What if you have waited to find love only to be rejected when it finally comes? Lenore Lapp is an Amish schoolteacher in her late twenties still living at home with her parents and grandparents. She thought love had passed her by until she meets Jesse Smucker, a widower with a baby daughter. She quickly falls in love with them both and accepts Jesse’s proposal of marriage, but Jesse breaks off … but Jesse breaks off their engagement when he realizes he can’t marry only for convenience.
Resigned to living single, Lenore throws herself into caring for her elders. While working in her grandmother’s garden, she digs up an old jar. Will Lenore find healing for her broken heart and solve long-buried family secrets by reading the note contained inside?
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The Healing Jar is such a lovely book! While I enjoyed all of the books in this series, this was probably my favorite. As the last book in Wanda’s Prayer Jars trilogy, this book lets the reader get to know Lenore Lapp and her hopes and dreams, as well as the surprise discovery of a third prayer jar that leads to answers of questions asked by so many. The characters in this story, as well as the other two novels of this trilogy, as ones that are heartwarming and relatable. The plot is engaging and makes the book hard to put down. Wanda manages to include some surprises and nicely brings the mystery of Sara’s father to resolution. While this is the third book of the series, Wanda does a masterful job of giving enough background on the character and story line to make the book easily read on its own. I love the messages of family and faith in Wanda’s writings, and especially enjoyed how this book shares that things happen in God’s timing. A wonderful book and a joy to read! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not obligated to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wanda Brunstetter is gifted, not just with storytelling, but also with the ability to share compassion and grace throughout her novels.
The Healing Jar, Book 3 of The Prayer Jar series, is yet another example of the author’s giftedness; from brokenness to compassion, and finally to grace.
Lenore Lapp, still single at an age when most young Amish women have married, moves into in grandparent’s home to provide care as they age, and especially since her grandfather is showing increasing signs of dementia. A school teacher, Lenore loves children which is quite obvious in her interactions with them. When a young widower moves into the area, he brings a beautiful baby girl for whom he needs a caregiver while he works.
Jesse Smucker is devastated by the death of his wife, and though he is attentive to his daughter’s needs, he is too tired and emotionally overwrought to provide much more than that. Moving into a new community and a new job were what Jesse thought he needed to begin healing, but absolutely no more women for him; he still loves his wife deeply and the pain of her death almost more than he can bear. Even though he already has a caregiver for his young daughter, it is a temporary situation as the caregiver is an older relative of his deceased wife.
Lenore willingly takes on caring for Jesse Smucker’s young daughter and it isn’t long before she is head over heals in love with the baby girl. Despite Jesse’s grief, he somehow finds himself attracted to the pretty Amish teacher, leaving him conflicted with both grief and the first sparks of love. While Lenore continues to care for his daughter, she finds herself somewhat discouraged by the seeming lack of any possible relationship with the child’s father.
While gardening one afternoon, Lenore hears a rather distinct clunk as she turned the soil. What could it be? Digging, Lenore discover a third prayer jar; one that will bring encouragement and healing to Lenore and Jesse’s hearts.
Even more, the discovery of yet another jar, will reveal answers to questions Wanda Brunstetter’s fans have been asking since the first book in the series.
Answers that made this reader weep with joy and celebration, and saying “I didn’t see that coming”!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own, and freely given.
Surprising facts are revealed in The Healing Jar! Jesse Smucker, a young widower with a child, is searching for someone to care for his daughter while he works. Lenore may be a teacher but what she really longs for is a family of her own. Sara is happy in her marriage but still wants to find her biological father. At times, the story seemed to move a little slow but The Healing Jar is a great conclusion to The Prayer Jars series. You can read this book as a stand alone but will enjoy it much more if you read the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
3.5 stars
Let me start with that I enjoy reading Wanda Brunstetter books and I have struggled with giving this 3.5 stars. My reasoning is I felt disappointment while reading. In some ways, the prayer jar story seemed like a second thought. Almost like, oh I need to include the jars in the story. Also, the story seemed to drag along slowly. The ending was beautiful and I’m glad everything worked out.
Is it worth your time to read? Yes! Especially if you have read the previous two books in the series. You can read this as a standalone and I think you will be just fine.
I would recommend to others. My 3.5 stars are my opinion and should not be used in your decision to read the book or not. I will continue to read her books. In fact, I have three waiting in the wings.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Shiloh Run Press, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
The Healing Jar is the third and final book in The Prayer Jars series and it is a wonderful way to conclude the series. Author Wanda E. Brunstetter answers a lot of our questions by revealing the identity of the person who left all of the notes found in the canning jars and she also allows Sara to discover the name of her father. I must say that I was very surprised to learn who had written the notes and the circumstances surrounding Sara’s parents. The main focus, however, is on school teacher Lenore Lapp as she deals with the possibility that she may never have her own home and family. As she struggles to accept her fate, she shares her thoughts in this prayer. “Dear Lord, please heal my broken heart and bind up my wounds. Help me focus on othes things, like helping Grandma and being a schoolteacher. If it’s not meant for me to get married, then take away my desire for a husband and family.”
The Healing Jar deals with life events that affect all of us: birth and death; home and family; change and acceptance; forgiveness and reconciliation, and through each occurrence, there are reminders that God’s plan and His timing are always best. And as I read about the discovery of each of these prayer jars I felt the need to create my own prayer jar or prayer journal!
I have truly enjoyed this series and I respect Brunstetter’s ability to create stories that both inspire and entertain. I admired the strong faith displayed by Mary Ruth Lapp as she handled her husband’s ill-health and eventual death and I appreciated the reverence that their family showed both Willis and Mary Alice Lapp. It is apparent that Amish families truly take care of their elders.
This is a book that can be read alone but I believe that once you’ve read it, you will want to go back to read the first two! I recommend The Healing Jar and The Prayer Jars series to anyone who enjoys Amish and Christian fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author but I am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts in this review.
This is the 3rd and final installment in the prayer jar series by the talented Ms. Brunstetter. I am sad to see the series close out, since I have enjoyed reading all the books. I do suggest you read them in order ( The Hope Jar, The Forgiving Jar, and then the Healing Jar). I enjoyed reading all 3 of them. Ms. Brunstetter always creates wonderful, unique, instriguing stories that are always inspirational. One of the underlying messages in this book is that No matter what.. God always will have our backs. As always, well written characters, great storyline and will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. I am looking forward to see what comes next from the author.
I received a copy of this book from the author – all thoughts are my own.
The Healing Jar is the third and final book in Wanda Brunsetter’s bestselling Prayer Jar Series.
We, the reader’s, are once again taken back to Lancaster Pennsylvania and this time Lenore Lapp, one of the grand daughter’s of Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp, story is told.
Lenore is a single young Amish woman who thinks that she will never find someone to love. She spends her time teaching school and caring for her elderly grandparents
Jesse Smucker, is a young Amish widower, with a baby daughter, named Cindy.
He has moved to Lancaster to start over after the death of his wife.
Lenore and Jesse meet , and Lenore starts to watch his daughter, Cindy.
Before you know it Jesse and Lenore are engaged; but Jesse calls off the engagement because he realizes that he is marrying Lenore for all the wrong reasons.
While working in her grandparent’s garden , heartbroken Lenore finds another jar full of slips of paper, like the ones that were found by Sara and Michelle. While reading these verses of healing, scripture and encouragement a family secret is finally discovered that answers a lot of unanswered questions,
What family secrets that have been buried all these years will be answered. How will they affect the people involved, especially Sara. Will Jesse realize his real feelings for Lenore. And what has happened in the lives of Sara and Michelle since they first found the previous Prayer Jars.
You don’t want to miss this exciting conclusion to The Prayer Jar series, to see what the family secret is that was buried so long ago.
I highly recommend reading The Healing Jar and also The Hope Jar and Forgiving Jar and see how a jar full of slips of paper changed the lives of several people
I was provided with a complimentary copy of The Healing Jar by Barbour Publishng and the author, Wanda Brunstetter
I have read the 2 prior books in this series and have enjoyed them. The Healing Jar is no different. Following the lives of Lenore, Michelle and Sara . Each one has a story connecting them to these Jars. Sara is struggling with her past and not knowing who her father is. She is married Brad to a preacher and has a good life but still wants answers. Lenore is at an age where she thinks she should be married. She meets Jesse and his small child and thinks he may be the one. It takes Jesse a while to figure out Lenore is the woman to be his wife and mom to his sweet baby. Michelle is married to Ezekiel . He ask her to move to another state away from the only family she has. Mary Ruth is having to learn to live without her precious husband Willis. Each Jar has verses to help that help each woman with their issue. Until this book we didn’t know who wrote them. Mary Ruth recognizes the writing as her daughters. It opens up a lot feelings for her and Sara. It also answers Sara’s questions about her mothers past. Each woman in this book has found peace from these jars. This book was provided by the publisher as an ARC for my honest review.
I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the books in this series. I love how there is a blended community of Amish and English in this series and how they live and interact with one another was truly heartwarming. I feel like the deeper I got into the series, the more the characters came to life and felt like dear friends. In a way the storylines melded so well in the first two books that this one almost felt like a third wheel, but it doesn’t mean in any way that I didn’t enjoy the story as well.
This was a series that I followed closely with an intense need to know how life would turn out for the characters. It’s written in a way that you are just as concerned for the supporting characters as you are for the leading roles. Everyone in this book is intricately placed with a specific purpose that validates their presence. I’m truly going to miss reading about each and every one of them.
This is a series I highly recommend starting from the beginning. The books are strongly connected through both characters and storyline. If you were to miss the first two books you would be quite lost in reading this one.
I’ve really enjoyed my time with this series and highly recommend it to Amish fiction fans.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
The Healing Jar is the third installment of The Prayer Jars Series and it is a great conclusion to that series. If you have been reading from book one you will already know most of the characters and you will be welcomed back with open arms! There will also be a few new characters to bring into the fold. In this book there are many questions answered and many mysteries explained.
The only issue I had with this story was how some things seemed to be crammed into the end of the book to conclude or add to the story. One example is the heart shaped rock. In my opinion it should have been referred to from the beginning of the book. It would have been more meaningful at the end, for me.
I was provided a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
The third book in the Prayer Jars series by Wanda. Finding the last Prayer Jar answers a lot of questions and helps in making decisions about relationships. You will want to keep reading till the end!
The Healing Jar is Book 3 in the Prayer Jar series and continues the story of the Lapp family. Lenore Lapp is the main focus of this book as Sara and Michelle are both married now and Lenore wonders when or if her time will ever come. She has committed to continuing to teach at the local one room schoolhouse and is living with her grandparents, Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp. Like Sara and Michelle before her, Lenore stumbles upon the prayer jar hidden in the barn. When she shares her discovery with them, they tell her that they had both already found it plus one hidden in the basement, read the contents, and kept them hidden…even from their grandparents. Lenore decides to show the jar to Grandma and that is when they find that the notes in the jars were written by Rhoda, Sara’s mother, before she ran away from home and never returned. Sara has longed to discover the identity of her father but so far has found no clues as to who he might be. During her summer break from school, Lenore offers to care for baby Cindy, daughter of a new member of their church, Jesse Smucker. As time passes, she falls in love with the baby and begins to have feelings for Jesse. But will he be the right man for her? Jesse needs a mother for Cindy and someone to keep house for him but will he ever be able to care for Lenore in the same way he did his late wife, Esther? One day as Sara and Lenore are weeding Grandma’s garden, Sara’s trowel hits something in the ground and they discover a third prayer jar buried in the garden plot. This jar contains a slip of paper that will be of utmost importance to one member of the Lapp family. If you have been following this series of books, you know that the slips of paper have had different meanings for the people who have read them…hope, forgiveness, and healing. Throughout the books, we have seen these characters struggle with the same things we all struggle with…both tragedies and joys and that is what makes them true to life and inspiring reads.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Amish Author Wanda Brunstetter has written a vast number of books and series. This one, The Prayer Jars, has been my favorite by far. Her book three, The Healing Jar, is above and beyond what I hoped the ending would be for this series.
Brunstetter is a Christian author and uses her gift to inspire others. The Healing Jar is laced with scripture and Christian values. It is a breath of fresh air and delight to read. Characters are realistic as are the situations in the book.
This book made me laugh, sigh, happy, and sad at different times. It has romance, mystery, forgiveness, respect, family issues, faith, trust, love, and God’s guidance all wrapped up neatly in its 320 pages. The author teaches us a few Amish words just by reading her novel. I loved that.
This book is the tale of Lenore. She has moved in with her grandparents. It is a heartwarming lesson to take care of your family. I was immediately invested. Lenore became a good friend and I felt her emotions. The author took me from Southern Indiana and deposited me in Amish Country. I wanted to sit at their table for a cup of kaffe (coffee) with them and a fresh made treat. Brunstetter knows the Amish well and it shows in her exquisite writing. She even includes a recipe at the end.
This is filled with twists, turns, surprises, and old friends. I found it to be a page turning, engaging book. It is Book Three and while it could be read by itself, it would be much better if you read a Books One and Two first.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. It is a great book! There are discussion questions at the end so it would make a perfect book club selection. The other two would, also. My rating is definitely 5 stars. A copy was provided by the author and publisher, but these are my own honest words.
The Healing Jar (The Prayer Jars Book 3) by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the last one in this series, which brings in all the characters from the two books. This is a wonderful series that’s focused on hope, forgiveness, and healing. As in the first two books, this one centers around a hidden jar that contains scriptures to impart wisdom and direction for the one who wrote and placed them there as well as to the one who finds the hidden jar. The prayer jar provides needed comfort and insight to the characters. In this one, long-lost family secrets are discovered, and it’s interesting to see how they impact and change the characters. There is hope and direction for fulfillment and happiness for Lenore as she finds love . Sarah finds her greatest wish come true in the most unexpected way. Lots of hopes fulfilled in this final book and a great way for the series to end……..I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
The Healing Jar is the third installment from Wanda Brunstetter’s The Prayer Jar series. I have loved the other books in this series and this one does not disappoint. I believe this one is my favorite of the series. It is fun to catch up with the primary characters from the previous books. I enjoyed Lenore and Jesse’s story and getting to know them.
I give The Healing Jar five plus stars. I am so sad to see the end of this series. I highly recommend this book and recommend readers to read the prior installments of the series before reading this one.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
The 3rd. in a series from Wanda, you will love Lenore, her loving, kind spirit, waiting for her future husband, Did she find him, ? was she disappointed? What did she find in the prayer jars? Find out how her life changed, what truth did she face?
What a wonderful finale to the best series this author has written in my personal opinion. This book is a perfect culmination of The Prayer Jars journey and one you don’t want to miss. I want to start a prayer jar after reading these. I loved how all the loose ends were tied up and answers found. I shed tears and rejoiced with these characters that become like family. I loved Lenore and her tender heart. Just an all around satisfying read. The only drawback is that it ended. If you are considering reading Amish Fiction for the first time I recommend starting with this series.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
Love the series nice easy read. Really enjoyed it
The Healing Jar is the continuation of the characters from The Hope Jar and The Forgiving Jar in The Prayer Jars series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Readers will meet some new characters that become a vital part of different lives in this book. Lenore Lapp and Jesse Smucker story is one that will bring moments of charm and then tears with the twists and turns in their relationship.
Each of the primary characters from each book faced mountain tops and valleys in their lives but realized God was the answer in each situation. There definitely were unexpected developments for some that I enjoyed seeing being brought to fruition among the secondary characters as this series came to an end. Brunstetter interwove a gentle faith message with multiple scripture verses being quoted or thought by various ones. The Healing Jar was my favorite book in the series.
Even though each book in the series could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the complete series in order to see how the primary characters lives changed over the years and how they each came to have a loving relationship with Mary Ruth and Willis Lapp, the grandparents of the primary characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Barbour Publishing. I was under no obligation to write a review; however, I have expressed my own sincere opinion.
Ever seem like you are looking for answers to a question? What if you can not at first find those answers. Do you seem ready to give up or do let it go for the time being? Well you would not think I be asking this except this exactly how Sarah Marry feels about herself? Will she find out Who her biological father is or will she not.
The Healing Jar pick this up once again where we left off. We are told about Lenore and her backstory a bit and why she is where is when we open up the book. Lenore seem like she has questions of her own. Will she find love and start a family of her own?
We meet Jesse Smucker and his daughter that are new to the community. He seem determined to not marry as he loss his first wife. God seem to have a different plan for him and his daughter. While Jesse is looking for someone to watch his 6 month old daughter while he at work, Lenore is asked if she could watch her. She accepts.
There are surprises and twist as you turn the pages. We also know that Sarah is still has a mystery to solve and we also hear and learn about Michelle story a bit more. All three girls are still pulling with the mystery of who wrote the notes in the prayer jars.
This book is everything you want in a book. It a tear tearjerker as well as being heartfelt. You will feel emotions as you turn the pages. What and ending it has. I know I could not put this book down toward the end. I was crying tears while reading. This series is another great one and one that I am thankful that own. I hope you enjoy as well. I hope to see more from these characters.