Mysterious Events Plague a Greenhouse in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country When Vernon King, his son, and son-in-law are involved in a terrible accident, three women are left to cope with their deaths, as they become the sole providers of the family they have left. The women’s only income must come from the family greenhouse, but someone seems to be trying to force them out of business. Amy King … business.
Amy King has just lost her father and brother, and her mother needs her to help run the family’s greenhouse. It doesn’t seem fair to ask her to leave a job she loves, when there is still a sister and brother to help. But Sylvia is also grieving for her husband while left to raise three children, and Henry, just out of school, is saddled with all the jobs his father and older brother used to do. As Amy assumes her new role, she also asks Jared Riehl to put their courtship on hold. When things become even more stressful at the greenhouse, will Amy crumble under the pressure?
more
The Crow’s Call resumes the story of characters from the Prayer Jars Series. As a family deals with the aftermath of a tragedy, each member responds to grief in their own way. At the same time, they must also carry on together to keep the family business, and other parts of their life, running as smoothly as possible. Through disruptions to their business, and individual personal issues, they find their way – some clinging to their faith, some questioning it. A series of mishaps in the middle of it all adds a touch of mystery. In the end, as in life, some issues are resolved, and some are not. I look forward to Book 2 in this series as we watch this family’s stories continue. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All thoughts are my own.
Wanda’s latest book, The Crow’s Call is the first book of the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series which has a great start with this one!
In a shocking tragic accident, three male family members are killed leaving a widow to run the greenhouse business with two daughters and a teenage son to help her. However the oldest daughter Sylvia is also a devastated widow with two young children who can barely cope with her loss so she isn’t much help with the family business. Daughter Amy is working very hard to help her mother, Belinda, that she told her boyfriend, Jared to stop courting her since she didn’t have time to spend with him any longer and to find someone else. This she did in spite of it breaking her heart.The young brother, Henry is mysterious about his actions and attitudes, especially how he hates helping in the greenhouse. He is quite a challenge.
Added to a set of numerous problems, new neighbors move in across the street and the wife dislikes the way the Amish live and run their business and she lets it well-known.
Vandalism shows up around the greenhouse which keeps everyone guessing as to what is going on?I’m anxious to read book 2 in the series!
This book The Crow’s Call by Wanda E. Brunstetter, is the first in a new series called Amish Greenhouse Mystery. It was a pleasant surprise to have Michelle (from the Prayer Jar Trilogy) involved in this book. It was very well written, intriguing plots that leave you eagerly waiting for the next installment in the series. A birthday party goes horribly wrong and changes many lives. Each person struggles to come to terms with it in their own way dealing with love, loss and being forced to start over. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Barbour Publishing & was under no obligation to post a review.
This is the first book in a new series and Ms. Brunstettler has upped her game. I’ve been a fan for years but this is the beginning of Amish fiction with many twists and turns like a country road. It deals with the grief a family endures after a buggy accident and the different ways people grieve in a real and tangible way. It also has you trying to figure out who is doing mysterious things to cause setbacks to the family and their livelihood which is the greenhouse. Add in a strange new neighbor and you will be scratching your head and wondering what is her story. This book is written with great balance and smoothly transitions like a juggler with many balls. Amy King is admirable in how she hides her hurt and does what needs to be done. She is strong and puts others first and is very identifiable.
If you are new to Amish Fiction this is a great place to start. I found this to be an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more in the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing/author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
This Amish Greenhouse Mystery series has started out with a bang with The Crow’s Call. Amy is a bit superstitious and she thinks every time she sees a crow and hears him caw, something bad is going to happen. And something did that changed her life as well as the others in her family. Most of them called upon the Lord for strength to make it through each day and continue to run the greenhouse, their family’s only source of income. There were many unusual characters in this story. New neighbors across the road that were English and not very friendly, a teenage son with a bad attitude, Maude, a mysterious “homeless” looking women that comes to the greenhouse from time to time but never buys, just “steals” food, and a man from the matriarch’s past that shows up and keeps annoying her and her family. I look for all of these characters to show up in the next novel with an expansion of their personalities. The mystery of who is sabotaging their greenhouse will be hopefully explored further too. I have an idea but it could be totally wrong.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
What a great introduction to the new Amish Greenhouse series by Wanda Brunstetter! There is an ongoing series of mysterious occurrences that the family is too busy to investigate. I found the characters very likable and well-defined. Two of the characters demonstrate faith, prayer, and other spiritual principles in the very worst of circumstances while two others struggle. I enjoyed visiting our favorite characters from the Prayer Jars series.
Amy King has an unusual fear of crows. While not superstitious, she dreads hearing a crow fussing on the fencepost as it could mean something terrible is about to happen. The King family is celebrating the birthday of Mom (Belinda). Ezekiel, his wife, and daughter hired a driver to come for a few days from New York. Sylvia and her husband, with their toddler and infant, arrived, and their three siblings still live at home. Amy, who helps her parents in their greenhouse, forgot to get ice cream when at the store, and Dad wanted to get some for the cake. Twenty-one-year-old Abraham and Toby, the husband of Sylvia, joined him. Amy saw them leave from where she was washing dishes, then to her horror, saw a semi come down the road and crash into the back of their buggy, killing all three. In an instant, their lives changed forever.
The three siblings think Ezekiel and his family should return to Strasburg and help with the family greenhouse, but Belinda knows he loves running his business and was recently selected by lot as a minister in his local Amish district. Henry will begin helping at the greenhouse and take on the chores his father and older brother used to do. Sylvia has an almost immobilizing grief and can barely take care of her children. The grief consuming Henry is seen through his anger, including anger at having to be man of the house at 15. Amy and Belinda do their best to live by their faith, prayers, and reading and meditating on scriptures.
Amy makes a huge sacrifice to help her family. She and Jared have been courting for almost a year. Despite hoping he would soon propose to her, she is exhausted with the additional work, but does not begrudge her mother. The future will be consumed with keeping the greenhouse profitable. Amy tells the devastated Jared that it is not fair to keep him waiting. He should feel free to pursue courting another woman. It breaks her heart, and she regrets the breakup, especially when rumors circulate that he is courting her best friend.
Vandalism is occurring at the greenhouse, including plants being damaged or destroyed. Monroe, a man Belinda dated before she met and married her late husband, is starting to hang around and give her unwanted attention. An English couple move in across the street. Virginia, a bitter woman, does not like the Amish or their horses clopping past. A new greenhouse has opened nearby. And Henry is making a pet out of that awful crow!
This novel is different from the usual novels of the author, regarding both grief and the mysterious vandalism. The author presents it in her unique gifted style, served with a huge portion of faith amidst high-stress circumstances. While only one situation has been resolved so far, it does not have a huge cliffhanger. It is one series that will be better if read in order. I highly recommend The Crow’s Call to those who enjoy Amish fiction in the best and the most challenging circumstances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
f you read the author’s previous series you will be familiar with a lot of the characters presented here, but this new series can be read on its own.
The book begins with a nightmare, that never ends in this story, when all but one of the men are wiped out with a buggy accident. Their father, brother and brother-in-law, what a tragic, horrific happening.
When the book ends there are a lot of unanswered questions, yes, some are answered, but I was left wondering!
Will Sylvia ever be able to have a life again beyond the security of her mother’s home and having her children in her arms? Will Henry be able to move on and accept responsibility beyond taking on the work of his Dad and brother. Will Amy be able to let herself have a life beyond the Greenhouse, and what of brother Ezekiel, will he continue to live in NY.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.
The Crow’s Call is the debut book in Wanda Brunstetter’s new series, Amish Greenhouse Mystery. The author has done an amazing job of telling her story filled with loss, love, healing and forgiveness thru her well defined characters. The storyline has a mystery running through it and definitely keeps the readers interest in trying to solve the mystery. As a family is trying to come to grips with the sudden loss of three of their loved ones in a horrific buggy accident there is someone who is targeting them by vandalizing their property. The family believes they know who is behind the destruction but aren’t willing to fully believe it. Everytime something has taken place a crow has appeared and screens caw, caw, caw. Is he warning them in advance or just being a nuisance?
The family who has been dealing with the loss of three of their loved ones has a different way of managing their grief. Belinda, the mother, has lost her husband, son, and son-in-law but she knows she has to lead the family so she pushes forward. Amy has put her life on hold to help manage the family greenhouse by breaking off her courtship, Sylvia the oldest sister, who has lost her husband of only a few years, can’t find the strength to do more than care for her two young children. Henry, the youngest son, is so bitter he strikes out at everyone and fights all the changes that he needs to make. As this family needs to pull together to heal a former friend of Belinda appears and makes things very uncomfortable for her. Belinda tries to avoid him but he keeps appearing at times which makes her consider his motives. I enjoyed each of these characters and the part they play in this family. As they start to pull together as a family more vandalism occurs causing each of them to look at different people as the person responsible.
Wanda Brunstetter has once again developed a story for her readers to show how a family can pull together and survive through love, forgiveness, and faith.
I did accept an advance copy of this book from Wanda and Barbour Publishing. I was not, however, approached to post a favorable response. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others. All opinions stated are my own.
Congratulations to Wanda Brunstetter for writing such an inspiring story for readers of all genres. This book is a wonderful start to her new series and I anticipate the release of the next book.
Wanda Brunstetter is a great author. I have never been disappointed with any of her books that I have read. The Crow’s Call is the first book in this new series with some of the characters from The Prayer Jars series (another great series you should read). The Crow’s Call is about the King family who lost a husband, brother and brother-in-law in a tragic accident when a semi truck crashed into their buggy. The mother, two daughters and the youngest son must deal with the loss and keep the greenhouse running which is the family business to bring in money. While another son and his family moved back to their home in New York to keep his business going with an agreement with his mother to pack up and leave New York to help the family business if things don’t go right for them. The youngest brother is angry and doesn’t want to help with the business, one daughter breaks up with her boyfriend so she can focus on helping her mother and the greenhouse. The oldest daughter is devastated with two babies and cannot cope or leave the house. Mysterious vandalism has been happening around the greenhouse and it seems to point to the youngest brother, even though he denies he did it. We have to wait for the next book in the series to find out more about this mysterious vandalism. I really enjoyed reading this book and I‘m looking forward to reading more of the series. I highly recommend this book and all of Wanda Brunstetter’s other books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Can the call of a crow bring danger and tragedy? Should the main characters be on alert at all times? After a horrible accident, life is changed and happiness may be lost. In this intriguing mystery, the author brings a story of love, faith and trust. I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required.
The Crow’s Call is a very intriguing mystery that leaves this reader looking forward to the next installment, The Mockingbird’s Song, released August 2020.
The King family must learn how to live again after the loss of three family members. Amy King is one of the main characters in the book. She is one of the daughters who is grieving and attempting to help her mother with a greenhouse business. Belinda is grieving the loss of a husband and son, while trying to put one foot in front of the other.
There is a crow who keeps driving Amy silly with its call that she believes forebodes ill. But does it? Across the street from the Kings, an English family has moved in and so far that isn’t going well either. So, is this book a downer? I don’t think so at all. If anything, the story reflects to readers how faith, family and friends can walk with someone who is hurting.
In addition, while trying to run a business without other family members, the greenhouse is experiencing vandalism. Who is the culprit? Is it Amy’s brother Henry or is it Belinda’s one-time fiancée from many years ago? I don’t know when these questions will get answers, but I do know that the story in the book is quite enjoyable to read.
I enjoyed reading it because of the strong faith component and how the family works through grief while looking at some of the fun past moments. I look forward to discovering if the crow is really a symbol of foreboding to Amy or is there more going on with this lead character? None of the players in the book are perfect nor do they have all the answers. The author allows them to struggle with life just like real people do, but she also shows the thread of hope that keeps people buoyed in life.
I encourage readers to enjoy this first novel with its flavor of a mystery, faith, family and hope while looking forward to The Mockingbird’s Song coming later this year!
This was definitely a “could not put down “ book from the beginning. The story starts out with the daughter Amy, gathering flowers for her mother’s birthday party. All of a sudden, a crow starts cawing loudly and Amy remembers a superstition that if you hear a crow caw, tragedy is soon to follow.
Tragically, a little while later, Amy’s dad, brother and brother in law are killed in a buggy accident. Now the remaining family members must learn how to cope with the loss of their loved ones and also keep their greenhouse business afloat.
I love how different characters are brought into the storyline to build the curiosity of who starts vandalizing their greenhouse. I am looking forward to reading the next book to see if the mystery person is revealed and what kind of twist the storyline will take this time.
The Crow’s Call, the first book in the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is the story of the King family—Belinda, Sylvia, Amy, Henry, and Ezekiel—as they strive to handle their grief from a devastating family tragedy and keep their family greenhouse business afloat amid strange happenings. The narrative flows at a fitting pace with well-developed characters and a compelling plot. A broken relationship, a distraught widow, a challenging teenager, a brother torn between obligations, and a mother trying to hold it all together make for an engaging, inspiring story. A broken water pipe, stray bees, a smashed mailbox, a broken sign, ruined flowers, a stolen water can, a pesky crow, and a cast of suspicious secondary characters add drama and mystery to the story. Ms. Brunstetter, as always, skillfully weaves the inspiring thread of faith throughout the book. I am waiting excitedly for the second book in the series, The Mockingbird’s Song, releasing in August, to confirm my hunch as to the identity of the vandalizing culprit. I highly recommend this book especially for lovers of Amish fiction.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.