goes anywhere. Like it gets lost.
Although I liked the characters and the idea behind the story, I felt there was too much explaining about the Amish way of life and with all the bible quotes and prayers it struck me as being overly preachy. Also the book ends in a cliff hanger as there is at least one more book at least to come. Not sure I will read any more books in this series. Sorry, all who are big fans of this author, this was just an okay read for me. However, if you are a fan of Christian fiction you may like this book a lot more than I did.
Leaving an abusive boyfriend Michelle ends up in Lancaster County, a place which is home to a number of Amish. Among them are Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp. Never having met Sara, they mistakenly take Michelle for their granddaughter who is coming to visit. Michelle goes along with it. At least until he can figure out what to do next. Meanwhile she has to make sure that the real Sara Murray of kept away till Michelle is ready to leave. But then Michelle never counted on getting attached to the couple she now calls Grandma and Grandpa or others, both Amish and English or hovering between the two, who become her friend in this community. When she finds an old jar filled with prayers Michelle wonders about the person who wrote them? Will she ever find out? Or will the real Sara arrive and spoil this comfy home? Since she had abusive parents and was later sent into a foster family, this is really the only time Michelle has felt safe and loved in her life. But it can’t last. Once the real Sara turns up, no-one will want to know Michelle.
Although I am a Christian, Christian fiction is not a favourite genre for me. I read very little of it. But the premise of this sounded interesting. Given Michelle’s background it was not hard to have some empathy for her situation, while still feeling sad and outraged for Mary Ruth and Willis who were being deceived. My biggest issue though was the amount of repetition in this novel and the time it took to get to the end. For me, it just seemed to go on too long. It felt like it could have been cut considerably and it would have improved the end result. There is also one particular plot point concerning Jerry, Michelle’s ex, that is thrown in and yet never goes anywhere. Like it gets lost.
Although I liked the characters and the idea behind the story, I felt there was too much explaining about the Amish way of life and with all the bible quotes and prayers it struck me as being overly preachy. Also the book ends in a cliff hanger as there is at least one more book at least to come. Not sure I will read any more books in this series. Sorry, all who are big fans of this author, this was just an okay read for me. However, if you are a fan of Christian fiction you may like this book a lot more than I did.
July 24, 2018
This is one of the best books that Wanda Brunsetter has ever written as far as I'm concerned. It seemed so real to me and not like a work of fiction. The moral of the story is that lies and deception leads to more lies and deception. I was immediately drawn into the story. I felt so sorry for Michelle Taylor. She reached out for the love she never had even though it wasn't meant for her.
Michelle Taylor was born into an abusive family and that's pretty much all she knew in her growing up years. That is until The Children's Services showed up at her house and placed her and her siblings in foster care. From that time on Michelle never saw or had contact with her brothers again. Life wasn't all that much better in foster care either.
After high school Michelle set out on her own . She drifted from town to town in hopes of finding a better life for herself. Having it hard to pay her rent and buy groceries she lived from paycheck to paycheck.. It didn't help that she had an abusive boyfriend who certainly didn't love her. Desperate to get away from him she packed up and went to the bus terminal to move on to the next town.
While preparing to buy a bus ticket an older Amish couple approached her mistaking her for someone named Sara Murry, their granddaughter. They were so nice and where there to take her home with them. The temptation was strong to go with them and so that's what Michelle did. She reached out for something that wasn't really hers, hoping to belong to a family and find love.
Michelle was just a unfortunate girl who had little choice of the family she was born into. All she really wanted was someone to show her love and care about her. How long will she be able to pull this charade off ? Will Sara Murray eventually show up at the door of her grandparents one day?
If you enjoy Amish Fiction or are a fan of Wanda Brunstetter you won't want to miss reading The Hope Jar. I was given a copy of this book by the Author . All I've shared here in this review are my honest thoughts and opinion about the book. I highly recommend it .
Michelle Taylor was born into an abusive family and that's pretty much all she knew in her growing up years. That is until The Children's Services showed up at her house and placed her and her siblings in foster care. From that time on Michelle never saw or had contact with her brothers again. Life wasn't all that much better in foster care either.
After high school Michelle set out on her own . She drifted from town to town in hopes of finding a better life for herself. Having it hard to pay her rent and buy groceries she lived from paycheck to paycheck.. It didn't help that she had an abusive boyfriend who certainly didn't love her. Desperate to get away from him she packed up and went to the bus terminal to move on to the next town.
While preparing to buy a bus ticket an older Amish couple approached her mistaking her for someone named Sara Murry, their granddaughter. They were so nice and where there to take her home with them. The temptation was strong to go with them and so that's what Michelle did. She reached out for something that wasn't really hers, hoping to belong to a family and find love.
Michelle was just a unfortunate girl who had little choice of the family she was born into. All she really wanted was someone to show her love and care about her. How long will she be able to pull this charade off ? Will Sara Murray eventually show up at the door of her grandparents one day?
If you enjoy Amish Fiction or are a fan of Wanda Brunstetter you won't want to miss reading The Hope Jar. I was given a copy of this book by the Author . All I've shared here in this review are my honest thoughts and opinion about the book. I highly recommend it .
August 7, 2018
Amish Fiction with a touch of romance.
I am not a huge fan of Amish fiction as many of the books are very formulaic. But Brunstetter's book definitely puts a new twist on Amish fiction. Amish grandparents go to the bus station to pick up a granddaughter they have never met as their daughter left home during her rumspringa years and never returned. Now she has died leaving a letter for her daughter telling her about the grandparents.
They pick up a red haired girl thinking she is their granddaughter because their daughter had red hair. But this girl is not Sara, she is running away from an unhappy life. This seems to be just the place she needs to hide so she claims to be the granddaughter.
Michelle, the "supposed" granddaughter, has had a rough life: abusive parents, uncaring foster parents, and an abusive boyfriend. When she meets Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, she sees caring people who have shown her love like never before. She blossoms under their love and learns to love the simple life of the Amish; but as she blooms, she feels more and more guilty about the deception she is committing. Brad, an Englisher, who is driving the Amish for the summer to help with college expenses where he is studying to be a pastor, awakens Michelle's interest in the Bible and its good news which leads to more guilt on her part. Ezekiel, an Amish man, who is interested in Michelle is lying to his parents; and she watches the discord it creates. Could she face telling Willis and Mary Ruth the truth?
I loved Willis and Mary Ruth. Although I thought they were a bit naive in never asking Michelle for any proof that she was their granddaughter. But they definitely portrayed the hardworking, loving, caring people that the Amish are known to be. And their lesson on forgiveness showed Michelle a true picture of the Gospel as well as a second chance at life.
I would have given this a 5, but the ending seemed abrupt. Of course, it set up things for a second book; but I would have liked to have seen at least a couple of the sub-themes tied up.
I will definitely read book #2 as I hope to see if Brunstetter continues this type of story with more twists and turns and less focus on the romance.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Shiloh Run Press through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
I am not a huge fan of Amish fiction as many of the books are very formulaic. But Brunstetter's book definitely puts a new twist on Amish fiction. Amish grandparents go to the bus station to pick up a granddaughter they have never met as their daughter left home during her rumspringa years and never returned. Now she has died leaving a letter for her daughter telling her about the grandparents.
They pick up a red haired girl thinking she is their granddaughter because their daughter had red hair. But this girl is not Sara, she is running away from an unhappy life. This seems to be just the place she needs to hide so she claims to be the granddaughter.
Michelle, the "supposed" granddaughter, has had a rough life: abusive parents, uncaring foster parents, and an abusive boyfriend. When she meets Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, she sees caring people who have shown her love like never before. She blossoms under their love and learns to love the simple life of the Amish; but as she blooms, she feels more and more guilty about the deception she is committing. Brad, an Englisher, who is driving the Amish for the summer to help with college expenses where he is studying to be a pastor, awakens Michelle's interest in the Bible and its good news which leads to more guilt on her part. Ezekiel, an Amish man, who is interested in Michelle is lying to his parents; and she watches the discord it creates. Could she face telling Willis and Mary Ruth the truth?
I loved Willis and Mary Ruth. Although I thought they were a bit naive in never asking Michelle for any proof that she was their granddaughter. But they definitely portrayed the hardworking, loving, caring people that the Amish are known to be. And their lesson on forgiveness showed Michelle a true picture of the Gospel as well as a second chance at life.
I would have given this a 5, but the ending seemed abrupt. Of course, it set up things for a second book; but I would have liked to have seen at least a couple of the sub-themes tied up.
I will definitely read book #2 as I hope to see if Brunstetter continues this type of story with more twists and turns and less focus on the romance.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Shiloh Run Press through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
October 10, 2019
I liked the idea behind it. The family was perfect, the whole Amish feel. However it was VERY repetitive. It felt like there was so much added and repeated, it could have been shorter with the same end result. I am curious to see what happens next though!
August 13, 2018
THE HOPE JAR is the first book in Ms. Brunstetter's new series. Ms. Brunstetter is a somewhat new author for me, and while I understand that some authors tend to lean heavily to the squeaky-clean, innocence of the Amish, I was not expecting this to be a question and answer book about the Amish and why they believe what they do and do what they do and how are they different. The story kind of gets lost in the telling and I struggled with the realism of some parts of the story.
To be honest, I don't even know what to say about this book. I ended up skimming, I like the idea that the second book in the series has the real granddaughter but I'm kind of wondering if it'll be the same as this story with it being a textbook about the differences in Amish and the why's and what for's. Most Amish fiction fans know this stuff, and anyone who is being introduced to Amish fiction for the first time would likely be turned off by this story.
And I know Ms. Brunstetter is one of the most popular Amish authors so, don't take my word for it. Maybe a story about an imposter nonAmish girl is a story you will absolutely love. It might just be me... so, underneath this is a link to read a free excerpt at amazon.
I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.
To be honest, I don't even know what to say about this book. I ended up skimming, I like the idea that the second book in the series has the real granddaughter but I'm kind of wondering if it'll be the same as this story with it being a textbook about the differences in Amish and the why's and what for's. Most Amish fiction fans know this stuff, and anyone who is being introduced to Amish fiction for the first time would likely be turned off by this story.
And I know Ms. Brunstetter is one of the most popular Amish authors so, don't take my word for it. Maybe a story about an imposter nonAmish girl is a story you will absolutely love. It might just be me... so, underneath this is a link to read a free excerpt at amazon.
I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.
September 9, 2018
Believe it or not, this is the first Wanda E. Brunstetter book that I have read and I will definitely be looking for more to read. This was truly an inspiring story. The Hope Jar weaves the tale of two young women who have experienced tragedy and are at a crossroads in their lives. Sara has lost her mother and does not have much of a relationship with her step-father and half brother, Michelle has never really been part of a family at all. She grew up in the foster system. Sara’s grandparents have been estranged from their deceased daughter and Sara did not even know they existed until after her mother's death. She writes to them and tells them that she would like to come and meet them. They didn't know they had a granddaughter and are looking forward to meeting and building a relationship with her. When they see Michelle at the bus station getting ready to move somewhere, anywhere else, they mistakenly think her to be their granddaughter. Michelle is at a hopeless phase in her life, so she readily pretends to be their granddaughter and returns with them to their Amish farm. When Michelle finds an old blue jar in the barn filled with quotes, thoughts and prayers, they inspire her to have faith that things are never hopeless. But how will she ever tell this family she has grown to love about her lies and betrayal? Will they be able to forgive her? This story is well written and flows easily. I enjoyed the people who lived in this Amish town, they were friendly and accepting to Sara (Michelle). There is pain, fear, deceit, love, hope and triumph all present in this story, but it is beautifully written and wonderfully executed. This is the first book in the Prayer Jar series, and it left us with some unanswered questions which I hope will be answered in the next book. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys Christian or Amish fiction as well as anyone looking for an inspirational story with a Christian overtone. The publisher, Shiloh Run Press, provided me with this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions are my own.
August 15, 2018
Inspiring is the word I would use to describe this book. There is pain, fear, deceit, love, hope and triumph. This story is beautifully written and wonderfully executed. The Hope Jar weaves the tale of two young women who have experienced tragedy. Sara has lost her mother and Michelle has never really felt like a part of a family at all. Sara’s grandparents, who have been estranged from their deceased daughter, are looking forward to meeting and building a relationship with their granddaughter. When they see Michelle at the bus station, they mistakenly think her to be their Sara. Michelle is at a hopeless phase in her life, so she readily pretends to be their granddaughter and returns with them to their Amish farm. An old blue jar in the barn filled with quotes, thoughts and prayers inspires Michelle to have faith that things are never hopeless. But how will she untangle the web of lies she has spun? How will the family she has come to love handle the betrayal? What has become of the real Sara? This is the first Amish fiction book I have read. It did not disappoint.
August 7, 2018
As I turned the final page on this book there was a letdown, I was really enjoying this quick read, and wanted more!
There are a lot of unanswered questions here, and am glad that there is another book to come!
I loved the concept of this story, really a bit different, and yet I could see how it happened. The author seemed to answer some questions, but were they really how all turned out? I really wanted to know more about their real granddaughter, and yet in my heart I wanted the best for the imposter, she needed a break, and maybe God put her in the right place?
An Amish story that will keep you page-turning to the end.
I received this book through Net Galley and Barbour Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.
There are a lot of unanswered questions here, and am glad that there is another book to come!
I loved the concept of this story, really a bit different, and yet I could see how it happened. The author seemed to answer some questions, but were they really how all turned out? I really wanted to know more about their real granddaughter, and yet in my heart I wanted the best for the imposter, she needed a break, and maybe God put her in the right place?
An Amish story that will keep you page-turning to the end.
I received this book through Net Galley and Barbour Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.
July 20, 2018
A jar filled with notes and Scriptures can be the key to the growing faith of one of the main characters. Mistaken identity, deceit, forgiveness and love all play a big part in this heartwarming story. I enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
August 8, 2018
The Hope Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the first novel in The Prayer Jars series. Sara Murray’s mother passed away two weeks ago without revealing the identity of her birth father. Sara is going through her mother’s Bible when she finds a letter telling her about her Amish maternal grandparents. Excited to find out more about her family and potentially her birth father, Sara writes to them about her impending visit. Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp are at the bus station looking for Sara. They notice woman with red hair who resembles their deceased daughter, Rhoda and approach her. Michelle Taylor is looking for a fresh start away from her abusive boyfriend and the Lapp’s provide it. Mary Ruth is so excited to meet her granddaughter that she does not give Michelle, a chance to talk and she soon finds herself off to their home. Michelle quickly settles into life on the Lapp’s farm enjoying the serenity and the lifestyle. She feels guilty for deceiving them, but Michelle does not know how to correct the situation. One day in the barn, Michelle finds a blue mason jar filled with slips of paper. On the slips of paper are quotes, prayers, thoughts and Scripture that speak to Michelle and budding faith. Michelle has come to love the Lapp’s, but what will happen when they discover the truth. Can they forgive her deception?
The Hope Jar is a lovely, fulfilling story. I thought it was well-written with steady pacing which makes the book easy to read (and enjoy). The Hope Jar captured and held my attention. It is an intriguing and thought-provoking novel. The book contains good characters with my favorite being the Lapp’s. They are such sweet, welcoming down-to-earth people. Mary Ruth shares her love, wisdom and faith with her family, friends and the people she encounters on her journey through life. I could feel the Lapp’s heartbreak when they found out that Michelle was deceiving them. While The Hope Jar focuses on Michelle, there are sections with Sara’s story from her point-of-view. I hope we find out more about Sara in the next novel. We get to see Michelle grow throughout the story, though, she still has a way to go (as do we all). At the end of the book, there are still unresolved issues. The Hope Jar is a story of faith, hope and love. I look forward to reading The Forgiving Jar when it releases.
The Hope Jar is a lovely, fulfilling story. I thought it was well-written with steady pacing which makes the book easy to read (and enjoy). The Hope Jar captured and held my attention. It is an intriguing and thought-provoking novel. The book contains good characters with my favorite being the Lapp’s. They are such sweet, welcoming down-to-earth people. Mary Ruth shares her love, wisdom and faith with her family, friends and the people she encounters on her journey through life. I could feel the Lapp’s heartbreak when they found out that Michelle was deceiving them. While The Hope Jar focuses on Michelle, there are sections with Sara’s story from her point-of-view. I hope we find out more about Sara in the next novel. We get to see Michelle grow throughout the story, though, she still has a way to go (as do we all). At the end of the book, there are still unresolved issues. The Hope Jar is a story of faith, hope and love. I look forward to reading The Forgiving Jar when it releases.
August 25, 2018
FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE PUBLISHER THROUGH NET GALLEY. I VOLUNTARILY OFFER MY HONEST REVIEW OF THE BOOK, THOUGH IT IS NOT EXPECTED OF ME! RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW!
I've read several of this author's works, but I was so disappointed by this story! It didn't have a true ending, but continued on into the next book in the series, making it more of a serial to me than a true series novel.
I really hated the deception Michelle kept perpetuating in the Lapp family household! I get that she was trying to escape a bad situation, but that was not the way to do it! I also kept feeling, with the flashbacks to Sara, that it could have been a switched at birth situation, but it's not resolved within this story.
This was also more of a "Introduction to Amish Culture" story than anything else, and it dragged the story down a bit. It seemed like every three pages we had to stop for an explanation about the culture, and to someone slightly familiar with it already, it felt redundant and boring.
I doubt I will continue the series, I just wasn't invested in it enough to care.
I've read several of this author's works, but I was so disappointed by this story! It didn't have a true ending, but continued on into the next book in the series, making it more of a serial to me than a true series novel.
I really hated the deception Michelle kept perpetuating in the Lapp family household! I get that she was trying to escape a bad situation, but that was not the way to do it! I also kept feeling, with the flashbacks to Sara, that it could have been a switched at birth situation, but it's not resolved within this story.
This was also more of a "Introduction to Amish Culture" story than anything else, and it dragged the story down a bit. It seemed like every three pages we had to stop for an explanation about the culture, and to someone slightly familiar with it already, it felt redundant and boring.
I doubt I will continue the series, I just wasn't invested in it enough to care.
January 15, 2019
I've read several Amish books before and really enjoyed them, but this was my first by this author. I can't say that I enjoyed this one. The premise of the story is good, and I feel like it should have been really interesting, but reading this book was tedious. It was so repetitive that it became very boring. The main character constantly goes through thoughts of guilt, and then the reader is reminded of all the bad things from her childhood. The way Michele feels about the animals is rehashed over and over. So many things were retold so many times! Honestly, if the book had been edited to delete the repetition it would have been half as long. The descriptions of Amish culture and Michele learning new Amish words also really slowed down the already dragging pace. I'm actually not sure why I finished it, other than the fact that the underlying story was interesting, so I kept thinking it would be exciting to see how it ended: actually pretty anticlimactically as apparently the story will continue into another book.
August 11, 2018
Michelle is desperate to start anew and get away from her abusive boyfriend. When an Amish couple mistakes her for their granddaughter, she goes along.
July 29, 2018
A desperate young woman in hard times embarks on a path that she's filled with deception and lies. What she finds is unconditional love, the kind of family she's never had, and the first stirrings of faith.
This blends both Amish and contemporary fiction together, unlike many Brunstetter books which are strictly Amish. I found this story to have quickly drawn me into the lives of Michelle, Willis & Mary Ruth Lapp, Ezekiel, Brad, and the Amish community of Strasburg, Pennsylvania. I like that Wanda Brunstetter told this from multiple people and points of view, you knew how each person felt and what they thought at any given moment. I already enjoy this authors stories and love her writing voice. She writes characters you come to care about, and a community that feels like family. My heart went out to Michelle and her situation in life. I don't think she set out to hurt the Lapps but found it difficult to untangle herself from the lies she's told the longer she was with them. She began to see them as the grandparents she never had and they exemplified what love does for those you care about. Eventually those lies will be found and and the truth will be told; Michelle knows it's only a matter of time! Then there were Ezekiel and Brad, one an unbaptized Amish man and one studying to become a minister, both cared deeply about Michelle. It was fun to guess which one she might end up with. I especially loved getting a glimpse into the Amish life through this story. I've read many different fiction books, so I knew most of the Amish ways, but I did learn some new things as well. I have to agree with many other reviewers on this being one of the best books Brunstetter has written, and I've read several over the years!
The one drawback I have about this, it leaves too many open-ended questions not being answered for me at the end. I like my stories to be neatly tied up in a bow & this leaves me unsatisfied with many dangling threads. I'm positive the next Prayer Jar installment will cover these, but I would have loved to at least read an epilogue to have some closure on my questions. And we have to wait a whole year to get them! Next one is called The Forgiving Jar coming August 2019.
I would recommend this to Wanda Brunstetter fans, Amish/contemporary fiction fans, and those looking for a story to draw them in and keep them there until the last page!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. *
This blends both Amish and contemporary fiction together, unlike many Brunstetter books which are strictly Amish. I found this story to have quickly drawn me into the lives of Michelle, Willis & Mary Ruth Lapp, Ezekiel, Brad, and the Amish community of Strasburg, Pennsylvania. I like that Wanda Brunstetter told this from multiple people and points of view, you knew how each person felt and what they thought at any given moment. I already enjoy this authors stories and love her writing voice. She writes characters you come to care about, and a community that feels like family. My heart went out to Michelle and her situation in life. I don't think she set out to hurt the Lapps but found it difficult to untangle herself from the lies she's told the longer she was with them. She began to see them as the grandparents she never had and they exemplified what love does for those you care about. Eventually those lies will be found and and the truth will be told; Michelle knows it's only a matter of time! Then there were Ezekiel and Brad, one an unbaptized Amish man and one studying to become a minister, both cared deeply about Michelle. It was fun to guess which one she might end up with. I especially loved getting a glimpse into the Amish life through this story. I've read many different fiction books, so I knew most of the Amish ways, but I did learn some new things as well. I have to agree with many other reviewers on this being one of the best books Brunstetter has written, and I've read several over the years!
The one drawback I have about this, it leaves too many open-ended questions not being answered for me at the end. I like my stories to be neatly tied up in a bow & this leaves me unsatisfied with many dangling threads. I'm positive the next Prayer Jar installment will cover these, but I would have loved to at least read an epilogue to have some closure on my questions. And we have to wait a whole year to get them! Next one is called The Forgiving Jar coming August 2019.
I would recommend this to Wanda Brunstetter fans, Amish/contemporary fiction fans, and those looking for a story to draw them in and keep them there until the last page!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. *
August 5, 2018
Wanda E. Brunstetter is back with a new series and it's a bit different than anything I've ever read from her. The storyline is one that I found unique and interesting and definitely not the usual cookie-cutter type that can often be found in the genre. Nope. This book has a story that is unusual and at times had me wondering if I loved it or hated it.
Basically based on a case of mistaken identity, down on her luck Michelle is whisked away to the Amish farm of her "grandparents", the Lapps. Needing someplace to stay Michelle goes along with the Lapps thinking she is Sara Murray, their recently discovered granddaughter. While staying on the Lapps farm Michelle comes across jars containing small slips of papers on which prayers are written. Can these small slips of papers and the care given to her by the Lapps change Michelle's outlook? I found this storyline to be both unusual and interesting. I kept wondering if Michelle would be honest with the Lapps and if reading all these little scraps of papers would make her change as a person.
While I enjoyed the storyline of this book I just couldn't relate to the main character, Michelle. In fact, I found her a bit offputting. I understood where she was coming from and perhaps why she went along with the case of mistaken identity. I just couldn't get over her actions with the Lapps who seemed so vulnerable and sweet. I did really like these characters and I also liked their young neighbor, Ezekial.
While for the most part, I found the story well-written and intriguing, I thought the ending was a bit rushed. I wanted a bit more closure to the story before the next book. I do believe we will find out what happens to these characters in the next book as we will probably also learn more about the real Sara Murray. The author definitely knows how to keep readers turning those pages!
If you are looking for a different kind of Amish fiction read then grab this book. Like I've mentioned it's not your usual type of Amish fiction story. I think it will leave you, like me, wanting more.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.
Basically based on a case of mistaken identity, down on her luck Michelle is whisked away to the Amish farm of her "grandparents", the Lapps. Needing someplace to stay Michelle goes along with the Lapps thinking she is Sara Murray, their recently discovered granddaughter. While staying on the Lapps farm Michelle comes across jars containing small slips of papers on which prayers are written. Can these small slips of papers and the care given to her by the Lapps change Michelle's outlook? I found this storyline to be both unusual and interesting. I kept wondering if Michelle would be honest with the Lapps and if reading all these little scraps of papers would make her change as a person.
While I enjoyed the storyline of this book I just couldn't relate to the main character, Michelle. In fact, I found her a bit offputting. I understood where she was coming from and perhaps why she went along with the case of mistaken identity. I just couldn't get over her actions with the Lapps who seemed so vulnerable and sweet. I did really like these characters and I also liked their young neighbor, Ezekial.
While for the most part, I found the story well-written and intriguing, I thought the ending was a bit rushed. I wanted a bit more closure to the story before the next book. I do believe we will find out what happens to these characters in the next book as we will probably also learn more about the real Sara Murray. The author definitely knows how to keep readers turning those pages!
If you are looking for a different kind of Amish fiction read then grab this book. Like I've mentioned it's not your usual type of Amish fiction story. I think it will leave you, like me, wanting more.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.
August 13, 2018
“Life is full of choices. By choosing one direction, it takes us down a certain path, but a different direction would lead to another.”
This thought from Mary Ruth Lapp is one of many that appeared in The Hope Jar, book one in The Prayer Jars series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. The Hope Jar is not the typical Amish fiction story; however, the realism in this story was captivating with the issues that the young women, Michelle Taylor and Sara Murray faced. The well thought out factors of characters with their characteristics and behaviors along with plenty of action kept the pages turning. Brunstetter addressed some tough issues of life like hidden secrets, abusive home situations, deception, faith, confrontation, some romance, and a jar filled with written promises from the Bible and prayers. The Lapps are wonderful loving grandparents with rooted and strong faith in their Amish community. They were thrilled to receive a letter from a granddaughter they didn’t know existed. My heart went out to Sara Murray, the Lapp’s biological granddaughter, in losing her mother and the revelation of having Amish grandparents. Michelle’s past with her abusive childhood and wanting a loving family tugged at my emotions but her continual negative behavior caused tears to fall for the Lapps. This story is filled with fortitude, heartbreak, strong emotions and thoughts of characters mixed in with faith shared through scriptures and prayers provided a well thought out story and series. The ending was not what I anticipated, but thankful The Forgiving Jar will be releasing in 2019 to continue the story about the Lapps, Sara Murray and other characters.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and the author. The review is my honest opinion without being compensated or required to write a positive review.
This thought from Mary Ruth Lapp is one of many that appeared in The Hope Jar, book one in The Prayer Jars series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. The Hope Jar is not the typical Amish fiction story; however, the realism in this story was captivating with the issues that the young women, Michelle Taylor and Sara Murray faced. The well thought out factors of characters with their characteristics and behaviors along with plenty of action kept the pages turning. Brunstetter addressed some tough issues of life like hidden secrets, abusive home situations, deception, faith, confrontation, some romance, and a jar filled with written promises from the Bible and prayers. The Lapps are wonderful loving grandparents with rooted and strong faith in their Amish community. They were thrilled to receive a letter from a granddaughter they didn’t know existed. My heart went out to Sara Murray, the Lapp’s biological granddaughter, in losing her mother and the revelation of having Amish grandparents. Michelle’s past with her abusive childhood and wanting a loving family tugged at my emotions but her continual negative behavior caused tears to fall for the Lapps. This story is filled with fortitude, heartbreak, strong emotions and thoughts of characters mixed in with faith shared through scriptures and prayers provided a well thought out story and series. The ending was not what I anticipated, but thankful The Forgiving Jar will be releasing in 2019 to continue the story about the Lapps, Sara Murray and other characters.
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and the author. The review is my honest opinion without being compensated or required to write a positive review.
October 5, 2018
3.5 stars. I thought this was an interesting book! I don't know much about Amish people, so it was cool to learn a bit about their way of living.
This book is about Michelle Taylor. She assumes the identity of Sara Murray, and her grandparents have no idea that she's an imposter. I'm sure switching from Michelle's POV to other people's POV of her (When Michelle came downstairs to eat breakfast, Mary Ruth asker her, "Sara, . . .") was really confusing, but I think Wanda did the character transitions really well.
:/ I did also find the writing simple and the characters rather shallow, hence taking off one and a half stars.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I definitely want to read The Forgiving Jar, the sequel, at some point.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Like my reviews? Read more on my blog.
This book is about Michelle Taylor. She assumes the identity of Sara Murray, and her grandparents have no idea that she's an imposter. I'm sure switching from Michelle's POV to other people's POV of her (When Michelle came downstairs to eat breakfast, Mary Ruth asker her, "Sara, . . .") was really confusing, but I think Wanda did the character transitions really well.
:/ I did also find the writing simple and the characters rather shallow, hence taking off one and a half stars.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I definitely want to read The Forgiving Jar, the sequel, at some point.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Like my reviews? Read more on my blog.
April 21, 2019
Could you go along with a lie if it means making an elderly Amish couple happy?
Michelle Taylor lives in Philadelphia and is needing a way out. At the train station, the Lapps are looking for their long-lost granddaughter when they meet Michelle; assuming she's Sara Murray.
In the Lapps barn, Michelle finds an old blue jar full of slips of paper with thoughts, verses, and prayers by an author unknown. The slips of paper give Michelle hope.
Will Michelle be able to come forward with the truth to those she's come to love without hurting them?
Wanda wrote about one's struggle with life. How it's best to tell the truth from the beginning.
I loved this story and I can't wait for the next book in the series "The Forgiving Jar" to be released.
I received a free copy via NetGalley with only an honest review by me in exchange. This is my review in my own words.
Michelle Taylor lives in Philadelphia and is needing a way out. At the train station, the Lapps are looking for their long-lost granddaughter when they meet Michelle; assuming she's Sara Murray.
In the Lapps barn, Michelle finds an old blue jar full of slips of paper with thoughts, verses, and prayers by an author unknown. The slips of paper give Michelle hope.
Will Michelle be able to come forward with the truth to those she's come to love without hurting them?
Wanda wrote about one's struggle with life. How it's best to tell the truth from the beginning.
I loved this story and I can't wait for the next book in the series "The Forgiving Jar" to be released.
I received a free copy via NetGalley with only an honest review by me in exchange. This is my review in my own words.
February 27, 2019
This book seemed overly long with too many repeated stories. Sara’s mother dies and she finds a letter from her mother telling her who her grandparents are. Sara writes to them telling them she might visit June 5th or later. The grandparents go to the bus stop and see a girl, Michelle, who they think is Sara, since Michelle has nothing and is running from a boyfriend she pretends she is Sara and goes to live with them. Michelle hides the letters from Sara until the last minute, then takes off. There is very little about Sara in the book.
July 23, 2018
I jumped into this book as soon as I received it as I have loved Wanda's book before. This one was disappointing for me she spent too many pages of the book on one subject and so so little on another and then that was the end. This book is so different than her other books and I was disappointed with that she usually really blends her stories and this one was not enough for me. Wanda struck out at the plate with this one.
November 26, 2018
Great story, looking forward to the rest of this series.
Read
March 1, 2019RTC
September 5, 2018
The Hope Jar is book #1 in The Prayer Jars series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I genuinely enjoyed this book. I get so tired of books with picture perfect characters who never make a mistake.
Michelle is a flawed character who makes a number of big mistakes. She picks out the wrong boyfriend. She's a liar and a thief. She's someone who most people wouldn't like and would have trouble bonding with.
Maybe I shouldn't make excuses for her. But, I didn't see a person who maliciously lied. I didn't see a person who maliciously stole from someone. I saw a young woman who was hurting so badly that she clung to a lie—never expecting to realize that her life had value. Michelle never knew love and when she experienced that, she wanted to hold on to. When she realized that she couldn't, she ran away because that was the easiest thing to do.
I totally get it. I've never stolen a thing in my life but I know what it is like to be desperate for someone to love me. When you find that, you want to hold on to it, no matter the cost. It's selfish—you want love but sometimes you hold on to it so tight that you don't realize that you're not loving in return.
This story is one of love, of hope and of redemption. With Mary Ruth and Willis, we get an example of godly love. The kind of love that forgives someone who hurt them. In Michelle, we learn to accept forgiveness. We learn to accept love. God's love. The kind of love that forgives even if we have lied, stolen, or broken hearts.
This book was beautiful. I can barely wait to get my hands on The Forgiving Jar. I really don't know how I'm going to wait until February to revisit these characters. Hopefully, we'll get a few more clues as to the identity of the writer of the verses and prayers found in the prayer jar. I'm also eager to see how Michelle's character has developed and if Sara receives her hope and healing for her hurting heart.
I would say that this book is one of my top favorites this year. I would definitely suggest it to others. However, I would suggest keeping forgiveness in your heart because Michelle is far from the typical, "perfect," character in an Amish book.
Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Christian or Secular: Christian
ASEL Rating: no profanity, violence, bedroom scenes, or other content that could otherwise be considered disturbing. Note: There IS an instance of domestic violence in this book. Michelle is hit by her toxic boyfriend. However, this is not the overall theme of the book.
Themes: Romance, Redemption
Suggested Age: 13+
This book was provided to me by The Publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.
This review originally posted to A Simply Enchanted Life
Michelle is a flawed character who makes a number of big mistakes. She picks out the wrong boyfriend. She's a liar and a thief. She's someone who most people wouldn't like and would have trouble bonding with.
Maybe I shouldn't make excuses for her. But, I didn't see a person who maliciously lied. I didn't see a person who maliciously stole from someone. I saw a young woman who was hurting so badly that she clung to a lie—never expecting to realize that her life had value. Michelle never knew love and when she experienced that, she wanted to hold on to. When she realized that she couldn't, she ran away because that was the easiest thing to do.
I totally get it. I've never stolen a thing in my life but I know what it is like to be desperate for someone to love me. When you find that, you want to hold on to it, no matter the cost. It's selfish—you want love but sometimes you hold on to it so tight that you don't realize that you're not loving in return.
This story is one of love, of hope and of redemption. With Mary Ruth and Willis, we get an example of godly love. The kind of love that forgives someone who hurt them. In Michelle, we learn to accept forgiveness. We learn to accept love. God's love. The kind of love that forgives even if we have lied, stolen, or broken hearts.
This book was beautiful. I can barely wait to get my hands on The Forgiving Jar. I really don't know how I'm going to wait until February to revisit these characters. Hopefully, we'll get a few more clues as to the identity of the writer of the verses and prayers found in the prayer jar. I'm also eager to see how Michelle's character has developed and if Sara receives her hope and healing for her hurting heart.
I would say that this book is one of my top favorites this year. I would definitely suggest it to others. However, I would suggest keeping forgiveness in your heart because Michelle is far from the typical, "perfect," character in an Amish book.
Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Christian or Secular: Christian
ASEL Rating: no profanity, violence, bedroom scenes, or other content that could otherwise be considered disturbing. Note: There IS an instance of domestic violence in this book. Michelle is hit by her toxic boyfriend. However, this is not the overall theme of the book.
Themes: Romance, Redemption
Suggested Age: 13+
This book was provided to me by The Publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.
This review originally posted to A Simply Enchanted Life
July 23, 2018
New York Times Best Selling author Wanda Brunstetter has penned a new series entitles The Prayer Jars. Book One, The Hope Jar, is a delightful 311 pages that will transport readers between the modern Englisch world and modern Amish world. The book is much different than any other I have read by author Brunstetter. Her writing style hasn’t changed but the story and information given is. This book was extremely well thought, planned, and organized as well as well written.
The book centers around an elderly Amish couple, two twenty something young women, and two young men. Many tough topics are tackled in this fiction work. Things in which we can all relate are presented in these pages such as family issues, parental rules, teenage and young adult disobedience, death, deceit, lies, abuse, dishonesty, betrayal, and someone struggling with faith. It would be an injustice to divulge much about the plot. Reading it and discovering this delightful story on one’s own is much better.
The characters are lovely and some despicable. The author does a great job defining them and rounding them so that we come to love or really dislike them. Dialog flows smoothly and some Amish words are slipped in with definition. Much information on the Amish is relayed in this book. It would be the perfect book for someone wanting to learn the what’s and why’s of Amish life. After the story, readers will be delighted to find recipes that were mentioned in the story. As a bonus there are discussion questions for book clubs or if you want to dig a bit deeper yourself. Author information, a listing of all of the author’s works and a sneak peak at the cover of Book Two, The Forgiving Jar close out this book.
Definitely I recommend for a variety of reasons. It provides information some readers may not currently know about Amish, farm life, and scripture. Recipes used or discussed in a book and then given are a favorite thing of mine. Don’t tease me. If you are going to tempt me with the recipe, please share. The life lessons and inspirational lessons are phenomenal. Rating this book a 5 out of 5 star is warranted. This reader is eagerly awaiting Book Two. A few of author Brunstetter’s works have been turned into plays. I for one am hoping for a movie next.
A copy of The Hope Jar was provided by Barbour Publishing for my honest opinion. I can and will give no other.
The book centers around an elderly Amish couple, two twenty something young women, and two young men. Many tough topics are tackled in this fiction work. Things in which we can all relate are presented in these pages such as family issues, parental rules, teenage and young adult disobedience, death, deceit, lies, abuse, dishonesty, betrayal, and someone struggling with faith. It would be an injustice to divulge much about the plot. Reading it and discovering this delightful story on one’s own is much better.
The characters are lovely and some despicable. The author does a great job defining them and rounding them so that we come to love or really dislike them. Dialog flows smoothly and some Amish words are slipped in with definition. Much information on the Amish is relayed in this book. It would be the perfect book for someone wanting to learn the what’s and why’s of Amish life. After the story, readers will be delighted to find recipes that were mentioned in the story. As a bonus there are discussion questions for book clubs or if you want to dig a bit deeper yourself. Author information, a listing of all of the author’s works and a sneak peak at the cover of Book Two, The Forgiving Jar close out this book.
Definitely I recommend for a variety of reasons. It provides information some readers may not currently know about Amish, farm life, and scripture. Recipes used or discussed in a book and then given are a favorite thing of mine. Don’t tease me. If you are going to tempt me with the recipe, please share. The life lessons and inspirational lessons are phenomenal. Rating this book a 5 out of 5 star is warranted. This reader is eagerly awaiting Book Two. A few of author Brunstetter’s works have been turned into plays. I for one am hoping for a movie next.
A copy of The Hope Jar was provided by Barbour Publishing for my honest opinion. I can and will give no other.
July 24, 2018
The Lapps' daughter disappeared from their home many years before, leaving nothing but a note. Now, a letter comes from a granddaughter they hadn't known they had, to tell them that she is dead, but that she left a letter for her daughter that told her about her previously unknown grandparents. This new granddaughter, Sara, also asks to come and visit, but the part of the letter that gives the date is dropped in a puddle and becomes almost illegible. On the date they think it says, her grandparents go to the bus station to pick her up and accost the only girl there who seems the right age - and happens to have hair the same colour as their daughter's. Being ambushed by an old couple who look friendly but are total strangers, Michelle, who is trying to escape from an abusive boyfriend, decides not to correct their assumption that she is their granddaughter Sara, and goes home with them. The lies she has to tell are uncomfortable from the start, but become increasingly so as she grows closer to these people who rapidly become the grandparents she never had - especially when she has to take steps to stop the real Sara from coming to visit too soon. But how can she escape the situation that she has created? Whatever she does will hurt people she loves...
Overall, I really enjoyed this book - as far as it went. One star is deducted because of the cliff-hanger ending. I hadn't realised that this is part of a series, and was disappointed that too many different threads were left dangling. One assumes that things worked out in the end, but I wanted more details rather than having to assume. I will hope for a sequel, but in the meantime, readers should be aware that it's not really an 'end' at the end.
Characters: Well drawn, felt like real people.
Storyline: Several points of view were presented along the way, but the author did a good job of weaving them together to avoid confusion and present a fully rounded story. Overall good, but too much of a cliffhanger.
Content and language: Clean, good quality writing.
Message: Some interesting themes about truth and lies, with a message to trust in God.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book - as far as it went. One star is deducted because of the cliff-hanger ending. I hadn't realised that this is part of a series, and was disappointed that too many different threads were left dangling. One assumes that things worked out in the end, but I wanted more details rather than having to assume. I will hope for a sequel, but in the meantime, readers should be aware that it's not really an 'end' at the end.
Characters: Well drawn, felt like real people.
Storyline: Several points of view were presented along the way, but the author did a good job of weaving them together to avoid confusion and present a fully rounded story. Overall good, but too much of a cliffhanger.
Content and language: Clean, good quality writing.
Message: Some interesting themes about truth and lies, with a message to trust in God.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
September 26, 2018
Please read the synopsis, I'm afraid that I won't do it justice if I recap it here.
I am so disappointed in this book. It's mostly my fault that I got this ARC that I just couldn't finish. I chose it based on the author and her previous books that I have read. While she is not my favorite Amish author she is consistent and I'm able to give almost all of her books at least 3.5 stars---until this one.
If the main character -Michelle/Sara wasn't such a thief and liar, wasn't so cold and calculating about what she was doing, then I might have warmed up to her and finished the book.
I understand that there is another book after this one that will be Sara's story, I'll pass.
I am so disappointed in this book. It's mostly my fault that I got this ARC that I just couldn't finish. I chose it based on the author and her previous books that I have read. While she is not my favorite Amish author she is consistent and I'm able to give almost all of her books at least 3.5 stars---until this one.
If the main character -Michelle/Sara wasn't such a thief and liar, wasn't so cold and calculating about what she was doing, then I might have warmed up to her and finished the book.
I understand that there is another book after this one that will be Sara's story, I'll pass.
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