An Amish Woman Finds Love in Hawaii Ellen Lambright mourned when her best friend, Mandy, moved from Indiana to Hawaii. But now Ellen has received the Amish church’s permission to go to Hawaii and help Mandy through challenging times. Rob Smith works on the Williams family’s organic farm, far from his past mistakes and burning regrets. When Ellen befriends Rob, the attraction is mutual, but her … is mutual, but her commitment to the Amish faith stands between them. Could a heartfelt discovery lead to forgiveness, reunion, and love? Or is Ellen’s destiny waiting for her in Indiana?
Find out in this sequel to The Hawaiian Quilt from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, writing with her daughter-in-law Jean Brunstetter.
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I loved this book . It’s a follow up to the Hawaiian Quilt . It brings three different types of people and cultures together . It’s about friendship , faith , love , kindness and forgiveness of others and yourself .
The Hawaiian Discovery reunites readers with two of the young Amish women featured in The Hawaiian Quilt. In this enjoyable sequel co-written by Wanda E. Brunstetter and her daughter-in-law Jean Brunstetter, Mandy is now married to Ken Williams and, even though she has chosen to live as an Englisher, her friendship with her Amish friend Ellen Lambright is still very strong. The depth of Ellen’s true worth as a friend is proven when she asks the Amish church for permission to travel back to the island of Kauai to help with Ken and Mandy’s family emergency. Ellen works tirelessly to see Mandy through a tragic accident involving Ken and she is determined to do everything she can to ease her friend’s burdens. Even as she experiences periods of missing her family and friends back in Middlebury Ellen also enjoys a growing friendship with a fellow employee of Ken’s family business. This offers her both joy and heartache because he is also an Englisher and Ellen would never forsake her Amish faith.
Reading about Ellen and Rob’s sightseeing trips around Kauai offered me a glimpse of a place that I’ve never been. I also enjoyed getting better acquainted with Ellen’s family back in Indiana and a storyline involving her younger sister and a young man interested in Ellen left me wondering if there could be yet another book featuring more about the people we’ve come to love!
The Hawaiian Discovery isn’t typical Amish fiction but it is a good story that features love and devotion for family and friends and the need to remain true to your faith. Fans of Christian fiction will not be disappointed!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
I was truly pleased when I learned that Wanda Brunstetter and her daughter-in-law, Jean Brunstetter, were releasing a sequel to The Hawaiian Quilt. The Hawaiian Quilt was in my top five of the Brunstetter books; with the arrival of The Hawaiian Discovery, it is a tie with book one. (I just did not have the heart to boot any of my top five to number six!)
I was thrilled with this story, fully engrossed within the first sentence. Highly recommend it!
In The Hawaiian Quilt we met a group of young Amish women from Indiana, traveling to Hawaii, first by train followed by a cruise ship. When two of the young women miss the return to port call, they miss the ship and are stranded on Hawaii for a month or a bit longer. (I wouldn’t mind being stranded in Hawaii myself!). Ellen and Mandy are taken in by the loving owners of a bed and breakfast. Mandy meets the love of her life and must determine whether to leave the Amish life or walk away from her dashing new love.
The Hawaiian Discovery picks up within five years of first book; Mandy has chosen to marry the love of her life, opening a bread and breakfast of their own. Ellen is a full time employee and loves her job. Things start happening when Mandy and Ken receive a phone call that Ken’s father has fallen seriously ill. Rushing to Hawaii, they find that Ken’s father has died and his mother is overwhelmed with grief and the work required on the organic chicken farm.
Mandy and Ken soon find themselves working hard on the organic chicken farm; soon they realize that leaving Hawaii, the farm and the new widow, the couple must decide what to do about their business back home in Indiana.
Sensing her best friends distress with the entire situation, Ellen obtains permission to fly to Hawaii to be with Mandy, offering moral support and a helping hand on the farm.
Meeting Rob Smith on the organic farm soon has Ellen in a bit of a dither. He is handsome and charming, but he is also hiding something. She is sure of it. As Ellen and Rob spend time together, on the farm and exploring the beautiful island, their attraction to each other grows. Ellen finds herself confused and not a little anxious as to where this relationship could possibly go. She can’t leave the Amish church; as a member of the church, she risked excommunication if she were to leave. (Mandy had not joined the Amish church yet and continued to enjoy a loving relationship with family and friends.) Rob, on the other hand, refused to allow any attachment to anyone, including Ellen.
As Mandy and Ken face additional issues, Ellen and Rob question if their friendship could possibly have a happy ending like their friends.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
.I enjoyed my second “trip to Hawaii”. Although The Hawaiian Discovery is a sequel to The Hawaiian Quilt, the authors fill in enough background that you can enjoy this novel as a standalone. But I would highly encourage you not to miss the first one either.
It was good to be able to catch up with Ellen, Mandy and other characters that have seemed like friends. Ellen has been working at the Bed and Breakfast in her hometown that Mandy and her husband Ken own. But when Ken’s father suffers a heart attack and has surgery, the couple pack up and leave for Hawaii to be with his mother. Ellen manages the B & B for them until a tragedy occurs and they decide to sell and stay in Hawaii. Ellen feels lost and wonders what she’ll do now. Another unforeseen circumstance happens and Ellen packs her suitcase and heads to Hawaii to help her best friend. The discovery that Ellen finds in Hawaii could possibly change her life forever. But seven months is also a long time for her to be away from her family and her Amish church.
This was an easy read with interesting characters and scenery that was described beautifully. It moved right along and I finished it in a day and a half it was so good.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
It was nice to revisit the beautiful state of Hawaii through the authors eyes. The beauty of the flowers and beaches were easy to visualize. I never thought of Hawaii having mosquitoes, but it was interesting to find out that they are bad during the summertime. I always picture Hawaii with beauty everywhere and no pesky insects. I liked Ellen and her friendship she had with Mandy. It was very hard when Mandy and her husband moved to Hawaii. What was really surprising for Ellen was the decision to sell the B&B that Ken and Mandy owned.
I could sense Ellen a bit lost after the B&B sold. She loved working there. She looks for a job, but an unexpected call from Mandy changes everything. Another interesting detail I learned was the Amish had to get special permission to fly somewhere. I just take it for granted that we can hop on a plane and go. A tragic accident with Ken has put Mandy in need of her best friend.
Ellen jumps right in when she arrives and takes Mandy’s place at work. I wish I had half the energy Ellen has. She never seems to slow down. Ken has a long recovery ahead of him, and Mandy really needs Ellen to stay for awhile. I liked the turmoil Ellen faces when she must decide between staying in Hawaii and perhaps finding romance with a certain someone, or going back home where her family is. There is also someone she had started to grow fond of at home, so what will she decide? I liked how the characters prayed through situations and I think it helped them grow spiritually. Overall a good book and nice ending.
I received a copy of this book from the authors. The review is my own opinion.