Where Is the Hope in Grief for a Young Amish Widow? Sylvia has been nearly paralyzed with grief and anxiety since the tragic death of her husband, father, and brother in a traffic accident. She tries to help in the family’s greenhouse while caring for her two young children, but she prefers not to have to deal with customers. Her mother’s own grief causes her to hover over her children and … children and grandchildren, and Sylvia seeks a diversion. She takes up birdwatching and soon meets an Amish man who teaches her about local birds. But Sylvia’s mother doesn’t trust Dennis Weaver, and as the relationship sours, mysterious attacks on the greenhouse start up again.
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I am enjoying the underlying mystery that has run through books one and two. I have an idea of the culprit but will have to wait until March of 2021 to find out if I am correct.
Virginia, the Englisch neighbor across the street, is still her unhappy self. Her character gives the story a realism we don’t always see but man is she a Debbie downer. Nothing satisfies the woman.
This series should be read in order because of the mystery that runs throughout.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Barbour Publishing, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
The Mockingbird’s Song by Wanda E. Brunstetter is the 2nd Amish Greenhouse Mystery. It can be read on its own for those who have not read The Crow’s Call. I thought the story was well-written with developed characters. Sylvia Beiler misses her husband. She is depressed and angry at God. She worries about her children and does not like to be separated from them for any length of time. Henry is also angry and rebellious. When he is not busy with chores, Henry likes to read magazines and books on birds. Amy Beiler is planning her wedding to Jared next fall. She cannot wait to become a wife. Belinda Beiler misses her husband whom she loved dearly. Instead of dealing with her feelings, she keeps herself busy with work, her grandchildren, and worrying about her family. The Mockingbird’s Song is a story about dealing with overwhelming grief, the various threats to the family and their livelihood, birdwatching, hope, and love. Sylvia and Henry have lost faith in God. They do not understand why He did not save their family members. The mystery is not the focus of the book. It is something that is happening, but it is not investigated. The threats are escalating making the situation dangerous. Virginia Martin and her husband, Earl live across from the King family. Virginia dislikes living in the country and especially from the noisy and smelly greenhouse (her words). She spends most of her day watching her neighbors (reminds me of my Grandma Anderson). Loneliness and the actions of the woman’s first husband have shaped Virginia. I am curious to see how Virginia’s story will turn out. The Mockingbird’s Song is an inspiring story of faith, family, friendship, healing, and love. I am curious to find out what happens next with the King family and their greenhouse.
A wonderful story of family and finding love after loss. The series will keep readers guessing as the mystery continues in this book! Fans of Amish fiction will enjoy another great story by one of the genre’s best!
When I find myself worrying about the characters of a book that I’ve just finished reading than its a sure sign of how much this reader was drawn into the story! Wanda Brunstetter always leaves me satisfied and waiting for the next book in the series. I love her writing style and I keep on reading her books over the years. I’m never disappointed.
In The Mocking Birds Song readers are swept once again into the lives of the King family. In book one three family members died in a horrible accident. Now in book two the year of mourning comes to an end. Someone has been trying to force them into closing the greenhouse and moving. In book two it escalates to threats and damage to their greenhouse and property. Belinda King wonders if she should give in and close the nursery. Each incident seems to go from bad to worse. All this time Belinda still mourns the loss of Vernon , her late husband. There is romance and also some humor weaved into the story. I could go on and on here but my suggestions are for you to buy this book and read it.
If you are a fan of Wanda Brunstetter or love Amish Fiction and mystery stories you will love this book. I strongly suggest that you read Book one first, The Crows Call. It will help you to get acquainted with the story and the characters before moving on to The Mocking Birds Song.
I downloaded an Arc copy of this book from Netgalley and Barbour Publishing. A favorable review was not requested. All opinions expressed here in this review are my own.
#The Mockingbird’s Song#Netgalley
I recommend this book for those who enjoy reading books about the Amish. This is book two of the Amish Greenhouse Mysteries and this book focuses on Sylvia, the oldest daughter in the King family who lost her husband in the accident that also killed her Dad and brother. She was left with a baby and a toddler and is dealing with depression. You need to read the whole series in order to complete the story.
The Mockingbird’s Song (Volume 2) (Amish Greenhouse Mysteries) is a good addition to this series.
This is really Sylvia and Dennis’ story. Sylvia is still trying to get over the death of her father, brother and husband. Dennis is new to the area, and Sylvia and her brother Henry meet him after Sylvia takes up birdwatching with Henry.
Dennis needs a house to rent and a place to start his horse training business. Sylvia has decided to rent her property.
There are new acts of vandalism at the greenhouse; Amy’s wedding, and even a barn raising awaiting you in Wanda Brunstetter’s new book, The Mockingbird’s Song.
I was give an ARC of the book by Barbour Press and the author. The opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book! The main characters were realistic and relatable. It had a good mix of romance and some mystery to it. Looking forward to reading book 3.
Sylvia and her family are coming to the end of a year of mourning. A tragic accident has taken the life of her husband Father and older Brother. Sylvia has moved along with her young childr3en back into her Mothers home. She is hoping having the family greenhouse to work in will keep her mind off all she has lost. She also wishes to be a comfort to her siblings and her Mother.
Sylvia and her brother Henry meet a new man to their Amish community while birdwatching. A hobby she has taken up at her brothers invitation. He is here hoping to build a thriving horse training business. She offers to rent her previous home to Dennis, this way she will have someone on site to keep prowlers away and upkeep the property. She is not yet sure she can let go of her home she built with her husband.
As she and Henry spend more time bird watching with Dennis both he and Sylvia become more attracted. Unfortunately Sylvia’s Mother wrapped in her own grief as well as worry about vandalism on the greenhouse she objects to their courting. Those feelings only increase each of the couples insecurities over the relationship.
This is not a stand novel it is the second in the Amish Greenhouse series. I wish I had read the first one the story line would have made sense earlier. It is a well constructed story with rounded characters. If you are a fan of Amish stories I would recommend you check out this series.
The Mockingbird’s Song (Amish Greenhouse Mystery #2) is written by popular Amish author Wanda E. Brunstetter. It continues the story from Book 1, THE CROW’S CALL, and tells the story of the King family as they struggle with the loss of several members all at the same time. Book two focuses more on Sylvia and her attempt to move on with her life after the loss of her husband. Enter Dennis Weaver, an avid birdwatcher and new member of the local Amish community. Will Sylvia find love again? Will the mystery of who is vandalizing the family greenhouse be solved? Other characters also return from The Crow’s Call, like Henry and Amy and Belinda, so be sure to pick up both books to become a part of their lives too.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no expectation for a positive review
Wanda E. Brunstetter has done it again in her second installment from her Amish Greenhouse Mystery series, The Mockingbird’s Song. I loved the first book, The Crow’s Call, and this one does not disappoint. Sylvia is one character that I felt connected to. My heart just broke for her. I had to keep reading to find out where she would end up. I thought it was beautiful and sweet story of hope, finding oneself, how to overcome grief and moving on. There was a little mystery to be solved, as well.
I am giving The Mockingbird’s Song a very well deserved five plus stars. I can not wait for the third book from the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series, The Robin’s Greeting. I look forward to see what happens next.
I received The Mockingbird’s Song from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
The Mockingbird’s Song continues on the story of what happens with Sylvia and Amy and Henry and their mother. We start with them getting close to the time the tragedy happens. It seems like things focus on Sylvia and her grief.
We also meet a new person named Denis Weaver. Could there be a connection between Dennis and Sylvia? Sylvia first meets Dennis while out with her brother Henry bird watching. This book takes time to get into the beginning. It starts out slow but once you are into the book it gets better.
We see Virginia and her husband’s personality through these books. It funny to see this along with how they see the Amish. Amish seem not bothered by their neighbors. We see how each member is still dealing with the loss of their family members.
Amy and Jerrod seem to be getting ready for their wedding. What happens when things start to pick up and the vandalism starts up again. Who is vandalizing the greenhouse? Why is happening? Seem to still be a mystery. Though we may have some answers.
More twists and turns as you turn the pages. Though this book is rated 4.5 by me as it is still good. This one focuses on family and bird watching and learning more about birds. Will Sylvia find her happiness with birdwatching or someone or both? How will Belinda cope with her grief and other things?
With another great Wanda Brunstetter book, The Mockingbird’s Song, the second book in The Amish Greenhouse Mystery series, is a story to get lost in, with love, loss, and a little bit of mystery. I have truly enjoyed reading this series and can’t wait to read the third book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion of this book.
This is the second book of Wanda Brunstetter’s Amish Greenhouse Mystery Series. The family is still dealing with the grief of losing their loved ones. While mom (Belinda) and daughter, Amy have the greenhouse open and running again the family is still experiencing with vandalism. Belinda’s older daughter Sylvia and youngest son Henry are still working through their grief, they both are learning to live again as they take up a hobby of bird watching.
A new character, Dennis wants to move in the community and is looking for a place to live and start his business. He runs into Sylvia and Henry while bird watching. He finds out Sylvia has been trying to decide whether to sell her farm house or rent it. Dennis was interested in renting.
Will there be romance in the air for Sylvia? She feels she could never love again after losing her husband and raising two children by herself.
I’m really interested in who has been causing the vandalism and I think I may know who it is but, am I in for a surprise? I will have to wait until the third book in the series. I love reading this series because it has a little mystery to it compared to the other Amish books I have read by Wanda Brunstetter. Wanda’s books are all excellent and she is one of my favorite authors. Her books do not disappoint me. I highly recommend reading this series to anyone who enjoys reading Amish fiction. I’m looking forward to The Robin’s Greeting coming out in the Spring of 2021 to read who has been vandalizing the family, what their neighbor and the homeless woman are up to, more of Belinda, Sylvia, Amy and Henry and much more.
The second book in the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series takes up where the first one left off and shares the rest of the story, although it could stand alone since enough information is provided to make the back story clear. In this touching novel, we see the King family still struggling to deal with the deaths of their loved ones and working to move on with their lives. The plot holds the readers’ interest, but much of the dialogue and inner thoughts does not sound natural or flow as smoothly as it should. Sometimes it seems a tool used to convey information rather than move the plot forward. There are still some suspense elements to tie up so I look forward to the next book in the series. Those who love Amish tales should enjoy this one. I liked the fact that it was a bit different than your typical Amish drama. I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I am really liking this series so much and glad I was able to relax and visit the characters again in this book. The story finds us seeing how the family is doing after a devastating loss. I loved reading about the greenhouse and how the family works hard to keep it running. I am not good with plants but I enjoy looking at them. I admire people who have beautiful gardens and flowers that cascade around the yard.
Sylvia is still struggling with her loss while raising her two small children. It was nice to see how Sylvia and her younger brother took up birdwatching together. I have several bird feeders in my yard and get great pleasure watching them fly around while grabbing seeds. I think this hobby has brought Henry a little happiness in his life. He still feels overwhelmed at times but he is slowly dealing with his grief.
I loved the introduction of Dennis to the story. He has his own grief to deal with and his friendship with Sylvia is helping both of them. The author does a great job of slowly developing their relationship. If only Sylvia’s mother could accept the fact that Sylvia is ready to move on with her life. I was quite surprised by Belinda’s attitude toward Dennis. Perhaps she is not ready to see her daughter move on. Dennis is a perfect gentleman but he is beginning to feel that perhaps he shouldn’t pursue the relationship with Sylvia. I couldn’t wait to see where the author would take Sylvia and Dennis relationship. I so wanted them to get together.
There is a bit of mystery in the story that I hope to see come to an end in the next book. Who is trying to sabotage the greenhouse? I haven’t figured it out yet but I am anxious to discover who it is. I also liked reading about Virginia the neighbor. That poor lady is so desperate for friends. I laughed when she started spying on Sylvia and her family with binoculars. Talk about being a nosy neighbor. She reminds me of Gladys from a show that was on many years ago. I am wondering how Virginia will fit into this story. Will she let her guard down and become friends with her neighbors?
The story has a gentle feel of faith that is just the right amount to give readers a sense of peace. The story was one I didn’t want to end. There are lessons in the book about judging, forgiveness, grief and acceptance. I can’t wait to read the next book in this lovely series.
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.
This is the second book in the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series and I was anxious to see how the Beiler family was doing following the tragic accident that occurred in The Crow’s Call. One year later, all of them are still dealing with the trauma of losing three beloved family members. Matriarch Belinda Beiler continues to rely on prayer and her trust in God to help her navigate the grief and uncertainties of being a widow and she is a wonderful example of faith in action but much of The Mockingbird’s Song centers around her daughter Sylvia’s own journey to finding a “new normal” as a young widow raising two toddlers without her husband. There are also many questions that added great interest to this story as I kept searching for answers. Who continues to cause trouble with the acts of vandalism at the family greenhouse? Why is Virginia, the English neighbor across the road, so unhappy and why does she dislike the Amish so much? Will the two men who are showing interest in both Belinda and Sylvia become part of this family? Is there a second chance at love for these Beiler women or will romance cause more problems for their family?
Author Wanda E. Brunstetter once again shows that Amish people aren’t immune to problems, heartaches, and even doubts, but in the end, their faith helps carry them through. The Mockingbird’s Song is an inspiring, intriguing, and entertaining addition to the Amish Greenhouse Mystery series and fans of Brunstetter and Amish fiction won’t be disappointed!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review and these are my own thoughts.
Wow…once again, Wanda has opened up new doors in Amish fiction with the 2nd book in her new mystery series! As I stated in my review of the 1st book in the series – I haven’t read a mystery in years because although I used to enjoy them, it seems that genre has gotten so scary they just don’t appeal to me. Wanda’s mystery books are definitely different. They are mysteries, but they’re not creepy or scary. And, just like in the 1st book, this book doesn’t have the same ultra-cheery mood like many Amish stories – it’s more somber. Grief lingers longer and stronger for Sylvia in this story, following circumstances that leaves the family dealing with heartache, struggle, and strife. As the family slowly picks up the pieces and attempts to regain some normalcy in life, Sylvia has to navigate her own path through her grief, which is very relatable. She contemplates opening her heart again, which reveals slivers of hope and joy in her life. Readers will revisit several family members and neighbors in the story, getting a little bit more insight into each of their lives and perspectives. Each one is unique in his or her own way, and although we learn a lot about each one, we still don’t learn everything…which keeps the story interesting and makes me very excited for book #3 to be released in Spring 2021! 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 the second book in Wanda Brunstetter’s Amish Greenhouse Mystery series. In the first book, The Crow’s Call, the King family deals with the tragic death of three members of their family following a tragic buggy accident and tries to continue operating the family greenhouse business. The oldest daughter, Sylvia, has had a very hard time dealing with life after the death of her husband, father and brother. Life must go on for her two children, but the struggle is overwhelming her. Finally in this book, Sylvia, finds a hobby that brings her some joy – bird watching! While bird watching, she meets a young man that she becomes attracted to. Will her relationship with Dennis Weaver finally help her adjust and bring new purpose and meaning to her life? You will definitely want to read this book!
Sylvia is having a hard time dealing with the loss of 3 family members. I enjoyed reading how she finally overcomes her grief and how loving her family is. Wonderful story of mysterious happenings and a new sweet romance… I received a copy through NetGalley, my review is voluntary.
We are back with the King family. It’s now Christmas and eight months since their the three men in their lives had been killed. Sylvia is still fighting her grief at losing her husband.She’s trying to be happy for h er two young children.All the family is there including Ezekiel, Michelle and their two children. The adults are sad because they miss the ones they lost.
Monroe is still hanging around Belinda (The older Mrs. King.) She wants nothing to do with him other than being a friend. He comes by to check on her and the others. He wants more but she doesn’t. She still misses her husband and may never want to married again. Her children don’t like him and wants him to stay away from their mother.
Earl and Virginia (The neighbors across the street are spending a quiet Christmas at home. Earl is snoring in his favorite chair. Virginia is stewing over the neighbors across the street.. She still doesn’t like them or their kind. She doesn’t like any art of the country life. Earl catches her several times spying on the King’s and the greenhouse with the binoculars she has.
Dennis Weaver moves to town to start a new house training business.He wants to raise and train horses for other people. He’s out bird watching one afternoon when he meets up with Henry and Sylvia while they are looking at birds. Sylvia offers to rent her house to him since he’s looking for someplace to live. Their friendship grows and they start having feelings for each other. Her mother doesn’t like him to even be around Sylvia.
Virginia’s friend from Chicago comes to visit. She and Stella go all over Lancaster County. Stella loves the Amish and the area. She doesn’t know why Virginia doesn’t. And, Stella can’t understand why Virginia is always complaining about wanting to move away from there.
When the greenhouse opens in the spring, the vandalism starts back up only a lot worse. It seems that nobody sees anyone around or sees it done. The King’s have no idea who it is or why the person or people are doing it.
Do the King’s find out who is destroying things? Does Virginia learn to like her neighbors and where she lives?