A Brand-New Series from New York Times Best Selling Author 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 … 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?
more
This book was a great read. Thank you Net galley for allowing me to read this for my opinion. When Sara Murray’s mother dies she learns she has grandparents in Lancaster County.. Michelle Taylor is running to find a better life. Sara rides to her grandparents and asked if she could come to meet them. Things get mixed up and when the Lapps see Michelle at the station they thing it is Sara. Michelle lies and goes along with them. When she finds a jar in the barn with slops of paper with thoughts and quotes she starts to feel bad about her not telling the Lapps the truth. She starts to feel at home here and loves her new Amish friends. When the really Sara comes to Lancaster county Michelle steals money and leaves. This is a beautiful story and can not wait for the rest of the series. This author always draws me into the story.
The Hope Jar is the first book in the new series The Prayer Jars by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Wanda has outdone herself again. She has written another story that will surly capture the heart of her readers. I finished The Hope Jar in one day it was that wunderbar. This story is full of hope, faith, love, deception, heartache, pain and so much more. I am so looking forward to reading the next book in this series and catching up with these characters.
The Hope Jar by Wanda E Brunstetter is one of her best so far. I am excited to see a new series is on the horizon for this beloved author.
When I opened the story I connected immediately with Sara. She was so devastated after the death of her mother that she was honestly surprised at her stepfather’s kindness when he allowed he to go through her mother’s things. I felt as though she was going to leave right away and meet her long lost relatives. Time and interesting circumstances intervened.
When Michelle was introduced I wondered just what role she would play in the story. Her life never seemed to right and when she seized the opportunity to take advantage of a simple act of mistaken identity the story took off. The path she chose and the role she played in the lives of Willis and Mary Ruth’s lives was amazing. She assumed the role of Sara as though she was born to it.
These well developed characters will win your heart. I had to make time to finish the book because I wanted to see what happened next. Wanda E Brunstetter delivers on a regular basis and for those interested in Amish fiction, this book gives a good idea of how the simple life may not be as simple as one thinks. I look forward to the next book in the Prayer Jars series so I can re-visit this Amish church district to see what happens next. I have a feeling there more stories out there! I recommend this with 5 stars!
By Shirley Chapel
The Hope Jar
This is one of the best books that Wanda Brunsetter has ever written as far as I’m concerned. It seemed so real to me and not like a work of fiction. The moral of the story is that lies and deception leads to more lies and deception. I was immediately drawn into the story. I felt so sorry for Michelle Taylor. She reached out for the love she never had even though it wasn’t meant for her.
Michelle Taylor was born into an abusive family and that’s pretty much all she knew in her growing up years. That is until The Children’s Services showed up at her house and placed her and her siblings in foster care. From that time on Michelle never saw or had contact with her brothers again. Life wasn’t all that much better in foster care either.
After high school Michelle set out on her own . She drifted from town to town in hopes of finding a better life for herself. Having it hard to pay her rent and buy groceries she lived from paycheck to paycheck.. It didn’t help that she had an abusive boyfriend who certainly didn’t love her. Desperate to get away from him she packed up and went to the bus terminal to move on to the next town.
While preparing to buy a bus ticket an older Amish couple approached her mistaking her for someone named Sara Murry, their granddaughter. They were so nice and where there to take her home with them. The temptation was strong to go with them and so that’s what Michelle did. She reached out for something that wasn’t really hers, hoping to belong to a family and find love.
Michelle was just a unfortunate girl who had little choice of the family she was born into. All she really wanted was someone to show her love and care about her. How long will she be able to pull this charade off ? Will Sara Murray eventually show up at the door of her grandparents one day?
If you enjoy Amish Fiction or are a fan of Wanda Brunstetter you won’t want to miss reading The Hope Jar. I was given a copy of this book by the Author . All I’ve shared here in this review are my honest thoughts and opinion about the book. I highly recommend it .
I loved this book!!!!! It is such a sweet story and I can’t wait to read parts 2 and 3
I loved this book, the storyline was amazing.
I like anything Wanda writes. They are so interesting.
Inspiring story of how people work through the twists and turns in their lives. Love the use of the jar to make them think on Gods word and wisdom.
I liked the idea behind it. The family was perfect, the whole Amish feel. However it was VERY repetitive. It felt like there was so much added and repeated, it could have been shorter with the same end result. I am curious to see what happens next though!
The Hope Jar by Wanda Brunstetter
Like how the book starts out: Sarah and after losing her mother she’s going through some things and learns she has grandparents and sends them a letter as she wants to visit them. She’s taking classes and hopes to have a bit of time to visit with them to tell them about her mother who left when she became pregnant.
Story also follow Michelle who’s just leaving her boyfriend and at the bus station the older couple think she is their long lost granddaughter-Sarah and she goes along with the deception.
She lies a lot to keep her status as their granddaughter. They are Amish and she soon learns a lot of physical labor. Enjoyed learning all she has to do and is awarded with a puppy of her own.
She prays to God when some men are trying to grab her into their car but Brad shows up in time. She thinks it because she prayed to God.
Love learning about the African Violets. I’ll have to give them another try.
Michelle has taken letters from the mailbox from the real Sarah and destroyed them without showing her grandparents. She even writes back to Sarah telling her not to come til the fall.
Like hearing of all the Amish words she learns. Have visited the towns mentioned and it’s cool to hear more about them.
Like hearing of the history of the Amish, learning so much about their communities and how they are run.
Story alternates with the girls and also other characters in the story. Love how she finds the hope jars with the verses and prayers written on them but is afriad to ask what they mean.
After she fell and bumped her head she opens up to her male friend and he can’t understand why she did what she did.
Like how the book follows them all but hate the ending. Does leave it open to more in the series if it is a series.
Lots of quotes from the Bible.
i received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
A sweet romance, and a lovely introduction to the trilogy. I would like to read books 2 and 3!
Honestly this book had a slow start for me and I had trouble getting into it for a few chapters. However it turned out to be a very fun read so I am very glad that I stuck it out. Sara Murray, the real Sarah recently found out about her grandparents, the Lapps, after the death of her mother. Michelle, the fake Sarah, has had a difficult life and made some not so great choices including a guy that she needs to get away from. These two separate and independent events collide into a story of forgiveness and discovery that all started with mistaken identity and a lie.
Sarah, writes to her grandparents, the letter gets wet, Michelle is at the right place at the right time and even though she is the wrong person she decides this is the answer to her problem. The genuine love that Michelle develops for the people she meets and her struggle with her deception were believable and relateable. Her joy and growth expressed through her time with the Lapps was wonderful to experience as I read and enjoyed this book.
I loved getting to know the characters in this book and I liked the direction the story took. Michelle, the grandparents, Ezekiel, Brian and Sarah all made this novel what it is. This book is the first in a series and I look forward to the others.
The Hope Jar #1 The Prayer Jars by Wanda E. Brunstetter
My favorite characters in this story are the grandparents, Willis and Mary Ruth Lapp. They welcomed their “granddaughter” into their home, lives and hearts with open arms. I dreaded the time they would learn the truth about the young woman staying with them. I was rather disappointed that almost the whole book revolved around the lies and deceit of the young woman and hoped to see more of the “hope” from the hope jar incorporated more into the story-line.
~I received a copy of this book from the author/Barbour publishing (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~
Great book
The Hope Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter is an awesome first book in a series of 3. The series is called The Prayer Jars.
I really enjoyed this book and looked forward to reading it and had trouble putting it down. The main character Michelle got herself into trouble by lying but it was hard to not still like her! Yes, she was betraying the people she was staying with, but the way the author portrayed her, you were still rooting for her and hoping that once they found out that they would still forgive her.
Another part I love about this book is reading about the simple way of life that the amish have. It makes me feel at peace just reading about them.
I highly recommend this book and I’m sure the rest of the books in the series will be great as well! I cannot wait to read the others.
As usual another good book written by Wanda Brunstetter. This book I do have to say was a little harder to get into compared to other books she has written. Once I got half way through though, I was hooked. The story line was one that kept you guessing what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed the story line of this book. It’s a little different, which I think makes this series interesting and a must read. I honestly did not see the ending coming. Cannot wait for the next book to come out.
Fascinating insight into the Amish world. Also fascinating to see a web of lies being cast!
I heard that Wanda Brunstetter wrote wonderful books portraying the Amish lifestyle. Living in a community where we have Amish neighbors, I am drawn to their simple lifestyle. This is a first read for me by this author. I am so delighted to have had a chance to read this book. Sara, immediately grabs at your heart after loosing her Mother and feeling so alone. Michelle, didn’t mean to deceive Mary Ruth and her husband. Yet, now how can she tell them the truth of her real identity and break their hearts. Four lives changed forever by the simple acts of deception, forgiveness and love. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!! I received a copy for my honest review.
This book was a unique blend of Wanda Brunstetter’s talents – her classic, beautiful Amish fiction, cleverly combined with a modern-day English story that so many of us can relate to. This page-turner was a quick but delightful read, because once I was engrossed in the story, I had to to keep reading to find out what happens. The harsh realities of tough life choices come to a head for the main character has she finds herself facing major life decisions. Those decisions bring her to an Amish family, which is a totally different way of life for her. Some parts off her new-found life are magical, others bring sorrow, but all of it serves a purpose to teach a lesson about life, faith, family, love, and forgiveness. The English world and the Amish world combine in this novel, which is unique viewpoint that Wanda penned wonderfully! This first book in The Prayer Jars series ends with a twist…leaving readers wondering what will happen next, and with hope in their heart. I am anxiously awaiting book two! This book was provided to me by Barbour Publishing. I was not required to leave a positive (or any) review. Opinions and ideas expressed in this review are my own.
This is a mixed clean Amish and Englisher type story that really pulled me in fast. I received this book for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. I’ve given it a 5* rating. It stirred up all kinds of feelings but it centers on the remarkable things about forgiveness. It really touched my heart.