The Hope Jar (Prayer Jars, #1)

by 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?

• ISBN13: 9781432853006
• Publish Date: 2 August 2018 (first published 1 August 2018)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 7 May 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Cengage Learning, Inc
• Imprint: Cengage Gale
• Edition: Large type / large print edition
• Format: Hardcover (Library Binding)
• Pages: 523
• Language: English

Reviews

[phyllish]

The Hope Jar by Wanda Brunstetter

The start of a new Amish fiction series


Michelle, through a strange set of circumstances, found herself pretending to be someone she wasn’t. In some ways, it helped her out of a very rough situation, yet it caused her no end of guilt.

The Hope Jar had a very interesting premise – a girl caught up in a snowball of events that afforded her a place to escape her abusive boyfriend. A safe haven where she was loved and cared for. There were some interesting plot elements. I have heard this author’s name for quite some time but had never read any of her books before this. I was intrigued.

Fear is a powerful motivator, whether it is fear of being hurt or of hurting others. I understood Michelle’s motivations for behaving as she did. Ezekiel, on the other hand, seemed very selfish, shallow and immature. I was not a fan of his.

The storytelling was a little dry. The dialog seemed unnatural in parts and it seemed like there was so much explaining of the Amish way of life in the conversations. Yes, I understand that would have been necessary – it was more the execution that was tedious.

I was also disappointed that the consequences of the lies Michelle and Ezekiel told were as insignificant as they were. Not that I wanted anything terrible to happen to them as a result! Yet it felt like they only experienced a little bit of discomfort and because they repented, things were just okay. While I understand and appreciate so much the grace we have received and know that Jesus’ blood has covered all our sins, our actions have consequences and this story missed an opportunity for a good moral lesson.

From looking at other reviews, it appears that most people really loved this book. If you enjoy Amish fiction, it might be worth looking at what others have said and consider reading it.


This review was originally posted on Among the Reads

I would like to thank Celebrate Lit for giving me a copy of this book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

[Molly J(Cover To Cover Cafe)]

As you all know, I'm huge fan of Wanda Brunstetter. Not one of her books left me disappointed. So, to say I was excited about the start of this new series , is quite the understatement. The more I saw about it on Mrs. Brunstetter's pages, the more anxious for the release I became. Then when the book arrived, I couldn't wait to dive into it. And then......well, then I was in awe of Mrs. Brunstetter. Why? Because she has once again managed to take me to the heart of Amish country, to the world I wish I belonged in, and filled my heart with healing and hope. 

I loved the characters within the book. They were all chiseled perfectly for their rolls. I loved watching Michelle grown in her relationships, especially her convictions with God after she found the jar. The messages she received, the feelings she felt, all of them quickly spoke to me and became my own feelings. 

This book is beautifully written and will have the reader pulled to the center of the story instantly. From start to finish, I smiled, I laughed, I wondered what God would do in Michelle's life. The messages that Mrs. Brunstetter always manages to weave within the story speak loudly to the soul. I love that in Amish novels. So, if you are looking for a wonderful book to transport you to the heart of Amish country, then grab this book now. You'll be instantly addicted to the beautiful works of Wanda Brunstetter, if you aren't already. This 5 star book is definitely a keeper for me, and I can't wait to start my own hope jar! 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*