Tuesday, August 14, 2018

The Hope Jar: First Novel The Prayer Jar Series plus a Giveaway!

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?

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

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.

Do you want to 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.

My Thoughts on The Hope Jar

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. I like the inclusion of the history of the Amish people. It provides insight into the Amish religion and their way of life. There are discussion questions and recipes at the end of the book. The Hope Jar is a story of faith, hope and love. I look forward to reading The Forgiving Jar when it releases (February 1, 2019).

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 bookplate inside). Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter.

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you will take the time to visit the other stops on The Hope Jar Book Tour (see schedule below). I will return tomorrow with my review of Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly. May you have a blessed day. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader