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"The Hope Jar"
by Wanda E. Brunstetter
by Wanda E. Brunstetter
A Brand-New Series from New York Times Best Selling 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?
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This is the first in a new series, called The Prayer Jars. The Hope Jar is the story of a young Amish girl who leaves home and unknown to her parents, she is expecting. She has the baby and names her Sara. When Sara is six, her mother marries a man named Dean, but Sara never saw him as her father. When Sara's mother dies from cancer, she leaves Sara a letter which drops a bombshell into her 24 year old life. She tells Sara that she was Amish and expecting her when she left home. She also gives her the names of her grandparents and expresses her wish that she visits them and tell them she is sorry.
Another main character in the story is a girl the same age as Sara named Michelle. Having been in and out of foster care since she was taken from her abusive parents, she doesn't know where her brothers ended up. The man Michelle is dating is very abusive and so Michelle doesn't want to go through that again, so she packs up and leaves. She finds herself at the train station trying to decide where to go, when an older Amish couple approaches her thinking that she is Sara. Michelle seeing a place to hide goes along with the charade.
Michelle finds a jar of prayers in the Lapp's barn. These prayers were written by Mary Ruth, Michelle is curious about the prayers, who wrote them, but more importantly about the scriptures she also finds in the jar. She keeps coming back to read and meditate on them.
By being with the Lapps, they slowly began to change Michelle, and she sees how amazing God's love is. But what will happen when Sara shows up?
This was an amazing novel about how God's love can change a person. Can't wait until the next book maybe it will be about the real Sara's life. What I like best is how Brunstetter uses only the King James Bible for her Scripture references.
I received a complementary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
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?
******************************************************************************
This is the first in a new series, called The Prayer Jars. The Hope Jar is the story of a young Amish girl who leaves home and unknown to her parents, she is expecting. She has the baby and names her Sara. When Sara is six, her mother marries a man named Dean, but Sara never saw him as her father. When Sara's mother dies from cancer, she leaves Sara a letter which drops a bombshell into her 24 year old life. She tells Sara that she was Amish and expecting her when she left home. She also gives her the names of her grandparents and expresses her wish that she visits them and tell them she is sorry.
Another main character in the story is a girl the same age as Sara named Michelle. Having been in and out of foster care since she was taken from her abusive parents, she doesn't know where her brothers ended up. The man Michelle is dating is very abusive and so Michelle doesn't want to go through that again, so she packs up and leaves. She finds herself at the train station trying to decide where to go, when an older Amish couple approaches her thinking that she is Sara. Michelle seeing a place to hide goes along with the charade.
Michelle finds a jar of prayers in the Lapp's barn. These prayers were written by Mary Ruth, Michelle is curious about the prayers, who wrote them, but more importantly about the scriptures she also finds in the jar. She keeps coming back to read and meditate on them.
By being with the Lapps, they slowly began to change Michelle, and she sees how amazing God's love is. But what will happen when Sara shows up?
This was an amazing novel about how God's love can change a person. Can't wait until the next book maybe it will be about the real Sara's life. What I like best is how Brunstetter uses only the King James Bible for her Scripture references.
I received a complementary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
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.
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.
MAKE YOUR OWN PRAYER JAR
Want to make your own prayer jar to pass along to future generations? CLICK HERE to download a printable template you can use to write your sentiments on. Simply cut out each strip of paper when you’re finished and put them in the jar of your choice.
Want to make your own prayer jar to pass along to future generations? CLICK HERE to download a printable template you can use to write your sentiments on. Simply cut out each strip of paper when you’re finished and put them in the jar of your choice.
BLOG STOPS
Janices book reviews, August 14
Among the Reads, August 14
The Avid Reader, August 14
Reflections From My Bookshelves, August 15
Just Commonly, August 15
Genesis 5020, August 16
Mary Hake, August 16
Bigreadersite, August 16
Lighthouse Academy, August 17
Seasons of Opportunities, August 17
Christian Bookaholic, August 18
Luv’N Lambert Life, August 18
Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, August 19
Blossoms and Blessings, August 19
Splashes of Joy, August 20
SusanLovesBooks, August 20
Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 21
Because I said so — adventures in parenting, August 21
Two Points of Interest, August 22
Southern Gal Loves to Read, August 22
Cafinated Reads, August 23
Quiet quilter, August 23
Have A Wonderful Day, August 24
Carpe Diem, August 24
A Baker’s Perspective, August 25
Bibliophile Reviews, August 25
proud to be an autism mom, August 26
Texas Book-aholic, August 26
Reader’s Cozy Corner, August 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 27
Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 27
Janices book reviews, August 14
Among the Reads, August 14
The Avid Reader, August 14
Reflections From My Bookshelves, August 15
Just Commonly, August 15
Genesis 5020, August 16
Mary Hake, August 16
Bigreadersite, August 16
Lighthouse Academy, August 17
Seasons of Opportunities, August 17
Christian Bookaholic, August 18
Luv’N Lambert Life, August 18
Random Thoughts From a Bookworm, August 19
Blossoms and Blessings, August 19
Splashes of Joy, August 20
SusanLovesBooks, August 20
Ashley’s Bookshelf, August 21
Because I said so — adventures in parenting, August 21
Two Points of Interest, August 22
Southern Gal Loves to Read, August 22
Cafinated Reads, August 23
Quiet quilter, August 23
Have A Wonderful Day, August 24
Carpe Diem, August 24
A Baker’s Perspective, August 25
Bibliophile Reviews, August 25
proud to be an autism mom, August 26
Texas Book-aholic, August 26
Reader’s Cozy Corner, August 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 27
Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 27
GIVEAWAY
To celebrate her tour, Wanda is giving away a grand prize that includes a $25 Amazon Gift Card, jar-shaped notepad, and a copy of The Hope Jar (with an autographed book plate inside).
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d40a/the-hope-jar-celebration-tour-giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Wanda is giving away a grand prize that includes a $25 Amazon Gift Card, jar-shaped notepad, and a copy of The Hope Jar (with an autographed book plate inside).
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d40a/the-hope-jar-celebration-tour-giveaway