Brunstetter’s First Published Novels Brought Back to Print Enjoy a collectible volume of three early novels by New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter. Meet three couples from Washington state who are who are surprised by love. Clowning Around Always a fun-loving prankster even when not personifying Slow-Joe the Clown, Joe Richey tries to win the heart of always steady and … to win the heart of always steady and serious Lois Johnson.
The Neighborly Thing
Glen Olsen is rather fascinated by his new neighbor, Sinda Shull, who keeps herself shut away, working at a home business. But Glen’s daughter is trying to prove that Sinda is up to no good.
Talking for Two
Despite stuttering, Tabby enrolls in a class on ventriloquism, but guidance from handsome professional Seth Byers could destroy the little self-confidence she has.
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A Heartwarming Romance Collection by Wanda E. Brunstetter contains three sweet Christian romances set in Washington. They are well-written with characters who have strong Christian values. They are quick and easy to read. The characters are realistic with their strong points and their flaws. It was interesting learning about ventriloquism and clowns as well as chalk art. I liked how the characters used their gifts as a ministry to share their love of Christ. We get to see how our characters overcome obstacles to find love and deepen their faith as well. Bullying, overcoming the past, and insecurities are themes present in the stories. I was a little disappointed that the third story did not contain the theme of the first two. I was hoping we would get Donna Hartley’s story (a chalk artist). I just did not feel that The Neighborly Thing fit in with the other two tales. I had not read these early works by Wanda Brunstetter, so I found it a nice treat. This author always provides sweet, refreshing stories. They remind us to focus on what is truly important in our lives and to rely on Him. A Heartwarming Romance Collection are three inspiring Christian tales with a cute canine, a passionate puppeteer, a crazy clown, doll drama, an anxious adolescent, and curious Christians.
Talking for two.
I definitely learnt a new word here: ventriloquism! Ha! Just saying it makes me feel smart!
This story was one of joy, love, a few tears and lots of glee. I felt sorry for Tabby and the way she had been treated causing her to have a terrible low self-esteem. But i was grateful for the wonderful friend Doona God placed in her life and for her faith in God. It was refreshing to read how great change happened in her life and in Seth’s by just relating with each other. I loved how God turned the tide for both of them.
Clowning Around
Tear-jerking story for sure!
Lois was the younger sister of Tabby, her life changed drastically after her sister got married. I admired the zest she has for her new faith, how she desperately wanted to serve God with her talents. My heart broke for Joe and all he went through growing up. It was amazing to read how he made lemonade out of the lemons life threw at him.
This amazing story illustrates God’s healing and redemptive power.
The Neighbourly Thing.
This was my favorite story in this book. Maybe because it deals with broken people in need of a Savior.
Sinda’s srory was heartbreaking, the pain, abuse was just hurtful on all levels but i admired her gusto to make a life for herself despite it all. I loved the happiness Glen brought into her life together with his spunky daughter Tara! I loved how she made her way back to God and how Glen never gave up on her.
This book and the stories in it will always be close to me heart.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
What does a ventriloquist, a clown, and a doll hospital have in common? These are the components to the trilogy by Wanda E. Brunstetter. First published in 2002 and 2003, these were her early novels of romance before she started down the road of Amish fiction. It was interesting to me to read her writing in another genre.
All three stories shared characters that had low self esteem and had drifted away from God. I was appalled by how the parents treated their children and withheld their love. It was truly heartwarming how the characters matured and found their own self worth and were drawn into God’s great love for them. I might have shed a tear or two among the stories but that is what makes a good story better.
This was a personal purchase and no review was required. All opinions are my own.
I loved How each character was able to overcome the negative, y using the talents God had given them ,changing into productive and positive life changes….Finding love along the way.
A Heartwarming Romance Collection contains three of Wanda Brunstetter’s earlier books. Each of these books are about women who take on unusual professions. One is about a girl who has low self-esteem and stutters but decides to become a ventriloquist when she learns that she does not stutter when speaking through her dummy. In book 2, you will learn about the work of becoming a Christian clown. It’s not as easy as you think! The final book is about a doll doctor named Sinda, the widower mail carrier next door and his ten year old detective daughter! If you enjoy sweet romances, you’ll enjoy these stories set in the state of Washington in the late twentieth century. These are not Amish books as we usually expect from Wanda Brunstetter. I received a complimentary e-book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
Heartwarming Collection by Wanda Brunstetter
This book “Heartwarming Collection” is a three short stories previously published by author Wanda Brunsetter. Like all of Wanda Brunsetter book’s, this is no exception of being a book you will fall in love with from the first story.
The first story is “Talking for Two”, then “The Neighborly Thing” and “Clowning Around”. All the short stories are great, but I always have a problem with having my favorite. My is ” Talking for two”. It was a story about Tabby, whom signed up for a class because she shudders. The class is on Ventriloquism and taught by Seth Byer. Seth may change Tabby’s life forever.
I recommend this book to my family and friends through Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon and my blog
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I give this book a 4 out of 5
This book was a complimentary copy from Barbour and netgalley. I have no obligation to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.
Talking For Two by Wanda E Brunstetter is a delightful contemporary Christian novel that warmed my soul. It is the third book in the Washington series and also part of A Heart Warming Romance Collection.
The tone is light-hearted and highly amusing at times. The book revolves around the theme of voice – a characters stutters unless she is operating a ventriloquist dummy. We all need to find our voices, if we cannot do it in our strength we can lean on God and do it in His.
Trust is a major theme. We need to trust God because He will never let us down. We need to believe the words He speaks over us and not the words we hear in our heads that put us down.
We witness a character with little self-esteem. Her earthly parents have broken her spirit. In contrast, God will always build us up as He calls us beloved.
I really enjoyed Talking For Two. It is positively charming.
Clowning Around by Wanda E Brunstetter is a wonderful, warm contemporary Christian novel that will have you chuckling throughout. It follows on from Talking For Two.
We met Lois in the previous book but now she knows God, she is a new creation. Her heart of stone is gone as she walks her life in tandem with His.
A character hides their emotions behind humour to protect themselves from hurt. The past is having a huge effect on the present and it needs to be faced. We must be real. The world does not need to see an imitation of ourselves.
The novel is totally delightfully and very funny. I literally laughed out loud. It was wonderful.
The Neighborly Thing by Wanda Brunstetter is a charming contemporary Christian novel. It is the second book in the Washington series.
Over the whole novel there is an atmosphere of love and care. One of the characters repairs dolls for a living. This reminds the reader that when we are broken and hurting, God tenderly bends down and heals us if we let him.
Some people who go to church misrepresent God. They are like the Pharisees who liked to be seen to be being religious but the behaviour in private was a different matter. Going to church will not make you a Christian. It is a relationship with God that is important.
The past has been painful. Others have not always been truthful about situations. The truth needs to come to light, hurts faced and forgiveness given.
God is the God of second chances and new beginnings. He loves to transform our old lives into something new.
I really adored The Neighborly Thing. It made me smile and filled me with hope as the love and care radiated outwards.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
A HEARTWARMING ROMANCE COLLECTION contains three of Wanda Brunstetter’s earlier books. Three couples from Washington State find love when they are not expecting it .
TALKING FOR TWO finds Tabby Johnson struggling with stuttering. Tabby enrolls in a class on ventriloquism where she meets and falls for her instructor Seth Byers. Seth uses his talent as an ventriloquist to minister to others about Christ. FYI Wanda Brunstetter, herself is an accomplished ventriloquist and she performs with her puppet Randy.
CLOWNING AROUND finds Slow-Joe the clown, in real life Joe Richey falling for serious Lois Johnson. Can a romance bloom between the prankster and fu loving Joe and the ever steady Lois .
THE NEIGHBORLY THING finds widower Glen Olsen smitten with his new neighbor Sinda Shull. Glen’s young daughter, Tara thinks something s going on over at Sinda’s house. Tara plays detective in order to find out what their new neighbor is doing. When Glen and Sinda fall for each other she objects to her father’s interest in the fascinating Sinda.
I found all three of these early novels of Wanda Brunstetter to be very heartwarming and I loved the characters.
There are three books in this new collection and even though the characters are all different, they all share the common setting of Washington and the central theme of love and friendship. Wanda E. Brunstetter tells the stories of: a young woman who hopes to learn ventriloquism, despite her stuttering problem; a young girl who is determined to prove that a neighbor is up to no good; and a serious young woman who receives attention from a guy who loves jokes and pranks. All of these people are searching for reassurance and acceptance but perhaps, along the way, they can find friendship and even…love!
These contemporary romance books were written before Brunstetter achieved her great success in writing Amish fiction and I consider them to be entertaining reads, even though they may not appeal to her most ardent Amish fans. Brunstetter’s deep Christian faith is evident in all three stories and they are all books that I would gladly share with others. They certainly deserve to be in “A Heartwarming Romance Collection”!
I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. There was no obligation for a positive review and these are my honest thoughts.
After reading all three books included in this one volume I had a hard decision to make: which one is my favorite? I will admit I loved learning so much about ventriloquism and the sweet story surrounding it. I didn’t want to put the book down to make dinner. That is the first book, Talking for Two.The second book is Clowning Around which I totally enjoyed also. I’ve always had this thing about clowns. They make us laugh and I like that. The story is a stand alone as well as a second in the series. I didn’t want to put this one down either!The last book, The Neighborly Thing is so interesting, I was captivated and didn’t want to stop reading it too! I love a good mystery which this one is. Great characters!
This book is a great bargain! Three good books in one volume. Can’t beat that!I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
This is a collection of three early romances that Wanda E. Brunstetter wrote. The first two are related and the third has completely different characters. They are all related in that they are inspirational and the characters learn to trust in God again. My favorite of the three was the last one even though I am not fond of the daughter. These are all very good romances. I received a copy of this book from Barbour for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
This collection includes the stories Talking for Two, Clowning Around, and The Neighborly thing. I don’t know which one was my favorite. I loved all three of them. In each of the stories, one of the characters had a past that she/he had to deal with before they could move on. I loved how the author showed that they could only work through it with the help of God. Heartwarming was the perfect name for this collection. I would recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
This was an enjoyable book and very simply written. The stories were about people whose self esteem has caused them to have problems in their lives to overcome. The themes are all Christian and suitable for younger readers. The stories were easy to read and had happy endings. They were uplifting and relaxing. There are lessons to be learned in each and represent a closeness to God and how he can change our lives for the better.
I received an ebook copy from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
A nice collection of stories with a Christian message and sweet romance. Three different stories, all enjoyable.
I think the first story was my favorite. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
Having enjoyed reading all of Ms. Brunstetter’s Amish books, I was glad to see the debut of this collection of three of her earlier previously published contemporary novels. Set in Washington State, the first two stories are delightful with heartwarming romance (as so aptly described in the title), a little humor and drama, and a lot of faith. The stories are fun, yet packed with valuable life lessons and spiritual truths such as how lives can be changed and used by commitment to God. The characters are well-developed and engaging, and each story kept my interest from beginning to end. I also enjoyed learning more about the arts of ventriloquism and clowning. I would have given these stories a 5-Star rating. The third story, however, I did not enjoy as much. Although well written, I found this read a little tedious and depressing at times, and the characters just did not appeal to me especially the heroine Sinda with her constant whining about the past and Tara, a very disrespectful 10 year old girl. I finished this story only because of the mystery and the strong faith element. I recommend this book on the strengths of the first two stories.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
From ventriloquists to red noses to dolls, each of these three stories have love and friendships. The characters are unique. The story lines are interesting. I enjoy reading stories by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.