Sisters by the Sea

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Four Amish Sisters Develop New Beginnings in Sarasota, Florida
 
Journey with the bestselling Brunstetter authors to the unique tropical Amish community in Sarasota, Florida, along with four young sisters originally from Indiana.
 
The Seashell Cake by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Leora Lambright is the first to leave home, seeking a warmer climate for health reasons. While on a winter holiday, roofer John Miller meets Leora in the bakery where she is enjoying expressing herself through cake decorating. They are instantly attracted to each other and spend several days bike riding, fishing, playing shuffleboard, and trying local restaurants. But when Leora makes it clear she’ll never again live up north, without explaining why. Has the romance ended before it could even blossom?
 
The Beach Ball by Jean Brunstetter
Violet, the youngest of the four Lambright sisters, has always been a bit wild. She moves to Florida to live with her sister as she seeks her independence and considers leaving the Amish way of life. She works as a waitress and drives her own car. Her beauty and free spirit attract a lot of male attention like Levi, who is also Amish. When she first meets Dan Hunter, it is his little red sports car that she admires first, but while dating Dan, Levi keeps trying to make Violet commit to him. Can she settle on who should have her heart and how to live out her faith?
 
Fragments of a Sand Dollar by Richelle Brunstetter
Francine Lambright is heartbroken that her longtime boyfriend, Matthew, is thinking of leaving the Amish faith, and they have broken up. She is ready to join the church, but her sister invites her to Florida for an extended visit before taking the pledge of faith. While shell hunting at Lido Beach, Francine meets Lucas Hayes, and they soon begin seeing each other, despite him being an Englisher. When Matthew shows up in Pinecraft unexpectedly, how will Francine’s heart respond? 
 
A Sarasota Sunset by Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach
Alana Lambright has suffered a series of unfortunate accidents and emotional traumas that have left her plagued by anxiety. She turns to art for peace and healing. While on a visit to her sister in Florida, she takes up seashell artwork and accepts a job in a gift shop. James Miller, a recent college graduate, meets Alana, and, due to his own past, he is initially turned off by the fact that she is Amish. Still he invites Alana on adventurous outings. Alana tries to tamp her anxiety to try the activities but fails and feels like it pushes James away. Can they each deal with the heaviness in their pasts to embrace a future together?
 

Genres: Amish, Fiction, Amish Fiction, Christian, Romance, Christian Fiction, Inspirational

448 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2023

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

[linda hole · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are following 4 sisters in these short romances. It was a Joy to follow their daily lives, their decisions how to live thrir life.
They were including. I just love that in a book. It was sweet, heartwarming and like a soothing blanket. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you buy this book make sure if you read only one of the novellas that it is The Beach Ball by Jean Brunstetter. It was by far the best one of the four. Great characters and storyline.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

[Sue Rouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four sisters moved to Florida but will they return to their Amish community. Some do but some want to become English. Follow Leora, Violet, Francine and Alana. Thanks to the authors and their publisher.

[Danae Wyns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four short stories of four sisters whom come together to share a beautiful story. A wonderful tale of each sister finding her respective pathway in life but, always having each other for support.

Leora makes her way to Sarasota, Florida due to health reasons. Shortly she is falling in love with someone who is only there to visit. When it's time for him to go home, their distance between each other is too far apart to carry on the relationship she hoped for. How will Leora face her health concerns and how will she overcome her challenges for a chance at love?

Violet is making the decision whether or not to leave the Amish Community. When she gets to Florida she meets people both Amish and English. This helps her understand what she is genuinely after and the question is, is that leaving the Amish for good?

Francine has always been set on joining the church but when her serious boyfriend in her Amish community wants to leave she is left heartbroken. Taking a trip to clear her mind she makes an undeniable connection with an Englisher in Florida. She knows her heart belongs to her Amish faith but will she join alone?

Alana has past traumas and many fears. Thinking a trip to Florida to visit her sister can help her get away, she learns her trauma and fears will follow. Meeting James an Englisher has brought on an unexpected relationship however will her fears stand in the way of them being together? Or is it his fears?

Sisters by the Sea is another fantastic book by Wanda Brunstetter but I absolutely love how she had help from her own family which is shared in each individual story. This book really showcases common challenges that people face even outside the Amish faith. This book is relatable to all. For that, I am giving it a solid 4-star rating.

If you are looking for a book with Amish faith, family bonding, and some romance, this book is for you!

Thank you, NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the ARC!

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Barbour Publishing for sending me this FREE Copy to promote and review for them as part of their Review Crew last month.

Even tho ive read other Novels by Wanda before i have to say this one was so enjoyable that i was sad to see it end because i'd love to see a series about these sisters like she did with the Praire State Friends Series.

The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. It was hard to pick just one as my favorite since i liked all The Lambright Characters.

The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in Clare Michigan, Indiana and Florida while reading especially when the scenery was described.

Overall a Phenomenal Amish Fiction Novel about 4 Sisters who vacation in Sarasota Florida. Can't wait to read more by Wanda in the future!!

[Debbie Wentworth Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains four sweet Amish romances about four sisters. Because of her seasonal affective disorder, Leora Lambright believes no one in her Amish order will love her. She moves to Sarasota, Florida. Francine's boyfriend breaks their relationship off to go into missions, so she goes to visit her Leora where she meets Lucas. When Alana's timidity irritates her boyfriend, she breaks off the relationship and seeks comfort with Leora. Violet, the youngest sister, is unsure that she wants to join the Amish church, so she visits Sarasota to think through her life.

Wanda Brunstetter and her co-writers do a great job distinguishing their characters. Leora accepts her seasonal affective disorder and commits herself to how she believes God wants her to live. She is the committed first daughter. Francine is a little disorganized, Alana timid and artistic, and Violet adventurous.

I gave the book 3 stars because I don't much care for romance stories. I was reading it to complete a reading challenge. The novellas were well written, but the girls didn't strike me as very Amish. They wore the plain dresses and the prayer coverings, but they were more Mennonite or even conservative Baptist in appearance and action to me.

[Jan Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun winter read because it was set in Sarasota Florida. It was nice imagining the warm air and sunshine. The story is about 4 Amish sisters visiting Florida, the oldest decides to move there and the other stories are when her sisters visit. Each story is written by a member of Wanda Brunstetter's family. They all gel well together and are fun to read.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sisters by the Sea is a lovely collection of Amish fiction. I really enjoyed all four stories, and although they are written by different authors, they flow seamlessly together to give the reader a full view of the four sisters. Each of the sisters is at a crossroads in life, deciding what God wants for them in the future; therefore, each story has good encouragement for the reader and depth to the characters and plot. It is a sweet read that I highly recommend to lovers of sweet stories or lovers of Amish fiction.

I requested a copy of this book for review. The opinions expressed here are wholly my own.

[DianeLikesToRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pack your backs- you’re going to Sarasota! This study follows four sisters from Indiana who travel to Florida. Wanda Brunstetter wrote this anthology with her daughter, daughter in law and granddaughter. Each woman write about a different sister’s experience. I loved this book! It had a wonderful message of family and faith.
I won't give away the ending but it tied up the story nicely. Many thanks to the authors, Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the four novellas about a family of sisters finding their paths in life.

Each story had a different meaning to life. Physical health limitations, fear and anxiety, following a different path, and healing after heartbreak are a few themes.

Just remember as you read these are snippets not full length novels. Perfect stories to fit in after a long day.

[Michelle Rhoden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how the Brunstetter women got together to write this exceptional novella with 4 sisters complete with their own individual stories. How much better could it get that the storyline is set around Sarasota Florida and the beach? I always enjoy Wanda Brunstetter’s books and found this one to be fun and delightful. I highly recommend this book.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All words are my own.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these 4 novellas written by family, about family. Well known author Wanda Brunstetter, along with her daughter, daughter in law, and granddaughter, bring the Lambright family to life by each focusing on one of four very different sisters. The stories transition from one to the next seamlessly as the authors all have very similar writing styles. As you read along, you find out about the next sister, as well as more about the previous ones. Their lives intertwine as one by one they leave their Amish farm in Indiana for their own unique reasons and make their way to Sarasota, Florida, to discover the Lord’s plans for their lives.
I do not usually enjoy novellas or short stories as they can feel rushed or incomplete, leaving me wanting more detail. But this is not the case with Sisters by the Sea. There is enough to give a complete story without too little, or too much, detail. It is an enjoyable, clean read that feels like 4 full length novels yet in a fraction of the reading time. You will feel the warm sunshine and taste the salty air as you soak in the exciting tale of these sisters and the Biblical life lessons they learn. I was already a big Wanda Brunstetter fan, and now I will follow the others as well. I sincerely hope to see more collaborations by these wonderful authors.
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading these stories! Each one is unique in that they tell a different sisters experience in Florida. I love the setting of the beach! It's relaxing and picturesque! All of the sisters are genuine and relatable. They each are trying to determine their futures. I love the faith aspect that's throughout the books! It's very encouraging!
I was provided a copy of the book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a neat concept, sisters writing about sisters. I enjoyed the short stories / novellas for the most part, in places they drug on a bit and some things aren't accurate to the Plain culture. But overall a decent quick read

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE SEASHELL CAKE BY WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER

I enjoyed following Leora as she begins to settle into her new place. Having an illness that required her to move has helped a lot, yet at times she is lonely. When she was decorating the beautiful seashell cake for a wedding I could picture how beautiful it was. Reading about the strawberry desserts made me hungry and I started craving cookies. I sent my husband to our bakery in town to grab me two keto cookies so I could enjoy them while reading the story.

John is a sweet man who has recently traveled to Florida. He meets Leora at the bakery. I liked how they struck up a friendship and found themselves at the beach at the same time. It was interesting to learn about the different seashells they found and how relaxing it was to sit on the beach together.


I loved how the two began to develop feelings for each other and wondered how they would deal with a long distance relationship. The story encourages us to trust God and learn to let go of our insecurities. I did like the persistence of John and how he sacrificed to be with Leora.

THE BEACH BALL BY JEAN BRUNSTETTER

Violet comes to live with her sister Leora and brother-in-law John. She has a bit more freedom being away from her parents and wants to explore wearing English clothing and maybe drifting a little bit away from her upbringing. I like how Violet thinks through everything but still has a hint of wanting to be a little independent. When she meets a nice young Amish boy, they seem to hit it off. It’s funny how they are both going through a phase of testing out the English world.

Levi and Violet seem to like each other and you can tell Violet is excited to go out with him. He reminds me a little bit like a bad boy trying really hard to impress girls. When he starts drinking beer in front of Violet this should be a red flag for her. Will she be attracted to this guy who lives on the edge at times? Levi doesn’t take it well when Violet doesn’t want to see him anymore.

When Dan comes in the scene Violet is smitten with him. He is charming and they find that they have fun together. When they first met they wear both reaching for a beach ball. How funny that the beach ball is a hit when they go together at the beach. Everything is going well between Violet and Dan until Levi starts to pop up wherever Violet is. Will Levi realize that his actions have pushed Violet away? What happens when Violet tells Dan that she has been hiding a secret about herself?

FRAGMENTS OF A SAND DOLLAR BY RICHELLE BRUNSTETTER

As we come to Francine’s story we see her trying to get over a break up. It has been hard but she knows that she needs to move on with her life. When she is given a month off from her job, maybe she will find peace. Spending time with her sister and brother-in-law in Florida will give her a new direction. So the adventure begins as Francine steps off the bus in Florida.

Lucas is an interesting character who has a job that doesn’t pay well. When he sees Francine at the beach he is immediately intrigued by her. On their first date he seemed to be almost overexcited about being with an Amish girl on a date. His endless questions were a bit annoying but Francine answers with a sweet spirit. Will their relationship work since one is Amish and the other is English?

I loved this quote from the story that says, “Whether we choose to get into situations or they are brought to us, God allows us to go through them for a purpose.” This story is a look at a young woman who is trying to decide if she should join the church and be baptized. I loved watching Francine allow God to direct her and find peace with her choice.

A SARASOTA SUNSET BY LORINE BRUNSTETTER VAN CORBACH

Our last stop is visiting Alana who is going through an emotional time in her life. The decision to visit her sister in Florida will be a welcome change. I loved that Alana surprises Leora on her birthday. Maybe this will help Alana overcome her struggle with fear by a change of scenery.

Alana finds a job and is ready to start her new life in Florida. As she is talking to her boss one day, they discuss praying. Patti says, “ Sometimes when we pray and ask Him for something, we expect an answer quickly or we feel like He didn’t hear our request, especially when when the answer He gave was a no.” We need to remember that God has a plan for us. If we don’t get the answer we wanted from a prayer it may be because He has a different plan.

When Alana meets James during a trip with friends at a beach they start up a conversation. They both go together to look for shark teeth which I thought was interesting. Everything is going well until Alana cuts her foot. Looks like fun is over as she needs to go get stitches on her foot.

I really enjoyed how these two were able to be open with other and share their struggles. Alana is still having problems with fear and James needs to reconnect with his grandfather. It is nice to see how they both rely on their faith and support each other. I couldn’t wait to see if Anna would decide to stay in Florida. This has been a nice story that reminds us to put our trust in God and let go of the past.

I have really enjoyed each story in this collection. Each one has shown us how to forgive, find hope, let go of the past or start a new beginning, I didn’t have a favorite story because each one illustrated God’s unconditional love and plan for our lives. Don’t miss the recipes after each story. They will be fun to make and enjoy.

I received a copy of this book from the authors and publisher. The review is my own opinion.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love reading really good, clean, Christian books, then you will want to grab yourself a copy of this book!
The 4 stories in this book all take place in the Pinecraft/Sarasota, Florida area where the Amish Community is located. It's about the Lambright sisters, that are from the Shipshewana/Middlebury, Indiana area.
Each of the young women have their own reasons for their journies to Florida.
Leora is the 1st sister to head to FL in the 1st story, The Seashell Cake.
Leora goes to FL to start with, because of her doctor's recommendation, for her health issue she's suffering from in Indiana, where it's cold & snowy, at the time she heads south.
Leora gets a job at the local bakery inside the Amish restaurant, Der Dutchman. She loves baking and the job is perfect for her. Also, she gets to work alongside her friend, Karen.
Leora hopes for a relationship, after seeing all the happy families that come into the restaurant & bakery everyday, but considers herself an old maedel, and her health issue the biggest problem.
Will she be able to overcome what's holding her back and find true love, or will it be her downfall?

The 2nd story is The Beach Ball, which Leora's sister Violet comes down to Florida. Now Violet is in her rumspringa, and hasn't been baptized into the Church yet. Unlike Leora, Violet has her own car, which she drives herself down, and wears her englisch clothes. Violet's trying to decide if she wants to stay Amish or 'jump the fence.'
Violet's a pretty, and smart girl. She's looking to have fun, yet at the same time, she hopes that God will direct her in the right path/direction for her life. Violet stays with her sister, Leora, and tells her she wants to get a job, to help pay her way.
She ends up getting a job as a waitress at the same place Leora works. Violet ends up meeting Levi through Anna, that works with her at the restaurant. He's her brother who happens to be from where her family is from, and that he's in his rumpsringa too. Violet ends up involved with him all because of the thrill & excitement, of the fact he has a motorbike(motorcycle). Also, she thinks he's cute too.
However, Violet finds out quickly, that she doesn't care for his attitude, nor what he's partaking in, so she ends that relationship rather fast, or so she thins she does.
So, what do you think happens next? Does Levi move on and forget Violet? Does Violet decide that, maybe, she misjudged him, and to give him another chance?

The 3rd story is Fragments Of A Sand Dollar.
The story involves Leora and Violet's sister Francine.




The 4th and final story in the book is A Sarasota Sunset. This story brings in Leora, Violet, & Francine's sister Alana. Alana decided to come to Florida to get away from her anxieties at home in Indiana.
She had a young young boy that she was 'walking out' with named Ben, and something bad happened with the two of them. Because of that, Alana needed to get away. Ben had said some, very awful things to her, even though, she apologized profusely, as well as, helped him the best she could. He told her right then & there, he was done with her, and he didn't even know why he had asked her out to start with!
Alana was very hurt, and also was suffering constant anxiety over the entire ordeal. Her, and her family, decided that a visit with her sisters in Florida might be the best medicine for her, at the time. Besides, it was a surprise set up by all of them, unbeknownst to Leora. They were surprising Leora for her birthday with Alana's arrival!
Alana was happy to be with her family in FL, and she couldn't wait to see everything that she had heard about the beaches, ocean, and the sunsets from her sisters.
Alana's an artist, and a very talented one at that. So, she wanted to see as much as she could, then get pics to then paint them on canvas. Later, when she finds out about the girls collecting seashells, she decides to paint on some of them too.
Alana wasn't really looking for a relationship when she headed to visit her sister. She was truly trying to escape her anxiety & night terrors. Leora was a great sister with mentoring all of them in each of their unique situations, as well as a really good listener.
Will Alana be able to overcome her fears, anxieties, and night terrors? Will she ever be able to progress enough, where she could, possibly, have a relationship? God is the Greatest Healer in all things if you have Faith & Hope, and keep Him #1 in your life, with prayers to help you through your trials & tribulations.

This 4 stories-in-one-book is truly a great read!! You will definitely want to grab yourself a copy when they become available to pre-order.
***I received an ARC of this book & all the words in this review are all mine, and not from anyone else. I loved this book & I highly recommend it actually to be beyond the 5 stars!!***

[Shilo Goodson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a collection of four stories. While there are Amish characters, they seem to come from a less strict Amish upbringing than is generally presented in books or other media. Some of the stories were better than others. I will say that the story descriptions in the book listing aren’t entirely accurate at times. Because of that, I’ll provide my thoughts and a rating for each of the novellas.

The Seashell Cake (3.5)
This story was cute. I liked our two main characters, Leora and John. Since this is mentioned early in the story, it’s not ruining the story to say that Leora moved to Florida because of her SAD. One of my biggest issues with her story is that I feel like everything concerned with her SAD is so black and white. It’s presented like if she lives in Indiana, she can’t survive with her SAD, but if she lives in Florida, it will never bother her again. Yet, there’s no way she can find a husband if she lives in Florida because no Amish man would want to live there fulltime. Unfortunately, her SAD makes it so she’s depressed in the Midwest, so no man there would want to marry her if she lived in the Midwest. I felt like things were presented as though there was no middle ground.

Another issue was that there were places where I felt like there were too many details. For example, when Leora’s shopping, the author tells us every item that Leora’s buying. Especially in a novella, this just slows down the momentum of the story. The dialogue could also use some work. In places, it felt really choppy and/or like the author was using the dialogue to explain something that should have been explained in other ways.

This is a sweet story, and I did enjoy reading it. There’s no bad language, sexual content, or violence. Our two main characters do kiss a few times, but that’s not even described in detail.

The Beach Ball (2.5)

This one is Violet’s story. She’s Leora’s youngest sister. Much like the first novella, there were a lot of conversations that felt off, as though the writer wanted us to know information about the characters or their community, but she wasn’t sure how else to give us this information.

Even with the odd dialogue, this could have been at least a 3-star book. The biggest issue was that I didn’t like either one of the guys that Violet was dating. The one was selfish, conceited, and pushy. He tried to force Violet into a relationship with him. The other was really childish. Yes, I realize that they are all in their late teens or early-20s, but even then, he seemed very childish. Instead of saving Violet from the guy who’s trying to force her into a relationship, he gets jealous.

I felt like this could have been a cute story, but none of the characters were all that likable. While this was a clean story, I wouldn’t recommend reading it.

Fragments of a Sand Dollar (4.5)

This was my favorite story in the collection. The characters felt more authentic than they did in the other stories. This story has more of a Christian element than the previous two stories, including elements about repentance, forgiveness, being a Christlike example, and realizing that you can care about someone even if that person isn’t living the way that you feel like they should live.

This story has characters who are drinking alcohol and gambling. While the story was clean, these elements made it feel a bit rougher than the other stories in the collection. Still, it’s the one that I’d recommend.

A Sarasota Sunset (3.5 Stars)

This one is the final sister’s story. Alana comes down to Florida to visit Leora after a difficult break-up. This was my second favorite story in the collection. It’s so close to being 4 stars, and on its own, I probably would have rounded up.

My biggest issue with this story was the dialogue. As was the case with the first two stories, the dialogue felt like it was being used to tell us information that we really should have gotten in other parts of the story. James is a really authentic character. For a while, I wasn’t sure if I liked him. I think he’s a good guy in the end, but he does have some issues early on. Ultimately, he is really understanding toward Alana, so I’ll give him a pass on some of his earlier behavior.

This story, like the others, is clean. It does deal with some serious issues, such as romantic partner verbal abuse, anxiety, prejudices, and forgiveness.

[Janet P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Sisters by the Sea! This was such an engaging and relaxing read. What a joy it must be to collaborate with your family members who are also authors.
There are four stories in the book and the first is written by our beloved Wanda Brunstetter. In The Seashell Cake Leora Lambright leaves her home to move to Pinecraft, Florida. Leora is a cake decorator. She found a job in a bakery close by and enjoys her time there. Leora meets a man she is instantly attracted to. John Miller by trade is a roofer and he is down in Florida for the winter holidays. Leora and John build a relationship together but there is one problem, John is from the north and Leora does not want to move back up north ever. Her choice might very well put an end to their relationship if Leora doesn't find the strength to tell John why. This is such a sweet story. I don't want to spoil it for anyone as to what Leora's reason is but once you know it will all come together to wrap up this one nicely.

Next, we have The Beach Ball written by Jean Brunstetter who is the daughter in law of Wanda and Richard Brunstetter. Again, we are back in Sarasota, Florida in the Pinecraft community where something as cute and simple as a beach ball bring a couple together. Violet Lambright is an energetic Amish young woman who has decided to find her own way in the world and seeks her own independence. While shopping one day she and a young man find themselves reaching for the same beach ball and that's what leads us to a very interesting story. Dan is nice young man however he must contend with a young man Violet had met earlier, Levi and it makes for some very interesting reading as the two men vie for Violet's attention. Violet will have to decide which young man she wants in her life and in which direction she wishes her life to go.

Fragments of a Sand Dollar is written by Richelle Brunstetter and she is the daughter of Jean and granddaughter of Wanda. This story introduces the reader to Francine Lambright who has broken up with her longtime boyfriend, Matthew. Matthew is thinking of leaving the Amish faith while Francine has decided to join the faith. Being heartbroken Francine receives an invitation to visit with her sister down in Pinecraft, Florida to take some time and sort through her feelings before she makes any big decisions. Through a chance meeting Francine meets a young English man, Lucas Hayes, on the beach while she is searching for seashells. The two begin seeing each other even though Lucas is an English person. As the couple continues to see each other Lucas is being pulled into a direction that Francine finds herself liking less and less but when Matthew makes an unexpected trip down to Pinecraft things become very interesting.

The last story is A Sarasota Sunset written by Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach who is Wanda's daughter.
In this story we meet Alana Lambright who has suffered from a terrible experience that has left its mark on her life. Alana has traveled down to Pinecraft, Florida to stay with her sisters and while there she meets James Miller. While she is still thinking about her horrible experience and breakup with the person, she was seeing back home she sees James as someone different who challenges her to step outside of her "box" and try new things. Even though she is a bit skeptical of James at first, she decides to give his suggestions a try. As the couple continues to grow closer will Alana's fear cause James to pull away.

All four of the stories are lovely and what I liked most about them was how they brought us as readers back full circle. Love, faith, hope and forgiveness are shown in abundance and leaves you with this warm fuzzy feeling long after you close the book. A ten-star review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The thoughts and opinions I have expressed are my own

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

PLEASE READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG: https://bookreadingtic.com/2023/09/15... AND CONSIDER FOLLOWING ME. THANK YOU!

Healing at the Beach!

Be prepared to be captivated by the stories of four Amish sisters, and the choices they make.

"The Seashell Cake"

Leora left family, friends, and her Amish community to live in Sarasota, Florida. She has an illness called SAD which causes depression in the months that do not have lots of sunshine.

After feeling much better in the sunshine state, Leora has determined she will never leave. She thinks making that decision will prevent her from getting married because the pickings there are slim since most of the single men are tourists.

Then, she meets John who is on a three-month extended vacation. He is everything she has wanted, except he is returning to the business he owns in Michigan, so, she must not let herself have feelings for him.

"The Beach Ball"

Violet wants to experience life away from her Amish parents, so she goes to Florida, and stays with her married sister, Leora. While there, she tries out English (non-Amish) clothing and considers dating English guys, too!

Then, she experiences man trouble. Levi is Amish, but unlike any Amish man she has been around. She also meets Dan, a Christian, not Amish, but a very nice guy.

Violet is pressured by her parents to date Amish men, and join the church, but she enjoys the freedom of dress and lifestyle she has in Florida. She is torn by what decision she will make.

"Fragments of a Sand Dollar"

Francine has no desire to leave the Amish, but ever since she and Matthew broke up, she has felt down in the dumps. She goes to stay with her sister, Leora, hoping the change will do her good.
She meets Lucas at the beach. He is not Amish, and is a stranger, but on a whim, decides to go out with him.

Lucas lives a fast life, and tries to push Francine away from the Amish life. Secretly, he is a gambler, and makes a terrible wager that involves her.

She tells Lucas he needs God's love to be happy. But she wonders if she has gotten over her head with him.

"A Sarasota Sunset"

After a traumatic breakup, Alana heads to Florida to stay with her sister. Once there, she thinks about living there permanently, and if she really wants to join the Amish church.

Soon she finds a job she enjoys that lets her sell her art work there, too. She also meets James. He is not Amish, but a Christian and soon to be teaching in a Christian school.

When her fears start keeping her away from dates with James, she wonders if history is repeating itself.

My Conclusion

All the tales will delight you as you see what happens with each sister. The stories are clean, feature the girl's relationship with God, and includes a recipe from each author--I loved they were all from the same family. This five-star book will be enjoyed by all--Amish fans or not!

Thank you, Barbour Publishing and NetGalley, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sisters by the Sea
by Wanda E. Brunstetter,Jean Brunstetter,Richelle Brunstetter,Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach
Four Amish Sisters Develop New Beginnings in Sarasota, Florida
Journey with the bestselling Brunstetter authors to the unique tropical Amish community in Sarasota, Florida, along with four young sisters originally from Indiana.
The Seashell Cake by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Leora Lambright is the first to leave home, seeking a warmer climate for health reasons. While on a winter holiday, roofer John Miller meets Leora in the bakery where she is enjoying expressing herself through cake decorating. They are instantly attracted to each other and spend several days bike riding, fishing, playing shuffleboard, and trying local restaurants. But when Leora makes it clear she’ll never again live up north, without explaining why. Has the romance ended before it could even blossom?
The Beach Ball by Jean Brunstetter
Violet, the youngest of the four Lambright sisters, has always been a bit wild. She moves to Florida to live with her sister as she seeks her independence and considers leaving the Amish way of life. She works as a waitress and drives her own car. Her beauty and free spirit attract a lot of male attention like Levi, who is also Amish. When she first meets Dan Hunter, it is his little red sports car that she admires first, but while dating Dan, Levi keeps trying to make Violet commit to him. Can she settle on who should have her heart and how to live out her faith?
Fragments of a Sand Dollar by Richelle Brunstetter
Francine Lambright is heartbroken that her longtime boyfriend, Matthew, is thinking of leaving the Amish faith, and they have broken up. She is ready to join the church, but her sister invites her to Florida for an extended visit before taking the pledge of faith. While shell hunting at Lido Beach, Francine meets Lucas Hayes, and they soon begin seeing each other, despite him being an Englisher. When Matthew shows up in Pinecraft unexpectedly, how will Francine’s heart respond?
A Sarasota Sunset by Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach
Alana Lambright has suffered a series of unfortunate accidents and emotional traumas that have left her plagued by anxiety. She turns to art for peace and healing. While on a visit to her sister in Florida, she takes up seashell artwork and accepts a job in a gift shop. James Miller, a recent college graduate, meets Alana, and, due to his own past, he is initially turned off by the fact that she is Amish. Still he invites Alana on adventurous outings. Alana tries to tamp her anxiety to try the activities but fails and feels like it pushes James away. Can they each deal with the heaviness in their pasts to embrace a future together?
Sisters by the Sea by Wanda E. Brunstetter,Jean Brunstetter,Richelle Brunstetter,Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Wanda E. Brunstetter,Jean Brunstetter,Richelle Brunstetter,Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach
I recommend this book.
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Shelly Itkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Brunstetter along with other members of her family has written four short stories that intertwine with each other

The Seashell Cake

Leora Lambrights suffers from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and it brings on depression in the cold weather. With her doctor's advice, she decides to visit her family in Sarosata. She is an excellent cake decorator and already has a job and a place to stay.

One day she meets John Miller who admires her work and eventually decides to date. The problem is John is only here for a much-needed vacation from his home in Michigan. He has been working so hard on the roofing business he owns that he needs to relax.

Leora enjoys his company but breaks it off when she realizes she could never live in Michigan with her condition

Love has a way of solving problems and making things right.

The Beach Ball

Violet Lambright moves to Florida as she wants to be independent and decide for herself if she wants to join the Church. She works as a waitress and meets Levi who was raised Amish. She likes him but suddenly Levi is introducing her to things she does not feel comfortable with plus one of his friends Barry is not somebody she wants to hang around with.

By mere chance, she meets Dan when she is in a gift shop and both are looking at a beach ball. There is only one so Dan tells her to take it. As luck would have it they meet again and start dating. She is now confused as
although Dan is not Amish she likes him.

Leave it to a beach ball to help her make her decision of how she wants to spend her life.


Fragments of a Sand Dollar

Francine Lambright is shocked when her boyfriend, Matthew of almost two years tells her he has a calling to be a missionary. Upset and depressed she is about to join the Church when her sister tells her to come for a visit.

While shell hunting on the beach she meets Lucas and they decide to see each other. He is English and many things she sees him doing are all new and some are not to her liking and others are. He has a friend Barry, who she feels is trouble and wonders if she could be with Lucas when he has friends like he does.

Unexpectedly Matthen pays her a surprise visit and he admits how much he misses her and she feels the same. Can they come to a comprise to make it work?


A Sarasota Sunset


Alana has decided to visit her family in Sarasota as she is upset and plagued with anxiety after the way Ben has treated her. She is a gifted artist and finds that when she paints she feels much better.

By chance, she meets James Miller who is not like her and loves adventure and new things. She is a little skeptical at first but then decides to try some new things. James is opening her eyes to new challenges and she decides she wants to move on but is somewhat frightened. Will that push James away or will she be open and express her past so she can have a future.

[SKP · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up… Although generally I enjoy books by Wanda Brunstetter, I don’t always like the books she writes with her family quite as much. This one seemed to have a large problem with consistency in connecting the stories. For example, in the last story Alana says she’s never seen the Gulf of Mexico, but you wonder why she didn’t see it when she came for John & Leora’s wedding. Later it also says that their parents had never been to Florida! So they weren’t at the wedding either? That was really confusing! Then, it is rather far along into the third story before we find out that Dan and Violet are married…and we know absolutely nothing of their wedding. Did the family come for that wedding too? Not much is ever said about the marriage again—we barely ever see Dan at all after the 2nd story. And what happened to Francine when she went back home? Did she and her boyfriend ever get married? For the most part, I did like the stories. I just didn’t think they connected with one another very smoothly. It was really disjointed. I think there should have been some sort of epilogue connecting and concluding at the end. That would have helped tremendously.

The use of technology shown in this book is kind of unusual for an Amish book. I kind of got the idea that they used electricity in their homes more than the Amish normally do, but it wasn’t really explained. Also, there’s not a lot of explanation for the sisters owning and using cell phones including for picture taking and texting which wouldn’t be work related. I guess since the 3 younger sisters hadn’t joined the church? But if I hadn’t read a ton of Amish books prior to this, I wouldn’t have been able to understand that. I am aware that generally Amish folks do not use technology except in cases where they use them for work. I would have appreciated more of an explanation for how they do church in Pinecraft. Also, I realize that they didn’t go to church in a traditional Amish manner, but do they still have a bishop and the similar set-up to the communities in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania? When they said they went to an Amish church …is that an actual building? The explanation for just the most basic of Amish customs was really lacking.

It was kind of strange that 3 of the daughters dated outside of their faith & 2 ended up with Englishers. I think maybe the summary of this book should stress that there is a lot of Rumspringa activity in this book.
And I can’t remember the last Amish book I read where there were four romances, a couple of marriages but no one had any babies or even spoke about it. Very unusual.

That said, I decided to read this because we were planning to go to Sarasota and visit PInecraft. I’m not sure if I should be using this as a sort of guidebook for Pinecraft, but I think I kind of did. When I visit, I will maybe be able to clarify some of my questions myself.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sisters by the Sea
4 Short Romances Set in the Sarasota, Florida, Amish Community
by Wanda E. Brunstetter; Jean Brunstetter; Richelle Brunstetter; Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach
Pub Date 01 Oct 2023
Barbour Publishing,Barbour Fiction
Christian| Romance



Barbour Publishing and Netgalley gave me a copy of Sisters by the Sea to review:



Four Amish sisters, find themselves developing new beginnings in Sarasota Florida in this series of four romantic novella's:


The Seashell Cake by Wanda E. Brunstetter
The first to leave is Leora Lambright, who is seeking a warmer climate. During a winter holiday, roofer John Miller meets Leora in the bakery where she's decorating cakes. It's instant attraction and they spend a lot of time riding bikes, fishing, playing shuffleboard, and eating. However, when Leora says she'll never live up north again, she doesn't explain why. Has the romance ended before it could even blossom?


The Beach Ball by Jean Brunstetter
Violet, the youngest Lambright sister, has always been wild. Moving to Florida to live with her sister, she seeks independence and considers leaving the Amish way of life. She's a waitress and drives her own car. Her beauty and free spirit attract a lot of men, like Levi, who is also Amish. Initially, Violet admires Dan Hunter's little red sports car, but Levi keeps trying to make her commit to him while they're dating. Can she decide who should have her heart and how to live out her faith?


 Fragments of a Sand Dollar by Richelle Brunstetter
Francine Lambright is heartbroken that her longtime boyfriend, Matthew, is leaving the Amish faith. She's ready to join the church, but her sister invites her to Florida for an extended visit before she takes the pledge. When Francine goes shell hunting at Lido Beach, she meets Lucas Hayes, and they soon start dating, despite him being English. What will Francine's heart feel when Matthew shows up unexpectedly in Pinecraft? 


A Sarasota Sunset by Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach
Having suffered a series of unfortunate accidents and emotional traumas, Alana Lambright suffers from anxiety. Art gives her peace and healing. A visit to her sister in Florida leads her to take up seashell art and get a job at a gift shop. James Miller, a recent college grad, meets Alana, and, because of his own past, he's initially turned off by her Amish heritage. Still, he takes Alana on adventures. Trying to tame her anxiety, Alana tries the activities, but fails and feels like it pushes James away. Will they be able to deal with their pasts to embrace a future together?


I give Sisters By the Sea five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!
 
 

[Gabrielle Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sisters by the Sea" by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter, and Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach is a heartwarming and multi-generational Amish novel that explores the enduring bonds of sisterhood, faith, and the importance of family.

The story introduces readers to four sisters from different generations, each facing their own unique challenges and seeking to navigate the complexities of life within the Amish community. As they come together by the sea for a family reunion, secrets are revealed, old wounds are healed, and deep connections are forged. The authors skillfully craft relatable characters who grapple with faith, love, and the pursuit of their dreams.

The novel's setting, by the sea, adds an extra layer of charm and beauty to the narrative. The description of the seaside landscape and the authors' attention to detail immerse readers in the story, making them feel as though they are part of this close-knit family's journey.

"Sisters by the Sea" explores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the strength of family ties. The story is a testament to the power of faith in overcoming life's trials and tribulations. While the novel leans into familiar themes within Amish fiction, it distinguishes itself through its multi-generational perspective, allowing readers to see how the Amish way of life evolves over time.

In conclusion, "Sisters by the Sea" is a heartwarming and spiritually uplifting novel that celebrates the enduring bonds of sisterhood and family within the Amish community. If you enjoy Amish fiction with a focus on family dynamics, faith, and the beauty of tradition, this collaborative work by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter, and Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach is a poignant and enriching read.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book of four different stories for four sisters all happening in the town of Pinecroft, Sarasota, Florida. They are from an Amish family in the north and are all coming down to Florida on separate vacations and exploring their Amish faith. Leora comes first because of her SAD (seasonal affective disorder). She meets John Miller and falls in love with him but doesn’t want to tell him about her disorder. They also have a location problem: Michigan or Pinecroft. Leora is a baker and specializes
in seashell cookies and cakes. Read how they try to work through their conflicts.

The next sister is Violet who is clashing with her mom about the Amish life. She comes down to her sister in Florida and meets one of her brother’s friends, Levi. Levi leads kind of a wild life and Violet thinks she ought to try it out for a bit until she gets in quite a bit of trouble. She meets another man named Dan but doesn’t want to tell him she’s Amish. I felt the story wasn’t finished well and left me hanging.

Francine is the next sister to visit Florida and she meets Lucas at the beach he tries to make her leave the Amish faith in order to fulfill a contest he’s made with his friends. Francine walks a close line with Lucas’ wild lifestyle. Her boyfriend from up north shows up in Florida. What to do?

Alana, the fourth sister, arrives in Florida to visit her sister and she meets a man named James. Alana is an artist and spends a lot of time at the beach painting sunsets and then sells them at the store where she works.The art brings her peace and healing. Both James and Alana Have past fears and bitterness to overcome. It’s all about forgiveness.

I know you’ll enjoy this book written by the Brunstetters family of lady authors. I was given this book to review by the publisher.

[Nyla Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sisters by the Sea contains four novellas written by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter, and Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach. We get to travel to Sarasota, Florida to spend time with Leora Lambright and her sisters, Violet, Francine, and Alana. I liked that the stories were set in nearby Sarasota. I was familiar with some of the places mentioned, especially Siesta Key (a beautiful beach). I liked the characters, but I wish they had been fleshed out more (I know that is hard to do in a short story). The characters are realistic and relatable. I thought the authors gave us a realistic look at women who have grown up Amish and are at a crossroads. They need to decide whether to be baptized or not as well as where they would like to live. I like that a spotlight is shown on SAD (seasonal affective disorder). There are good life lessons and encouragement in each tale. I enjoyed the descriptions of the beaches. I could envision the beautiful blue ocean and feel warm sand between my toes. I liked how faith was incorporated into each story and I appreciated that the romances were clean (there was some kissing). Sisters by the Sea transports you to sunny Sarasota with a seashell cake, a persistent suitor, beautiful beaches, artistic sisters, stunning sunsets, and supportive parents.

[EM · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Novellas by four authors, focusing on real life emotions, feelings & illness and how they all reach out to others & recognize that they all need each other.
*The Seashell Cake by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Leora Lambright leaves Indiana for Florida to get help with a disorder she's been struggling with. John Miller is on a much needed vacation. Will this long distance relationship work out?
* The Beach Ball by Jean Brunstetter - Violet struggles with telling Dan that she's Amish. She's also struggling with being Amish. Levi is refusing to accept that Violet doesn't want a relationship with him. Will she decide what is right for her?
* Fragments of a Sand Dollar by Richelle Brunstetter - Francine heads to Florida after a breakup with her boyfriend. While there she meets Lucas. The story of the Sand Dollar brings them together, but not in the way they were expecting, especially after a surprise visit from Matthew & a secret bet confuses Francine even more.
* A Sarasota Sunset by Lorine Brunstetter - Alana Lambright suffers from anxiety & finds peace & comfort in her art. She discovers seashell art as part of her healing. James Miller has a past of his own & isn't fond of Alana's Amish ways. Can their situations help them or drive them farther apart?
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing & was under no obligation to post a review.

[Tammy G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a WOW read! Four stories in one book by four different authors.
I love books by Wanda E. Brunstetter and now she has three authors, all in the family to write new stories about sisters.

The first short story is by Wanda E. Brunstetter at is Seashell Cake. A sweet story about Leora Lambright. Lenora works in a bakery and when John Miller comes in its instant attraction. However, this does does seem to be a match made in heaven.

The next story is Beach Ball by Jean Brunstetter. Violet Lambright is Amish but leaves it all behind to become a waitress and she drives her own car. She is beautiful and independent. Can her life work the way she thinks?

The third story is Fragments of a Sand Dollar by Richelle Brunstetter. This story is about Francine Lambright who is a faithful Amish young woman and cannot understand why the love of her life would consider leaving the Amish faith.

Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach pens the final story, A Sarasota Sunset. Alana Lambright has anxiety from a traumatic past. Can she find love and healing.

All of these stories center around sisters who find their way to Florida; hence, the title Sisters by the Sea.

Four grand stories of faith, hope and love!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

[Mary Kehoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sisters by the Sea
Wanda E. Brunstter, Jean Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter, & Lorine Brunstetter Van Vorback

I have just completed this book which is a compilation of four novellas under one book cover. Each novella is written by a Wanda E. Brunstetter and her female family members.
It is a remarkable book and each novella has its own female lead character and creates a different kind of story set in Sarasota, Florida. All the female characters come from an Amish background and are learning how to live away from their families in the warm location on the water. They develop relationships from the males they encounter in the warm local. They have come there from the northern state of the USA to give them space from their core family and a way to grow into adulthood .
They are all stand alone novellas and their characters in each one are different. They do all develop relationships with young men in the area. The evidence of faith and religion is part of each novella as well as developing a relationship with a young man they meet in the area of Sarasota.
My delight was that I had four unique stories under one cover and in traveling with the book, I could from one to the next easily.
I highly recommend it as a warm and wonderful opportunity to savor the relationships developed in each unique situation.
Mary Liz Kehoe